Week 12 - Feeling Festive

My final week of 2015 in Avignon!

Ryan, aka DJ Vessel, one of the other assistants, was playing in Avignon on Saturday night and our Avignon family were of course ready to go out en masse to support him! Kate and Chelsea generously hosted pre drinks (or pre-game as the Americans like to call it) and we had an eventful evening before we'd even left the apartment - their neighbours had heard the party from across the street and came over to join in! We finally made it to Pub Z to catch DJ Vessel's epic set before moving on to Red Zone, one of Avignon's finest evening establishments. Unsurprisingly, none of us made it to circuits the next morning.

Anushka hosted a pizza pyjama party on Sunday, exactly what we needed to nurse the hangovers and properly celebrate her birthday which was the day before. This week I also opened my first Christmas present at our Secret Santa evening - a gorgeous starlight that Chelsea had sneakily bought for me from the Christmas market.

Birthday girl

Secret Santa squad

After school on Tuesday I stuck around in Vaison for a catch up drink with Jeremy and we exchanged Christmas presents - I was spoiled with an amazing bottle of wine. It was the first time I'd seen Vaison in the dark since the Christmas lights have been up and the town is looking amazing! As it was so very late in the evening (7pm) there were no buses running, however fortunately my BlaBlaCar pal Gael was driving back to Avignon that night so we had a catch up on the ride home too.

Kate and I spent the day together on Wednesday exploring Avignon's nooks and crannies, topping up Christmas presents and hanging out with Father Christmas. That afternoon I went along to a tandem conversation session with Brian at a café/bookshop where there were loads of people from all over the world - France, America, Korea - looking to improve their French or English. It was a great opportunity to meet some people and practise my French conversation so I'll definitely be going along again in the New Year.

My last day at school before the holidays went really quickly and we played lots of end of term Christmas games and made Christmas cards (although getting a class of 24 French children to write the words Merry Christmas inside a card was actually a lot more complicated than it sounds). Children in France all learn to write in cursive so they are often confused by my handwriting! I also asked what they wanted for Christmas and can conclude that Lego, Fifa 16 and remote control helicopters should be top of every parent's Christmas shopping list this year. One girl also asked for masking tape which was a bit of a random one.

My two favourite Vaison buddies, Jeremy and Alex, treated me to lunch in the town square and we had a lovely catch up. I've barely seen them since moving to Avignon so we had lots to talk about. The evening was spent attempting to pack and having a farewell drink with the gang before we all head our separate ways for Christmas. On the walk home we saw a security guard relieving himself on a Christmas market stand. And that, my friends, sums up Avignon in a nutshell.

Super early start this morning despite not having a flight until midday - turns out the trains are on strike (classic France) so I had to take a much earlier one and just chilling in the airport until my FLIGHT HOME!!

That's it for 2015,

Joyeux fêtes et à l'année prochaine,

Katie x

P.s. Brian had a haircut this week, doesn't he look dashing? (Modelling alongside the gorgeous Amy).

Week 11 - Montpellier Magic

A week of Christmas markets and cheese, lots and lots of cheese.

Over the weekend I'd originally be planning a trip to Lyon for the Fête des lumières, however unfortunately in light of the Paris attacks the event was cancelled this year. Instead, I organised a spontaneous trip to Montpellier to visit my buddy Niamh and check out the amazing Christmas market!

Niamh met me after work on Friday and took me to her super-cute French apartment. It's an adorable quirky and typically French layout, complete with a ladder to get to her bedroom and stunning views of the city. The plan for the evening was to hit up Montpellier's nightlife and make it to Panama, the only place to be on a Friday night. After a delightful vin chaud at the Christmas market, Niamh and I met up with her friends and headed to pres before a night on the town. We had a hilarious night and it was safe to say we were feeling a little worse for wear the following morning after one too many Desperados.

At the Montpellier market

Things are a little blurry in Panama

On Saturday, Megan, Kate and Annie from Avignon took the train over and we went ice skating at a huge rink at the edge of the city. The ice rink was a lot more extreme than a conventional ice rink, complete with flashing lights, club music and a disco tunnel! Being a Saturday, it was of course ridiculously busy, which was slightly terrifying as tiny French children were literally whizzing round and pushing people out the way. After a few circles round the rink we did manage to leave the sides and channel our inner ice princesses. The afternoon was spent at the Christmas market, stocking up on Christmas presents and crêpes before getting the last train back to Avignon.

