I have received word that my family is safe following the devastating storms that ripped through the Southeast yesterday. Dozens of tornadoes touched down across the American South. My hometown in Ringgold, GA was hit very hard and the downtown area almost does not exist. The restaurants have been battered and torn. Schools are in shambles. Many people have lost their homes and some their lives.
The repercussions of such a disaster are felt across the Chattanooga region and may affect natives of Ringgold, GA for weeks, months, maybe even years to come. I am very sad for Ringgold and I grieve with people around the area. There have been numerous recent storms that have scarred places (Katrina, the tsunamis in the Near East, etc.). We never expected anything similar to these storms, anything remotely close, to hit our area. Yet, indeed storms swept by in an unbelievable way.
The Lord is with us in all things. Wherever we may be, he is there also. He has created a magnificent plan for us and gives us strength where we feel weak. He will carry us on and permit us to persevere in all things. In our grief, He is there to comfort and restore us. The Lord Jesus is our refuge in the storm of life. We clearly see that He is by looking at the passage of the storm on the Sea of Galilee and seeing how Jesus calmed the storm. Through our faith in Him, we may be comforted as we cling to the hope in Christ.
May we hold to the truth and hope in Christ, even as we grieve for the losses both in persons and in material from these storms that have ravaged the American South.
28 April 2011
26 April 2011
Easter in France
My Easter in France was special in two ways: (1) I played a large part in the worship service at the Reformed Church and (2) I benefited from a large party at the Griffons that included a barbecue and fellowship with friends and family of my host family. I felt blessed in both aspects of this truly beautiful Easter weekend.
At church, I was responsible for accompanying the hymns and songs for the Easter worship service. I did so with my violin. Realizing that I had a larger responsibility than I thought, I felt humbled to be able to share my violin music with the church. It gave me joy to play the hymns with the congregation. Since the church is a small room in a building, it made the worship seem even more "homely" or intimate. In addition to playing for the hymns, I also pulled out St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer to play following the message. It's such a beautiful piece to play and I enjoyed playing for the public. The message itself was encouraging and a good solid message for Easter. At the top of my head, I don't remember the exact scripture references, but the lay leader who preached focused on how the Lord took on the sin of the world even as an innocent person to cover the sins of the world. Through actively participating in the service, I felt I was giving a good part to the service. An elderly man came up to me at the end of the service and said that the violin greatly enhanced the music for the service.
When I returned from the service, the Griffons were getting ready to welcome many people for their Easter party. We took the aperitif and had lunch and then we went to the cemetery and jardin des souvenirs (memory garden), where we paid our respects to Nathy's mother (who passed away tragically in a car accident last year close to Easter). It was a solemn moment and everyone was rather sad and not many people had much to say about Nathy's mother. I honestly had no idea what to think. I didn't know if she knew Christ or not. I hoped that she did.
While at the party, I met two young women in their early thirties, one who has dual citizenship in the US and in the EU and an Asian girl. Both of them knew English so we spoke a little bit. I enjoyed eating and drinking with them during the party. Sometimes, I feel awkward in these social settings, not just because the French but because I usually don't know the people that I see. Fortunately, I was able to enjoy conversation with these women, who were nice to talk to.
Later in the day, we had our meal, which consisted of Andouillette sausage, the boudin, fruit salads, vegetables, bread, cheese, and excellent chocolate cake with custard. It was a marvelous meal and we have continued to benefit from the leftovers even today or two days later. Indeed, it was a blessed time both at the church and at home for my Easter this year.
At church, I was responsible for accompanying the hymns and songs for the Easter worship service. I did so with my violin. Realizing that I had a larger responsibility than I thought, I felt humbled to be able to share my violin music with the church. It gave me joy to play the hymns with the congregation. Since the church is a small room in a building, it made the worship seem even more "homely" or intimate. In addition to playing for the hymns, I also pulled out St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer to play following the message. It's such a beautiful piece to play and I enjoyed playing for the public. The message itself was encouraging and a good solid message for Easter. At the top of my head, I don't remember the exact scripture references, but the lay leader who preached focused on how the Lord took on the sin of the world even as an innocent person to cover the sins of the world. Through actively participating in the service, I felt I was giving a good part to the service. An elderly man came up to me at the end of the service and said that the violin greatly enhanced the music for the service.
