Respect!
I know this sounds obvious, but I’ve realised this even more during my first month here. When you go to live in a foreign culture, it’s really important to respect the culture you’re surrounded by and keep as much of an open mind as possible. It’s surprisingly easy to make quick judgements on other people and their customs, so it’s good to be aware of how our own culture shapes us and why we might be shocked or pleased by something in a foreign culture. It can be humbling to realise that sometimes people in other nations do things better in some areas.
My awareness of this has been all the more heightened by Michele’s daughter Jannick, who is staying in England this year. She has been back to France twice while I’ve been here and by the end of this weekend just gone, I started to dread the words England or English coming up in the conversation as I was wondering what criticism was coming next. To be fair, Jannick is 36, so much more stuck in her French ways than a lot of French people who arrive in England at a younger age, but even so I don’t think she realises quite how many complaints about my country come out in front of me, and I think some of her problems could be overcome if she made more effort to be open and understand, or work round things. So I try to gently persuade her otherwise or advise her to go about things differently on some matters and on others I just have to swallow my pride. There is also my colleague Martin who will often complain about things in France, and regularly finishes sentences with ‘Oh France!’. I do agree with him on some things which are frustrating for Brits in France, or related to our job, but for some things I think ‘It’s not that big a deal, we’re not perfect’.
“Ma petite Chinoise” (My nickname for my Chinese friend, even though she is the same size as me)
I’m really enjoying spending time with my Chinese housemate Manqi and learning lots about China. I thought I already knew a lot from talking to Chinese friends at International Café, but it appears there’s so much more to learn! I’m especially happy to learn things about China as I have two friends who are going out there to be missionaries within the next year.
New arrival
On Sunday, Andrew arrived to live with us. He’s a Christian from Walthamstow and will be an English language assistant, like me in Lille. He’ll be teaching two very different age groups – primary school children and 15-18 year olds (who go to lycée). It’s the first time he’s lived away from home as he commutes from home into London for his university course. He seems rather nervous and is a quiet kind of guy, and doesn’t know how to cook. So I’ll get alongside him when I can, but it’s going to be a steep learning curve for him as well. It’s interesting to see someone go through what I went through two years ago, it’s bringing it all back.
Marché des Lices
I went to the Marché des Lices on Saturday for the first time (and no it doesn’t translate as flea market, though it looks as though it should!). It’s a very large market in the centre of Rennes and it was teeming with market stalls of all kinds, I think it’s the best market I’ve seen in France (apart from the fact I’m not keen on the sheer size of the crowd that’s there). I got a bargain at one stall – a baking potato for 5 centimes! At one point, I went to a bakery stall which attracted my eye and saw a nice-looking cake, of which there was only one left. I asked the lady on the stall for this cake but at exactly the same moment a Frenchman ordered it too (from the lady’s colleague)! I quickly realised what had happened and said that the frog could have it and proceeded to choose something different (which turned out to be very disappointing!). He seemed a nice man and pleased to have it. I’ll return to their stall some other Saturday when I’m there to taste the cake. I hope it’s worth it!
Work
I’m feeling more comfortable at work, things are settling into more of a rhythm. The students regularly look at me as if I’m from outer space rather than across The Channel, but I’m starting to get used to that! It’s for the sole reason that I’m speaking English apparently. Ho hum. More about that soon.
A bientôt,
Fiona x
P.S. A few photos of the university are here in a post of their own if you want to take a look!
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Monday, 26 September 2011
Monday, 19 September 2011
First week of teaching
This past week could (unfortunately) only be described as one thing: stressful.
We arrived on Monday morning at 7:45am (lessons start at 8:15am here!) and no one was in the department. We couldn't get into the staff room to access some equipment we needed due to a dodgy lock and neither did we know if it was going to be possible to unlock the classrooms we were teaching in, as we didn't have a key and the offices where they are kept were not going to open until 9am, which left one hope, a teacher who owns a set of keys, but there was no sign of her. Thankfully she did turn up at 8:05, it was such a relief to see her! And you'll be glad to know they agreed to giving us a key afterwards.
