first snow and french cows

First I would just like to note that I’m sitting writing this update wrapped up in my winter warmers next to the radiator and looking out over a SNOW COVERED Champagnole...I almost squealed like a child when I saw the first white scattering this morning!

So, not a lot to report but here goes... At the end of last week’s Italian class my housemate and I were ambushed by a very friendly Swiss couple who almost awkwardly asked us how we would feel about teaching four young boys English...?? This resulted in a dinner invitation and a very lovely Thursday evening. Despite gorgeous Italian food, interesting multi-lingual conversation the highlight was in fact the house itself! They live in a huge converted farmhouse, complete with what I can only describe as being a Wacky Warehouse in the loft! The house really was like something you would see on Grand Designs! At the end of the night we came to an agreement that we would dine with the family every Thursday after an hour of tutoring with the four boys, I think linguistically this could prove a very enriching experience!

We spent the weekend visiting another assistant in Dole, a small picturesque town about an hour’s drive away from Champagnole. We explored the town a little and ate a gorgeous dinner at La Bucherie, including the FIRST chips I have eaten since arriving in France, yes yes thats almost two months! Ha. I ordered a ‘franc-comtoise’ steak which was simply delicious! Afterwards we made our way to, simply ‘le pub’ for drinks, where we successfully introduced one of my flatmates to Long Island Iced Tea’s for the first time! (she will hate me for writing this, ha)!

Back in the classroom I feel certain classes are really starting to progress, whereas others I just want to slash have to scream at for the entire lesson. Earlier this week I had to suppress puerile laughter when an eight year old boy exercised his abdominal thrusts behind the teacher who was busying herself with the cd player. Elsewhere during a conversational class I asked a boy if he was a cow (in hope that we would say ‘no, I am a boy’ but in fact he confused the question with ‘what is your nationality?’ and responded quite eloquently ‘No, I am French.’

In other news I am eagerly awaiting next weekend when my housemate and I will explore the Christmas market in Alsace!! Incredible amounts of excitement!