When I returned from the service, the Griffons were getting ready to welcome many people for their Easter party. We took the aperitif and had lunch and then we went to the cemetery and jardin des souvenirs (memory garden), where we paid our respects to Nathy's mother (who passed away tragically in a car accident last year close to Easter). It was a solemn moment and everyone was rather sad and not many people had much to say about Nathy's mother. I honestly had no idea what to think. I didn't know if she knew Christ or not. I hoped that she did.
While at the party, I met two young women in their early thirties, one who has dual citizenship in the US and in the EU and an Asian girl. Both of them knew English so we spoke a little bit. I enjoyed eating and drinking with them during the party. Sometimes, I feel awkward in these social settings, not just because the French but because I usually don't know the people that I see. Fortunately, I was able to enjoy conversation with these women, who were nice to talk to.
Later in the day, we had our meal, which consisted of Andouillette sausage, the boudin, fruit salads, vegetables, bread, cheese, and excellent chocolate cake with custard. It was a marvelous meal and we have continued to benefit from the leftovers even today or two days later. Indeed, it was a blessed time both at the church and at home for my Easter this year.
23 April 2011
A week in London with the Lycee, Days 4 and 5
Shakespeare's Globe Recreated (almost to meet original specifications)
The British Museum
Day 4 :
Our fourth day in London was fun and was a slight bit more relaxed than the other days. We went to the Globe Theatre in the morning, which was a welcome change. As a literary scholar, I very much appreciated being near where the actual Globe was (the one we were in was a replica of the original completed in 1997). The museum was interesting and gave me a new sense of what Shakespearean theatre was like. Having read at least half of Shakespeare's plays, I appreciated looking around and seeing things about Shakespeare's theatre. To top it off, our guide was a really cool guy and had a good sense of humor that helped our group to understand the information and stories being told.
Following our visit to Shakespeare's Globe, we went to Covent Garden. When I thought of this place, I envisioned seeing the chapel in "My Fair Lady" at the beginning of the musical (a play inspired by George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion") And behold, I saw it with my own eyes. It's a really nice place. We had our lunch in this area. Immediately afterwards, one of the London street performers came out and attracted a large crowd. He did tricks that were quite remarkable to see. However, as all other street performers, he basically demanded money from everyone in the square, telling everyone he wasn't paid by the city of London. Interesting but maybe not the most attractive of entertainments.
One of my colleagues and I went to the British Museum a couple hours later. We went to see the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian hieroglyphics, and mummies. For some reason, the Egyptians fascinate the French and me. We were both surrounded by hundreds of French tourists who were there for perhaps the same reasons as we were. It's a wonderful museum. I found a bookmark for my dad that has the museum edifice on it that he will like. The fatigue continued to be heavy on everyone, but soon we were in the bus on our way home.
Day 5 :
The last day was easy and not too bad in the least. My group did their filming for interviews with Londoners for their class project. They talked about the diversity of population in London, a sociological question that they explored with about three different people. Finding a person who would share was difficult, but they managed well.
Lunch and then the 12 hour trip back home. We stopped at a cafeteria on the way home to have a comforting French dinner. Everyone was pleased to have that after only having the choice of pizza, fries, and pasta for four nights in a row. A welcome change again.
We arrived in Mayenne at about 1:00am and everyone was so glad to be home. There really is no place like home, and for me, Mayenne is home.
A week in London with the Lycee, Day 3
Day 3:
Day 3 fortunately turned out to be better, since we went to Buckingham Palace and got to see the changing of the guard, a bigger deal than I previously thought. I have been to the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington and it's a solemn ceremony. When I thought of the changing of the guard, I thought it would be something similar. Yet, of course, I recognized I was in front of a "royal" palace rather than the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The ceremony was even funnier than I expected it to be. It was a spectacle, complete with marching of the royal guard and trumpet fanfare. Perhaps even funnier was the music that came from contemporary sources such as from the musical comedy "Hairspray" ("You can't stop the beat"). I almost had an attack of laughter when I heard this music playing. What's more the entire ceremony lasted for about two hours and everyone was sweating in the heat and absorbing UV rays. ]
Through all of this, I could only think of how funny it was that even in the midst of a democracy (Parliament) in Britain, there is still this sense of tradition in the monarchy, something that shapes the conscience of the Briton. It was pretty fascinating to feel that. Britons are proud of their history, their Pound Sterling (in spite of the Euro), even the fact that they still drive on the left side of the road. My time in front of Buckingham Palace made me think of how particular the British are. Pride in the country, the tradition, the efficiency. No wonder, so many people think London is the center of the world. (After all, every country's time zone is based on GMT or Greenwich Mean Time, which is based from a town not too far from London). Yet, it also reminded me of my own pride in the United States.