I had to teach a number of times in a language lab with a capacity of 12 when I had up to 21 students, and what's more, it was an old-fashioned one meaning the tables were all separated off into booths with wooden and plastic dividers. That did not make communication easy. There were many other rooms on the small side too, meaning having to hunt for chairs and sharing desk space. I have sorted out the worst room situations without much fuss which is a huge blessing. Large classes are a common problem in the department at the moment as the courses here are over-subscribed, meaning some teachers have language classes which are going on 45 students! I don't know how this has arisen, it's apparently the highest number they've known, and we just all have to get on with it, knowing a bit of absence would do us a favour!
I think I'll get used to the class size, but it's a tall order to keep them all speaking English! Most of my lessons went pretty well, though some classes were more difficult than others (naturally). The most difficult thing is the mixture of levels in any given class. There are students who have lived and worked in an English-speaking country for between 3 months and 2 years, students from countries other than France who are very comfortable with English, and even a few British-born girls. Then there are also a fair number of students who have a very weak level of comprehension and spoken language and have never been to an English-speaking country (though I realise the two of these do not necessarily go hand-in-hand!).
The timetabling was all a bit disorganised too, the students have to look at a notice board, pay careful attention and write their timetable down. As my colleague Martin and I get half groups, there were a number of mix ups between our timetables and the noticeboard. For one particular lesson, I started my introduction and about 3-4 mins in, another 20 people started piling into the room saying they were here and the group I had should be elsewhere, meaning nearly the whole class changed and I had to start again!
We suffered from a real lack of knowledge and direction on a number of things last week as newbies not knowing the French system so it was a struggle. I was unwell from Tuesday onwards last week too which of course didn't help matters!
A few positives: - My Chinese housemate cooked a nice meal on Monday evening for the Moon Festival. - I had a lovely evening on Saturday with an American girl. - I am grateful for the education I received at the University of Southampton, even if it does cost a crazy amount by comparison!
Fiona x
We arrived on Monday morning at 7:45am (lessons start at 8:15am here!) and no one was in the department. We couldn't get into the staff room to access some equipment we needed due to a dodgy lock and neither did we know if it was going to be possible to unlock the classrooms we were teaching in, as we didn't have a key and the offices where they are kept were not going to open until 9am, which left one hope, a teacher who owns a set of keys, but there was no sign of her. Thankfully she did turn up at 8:05, it was such a relief to see her! And you'll be glad to know they agreed to giving us a key afterwards.
I had to teach a number of times in a language lab with a capacity of 12 when I had up to 21 students, and what's more, it was an old-fashioned one meaning the tables were all separated off into booths with wooden and plastic dividers. That did not make communication easy. There were many other rooms on the small side too, meaning having to hunt for chairs and sharing desk space. I have sorted out the worst room situations without much fuss which is a huge blessing. Large classes are a common problem in the department at the moment as the courses here are over-subscribed, meaning some teachers have language classes which are going on 45 students! I don't know how this has arisen, it's apparently the highest number they've known, and we just all have to get on with it, knowing a bit of absence would do us a favour!
I think I'll get used to the class size, but it's a tall order to keep them all speaking English! Most of my lessons went pretty well, though some classes were more difficult than others (naturally). The most difficult thing is the mixture of levels in any given class. There are students who have lived and worked in an English-speaking country for between 3 months and 2 years, students from countries other than France who are very comfortable with English, and even a few British-born girls. Then there are also a fair number of students who have a very weak level of comprehension and spoken language and have never been to an English-speaking country (though I realise the two of these do not necessarily go hand-in-hand!).
The timetabling was all a bit disorganised too, the students have to look at a notice board, pay careful attention and write their timetable down. As my colleague Martin and I get half groups, there were a number of mix ups between our timetables and the noticeboard. For one particular lesson, I started my introduction and about 3-4 mins in, another 20 people started piling into the room saying they were here and the group I had should be elsewhere, meaning nearly the whole class changed and I had to start again!
We suffered from a real lack of knowledge and direction on a number of things last week as newbies not knowing the French system so it was a struggle. I was unwell from Tuesday onwards last week too which of course didn't help matters!
A few positives: - My Chinese housemate cooked a nice meal on Monday evening for the Moon Festival. - I had a lovely evening on Saturday with an American girl. - I am grateful for the education I received at the University of Southampton, even if it does cost a crazy amount by comparison!
