I am back to documenting my travels after a full week. I have been so busy. There is something about writing in a journal when you feel pressured to that is more stressful than simply writing in a journal out of the desire to do so. I also prefer to type my thoughts, which I know isn't the same as writing, but I promise myself I will continue to write as well. Since last Sunday a lot has happened. I babysat for my host parents family on Sunday night, while my host parents were still in Bordeaux and let me tell you, they are the cutest French children I have ever met. At first they were a little shy, but it did not take too long before they warmed up to me and we were playing games and laughing. The language barrier was not easy. The oldest daughter who is 7 years old was able to understand me for the most part but the two younger boys 5 and 2 had a harder time understanding was I would say. By the end of the night all 3 of the kids were very comfortable with me.
My French skills really need some practice and that was obvious when I was reading the children a bedtime story and the 5 year old boy put his hands on his ears and make a face as if it hurt him for me to read the story. It is safe to say that I did not read for long. Shortly after I realized they could not take my mispronunciation, I handed the book over to Madeleine, the 7 year old. This same adorable little girl had begged me to set her stay up a little bit after her brothers. So, being the pushover babysitter that I tend to be, of course I stayed up chatting with her in French. We went back and fourth about 50 times trying to figure out how to name the film "Frozen" in French. When I first said frozen, she looked at me as if I was crazy. Finally, we figured out the translation is "La Reine de Neige." That was a good laugh, at least I am not crazy and children in France really do watch the same Disney movies.
Class started up again the next Monday, which was weird because after having off on Friday, it felt like I hadn't been to the center for school in weeks. I got to the metro and reloaded my "navigo" pass to start the week. My enthusiasm for the week started with the adrenaline that came from my thoughts of leaving for London that Thursday night.
Monday was a normal day of class and after it ended at 2pm. Aine, Megan and I headed over to the 17eme to sign up for yoga. We did a 30 day trial and as much as I enjoy hot yoga and would want to do it again, I will not. Simply because the commute is too far from my home and getting everything together to go is way too much of a hassle. It becomes stressful planing out when to go and when I will shower and change. I much rather run around the neighborhood (which is also free), I guess I learned that the hard way (120€ too hard).
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday my host mother made me dinner. It is a great feeling to have such a nice family who makes such delicious food. Every night that I know we are eating together I get excited thinking about what the meal will be.
Tuesday, Alexandra, my host mothers daughter asked me to babysit again. I was so excited. Leaving my home in the United States with so many children involved in my life, babysitting here makes me feel at home. Not to mention the 3 children could not be any cuter. So, I have ecstatic to babysit again! PS- that means the children liked me if they asked me to come back 😬
Wednesday was my busy day at school, but what made this day so fun was the two field-trips that we had planned for the day. Wednesday morning I woke up at 8 am excited to start the day. I put on my new pair of bell bottoms that my mom had bought me for Christmas, picked out a hat to wear and got dressed for the day. Our two museum visits were to the Grand Palais to visit the Louis Vuitton exhibit and then to Museum D'Orsay (Musée D'Orsay) to see all the painting we learned about in my avant-garde class. Both were exciting and interesting to view and explore. I must say, having a French teacher at Musée D'Orsay to guide you through each painting, in English, is truly a treat!
Thursday was an easier day. I began the day by hoping on the metro to yoga , only to find out 10 minutes later that the class was canceled. I hoped back onto the metro home and went on a little jog. After I headed to class from 12:30-2, such a great way to start the weekend, and then went home to pack. I packed everything I knew I needed for London and waiting until my host mother got home for dinner. After we ate, I ran down to my room, sad to leave my host family, but thrilled to begin my travels in Europe and left for the metro.
The journey to London was quite the funny one.
My French skills really need some practice and that was obvious when I was reading the children a bedtime story and the 5 year old boy put his hands on his ears and make a face as if it hurt him for me to read the story. It is safe to say that I did not read for long. Shortly after I realized they could not take my mispronunciation, I handed the book over to Madeleine, the 7 year old. This same adorable little girl had begged me to set her stay up a little bit after her brothers. So, being the pushover babysitter that I tend to be, of course I stayed up chatting with her in French. We went back and fourth about 50 times trying to figure out how to name the film "Frozen" in French. When I first said frozen, she looked at me as if I was crazy. Finally, we figured out the translation is "La Reine de Neige." That was a good laugh, at least I am not crazy and children in France really do watch the same Disney movies.
Class started up again the next Monday, which was weird because after having off on Friday, it felt like I hadn't been to the center for school in weeks. I got to the metro and reloaded my "navigo" pass to start the week. My enthusiasm for the week started with the adrenaline that came from my thoughts of leaving for London that Thursday night.
Monday was a normal day of class and after it ended at 2pm. Aine, Megan and I headed over to the 17eme to sign up for yoga. We did a 30 day trial and as much as I enjoy hot yoga and would want to do it again, I will not. Simply because the commute is too far from my home and getting everything together to go is way too much of a hassle. It becomes stressful planing out when to go and when I will shower and change. I much rather run around the neighborhood (which is also free), I guess I learned that the hard way (120€ too hard).
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday my host mother made me dinner. It is a great feeling to have such a nice family who makes such delicious food. Every night that I know we are eating together I get excited thinking about what the meal will be.
Tuesday, Alexandra, my host mothers daughter asked me to babysit again. I was so excited. Leaving my home in the United States with so many children involved in my life, babysitting here makes me feel at home. Not to mention the 3 children could not be any cuter. So, I have ecstatic to babysit again! PS- that means the children liked me if they asked me to come back 😬
Wednesday was my busy day at school, but what made this day so fun was the two field-trips that we had planned for the day. Wednesday morning I woke up at 8 am excited to start the day. I put on my new pair of bell bottoms that my mom had bought me for Christmas, picked out a hat to wear and got dressed for the day. Our two museum visits were to the Grand Palais to visit the Louis Vuitton exhibit and then to Museum D'Orsay (Musée D'Orsay) to see all the painting we learned about in my avant-garde class. Both were exciting and interesting to view and explore. I must say, having a French teacher at Musée D'Orsay to guide you through each painting, in English, is truly a treat!
Thursday was an easier day. I began the day by hoping on the metro to yoga , only to find out 10 minutes later that the class was canceled. I hoped back onto the metro home and went on a little jog. After I headed to class from 12:30-2, such a great way to start the weekend, and then went home to pack. I packed everything I knew I needed for London and waiting until my host mother got home for dinner. After we ate, I ran down to my room, sad to leave my host family, but thrilled to begin my travels in Europe and left for the metro.
The journey to London was quite the funny one.