After seeing the changing of the guard, we then walked up to Trafalgar Square, where we found the National Portrait Gallery. Instead of looking at the art, I went with Anne (a colleague) to buy some tea and do a little bit of shopping and went inside Saint Martin in the Fields. (This of course, reminded me of the time when Academy of St. Martin in the Fields orchestra came to Covenant College a couple years ago. It was fascinating to go inside this church that holds a history of classical music in the London area.) Our visits were followed by a bus tour around London to ease our weary feet. (Not actually sure how far we walked, but it had to be 10-11 miles a day, almost the equivalent of a theme park. In fact, so much of being in London, made me think we were inside a theme park, looking around and queuing up for attractions. Interesting reflection to think about.)
A week in London with the Lycee (Part 1) Days 1-2
This has been an incredibly busy week and yet it has been enjoyable. The bus ride to London was long but somehow the time was able to pass rather quickly. We left in the middle of the night and arrived in the middle of the afternoon Monday. The most exciting part of the trip was crossing the English Channel (La Manche), where the bus literally boarded a train car that would take us in the Chunnel (a trip that took about 35 minutes). It was one of those Mission Impossible moments where I recalled the chase on top of the Eurostar train. Pretty sweet stuff.
Day 1: Honestly, when it came to London, I really had no idea what to expect. I had seen the sites in movies, but I was not that excited about going. Not to say I didn't want to be there, it's just I wanted the adventure. And the entire week was a fascinating adventure.
When we arrived in London, we went to a large department store called Harrolds, which sort of reminded me of Macy's in New York. Everything, of course, was out of my price range. And it felt more like a museum for la mode than a store that the middle class person could see. Then again, there are people who indeed do their shopping there, namely the aristocracy of London.
After looking through Harrolds with the students, we went to the Museum of Natural History, which had dinoasaur bones and sculptures and other cool artifacts. This museum seemed to be designed for the kids. Little kids strolling with their mommies looking at a big Tyrannasaurus Rex, amusing. This museum reminded me of the pictures I had seen of collections in my science text books from the Dark Ages (fourth and fifth grade).
Later, we checked in to the hostel, which was located in a residential area of town close to Hyde Park. It was a charming area to be in. Some of the houses lining the streets reminded me of the most recent version of the "Parent Trap," or Natasha Richardson's home in London. Interesting to think about all the representations of London in film, novel, etc. and to actually be there. The hostel was well positioned and while, it had some shortcomings as far as cleanliness and the like, it was livable for the week we were there.
At the end of the day, we went to the Pizza Factory, which turned out to be the place where we would be eating the entire time. It was incredibly funny to me when we, to our surprise, found out that we would be eating pizza, pasta, and fries (with salad)the whole time. I was with French people. The French love to eat balanced meals with bread, cheese, meat, salad, and yogurt for dessert. Unfortunately, we did not get all those things with our meal plan. What was even more funny was the fact that I sort of wanted to complain as well, seeing as I have eaten these foods for seven months and like the French diet. We survived in the end, which was good.
Planning for the next day's scavenger hunt,then we went to bed.
Day 2
Day 2 was perhaps my most stressful day, given that I would have to take a group around London all by myself and try to get my bearings on a city that is enormous. My group was all girls, who were nice and kind. The scavenger hunt turned out not to be a race but rather one in which we would see the various sites around Central London. We saw Big Ben, Parliament Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, the famous toy store in Piccadilly Circus, and a few other spots that were interesting. I have some good pictures of these areas as well. We ended up getting lost trying to get back to the Auberge (hostel). And thanks to my bad navigation skills, our treasure hunt forced us in the end to cross the entire city to get back to our hostel. However, it was good even though a little tense at times, and I had to apologize to the girls who were completely worn out by the end of the day.
Things got better, however...
15 April 2011
The end of the road...finally.
Generally, this week has been fun and enjoyable. I handed out Mars chocolate bars to my 1eres and Terminale students at the middle and end of the week, and asked the students in Terminale what they will be doing next year. Needless to say, I am sad to see them leave but happy for what they are going to be doing just as I did at their age, pursuing higher education. They're great kids, no doubt. And I've so enjoyed working with them. Saying goodbye was difficult. At the same time, I couldn't restrain my excitement of leaving at the end of it all.