Fiona x
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Two by two
Two countries
I spent half of this week back in England. My Grandma’s funeral was held on Thursday and after deliberating over what to do, I decided I would go back and join my family, because classes didn’t start this week and although it was going to be tough, God assured me that I could go in His strength, not my own. I’m really glad I went. I had support from my family and was able to give support too. I learnt more about my Grandma’s life and it was great to remember her character and the many things she had done for her family and others in her lifetime, often during difficult times. She has blessed people the most through prayer and baking J I had the privilege of reading my Great-Gran’s testimony when I was at home too. I never knew her but it was inspiring to read her story of God at work throughout her life.
Two semesters
My timetable is a bit crazy (everyone who hears about it agrees). This first semester I’ll be teaching 19 hours per week, and in the second semester only 4. This creates a big imbalance, meaning a lot of work this semester, and twiddling thumbs next semester (though I hope to find things to do so that that won’t be the case). It’s the same for Martin who’s doing the same job as me. ‘Why?’ I hear you say. The students we’re teaching study two languages and business. The way it works is that they study more of English (compulsory) in the first semester and more of their other language in the second semester. And the teachers can’t do much about it, so all the other English teachers have a heavy timetable this semester too.
Two churches
I’ve been to two churches in Rennes and they’ve both been nice and welcoming and have potential for being my new church. I’m just going to wait and see what to do and maybe visit one or two more. Apparently Rennes has a good number of churches. The one I went to today was big and had a very nice building of its own (not that common for evangelical churches here). The man who preached spoke for what felt like an hour (I think it might have been too), and that’s too much all in French for a tired Fiona (I had a bit of a long journey back yesterday with a delayed flight)! But he was a visiting speaker and apparently it’s not always like that.
Two years on...
I got an email from an American girl who is preparing to leave home to go to Lille at the end of September to be a language assistant in the schools I worked in. She wanted some advice about what to bring and the post. I hope my response was useful. The schools haven’t had a language assistant for a year as their application to have an assistant for 2010-11 got lost in the post so it was tough luck as there weren’t enough to go round! I got slightly jealous thinking about her treading my paths, spending time with teachers and pupils I got along with well, but I remind myself things move on and I’ve got new paths to tread!
Classes start tomorrow, I’m nervous but actually glad they’re going to start after waiting so long!
Fiona x
Monday, 5 September 2011
Je m'installe
Hello!
This week has seemed like a long one, I feel like I’ve been living here longer than I have! I think that’s because there is so much to get used to, and I’ve spent a fair amount of time getting to know my landlady, Michèle, and her 35-year-old daughter, Jannick, who is going to live in England for a year, from this Wednesday onwards.
I have a new housemate! Her name is Manqi, and she’s a Chinese Christian student. We met her at church last Sunday where we learnt that she was staying temporarily with some friends-of-friends in Rennes while trying to find more permanent accommodation, but she felt she was outstaying her welcome a bit. So Michèle suggested that since Andrew hadn’t arrived yet, she could stay with us until she found something if she wanted to. On Monday evening I returned home to find Manqi in the living room! She proceeded to try and find somewhere else to stay but it was proving difficult, so Jannick suggested to her Mum that Manqi lives in her room while she’s away. Not only does she have Jannick’s room, but it’s part of a whole side section to the house which comes off the living room including a small kitchen, living room and bathroom, so she’s struck gold! We get along very well and I’m pleased she’s staying here.
Love, 
Fiona x
This week has seemed like a long one, I feel like I’ve been living here longer than I have! I think that’s because there is so much to get used to, and I’ve spent a fair amount of time getting to know my landlady, Michèle, and her 35-year-old daughter, Jannick, who is going to live in England for a year, from this Wednesday onwards.
I have a new housemate! Her name is Manqi, and she’s a Chinese Christian student. We met her at church last Sunday where we learnt that she was staying temporarily with some friends-of-friends in Rennes while trying to find more permanent accommodation, but she felt she was outstaying her welcome a bit. So Michèle suggested that since Andrew hadn’t arrived yet, she could stay with us until she found something if she wanted to. On Monday evening I returned home to find Manqi in the living room! She proceeded to try and find somewhere else to stay but it was proving difficult, so Jannick suggested to her Mum that Manqi lives in her room while she’s away. Not only does she have Jannick’s room, but it’s part of a whole side section to the house which comes off the living room including a small kitchen, living room and bathroom, so she’s struck gold! We get along very well and I’m pleased she’s staying here.
