To the Supermarche!

December 2nd, 2009

So it dawned on me that i don't have mini updates, just a bunch of long posts. From now i think i'll try to update this blog weekly :-)

I just got back from teaching in Orange. In typical French fashion i didn't start right away. I had to take a 8:00am bus even though my classes start at 10:00am all because Bollene's transportation is crappy at best. No matter, i figured I'd get there at 9:00am grab my coveted cappuccino from my beloved coffee machine and mentally prepare myself for the kiddos. I sit in the teacher's lounge sipping my drink and suddenly the teacher whose class I'm assisting walks in. She informs me that she doesn't have classes from 10:00 to 11:000 because the students are doing some internship but i can sit and read for another hour. Hmmm ok? read what? what could really be interesting enough to hold my attention for another hour? well i opted to read the adverts on the bulletin board... However, despite how intriguing it was that the Opera was coming in to town, that got boring fast, luckily 30 mins later the teacher was back. We then began to chat for a bit.

I think now is a good time to let you know that a lot of my interactions with the teachers i work with have been mainly in English. Yes i know "Bad Halima!" but i can't help it.... When i speak French i become weak, shy and nervous. Yes, i am fully aware that i am in France but it's just so easy to slip into my comfort zone of Anglais. As i once told someone, "i'm not charming in French".... and we all know how charming i am in English ;-)

So when we are about halfway through a convo in English she asks me how's my French coming....i blush, as only a dark complected girl like me can, and i say "C'est difficile" (it's hard) or "Pas Bon" (not good) or something along those lines and she suggests we speak in French from now on..... i'm doing a happy dance and crying inside at the same time. Though difficult as it was i survived and i really enjoyed trying (emphasis on trying) to speak French. It went sort of like this:

Me: Je vourdrais.... uh.... What's the word for renew in French?
Teacher: Renouveler
Me: ah oui, je voudrais renouveler ce program encore

That's progress right? hmmm..... well it's a start. After helping the teens with their CV's or Resumes as we know them in the U.S. i was off for more adventures in Bollene. This time i was having fun at the Supermarche! (hey there's not much to do here so the supermarket is where it's at LOL) The thing about French supermarkets is i spend part of the time looking for where what i want is and the other part of the time realizing that I'll have to settle for a substitute for what i want. Then there is the added problem of budgeting and trying to choose the right product among hundreds of brands (most of which i don't recognize) So i grab a small cart and stare (aimlessly as it appears to others) up and down the shelves of food, one hand on hip thinking and thinking. I can feel the intense gaze of the security guard just knowing he's thinking i'm about to shove one of those tuna cans into my purse. Relax dude, i'm just indecisive, i want to say.... although i don't know how to say that in French :-S Another thing i have to be careful about is whether or not i can carry everything home since i don't' have a car.

When I'm finally done choosing what i want there is the dreaded wait to be checked out. 8 times out of 10 i found myself in one long-ass line and only one person available at the checkout. Nevermind that it would be all too logical to get someone else to help with checking people out, no instead we must wait. C'est La France. Finally when i do get to the checkout person i have to hurry up and catch all my things so i can bag them with my bags. Ok, ok i know it's environmentally friendly and all but i hate bringing my own bags and i hate that when i forgot to have to pay for them! There something "pas bon" about that... All in all shopping for groceries in France is like everything else i do in France: Interesting ;-)

oh and as any proud Aunt would do i have to show off the latest pic of my Adorable nephew Baba :-):

Now i'm off to prepare to go to Lyon for the Fete Des Lumieres which only comes during Christmas season. Also, Bollene apparently has a Marche du Noel which should be nice, i can't wait to see this town light up :-) i will have a post and pics about all of that, so stay tuned


Bisous,
HK