Take when I was at the middle school. Yesterday was a total disaster in two classes. They refused to listen to me, had paper wad wars, and it just overall was total chaos. Not my favorite way of leaving a class for good. Fortunately, some of the girls came up to me this afternoon and apologized for being so impolite and bad-behaved. I respected this gesture. At the very least, I have a souvenir of them apologizing for causing me so much trouble on my last day. I would much rather block out the other souvenirs. It's too painful. Trust me. You don't want to know the rest.
Meanwhile, today was better. I talked to my colleague and decided just to show Shrek for the last day. I certainly did not feel like doing anything with them. It's my last day with classes that happen to fall at the end of the day, the worst time to keep any kid's attention, even the good ones. That went okay. The kids were a little dumbfounded when I told them that today was my last day. It seems it only just began a couple weeks ago when I switched from being with 6eme for three long months. I'm ready, however, to leave the school with good memories. Even if it's been the most challenging and demoralizing part of my teaching experience, I want to remember the times like when I played violin for the kids, when we watched certain videos and the kids laughed, and even when they would race each other to finish their word puzzles. To many of the kids, my presence has been a huge asset, even if I only taught them two or three words of English. Not exactly what I had planned, but it's better than nothing. Fatigue has ensued, but the Lord has permitted me to persevere all along. And I must be thankful for that, because even when I've wanted to give up, the Lord has lifted me up and given me the confidence to continue and not quit. I'm not a quitter anyway. Determination and perseverence are gifts for which I am thankful.
I have a weekend to get ready for London, which will be fun, exciting, and, no doubt, exhausting. In any situation, it should be worth every minute. I'm going for free, so I will not do any complaining. Planning on enjoying what is sure to be an interesting journey. Educational and interesting. We leave at 4am on Monday morning and should arrive back in Mayenne on Saturday at midnight. See you on the other end. I'll come bearing pictures and blog entries by next weekend. Blessings, jcm.
Take when I was at the middle school. Yesterday was a total disaster in two classes. They refused to listen to me, had paper wad wars, and it just overall was total chaos. Not my favorite way of leaving a class for good. Fortunately, some of the girls came up to me this afternoon and apologized for being so impolite and bad-behaved. I respected this gesture. At the very least, I have a souvenir of them apologizing for causing me so much trouble on my last day. I would much rather block out the other souvenirs. It's too painful. Trust me. You don't want to know the rest.
Meanwhile, today was better. I talked to my colleague and decided just to show Shrek for the last day. I certainly did not feel like doing anything with them. It's my last day with classes that happen to fall at the end of the day, the worst time to keep any kid's attention, even the good ones. That went okay. The kids were a little dumbfounded when I told them that today was my last day. It seems it only just began a couple weeks ago when I switched from being with 6eme for three long months. I'm ready, however, to leave the school with good memories. Even if it's been the most challenging and demoralizing part of my teaching experience, I want to remember the times like when I played violin for the kids, when we watched certain videos and the kids laughed, and even when they would race each other to finish their word puzzles. To many of the kids, my presence has been a huge asset, even if I only taught them two or three words of English. Not exactly what I had planned, but it's better than nothing. Fatigue has ensued, but the Lord has permitted me to persevere all along. And I must be thankful for that, because even when I've wanted to give up, the Lord has lifted me up and given me the confidence to continue and not quit. I'm not a quitter anyway. Determination and perseverence are gifts for which I am thankful.
I have a weekend to get ready for London, which will be fun, exciting, and, no doubt, exhausting. In any situation, it should be worth every minute. I'm going for free, so I will not do any complaining. Planning on enjoying what is sure to be an interesting journey. Educational and interesting. We leave at 4am on Monday morning and should arrive back in Mayenne on Saturday at midnight. See you on the other end. I'll come bearing pictures and blog entries by next weekend. Blessings, jcm.
11 April 2011
A Karaoke Party with Terminale students
A couple weeks ago, I wanted to do something special for the terminale students that I see every week, after having seen their progress, attentiveness, etc. So, I decided to throw a karaoke party with them today. Each person brought a dish (a cake, brownies, drink, etc.) and together, everyone shared in the enjoyment of a snack with each other's company. Compatible with the French lifestyle and Americanized. I baked a set of old fashioned sugar cookies that I thought was pretty much a staple of American desserts. (Looked up a recipe online and went with it although messing it up once before getting it right... the mixture of metric measurements as opposed to English system measurements and other factors). Regardless, I was able to make cookies that would be gone at the end of the day.