This week we had Michèle’s granddaughter to stay for a week – a really cute four-year-old. I have never seen a child smile so much over the consumption of cheese! Cheese was the treat she asked for more of after meals. Her little brother of 22 months was the same the day they dropped her off – he asked a number of times for more Camembert!! I’m learning a lot about the French culture already through this family, but especially about how they teach their children to eat.
Michèle looks after 4 other children during the week at varying hours of the day, and in varying numbers. The downside being that in this house you can hear everything (there are no carpets, and barely any curtains). I didn’t realise how much children cry and make loud noises and do silly things they have to be told off about! Ah well, it’s good for me to learn, and I like children, but I think I’ll work in the office at uni quite a bit if I can!
This week on Tuesday I was really pleased with myself. I managed to sort out various administrative proceedings in various locations and it all went relatively smoothly. I could feel the difference in my language level and cultural knowledge as I went about the tasks, it was easier than two years ago.
I’ve actually browsed the supermarket quite a lot this week, it’s so big – each time I go I discover a new aisle that I didn’t think they had! The other day I decided it was a good idea to buy some more skin-coloured tights to wear with my skirts, but I spent a long time trying to work out which ones were the ones I wanted. I won’t bore you with the details, but I was astounded to see how a simple task became so complicated in another culture. I still
On Thursday we signed our contracts which went well, but there wasn’t much else to do as the man in charge of us wasn’t available until Friday afternoon. Friday afternoon went well too, so thanks for your prayers. After an unsure start (no response from the man we were supposed to be meeting) we were warmly welcomed, and the head of the department already knew our names and said if we have even the smallest worry his door is open. In terms of some things there’s a lack of organisation which could prove difficult (we’ll see next week), but it’s nice that they’re friendly. I start teaching on Monday 12th Sept.
Other bits and bobs...
- I went to see a Spanish film subtitled in French(!) at the cinema and it wasn’t my sort of film but I could appreciate that it was a clever storyline and well put together anyway.
- I enjoyed a delicious ice cream on Friday afternoon in bright sunshine :)
Michèle looks after 4 other children during the week at varying hours of the day, and in varying numbers. The downside being that in this house you can hear everything (there are no carpets, and barely any curtains). I didn’t realise how much children cry and make loud noises and do silly things they have to be told off about! Ah well, it’s good for me to learn, and I like children, but I think I’ll work in the office at uni quite a bit if I can!
This week on Tuesday I was really pleased with myself. I managed to sort out various administrative proceedings in various locations and it all went relatively smoothly. I could feel the difference in my language level and cultural knowledge as I went about the tasks, it was easier than two years ago.
I’ve actually browsed the supermarket quite a lot this week, it’s so big – each time I go I discover a new aisle that I didn’t think they had! The other day I decided it was a good idea to buy some more skin-coloured tights to wear with my skirts, but I spent a long time trying to work out which ones were the ones I wanted. I won’t bore you with the details, but I was astounded to see how a simple task became so complicated in another culture. I still
won’t know if they’re right ‘til I put them on!
On Thursday we signed our contracts which went well, but there wasn’t much else to do as the man in charge of us wasn’t available until Friday afternoon. Friday afternoon went well too, so thanks for your prayers. After an unsure start (no response from the man we were supposed to be meeting) we were warmly welcomed, and the head of the department already knew our names and said if we have even the smallest worry his door is open. In terms of some things there’s a lack of organisation which could prove difficult (we’ll see next week), but it’s nice that they’re friendly. I start teaching on Monday 12th Sept.
Other bits and bobs...
- I enjoyed a delicious ice cream on Friday afternoon in bright sunshine :)
- I met a lovely Christian girl who works with one of the student groups in Rennes.
- I’ve discovered a lovely park nearby, and went on a mini adventure to find ‘Rue d’Angleterre’ (England Street). It was a lovely street with large picturesque houses. One house even had a mini house for its post!
Fiona x
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