Blog #3
So I stayed up waaaay too late trying to get my blog up yesterday, or should I say this morning. I finally got to bed around 3am, wanted to be up 7am, didn’t fall asleep until 4am and woke up to Antoinette’s text message at 8:18. I was supposed to be at the Assistant “training meeting” at 9am. Needed a shower, breakfast, lunch packed…. So that didn’t happen. It really wasn’t much of training. They showed us a few things to do on the Academie website once we have discovered successful (or equally important non-successful) teaching techniques, ideas games, etc., for our students. Once I actually start teaching consistently, know that I know who my students are and what I am to do, I’ll be sure to get on that, thanks. I went for two hours, then headed to EPIM to prep my art projects for the kids/students/eléves (there are so many ways I can and will address them- make note) for today.
The job only pays me to work from 1:30- 4:30, which is a bummer given it’s going to take me much more prep work time, and I have to stay later to clean up. We’ll see how things go in the future: I may need to discuss getting paid for the extra 1.5 hours I am there. I may just eventually get my groove and not need that much extra time, which is what I’m hoping for. Then again, asking to be paid for that extra hour isn’t such a bad idea…
I thought it would be so productive of me to have everything ready and laid out when the students arrived; not the case. My two projects, painting turkey masks and then later making paper turkey pins were a hit, however I wanted them to be created in that order. I had a separate painting table station, and all the tables where the children sit ready for Paper Turkey Pin Shop. After our initial sit down hellos and talking about the day’s activities, the colored paper, glue and scissors were too much to take, and everyone dove in head first to this project. I made models of each of the projects, and explained step by step how to do it. I am not supposed to speak French at all, and it’s hard to get away with when my boss is in the next room with both our doors open. However, when I’ve got a crying 3-three old tuggin’ at my leg with another one slapping another one in the face, some French is going to come in here and there. I ask the few English speaking kids to help me with directions, and they are always happy to help. As the students finished one project and moved to another I learned the lesson I already knew yet didn’t apply: no matter what start with the paints. Once they get into painting they don’t want to really stop, yet I can make them do it if there is another project at hand. Then, of course, the paint of the projects can actually dry, which is always much more pleasant for the parents when carting their children’s beloved art projects home. Whoops!
The place was a wreck 10xs over, and it took me an additional 45 minutes to clean up. This is AFTER we already had one clean up session! Another lesson to learn- can art be fun and clean? Something is telling me no…
Normally I walk home. It usually takes me about 30-35 minutes. I enjoy walking past the Vieux Port, looking at the boats packed similar in fashion to the sardines Marseille is famous for, smelling the fresh air roll in from the Mediterranean. Not tonight. As afore mentioned, I was damn tired, and the #55 conveniently picks me up in front of EPIM and drops me off 4 blocks from my apartment. So I wait, and wait, and wait. And then it gets to the point where I’m like, “Ok. I KNOW the minute I leave the bus will come, and I won’t be able to catch the next stop….”, so I wait some more. I waited 50 goddamn minutes for a bus that is supposed to come every 15, and of course is packed to the gills, standing room only. Then when it gets to the Vieux Port 5 minutes later, it turns right instead of left, and the driver tells everyone to get off the bus. Sonofah!!! I ended up walking the rest of the way anyway, never seeing my “convenient” #55 pass by.
I dug around in the fridge and pulled out what I thought I could turn into a decent meal. Cabbage, onion, yellow pepper and mushrooms sautéed with some stewed tomatoes, a few spices, poured over two thick slices of left-over polenta. I love it when I surprise myself! Tomorrow’s lunch? Yep- you guessed it.
My friend Antoinette came over. We hadn’t seen each other for a while and promised each other we’d go running in the morning, so make sure we both fulfill on the promise, she’s staying the night. I’ve got to get my ass back in gear and start running- we’ve signed up for the Marseilles 1/2 Marathon in April!
Blog #3 isn’t exciting, I know. But just let me reiterate: I’m friggin’ tired! I’ll try to post some pics from today at EPIM. Here’s hoping……
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