We listened to various pop songs, most of which the terminale students knew. Everyone enjoyed singing along to Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Diddy, etc. It was an enjoyable atmosphere, relaxed and without any pressure. I felt that these kids definitely deserve it in light of the stress that looms with the Baccaulaureat at the beginning of June. Several of these students will be going to the university next year in areas such as languages, psychology, and business. Others will go to preparatory classes (2 year course of study) for the Grandes Ecoles, which are the most prestigious universities in France (these universities are very difficult to get into and require the highest scores on an examination). I have faith in these students. They're bright and capable of doing good things in their next chapter. They've been such a joy to teach, and I feel as if their presence and attention in class have kept me going through the challenges that have accompanied teaching other groups of students.
My opinion on the rewards system
I plan to offer similar treats to the 1eres at the middle of the week and Terminales at the end of the week. Rewards for good work, such a good feeling. I enjoy giving rewards but only for continued progress and achievement of the select few that put in the work. For the 1eres that I see on Monday morning, I did not reward them. They've given me a big, fat nothing the entire year, and they honestly do not deserve any of my lauding. As much as I've tried to initiate them into a brief conversation, they've responded in talking in French, staring into space, and demanding to leave early every time just for lunch. That doesn't deserve anything from me. And if I were giving them a grade, the majority of the class would get below a C. Average grade: C-. Perhaps, such aspects of my opinions on rewards will carry into my philosophy of grading as a future teacher.
We listened to various pop songs, most of which the terminale students knew. Everyone enjoyed singing along to Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Diddy, etc. It was an enjoyable atmosphere, relaxed and without any pressure. I felt that these kids definitely deserve it in light of the stress that looms with the Baccaulaureat at the beginning of June. Several of these students will be going to the university next year in areas such as languages, psychology, and business. Others will go to preparatory classes (2 year course of study) for the Grandes Ecoles, which are the most prestigious universities in France (these universities are very difficult to get into and require the highest scores on an examination). I have faith in these students. They're bright and capable of doing good things in their next chapter. They've been such a joy to teach, and I feel as if their presence and attention in class have kept me going through the challenges that have accompanied teaching other groups of students.
My opinion on the rewards system
I plan to offer similar treats to the 1eres at the middle of the week and Terminales at the end of the week. Rewards for good work, such a good feeling. I enjoy giving rewards but only for continued progress and achievement of the select few that put in the work. For the 1eres that I see on Monday morning, I did not reward them. They've given me a big, fat nothing the entire year, and they honestly do not deserve any of my lauding. As much as I've tried to initiate them into a brief conversation, they've responded in talking in French, staring into space, and demanding to leave early every time just for lunch. That doesn't deserve anything from me. And if I were giving them a grade, the majority of the class would get below a C. Average grade: C-. Perhaps, such aspects of my opinions on rewards will carry into my philosophy of grading as a future teacher.
09 April 2011
My take on French food: Simplicity with Elegance
I've been in France for over six months now and have yet to give you the scoop (no pun intended) on French food. Personally, I have taken a xenocentric approach to this and feel after months of reflection that the French eat well, really well. Not only that, but they know when to eat and when to stop. Yeah, call them the masters of portion control. Their food is rich and many would say it's hard on your stomach, because it's so heavy with milk, cream, butter, etc. I have to counter that. The French have mastered the art of enjoying food to the extent that being in good company and eating a good meal go hand in hand. And perhaps that counts for something. The French are among the least obese in the world, exercise well, and socialize very well. All of these make for healthy people that have higher longevity than the average American.
Going back to how I ate in America, I think I ate too much of poor quality food that it just made things a bit miserable. I think returning to American food is bound to disappoint me in some ways. In France, I've learned the mannerisms of eating at a French table from where to put things while setting the table to putting my wrists on the edge of the table to using a fork and knife for EVERYTHING and using the left hand to maneuver the fork. I've learned to savor food and to stop at the point where I can no longer enjoy the food. Also, I've learned how to not force food just to become full. These habits I will carry back to America, and I will likely not be eating in the same way as before when I return.
Now to the actual plates themselves: It's best to start with the bread. French use their bread for everything from toast in the morning to sandwiching rillettes (or meat spread) to creating cheese sandwiches with the finest cheeses around (goat cheese, camembert, brie, etc.) They even use their bread to scoop up the remaining sauce and other remains on plates to "savor the last drop" of the food and create a clean plate. Your mother would be proud. (and no, I'm not trying to create a pitch for Maxwell House Coffee) I love French bread, because it's a little slice of the French culture that prides itself on things such as the baguette, pain au chocolat, etc.