In the rave tunnel

Kate, Megan and Annie

The Avignon Christmas market has also opened here so we spent the rest of the weekend seeing what our own town had to offer. Although it's not as big as in Montpellier, there are still some great stalls, especially the place that serves everything chaud, including wine, beer, cider and apple juice! The Christmas lights here are also beautiful and there's even been Christmas music playing in the streets so everyone's been getting very excited.

With only two weeks left of term, this week's lessons have been all about Christmas too. I remembered to pack my collection of Christmas hats when I visited home last weekend so I've been using them as teaching tools in the classroom - the children were very over-excited to dress up! I also introduced stickers into the classroom this week which was hilarious at first as none of them knew what to do with them. However it wasn't long before the whole class was desperately trying to answer a question to earn themselves a sticker.

On Wednesday evening we had an assistants meal out for cheese fondue at La maison des fondues and I'm pretty sure we all went into a cheese coma that evening. As if I hadn't had enough melted cheese for one week, at school on Thursday it was the staff Christmas meal: raclette! The teachers put on an impressive spread of cheese, meats, potatoes, homemade brioche and brownies and even wine (they decided they'd have a relaxed couple of lessons that afternoon).

Cheese fondue

Staff raclette

I'm staying in Avignon this weekend for my last week here as I'm off home on Friday for the Christmas holidays!

Bisous,

Katie x

Things I've learnt about living in France

1. Everyone has a dog
The cliché is true: walk around any French town or city and expect to walk past a woman carrying at least one fluffy little dog before you've made it to the end of the street. These adorable little pooches come at a price though, as the French don't seem to clean up after their animals - keep your eyes on the pavement.

2. Baguette from the supermarket is a serious no-no
The same goes for pastries. Why buy poor-quality, mass-produced, flavourless 'bread' when there's a charming local bakery just across the road. Pick up a baguette in the supermarché and expect looks of disgust/pity.

3. Cat-calling is far too common
Apparently men in France seem to think if a young girl or group of young girls walk past them in the street they have every right to holler, wolf-whistle, click their fingers and request sexual favours regardless of your age, time of day or what you're wearing. This NEEDS to change.

4. Wine
It's socially acceptable to have a glass at 11am. On a weekday. In public.

5. Nights out start much later
While back at home we might start preing as early as 7pm (Wednesday sports socials anyone?), clubs out here open as late as 2am and can stay open until around 7 in the morning! Thursday is the big night for students before they go home for the weekend.

6. Dog Boutiques are everywhere
Go to any French town and expect to find the following: bakery, restaurant, newsagent, small supermarket, pharmacy, beauty salon, dog parlour - clearly all the daily essentials covered. Perhaps this is explained by #1.

7. There is nothing to do on a Sunday
Somehow everyone and everything shuts down and disappears for the day. Make sure you've stocked up on groceries the day before otherwise you're going to go very hungry.

8. Remember to bring your own shopping bags
The English are only just cottoning on to this trend. Go to the supermarket, do a massive shop and realise you've forgotten your trusty Bag for Life. Either buy another one to add to your collection or have an interesting time carrying it all home.

9. Admin
No matter how many forms you sign, how many photocopies of your passport, bank statement, proof of address, birth certificate... you have sent off, there will always seem to be more that magically appear. It's fine though, somehow it will all sort itself out and after signing one or two forms it's important to reward yourself with a 2 hour lunch break and a glass of wine.

10. Customer Service
Order your food in a restaurant, it might come in minutes, days, weeks... who knows? Attract a waiter's attention and they'll wave you off and tell you they're coming - maybe in half an hour's time if you're lucky. Never go for a meal when you're rushed for time, a 'quick bite to eat' does not exist in France.

11. Everyone smokes

Cigarettes are cheaper and chicer across the channel. I'm yet to meet a young French person who doesn't smoke at all. Even the gym instructors!

12. They love coffee

Whatever time of day, a cup of coffee is appropriate. Just not in a big mug, espresso shots are the only way to go.

Week 10 - Family Reunion

This week has absolutely flown by!

Had a wonderful weekend back on home soil with my family. I went up to Sheffield on Saturday to visit my sister Alex at uni. Soph was also up visiting a friend so we had a sister reunion day of shopping the Black Friday weekend sales followed by a night out at Pop Tarts (the Sheffield SU and a little more exciting than the Lemmy I'm afraid to admit). Pre Pop-Tarts Alex and I went on a Pub Golf bar crawl on an ANTS (volunteering) social. Fair to say it was a very different night out from the one's I'm used to in France.

