First day at School

So, the past few days have been quite eventful.  So much happened last Friday:  I went to school for the first full day and I think I found an appartment!  School was fun but it was such a long day.  We got there a little after 8:00 and hung out with all of the teachers.  Everyone sits around and drinks coffee.  I don't really understand the size of the cups in France.  That morning before school Jessica's mom gave me some coffee in a huge bowl of a mug.  Then we get to school and everyone is drinking coffee in teacups the size of shot glasses.  At dinner too, the glasses they had were teeny.  I think I would prefer more than a shot of water with my dinner haha.  Or more than a shot of coffee in the morning, but less than a bowl I think. 
Oh well, anyway, the teachers are pretty nice at school.  They are mostly younger girls in their twenties, but the head teacher is a middle aged man who is nice, but strict.  For instance, Thursday when I was brought in to be introduced he refused to stop his class to say hi, but Friday he seemed to be in a better mood.  He kept making jokes, including the fact that my new appartment is right across from an apparently popular bar, Mc Ewan's, which everyone calls Mac's.  The best part of school though were the children of course.  They are adorable!  I love their accents, and I could barely keep from laughing when I sat through their English lesson.  We all sang a song using school supply vocab...which was hilarious because some of the words were apparently British words, like a copy book for notebook, felt tips for markers, and my personal favorite a rubber meaning an eraser.  I had to hold my tongue when they all sang "Eeets a rubbahh, eeets a rubbahh." (It's a rubber.)
I can't wait to go back to school tomorrow to observe again, and then move into my appartment!  But, enough for today, I'll be sure to tell you all about my appartment and new roomies once I move in.
A toute a l'heure!

Le Nord de la France

I made it to France!  And the past couple of days have been quite hectic.  Once the plane landed I was nervous but excited.  Stepping off the plane it didnt really feel like I was in a totally new place.  It felt familiar- but that was probably because I could still hear all of the Americans around me speaking English.  I was excited to be back in Paris again where I had spent 5 months before and could navigate fairly well.  But then as I made my way to immigration, I was greeted by a huge mob of other travelers waiting to get into France.  So, after not really sleeping throughout the plane ride, I was not exactly excited anymore about being in Paris and having to wait an hour and a half for them to barely glance at my passport. 
But I made it!  And I really shouldn't have worried much at all, because things seem to be working out.  I had someone to get me at the station, even though I had to wait another hour and a half after arriving in Lille, and  not being exactly sure whether she was going to be able to make it.  Then after taking an hour of that time trying to figure out how to make a phone call on the payphone to reach her (and to reach my parents) I was greeted by a very friendly voice who so nonchalantly stated, I'll be there in half an hour.  But, I had somone to come get me.  And, I have a place to stay.  With her parents because they have internet access and a bed and they feed me.  They're very nice people which helps me feels better about being here in France alone.  But I'm not really alone though-for now I have Jessica's mom and dad (who don't seem to me to be the typical French, at least not the typical Parisiens- her dad wears wife beaters and has quite a few tattoos, and they're both quite humorous when I understand what they're saying.  And I have Jessica, who's helped me out a lot with showing me around and helping me find a place to stay.  Today I went to the school to meet everyone, even though most of the teachers were on strike, including Jessica, go figure!  But the children were adorable and I think they're excited to have met an American.  And I think I even found an appartment, living in Lens with a couple of roomates.  All in the same day!  So I guess we'll see what the next few days bring!

In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines...

Day of Departure

It took me a while to come up with the perfect name for my blog.  And here it is: In an old house in Paris...the first line in the Madeline books.  It really is fate that is responsible for my obsession with all things French.  And, it began at a young age when I was given my first Madeline book. 
So, here I am, with only a couple hours left here in my house in Cincinnati, before I move to France for seven months.  And, I'm nervous!  Still need to rethink my packing arrangements.  I packed way too much crap and I waited until the last minute to do it.  Oh well, I made sure I got all the important things in this last week, all of the necessary American things that I won't be able to enjoy overseas:  breakfast, barbeque, burgers, and baseball.  Notice how most of these things are food.  You know American food might be one of the things I'll miss the most, pretty sad, I know.  Well I guess I'll miss all of you guys too!  You know these seven months will go by fast and soon I'll get to see all of you again and share my stories.  Until then: come visit!  Read my blog!  and remember, I just got a magic jack so I can make free call to the US, so I'll be calling you all the time!