Another aspect of French alimentation (food) that is great is the salad. Very, very simple. Just green leaf lettuce and a dab of vinaigrette and you're good to go. That's another aspect of French cooking I enjoy: the simplicity with elegance. The salad can be paired with multiple things. But it remains as it is, a salad without too much fanfare or overkill on the ingredients.
Other things that I have enjoyed while living with my host family: the boudin (pig's blood), which I've mentioned before, saucisson (very finely cut sausages that are delicious and that can be savored with the aperitif), pasta with vegetables, quiche, lasagne, galettes with eggs and jambon (ham), crepes (of course), cidre (which is typical for meals in Bretagne).
Many French things will be easily imported into the United States, but they will cost more there, unfortunately. However, I must say that the kinds of eating habits that I have picked up here can be carried with me as I return. And I am eager to use them, even if people think they are prudish and unnecessary. For the French, food is one of the many joys in life. Enjoying a home-cooked meal can be even more meaningful than going out to a fine restaurant. The sentimental value of food made in a home, to me, has meant so much more than any restaurant could. Food in France comes from the heart. That's such a beautiful thing to think about.
Going back to how I ate in America, I think I ate too much of poor quality food that it just made things a bit miserable. I think returning to American food is bound to disappoint me in some ways. In France, I've learned the mannerisms of eating at a French table from where to put things while setting the table to putting my wrists on the edge of the table to using a fork and knife for EVERYTHING and using the left hand to maneuver the fork. I've learned to savor food and to stop at the point where I can no longer enjoy the food. Also, I've learned how to not force food just to become full. These habits I will carry back to America, and I will likely not be eating in the same way as before when I return.
Now to the actual plates themselves: It's best to start with the bread. French use their bread for everything from toast in the morning to sandwiching rillettes (or meat spread) to creating cheese sandwiches with the finest cheeses around (goat cheese, camembert, brie, etc.) They even use their bread to scoop up the remaining sauce and other remains on plates to "savor the last drop" of the food and create a clean plate. Your mother would be proud. (and no, I'm not trying to create a pitch for Maxwell House Coffee) I love French bread, because it's a little slice of the French culture that prides itself on things such as the baguette, pain au chocolat, etc.
Another aspect of French alimentation (food) that is great is the salad. Very, very simple. Just green leaf lettuce and a dab of vinaigrette and you're good to go. That's another aspect of French cooking I enjoy: the simplicity with elegance. The salad can be paired with multiple things. But it remains as it is, a salad without too much fanfare or overkill on the ingredients.
Other things that I have enjoyed while living with my host family: the boudin (pig's blood), which I've mentioned before, saucisson (very finely cut sausages that are delicious and that can be savored with the aperitif), pasta with vegetables, quiche, lasagne, galettes with eggs and jambon (ham), crepes (of course), cidre (which is typical for meals in Bretagne).
Many French things will be easily imported into the United States, but they will cost more there, unfortunately. However, I must say that the kinds of eating habits that I have picked up here can be carried with me as I return. And I am eager to use them, even if people think they are prudish and unnecessary. For the French, food is one of the many joys in life. Enjoying a home-cooked meal can be even more meaningful than going out to a fine restaurant. The sentimental value of food made in a home, to me, has meant so much more than any restaurant could. Food in France comes from the heart. That's such a beautiful thing to think about.
08 April 2011
Nothing but happiness
Today is my 23rd birthday, which comes at the right time, at the end of my adventure as I prepare to leave the French Republic. It's been a great time to continue to reflect on my incredible experience and journey. I have to say, I'm just really blessed. It's not luck; it's rather the blessing that the Lord has given me everyday to thrive and flourish in a country that is not my own. I've enjoyed a tremendous amount of freedom and independence that I didn't even know before. And today marks the end of a year in my life that has been nothing but happiness.
Things went okay at the middle school. All of my students were excited and jumping up and down as I told them I would be playing violin for them, a lesson on American folk music, adapted from the high school version. The second group especially went crazy over it, and they were slamming their desks, stomping their feet, even some were attempting to dance. As much as I would have wanted them to be quiet and attentive, it didn't happen. And... I'm okay with it. It was euphoric to just let everything go the last lesson. And I didn't want to ruin it. Even as the energy from my wickedly strong espresso seemed to evaporate from my veins into thin air, it felt good to end on a positive note. And right before the obnoxious bell, it was the sound of "Pirates of the Caribbean." The kids shouted "Joyeux Anniversaire, Jared!" It was a good feeling, knowing that I'm appreciated by everyone at the middle school. All the kids are crazy about me. And I like leaving the middle school, feeling that even if I haven't accomplished anything else, I've earned the respect and praise of French middle schoolers. Quite a feat in the midst of adolescent attitudes.