Sheffield Christmas Market

Pub Golf

Braving Meadowhall shopping centre

Sisters reunited

Sunday was the big family reunion for my Grannie's 80th celebrations and she seemed pretty chuffed and surprised to see me (phew, the plan worked)! After a lovely country lunch which included a longed for roast, we headed off back to London before I caught my flight back early the following morning.

Family reunion

Back at school on Tuesday my arrival provided much entertainment when one of my CP pupils (6 year olds) exclaimed Maman (Mummy) as opposed to Katie by mistake. Somehow the kids seem to be getting cuter every week and my collection of drawings is rapidly growing. My new shoes I bought over the weekend have seriously made an impression in the playground - it seems shoes are something people half your size pay a lot of attention to!

Last night I had some friends round at mine for the evening to try British snacks I'd brought from home. Mini Cheddars, Percy Pigs and Cadbury's chocolate were all new to assistants from across the pond.

Off to Montpellier this weekend to check out the Christmas markets and visit Niamh!

A la semaine prochaine,

Katie x

Week 9 - French Thanksgiving

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Avignon! Twinkly lights line every street, the old city walls sparkle after dark and the Christmas market stalls have been set up ready to open next weekend.

The weather has also taken an arctic turn this week - the infamous mistral wind is absolutely freezing. So much for the south of France being warm! Rather fittingly, I've been carrying on with teaching the weather at school and they've definitely mastered how to say "Today it is cold and sunny" (everyday's weather forecast out here).

Over the weekend Annie and I took the bus to Isle sur la Sorgue for the Sunday market. I stocked up on fresh seasonal veggies to make soup, clearly getting the hang of Provençal living now. So bio. 

On Wednesday the Annies hosted 'Friendsgiving' and a group of us assistants got together for another pot-luck evening. As always, there was an impressive selection of food (especially desserts) and the lasagne made by Italian assistants Lavinia, Diego and Alice was belissima!

Thursday was Thanksgiving itself and with so many American friends out here it couldn't go without a celebration. Cece, Rose and I went out for a meal at a swanky restaurant called 83Vernet. The place was really classy with trendy yo-pro vibes, we will definitely be back.

I'm off home this weekend to surprise my Grannie for her 80th birthday celebrations! After a 2 hour delay agitatedly waiting on the runway at Marseille airport, our flight finally took off. Things went very smoothly the other end - got a free ticket home from Gatwick and had a blissful evening watching Pointless and catching up with the rents over a home cooked meal. Dreamy.

Early start this morning as we head off oop North.

Bisous,

Katie x

Week 8 - Getting to Grips with Teaching

A week of flashcard games and scary bus drivers.

I arrived back in Avignon on Sunday afternoon after a harrowing weekend in Paris.

School was on as normal on Monday so I got up bright and early to catch my 7am bus to Malaucène where the morning's lessons went by quickly. At midday the whole school gathered in the playground and held hands in a circle before a minute's silence in commemoration of everyone affected by the terrorist attacks over the weekend.

At school this week I've been teaching the weather, which has gone down really well. I've found using flashcards and playing games has been great, especially when you add a bit of healthy competition!

Met up with the other assistants on our mutual day off on Wednesday for coffees and lesson planning, although can't say how productive we were at getting work done - we were slightly distracted by the speculoos doughnuts! I've also been going out with my flatmate in the evenings which has been fun and a great opportunity to speak some more French - am beginning to discover lots of French slang.

Our favourite evening hangout in Place Pie

Now I'm in a routine I've started to get to know my bus drivers - it's such a friendly community here! There is one bus driver, however, who is absolutely terrifying. She drives the afternoon bus from Orange to Avignon which is always full of teenagers from the lycée and she has no problem keeping them in check and will shout at them for putting their feet on the seats, playing music, or not saying hello when they come on board. Although she eyed me and my bus pass suspiciously at first, now I've done the journey a few times I think she's warming to me...

Can't complain about the commute with this view

The best news this week is that I've managed to change my hours around so from now on I'm only going to be working on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Not only does that mean less time commuting, I've also got a four day weekend!

