It is the first of October, and it officially feels like fall now that I have started school.  Today was my first day at Lycée Joachim du Bellay, the largest public school in Angers. I met most of the english professors last week when I dropped by, but this time I was actually interacting with the kids for the first time.  I was a little nervous at first, but the first class ("The Gifted", as my professor calls them....) were very talkative and friendly and spent the entire class period asking me questions and telling me about themselves.  They really liked hearing about my days playing the violin, learning about rap and hip hops artists, and hearing about where I had traveled in France. Apparently half of these students were focusing on musical instruments, and the other half on dance which is why they are labeled as "bright/The Gifted" (her words, not mine.)

My second class also went well, although they were much more timid, and I had to leave about 10 minutes into class so they could take an exam.  My third class also went well, and I was doing a little more "work" (if you could call it that) going from group to group correcting business proposals that they were writing in english. I think the professor thinks I'm not strict enough when correcting their grammar.  But as a person struggling to master another language, I feel for them SO much.  I know from experience how incredibly awful it feels when someone has no idea what you're saying and when you really just cannot formulate a thought or feeling that, in your native language, would not be an issue.  I know it's my job to correct them and help them learn, but I feel so bad!

Two things have stuck out to me thus far:
              1. Professors' accents.  Most of the english professors have such strong English accents and are so fluent in French that it is almost impossible to tell whether they learned english as a second language from a British instructor, or just have been an expat living in France for 40 years!  One of the professors noted my accent and warned me that I might have to repeat things a couple times before the students understand since they're used to hearing British accents. Honestly I was just happy that they didn't ask me to fake a British accent so that the kids would learn  the"Queen's English" properly, as they did with my sister when she was in Spain (still LOL-ing at that story).

              2. The blunt attitude of professors.  I know that the school system here is wayyyyy different than in the States, and I know the whole attitude towards learning is much less "touchy-feely-we-all-learn-differently-everybody's-special" but I never realized how blunt they are!  Last week in one of my classes, after the professor had explained the assignment and got the kids started in groups, she just turned to me and said "These kids aren't that bright" as if they suddenly could not hear.  Later, she called out a kid in front of the whole class telling him to get to work. Tough love is the name of the game in French high scool, I guess!

In other news, I have settled into my apartment a little more by splurging at the "C'est deux euros!" store (the dollar store of France.....although not really because 2 € = like $2.60, BUT WHO'S COUNTING, RIGHT?!) on an apple pie scented candle, a coffee mug, and some clothes pins and adhesive that I am hoping will look rustic-shabby-chic and not....like I bought them at the european version of DEAL$!  With my shabby chic pins, I hung up my necklaces and an American flag because I felt that the French flag was pretty douchey considering the fact that, well, I am in France.  Although looking at the American flag makes me feel pretty douchey right now anyways so.....I just can't win.

Also, as I was returning to my apartment after grocery shopping feeling miserable and friendless, my precious landlords heard me stomping up the creaky old winding staircase and came out to invite me into their flat for a drink. After denying their request, the adorable old man ran up to my room with a Coke saying I must be thirsty anyways so I just couldn't say no.  Their apartment is clearly much better decorated than mine and they have a small dog, which I was happy to play with.  Apparently they're only around two days a week (the rest of the time they spend a la campagne, which could mean pretty much anywhere), which explains why the daughter was the person who showed me the apartment.  They were so incredibly sweet though, inviting(/forcing) me to have a drink with them, and offering to help me pick up a couch for my room!  But seriously, everyone I have met here is so selfless and kind, it really is a wonderful change of pace.

I still have yet to have a sighting of the Morrocan girl/ghost who shares my flat with me. BUT a new girl from Nantes is moving into the open room tomorrow. My landlord said she was excited to hear she'd be living with an American, can't wait to meet her!

ming.