Already behind!

Many, oh so many things have happened in the last month! I went through some anxiety-inducing training, orientation, started teaching, and took a week-long vacation to Vienna! singin' with the roomie at the pub ------->

Other than my kids talking about my booty behind my back and me having to remind them that I understand what they're saying, the teaching part has been fine. My students range from ages 17-23, which was a happy surprise for me! The reason some of them are so much older is because there is an option in France to complete a 2-year degree, but there are no community colleges. Therefore, the classes are held on high school campuses. After which they can be completely finished or they can decide to go to the university for one year to finish the French equivalent of a bachelor's degree--here it's called a "license" and it's a 3-year program. Since most of my students in this program (it is called BTS) are studying commerce, finance, marketing, etc. they are very interested in participating and learning English. The high school seniors are pretty hit and miss. But that's ok...I hope to have made some sort of difference by the time the year is up!

Living in Nice has been quite the adventure, too. It's so easy to be hanging out just chit chatting with the roomies, look down, and realize that it's 2am. Or to go out with friends to a bar, look at your phone and realize it's 4am. Luckily, the city isn't very big and I never go out alone, so the walk home is never too daunting. The city really has two faces though: day-time Nice at night time Nice.

Day time Nice is a place of wonderful open-air markets, beach-side strolls, and cafe culture complete with sunshine and little to no risk of danger.

Night time Nice is a whole different ball park. It is sketchy, dangerous, hooker-laden, and not a place to find yourself alone. I was out with my roommate and saw a fight (ironically in front of the courthouse) of 15 vs. 15--throwing punches, throwing bottles, not caring that there were other people around. It was insanity. The cops showed up by car, on foot, on segway, sprayed some sort of tear gas or pepper spray, and arrested two bloodied-up hooligans. I also know at least two or three other assistants who have been physically assaulted at night because they decided to talk back to the men hassling them. I know this will alarm anyone back home reading, but I'd rather tell the good with the bad and not paint Nice as some sort of idyllic, sleepy, sea-side town. It definitely has a hard edge that people planning a visit, or even people daydreaming of how wonderful it is here, should be aware of. The best thing to do is go out in a group, leave when there's trouble a-brewin', and ignore the cat callers.

Also, a note to anyone reading this, The G-20 is in Cannes in the next few days, but the rioters are coming to Nice. I'm really not planning on being out much...but if you see craziness on the news don't freak out. If I see craziness on the news, I promise I will call home immediately.

Next post will be all about Vienna :-)

Biz just so you do know it is beautiful and not all scary ---->

Nice: Finding Lodging, Exploration

I was actually really lucky to have a safe, comfortable place to stay while I searched for my apartment. Sophie and Raphael were so accommodating and wonderful--I almost felt like I was taking advantage of their hospitality.

I was also very lucky to have found an apartment so quickly! I am living with two Algerian lawyers who are studying/working in Nice. Farouk is 32, plays the guitar, and is really laid back and fun. Nazim is more high-strung (but still very very nice), obsessed with Michael Jackson, and loves to dance. I fit right in! Additionally, they cook for me (while wearing an apron which is adorable) and do the dishes. Fantastic.

I quickly found a few of the other assistants by a keen use of Facebook and my prompt purchase of a phone in Paris. I began hanging out with Molly, an American from the Chicago area, and Katie, an English girl from Newcastle. Our days have been filled to the brim with going to the beach, swimming, using the diving mask that they found in their apartment, walking around, and going out in the evenings. Not a bad way to spend the days before we start working! After spending my time in Paris and now living in Nice I have come to the conclusion that I need to buy a lighter. This is not because I am planning on starting to smoke, but rather because I am asked at least 2-3X/day whether or not I have "du feu" ie: a light.

Over the last week our posse has grown as more and more people arrive and buy phones. It has been great having this time before work starts to get to know each other and have a little fun while we're at it!

I don't have any photos of the people I have met or my roommates, but here are a few touristy photos I took while walking around Nice. Enjoy!
This is my attempt at being artsy. I thought these dudes on the bench, gazing out at the sea looked interesting
Pretty soaps at the outdoor market in the Cours Saleya
Nice from "Le Chateau"
The port side of Nice
Flowers at the market

Last day in Paris, Nice arrival

Our last full day in Paris we did the boring, obligatory stuff like buy train tickets and call our coordinating professors to ensure that we had places to stay when we arrived to our destinations (Tracy is an assistant in Bordeaux). We convinced both of the guys in the ticket office to speak to us in French. Bonus points!

After those logistics were taken care of, we headed up to Montmartre to walk around in the hills and see Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge. The lines were massive, so we didn't go in (which stinks because I really wanted to!). The outside is super gorgeous though and since it's on a giant hill the view of Paris from up there is awesome. We just mozied around, bought some post cards and other trinkets and headed back to the room to drop off our tourist-y impulse buys (magnets for me, a mug for Tracy)

We took a little detour on our way out to the pub that night and went through Parc Monceau, which is a decent sized park where people go to hang out and go jogging. It is, in my opinion, one of the better parks in Paris because it's removed from the big tourist attractions and has really beautiful and interesting landscaping. Then it was off to the pub for more live music, beer, and conversation with random strangers.

Nice Arrival:
The next day we packed up our things, said goodbye the Persiaux and went off to our respective train stations. We decided to spend the money for a cab and it was *the best* ten euros I have ever spent. Not having to drag my crap through the metro alone (again) was my little "welcome to France" present to myself. I was meeting Sophie, my coordinating professor, at the train station in Nice. The train ride took six hours, and was uneventful. I didn't really sleep because I was so nervous about my stuff being in the little baggage storage area and having it stolen. Luckily nothing bad happened and me and my stuff all arrived in one piece.

Sophie and her fiance, Raphael, picked me up in their car and took me to their apartment which was actually a pretty big two-bedroom place. We talked for a while and they asked me questions about Minnesota and my time in Paris, etc. Let me tell you, trying to explain to French people what food on a stick is is hilarious and really hard! Over dinner, which was a delicious salmon filet and a side of extremely buttered noodles, they told me a little bit more about themselves. They have been together since they were in high school and he proposed in Barcelona this summer. Super duper cute. We stayed up too late chatting and finally went to sleep because Sophie wanted to bring me to school with her so I could see where it was and meet some of the other teachers. More to come on that tomorrow!

*a picture of Sophie and Raphael's cat "Grisboy" who was terrified of me the entire time I was there and would peer at me every night from behind the wall. Too bad because he's so damn cute!