On Friday, Annie and I had an amusing gym session in the morning - our French gym vocab isn't quite up to scratch yet! In the evening I took the train to Orange to meet up with a couple of assistants I hadn't seen in ages and we had a very merry evening at Le Palace with wine and nachos. We all stayed the night at Georgie's pad (she's living the dream in a 4-bed house with 3 cats) and I left early the next morning to make it in time for spinning.

Teachers on tour

A la semaine prochaine,

Katie x

Flashcard Games

1. Splat
Put all the flash cards in the middle of the board. Split the class into two teams (girls vs. boys is usually easiest) and ask for a volunteer from each team. The two team members stand at either side of the board with their hands behind their backs. When the teachers calls out one of the flash cards, the students must touch the right card as quickly as they can. The first one to do so wins a point for their team. Then switch round for two more people so the whole class gets a turn.

2. True or False
Tell the students you are going to have a competition, you vs. them (this will make them get very competitive)! The teacher holds up a flash card and says a word. If what they say is on the card, and therefore true, the students put their hands up. If it is false, they do nothing. If one person makes a mistake the teacher wins the point, but if the whole class gets it right then they win. First to 10 points usually works for this one.

3. Gimme
Very simple - simply ask the class to raise their hand if they know what's on the card. Get it right and you give them the card. This encourages the whole class to get involved as they have an incentive to answer the question. Once you have handed out all the cards, tell the students with a card to pass it on to a friend. Say the words and whoever has the right card brings it up to the front.

4. Vanishing Act
This will also test their memory. Arrange all the flash cards on the board and jumble them up. Tell the students to close their eyes then take one card away. Tell them to open their eyes and ask them to tell you which card is missing. Can also carry on class competition.

5. Lucky Dip
Put all the flash cards in a bag. Pick a card and ask the class to raise their hand if they know the word. Pick a student and if they get it right they can come to the front and choose a card for someone else to  answer. Continue until all you run out of cards.

A devastating weekend in Paris

On Friday I had a very early start to catch a train to Paris for a weekend visiting friends and sight-seeing. My friend Ollie is studying at the Sorbonne this year and he was my tour guide for the day. We had a walk around the city and took classic tourist shots at Notre Dame and the Musée du Louvre. After meeting up with my friend Frances in her lunch break, Ollie and I continued our tour with a visit to the Pompidou Centre and a coffee at a chic café in the heart of the city. It's incredible that Parisians have so much priceless art and culture on their doorsteps at countless museums and galleries that are usually free entry for students.

That evening, I went to meet Frances for dinner after she had finished work in the 10th arrondissement. We found a trendy little restaurant with an impressive menu where we spent the evening catching up and I was still buzzing with excitement to be in one of my favourite cities in the world. We took the métro to her apartment in the 13th, blissfully unaware of the horrendous events about to take place a couple of neighbourhoods along. The moment we reached her apartment our phones connected to wifi and flooded with streams of messages and news alerts. It wasn't long before we heard about the terrorist attacks nearby and the emergency sirens rang constantly from the streets outside.

We were overwhelmed by the messages from worried friends and family who knew we were out in the city that night. The bars and restaurants attacked in the 10th and 11th are hip areas of Paris, frequented by yo-pros and always full of people on a Friday night. In fact, we'd originally planned to go for drinks there the following evening. Another friend of mine had gone to dinner there when visiting the weekend before. It was all way too close to home. 

We were lucky. Others, however - innocent young people out celebrating the end of the week, socialising with friends over drinks, watching a friendly game of football, seeing their favourite band perform live - were not.

The following day we cancelled all our plans we'd made for the weekend. We followed precautions to stay inside on Saturday morning then after checking the news for final updates we decided to venture out that afternoon. There was certainly a sad atmosphere across the city. We passed a busy hospital surrounded by soldiers and police cars. Media crews were outside every monument we passed. Yet it is important to remember that life must continue, we cannot be forced to stay inside living in fear.

The world's reaction has been amazing, as countries have united in solidarity with Paris. Cities from Sydney and Kuala Lumpur to San Francisco and London lit up their monuments in the tricolour, lighting up for Paris as the iconic Eiffel Tower stayed dark.

Flag at half-mast at the Louvre

These horrific events have not put me off this incredible place. Paris remains a beautiful city that I will certainly be returning to.

My thoughts are with everyone affected by all the tragic acts of terror that have taken place in several countries these last few days.