Mais, vous parlez bien français!

I get so happy when people tell me that. It makes me think that I haven't wasted half of my life learning a foreign language and I didn't waste money and time getting a degree in it...

When I woke this morning, I realized that it's Mardi Gras... Fat Tuesday. So as I was getting ready this morning, I was thinking of what I could eat for lunch to celebrate appropriately. In all honesty, I wanted something that would put me in a food coma, like a steak burrito from Chipotle or a burger, quesadilla, and milkshake from Cookout. But alas, the closest Chipotle is in Paris (and there was no way I was buying a train ticket just for Chipotle... I wasn't that desperate :P) and I'm pretty sure that the closest Cookout is an ocean away.

I eventually decided the the friterie would be the closest thing I could get to cookout and would definitely make it full. I only had one class to teach this morning, so after doing some errands, I headed to the little stand near the Grande Place. My binge meal for the day? A cheeseburger and small fries. Yes, they still call it a cheeseburger... actually just "un cheese." They also have a "burger" sauce... and an "américain" sauce. I've tried the burger sauce before and I want to say it's like a mix of ketchup and mayo, but I'm not sure if it is or they added anything else. And I have no idea what the americain sauce is. I had the ch'ti sauce today.. and once again, honestly don't know what it is. I honestly haven't felt that full in such a long time. I was afraid I was going to throw it up when I went to the gym later. Also, this is France's version of a small fries (it can easily feed 4... so I also want to note that the rest of the fries were my dinner too...):

Anyways, back to the actual point of my post...

The guy at the friterie told me that I have a bit of an accent (thankfully my accent isn't super American and then they automatically know I'm American) and then asked me where I was from and then asked me if I was a student here. This happens a lot, whenever anybody finds out that I'm American, they ask if I'm a student (because otherwise, what would an American be doing in such a small town?) I told him that I'm an assistant at the high school and that I teach English. Then came the phrase I love to hear, "Vous parlez bien français!" "You speak French well!"

Like I said earlier, it's basically a confidence booster. I have days where when I speak, I feel like my accent sounds more American. Also, I know that I'm more conscious about my French when I'm around actual French people. When I'm talking to the other assistants, I don't feel as conscious, but if I'm talking to other teachers, I feel like my brain freaks out a little. There are also just some days where my mind just goes "blah" and I feel like I should go back to French 201. There are time where I'm more conscious of my English. There are times where I don't even notice if I slip in an English word in a French conversation or vice versa. There are times where I just can't think of the word in either French or English. In that case, I feel like my brain just switches between the two languages so often and sometimes it just gets stuck.

Also today in class, a student asked for a synonym of happy. My first thoughts were heureux, content, basically the synonyms in French. And sometimes when French songs come up on my iTunes, I don't realize that it's French/in a foreign language until halfway through the song.

But at least I'm speaking French?

Oh look at that... two posts in two days! See, I'm getting better!

Bis x
N

presque la fin?!

One stereotype about the north of France is that it’s COLD. When it started getting colder, I was surprised… in a good way, I suppose. When everybody else was pulling out their huge bubble or marshmallow coats, I was still fine in my northface or peacoat. However, a few weeks ago, I started to experience the real winter, cold with temperatures constantly in the negatives (in Celsisus). I like to think that I have experienced cold winters and snowpacalypses in Virginia. Sure, it was probably colder when I lived up North when I was little, but for some reason, it just felt oh so cold here… and I was trying to remember if I’ve ever been that cold before. But of course, my feelings of coldness here could be attributed to the fact that at home, I’m used to having central heating and not just one radiator used to heat up one room (my bathroom was absolutely freezing). It’s gotten bit warmer (yay, staying in the positives), but it’s also been cloudy and rainy. At least when it was freezing, it was sunny?

To avoid complete winter hibernation, I joined a gym here so I could bouge un peu. I’ve been going there pretty regularly, doing some classes such as aéro dance (aerobics dance) and zumba! They’re pretty fun… and I still have yet to move my hips like our instructor. One day… one day. Also a few weeks ago, I made a spur of the moment purchase and bought the Dirty Dancing DVD and wait for it… the Dirty Dancing fitness DVD. No shame? I know I’m such an awkward dancer, but I just sometimes have to urge to dance slash at least try. Hmm… maybe after I post this, I’ll do the fitness DVD… (thank goodness I can do this alone in my room)

Since I only have a little more than 2 months left of my contract left (holy crap… it’s almost over?!), I’ve been indulging in pastries, baguettes, and cheese! I seriously could have a baguette and cheese for each meal. Alors, cheese makes my face break out, so I’m trying to cut down on it (or maybe even give it up for Lent?) These are all already on my mental list of things I’m going to miss when I leave France. I am hoping to come back and work/live in France longer… mais, on verra.

Baguette and a religieuse chocolat (filled with chocolate cream!)

Baguette + cheese -- I could eat this all day errday

I guess I’m really starting (or I have been?) to blend in here. One day while walking to Auchan with Melissa, an old lady stopped us and asked for us directions. I think it’s safe to say that we were successful with our direction giving (she could understand us… her response wasn't "oh wait you’re not French…")! Also, one time at the gym, a lady came up to me and asked if I could explain the different machines to her. This time wasn’t as successful… I was hesitating on what to say, because to be honest, even if someone asked me that same question in English, I wouldn’t know what to say. I just use the machines…

This past Saturday, I wandered around Lille with Melissa. It was nice to actually wander around a place bigger than Béthune :P We walked towards the Palais des Beaux Arts (art museum), but didn’t go in because it was still early when we arrived, so we ended up just walking and wandering and ended up in Wazemmes (a suburb) and then eventually made our away back to the centre-ville. On the way, we saw a few churches and did a bit of window shopping before having lunch (I was on the hunt for a new bag—mine broke :( and M was looking for shoes… of course, I was looking at the shoes too…). After lunch, we wandered into this little courtyard where there was a small market selling used books. I feel like I would’ve bought some if I didn’t have to worry about bringing them back and also if I had some recommendations. We did a little more window shopping and wandered over to Vieux Lille. We stumbled across a little shop that sells local/regional beers and food. I bought some Belgian beer… raspberry, cherry, and peach. I haven’t tried them yet, but I’m sure they’re good. I mean after all, it is Belgian.

Palais des Beaux Arts- Lille

This is the last week of school before winter vacation! I’m excited because I’ll be going to Barcelona for almost a week and Marseille for ½ a week. I can’t seriously can’t wait… this week needs to go by faster.

I realized that after break, I only have 6 more weeks of teaching… it’s so crazy. Time really does fly. I’ve also been trying to plan weekend or even day trips for the rest of the weekends until it’s over… Brussels, Arras?, Paris, London?, Germany… oh là.

Also, the school finally gave us internet in the studios so I really should try to update this more often. I know I’ll definitely have some stories in a couple weeks…

And you know how all there's all these sh*t people say videos? I think the one for the French is pretty funny...

Gros bisous x

Nicole