Tonight, I took the aperitif with Nathy and will redo it tomorrow when Pascal returns from Paris with the collegiens. It's been an enjoyable day. Now on to a busy but relaxing weekend.
Things went okay at the middle school. All of my students were excited and jumping up and down as I told them I would be playing violin for them, a lesson on American folk music, adapted from the high school version. The second group especially went crazy over it, and they were slamming their desks, stomping their feet, even some were attempting to dance. As much as I would have wanted them to be quiet and attentive, it didn't happen. And... I'm okay with it. It was euphoric to just let everything go the last lesson. And I didn't want to ruin it. Even as the energy from my wickedly strong espresso seemed to evaporate from my veins into thin air, it felt good to end on a positive note. And right before the obnoxious bell, it was the sound of "Pirates of the Caribbean." The kids shouted "Joyeux Anniversaire, Jared!" It was a good feeling, knowing that I'm appreciated by everyone at the middle school. All the kids are crazy about me. And I like leaving the middle school, feeling that even if I haven't accomplished anything else, I've earned the respect and praise of French middle schoolers. Quite a feat in the midst of adolescent attitudes.
Tonight, I took the aperitif with Nathy and will redo it tomorrow when Pascal returns from Paris with the collegiens. It's been an enjoyable day. Now on to a busy but relaxing weekend.
06 April 2011
A good weekend, good beginning to the week
My weekend turned out to be enjoyable even without a stay in Paris. On Saturday, I played with the chamber orchestra for the departmental exams of the music department for four piano students. All got mention: tres bien, which means they will be advancing from their "amateur studies" into a more professional "formation." Whatever that's supposed to mean... Anyway, the concert was good. We played some Bach and Vivaldi, pretty easy as far as accompaniment goes, but also enjoyable. For the rest of Saturday, I did pretty much nothing whatever. Did some relaxing and walking through Mayenne. The sun shone through the weekend.
As for Sunday, I had the privilege of attending the Jewish Easter celebration in which we had a community gathering of the Protestant churches of the Mayenne (quite a number of people). Afterwards, we had a Jewish meal, which was much more ceremonial than it was Jewish. Yes, we had lamb, yes we had Matzah. But we had to sit and listen to a nearly two hour breakdown of the meaning of every single part of the meal. Yes, it was boring and tiring. I had heard most of this before in English. It wasn't quite as authentic as the Jewish meal I once had at the synagogue near Brainerd Road several years ago. It was all worth it, however, to see friends from the Pentecostal church that I had not seen in several months.
I got to see Philip. I asked him when he thought we would be able to do something together. And he asked me if I wanted to go see a movie at the cinema. So, I accepted and went along with him. We went to see "Suckerpunch," an overbearingly action/comicbook drama that was original and creative. But they overdid the action sequences to make it seem like the Matrix. To be honest the entire plot could have been done in about twenty minutes but it was drawn out to an hour and a half. It was pretty entertaining, nonetheless. I was glad to have spent some time with Philip after the three month hiatus. We will plan on getting together sometime in the near future. Then, I'll play violin for his family.
As for the week, it's the middle of the road. I've had some good lessons with the Terminales. We're actually going to throw a karaoke party next week with food and drink. It's a good way of celebrating the end. Looking forward to that. It's definitely a good way to end the assistantship. Just have to get through those days with the middle school and I'll be golden, just like when I have a cup of strong, black coffee.
As for Sunday, I had the privilege of attending the Jewish Easter celebration in which we had a community gathering of the Protestant churches of the Mayenne (quite a number of people). Afterwards, we had a Jewish meal, which was much more ceremonial than it was Jewish. Yes, we had lamb, yes we had Matzah. But we had to sit and listen to a nearly two hour breakdown of the meaning of every single part of the meal. Yes, it was boring and tiring. I had heard most of this before in English. It wasn't quite as authentic as the Jewish meal I once had at the synagogue near Brainerd Road several years ago. It was all worth it, however, to see friends from the Pentecostal church that I had not seen in several months.
