Thurs, Oct. 6th

Today I started training in Nice for my teaching assistant program. Thank god I lived in Paris for 5 months and suffered then for my language skills because that suffering is paying off now- I already feel like I am a million times ahead of where I was two years ago and, while it is still difficult to go from fluency to infancy in a language, it is coming much easier this time around. For example, I chatted with a lovely Parisian lady on the street today about the best markets in Cannes and the agreeable surrounding countryside, something I could never have done before. And tonight, when Richard’s girlfriend comes over for dinner, I will actually be able to understand and contribute to the conversation.

So back to teaching, Richard dropped me off at the Institute d’Education Nationale at 8:30 and I met my responsible, Madame Heiblot. She must have thought I spoke as little French as the other assistants because she started off in barely understandable, very broken English. Once she understood that I could understand her, it went much smoother in French. As it turns out, she was a teacher for 20 years and now instructs professors as well as counsels the Director of the Education System in Cannes, so she is a wonderful person to have as my primary contact.

After a few formalities, she drove me to two of the three school at which I will be teaching, one of which, Ecole Mero, is literally a block away from my apartment: at most a 5 minute walk from my place. How can I be so lucky!? The second, Ecole Jean Mace, is right in downtown Cannes, a mere 15 minute walk from chez-moi and next to all of the best shopping. The last school, where I will have the majority of my classes (10 per week), is not quite as well situated, but still only about a 20 minute walk. Today I was just expecting to observe the classes and meet my professors, but one actually asked me to start teaching in front of her 4^th graders! Despite my unpreparedness, they must have liked me, because after class, one of the girls gave me a kiss on the cheek and another showed me pictures of her pet iguana. French kids are so cute!