So, I'll forewarn you that because I've experienced so much in the past week, had some really mind-boggling dreams, and experienced a bunch of new firsts, this is going to be a mélange of thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head these past few days.
So let's begin with how I started a fire in my oven Sunday night trying to make homemade French Fries. To top that, we have no smoke alarm, nor fire extinguisher, and I have no idea what the emergency number is (definitely not 911), so you can imagine what a girl's to do when her precious potatoes are ablaze.
Follow that with a side order of grève. Yep, that's right la grève (strike) isn't over. Never, muhahaha. This time I'm not talking about transportation. I'm saying that I am striking along with the whole school. Quite hypocritical after my long rant about the TCL/SNCF grèves in October, but I think I'm sorta, kinda, maybe starting to get this French mentality (I say that a lot I know, but the French brain is quite the 1,000 piece puzzle). So, why are we striking, you ask? Well the past two weeks or so, many of the teachers have been out sick with what our little rascal students bring into the classrooms. What happens when the economy isn't that great? Oh, they cut random jobs, one being substitute teachers. (I have more to rant about in terms of how they give my school the last straw as many other high population, high poverty schools get treated everywhere, but I'll save it for next time.) So when three teachers are out with the flu what happens to the kids? They get split up and are put into other classrooms and distract the other kids around them and are loud and do absolutely NOTHING for days. And if we're lucky, the secretary, Kenza, will get the OK to go ahead and call every single parent to see if they can keep their kid at home for the next few days because there won't be a substitute teacher the next day either. So there you have it, on fait la grève demain (We're striking tomorrow).
Going back in time, last Thursday was the much awaited three class show, "Flash Dingues." When I first arrived here, the teachers got together to watch old videos of musical. After watching the kids practice before English hour, during recess, and after school, I braved my snotty nose and hack-a-lung-up cough and went to the theater. They were brilliant, despite the pause in the middle of the show because ALL of the boys forgot their cue and the pianist kept playing. I teared up a little because at this point, five months in, I feel as if these are my kiddies too and I was a proud Momma Bear. And I absolutely loved how one of my smiley little CP students, Jessy, was the only one not to turn around at the end of one of the songs. He stood there smiling into the crowd. PRECIOUS.
Marc made a special appearance
Where not in France anymore, Toto. It's CHINA!
In terms of new recipes, I cooked one, and ate two. I've been craving my family's homemade asparagus soup and decided on a whim to cook it up. Let's just say that crème fraiche makes all the difference (sorry USA but you can't beat it). Then for Tania's 21st we made a Moroccan chicken dinner.**And tonight, I made zucchini soup!
Friday night we celebrated Tania's 21st and on Saturday night I joined the Ronzière family for Baptiste's 20th birthday. Before arriving, I was told to bring sports clothes. To me this means we are doing some sort of athletic activity and I immediately thought maybe another game of laser tag. I blame my clogged ears. I arrived and it was a costume party. Had I understood the French I claim I speak, I would've gone all clad in my Phillies gear. Nonetheless, what was so spectacular about this night was watching a family celebrate. You're probably thinking, it was a birthday party: You eat cake, you give presents, and you drink like everywhere else. Well sorta, but not really. You see first you have to do the traditional aperitif drinking during which I was introduced to the rest of the family I never met. We proceeded to the restaurant which was reserved just for us. The food was, of course, delicious and the dessert impeccable (chocolate ice cream within a chocolate hard coating covered with a teensy bit of vanilla sauce). Yet, all in all, the best part was just watching these people interact. Sure they're just like you and me but it's so interesting to watch how families interact in comparison to a) your own b) your country's stereotypical family c) other French families d) French families in Films e) etc. They were absolutely all in love with each other. Every family member made some sort of skit, game, or video to share and watching the creativity come out of their mouths was unbelievable. And, let's not forget the stereotypical dancing to Michael Jackson. I'm still unsure about this puzzle piece: the French obsession with Michael Jackson. The best thing is that they think we too are all obsessed with him and they were quite amazed that I wouldn't dance along.
Earlier that day, I went on a hunt for my belly-dancing scarf. Success in five minutes. What I didn't expect to do was watch the skateboarders and DMX bikers for two hours. Nor did I expect to brave the Guillotière area, walking in and out of African, Chinese, Indian, and Arabian markets. I found spices I've never heard of, bought a Guava juice, and made my cooking goal for next week after seeing all of these foreign ingredients and new cooking opportunities I never dared to think about back home.
One of a few skate parks on the Rhône
Finally, on Sunday, I ventured back to the wine festival to grab a second bottle of some of the wine I took home for Christmas. I know you should try new things and all but I absolutely LOVE these two vignerons independents (independent wine makers) from Alsace: Gerard and Serge Hartmann. The one, older man reminds me of what I would think my great-grandfather would have been like if I had ever met him (hearing from stories as a kid). After testing a few white and red wines, we headed to the free wine connoisseur class. Guillame, a professional from Paris, taught us what to look for when doing the three steps of wine tasting. He also established the difference between vin copain, vin de table, and vin des moment exceptionnels. Unfortunately, all of the wine I bought needs to be kept for those special occasions and age a bit.
And now that you're sick of reading, you can listen to some awesome music. The first, Kareyce Fotso, I went to see today at the free at noon concert at the Opera House. She was a wonderful performer, was happy to be there and tell her stories, and she had an incredibly contagious smile. She played a various amount of instruments I have never seen before in my life, many of which are only supposed to be played by men. The one reminded me of a rain stick but was horizontal. The whole audience definitely got lost in its sounds; we all spaced out a little bit after she finished that song because it sounded so much like the ocean. This song is about the earth (Mayolé) and how we are not taking care of her; neither in Cameroon nor the rest of the world.
The second I can't seem to stop playing. The mesmerizing Alexander from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros sings Truth. I always love songs with whistling but this is just over the top incredible with the addition of the tambourine and horns. While the lyrics have nothing to do with Spring, it somehow gives me this feeling that the warm weather is going to make Lyon an even more beautiful home than it is right now.
Out and Over.
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