Hello friends, family, and admirers,

I apologize for the delay in posting.  Last week has been quite a whirlwind!  I had my first visits to my school where I met many teachers and students, attended two days of training and met the other assistants in the region, observed many French English classes, and went to the Toulon opera!

I went to see FAUST, which is a very famous French opera, and for 9 Euros/seat (in the orchestra section, about 10 rows back...) it was a deal!!  The part of the deal that I had not bargained for was the FOUR HOURS it would last, including a 20-MINUTE intermission and seemingly random 20-minute ballet interlude.  "Samantha", you say, "perhaps it is the fact that you are NOT FLUENT IN FRENCH and you went to the OPERA" that explains why you think the ballet interlude was random.  Well, thanks for trying to help me out, but they put the lyrics to the opera on the stage and my French reading comprehension is quite good (Merci mon cher Professeur Gasarian).  I went with my roommate and two other friends and they confirmed that the ballet interlude did seem to be a bit out of place.  Almost as out of place as the fact that the baby in the play turned out to be Christ resurrected.  One of the English teachers who I work with is seeing the show on Thursday and I'm anxious to speak with her and get some much-needed clarity.  (I'll let you know...)

Enough about the (crazy) opera, Samantha, HOW IS SCHOOL?!?!  Ask and you shall receive.

Well, I finally know what it feels like to be an English teacher, and it feels like being a celebrity.  No, I'm serious.  Today I walked by some students in the courtyard.  One greeted me, saying "Hi!" and I smiled and waved back, then heard whispers of "C'est l'américaine!  Elle est américaine!" ("It's the American!  She is American!") follow me as I made my way toward the steps to the teachers lounge.  Yes, my life is now even more glamourous than it was before - people know me when I pass them by ! 15 year old high-schoolers today, papparazzi tomorrow...

No but seriously, today was my first day of official teaching and it was a blast.  I will be splitting my teachers' classes, which means that I take half the class (8-15 students) and we go to another classroom where I run the class (!!!).  Today we just introduced ourselves (Name, age, favorite food, etc.) and talked a bit about the rugby world cup and differences between American and French high schools.

Ok before I go, a few gems from last weeks' conversations.  I sat in on a myriad of classes and the students got to ask me any questions, provided that they were "discreet" and asked in English.  Some of my favorites:
"Are hamburgers really bigger in America?" (yes)
"Were you a cheerleader?"  (no)
"Do you have a boyfriend?" (way to be DISCREET!)

Until next time,
xoxo
Samantha

P.S. No I don't have a boyfriend.  Don't worry Aunt Annette, you don't need to send Uncle Bob over here...
P.P.S. I have lost my camera (coolbeans) so I'm putting a hold on posting new pictures....