I got to see Philip. I asked him when he thought we would be able to do something together. And he asked me if I wanted to go see a movie at the cinema. So, I accepted and went along with him. We went to see "Suckerpunch," an overbearingly action/comicbook drama that was original and creative. But they overdid the action sequences to make it seem like the Matrix. To be honest the entire plot could have been done in about twenty minutes but it was drawn out to an hour and a half. It was pretty entertaining, nonetheless. I was glad to have spent some time with Philip after the three month hiatus. We will plan on getting together sometime in the near future. Then, I'll play violin for his family.
As for the week, it's the middle of the road. I've had some good lessons with the Terminales. We're actually going to throw a karaoke party next week with food and drink. It's a good way of celebrating the end. Looking forward to that. It's definitely a good way to end the assistantship. Just have to get through those days with the middle school and I'll be golden, just like when I have a cup of strong, black coffee.
01 April 2011
The Three Assistants of Mayenne
From left to right: Salome (assistante d'allemand), Jared (assistant d'anglais), and Angelle (assistante d'espagnol).
The beginning of the end or the end of the beginning
Earlier, I wrote a passionate post about my experience as a language assistant. I think I had enjoyed the experience so much then that I was bursting with joy and reaping the benefits from my stay here. That's all great. I've arrived at April, hoisting the souvenirs and learning experiences of this program and ready to fly back. Today, I made the executive decision to return home at the beginning of May, much to the comfort of my family. The time has come to talk of many things, of shoes and ships and ceiling wax... and saying goodbye.
There have been so many amazing opportunities that I have taken up with spontaneity, patience, and endurance. My experience in France has given me a renewed sense of hope and confidence in Christ, knowing full well the direction of my future vocation in language pedagogy and literary research. The year has taught me a number of things that I should mention in list form:
(1) Trust in the Lord at all times, pray unceasingly for guidance and support. I do this as often as necessary, but many times at the college/middle school.
(2) Relax. This one has been a hard one for me, since I am often uptight and serious. Letting go is something I plan to do as often as possible.
(3) Use a sense of humor, taking appropriate risks, to capture the attention and imagination of the audience (my students). This is where my theatre background returns in full force.
(4) Establish rules early on and stick to them so that students will know their limits and will respect my authority (This is one I continue to work on at the college/middle school and one that may not be fully developed).
(5) Have patience with students and restate in simple terms my sentences to promote understanding of the foreign language.
At this point, I've reached a time, where I am ready to wrap up my lessons in two weeks and provide a strong ending to my assistantship in France. Perhaps, I should provide something unforgettable, but again, stress should not be a variable in the equation. I just want to be able to definitively say, it's the end and say my goodbyes to the students at both the lycee and college. This weekend, I plan on reflecting on the possible lessons that could be great. I'm excited about planning ahead for the next steps, having secured my housing situation in Providence, RI.
One great thing prepares to make the transition to another wonderful thing. The symphony of life has multiple movements, and now, I prepare to conclude the present movement with grace and beauty. Pause. And the beginning of a wonderful,long movement follows...
There have been so many amazing opportunities that I have taken up with spontaneity, patience, and endurance. My experience in France has given me a renewed sense of hope and confidence in Christ, knowing full well the direction of my future vocation in language pedagogy and literary research. The year has taught me a number of things that I should mention in list form:
(1) Trust in the Lord at all times, pray unceasingly for guidance and support. I do this as often as necessary, but many times at the college/middle school.
(2) Relax. This one has been a hard one for me, since I am often uptight and serious. Letting go is something I plan to do as often as possible.
(3) Use a sense of humor, taking appropriate risks, to capture the attention and imagination of the audience (my students). This is where my theatre background returns in full force.
(4) Establish rules early on and stick to them so that students will know their limits and will respect my authority (This is one I continue to work on at the college/middle school and one that may not be fully developed).
(5) Have patience with students and restate in simple terms my sentences to promote understanding of the foreign language.
At this point, I've reached a time, where I am ready to wrap up my lessons in two weeks and provide a strong ending to my assistantship in France. Perhaps, I should provide something unforgettable, but again, stress should not be a variable in the equation. I just want to be able to definitively say, it's the end and say my goodbyes to the students at both the lycee and college. This weekend, I plan on reflecting on the possible lessons that could be great. I'm excited about planning ahead for the next steps, having secured my housing situation in Providence, RI.
One great thing prepares to make the transition to another wonderful thing. The symphony of life has multiple movements, and now, I prepare to conclude the present movement with grace and beauty. Pause. And the beginning of a wonderful,long movement follows...
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