Yesterday I started teaching again at school after my looooong and wonderful break. I have a new schedule now, even though there isn't a new semester. I see a few new classes, but mostly the same faces each week. There are good things about my new schedule: no class on Friday every other week, one shorter week, and fewer obnoxious students. There are, however, bad things about my new schedule: the new class at 8 am on Tuesdays, and the 4 hour gap between classes on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. But still, all things considered, it will be good to change things up a bit halfway through my year.
I had my first new class this morning, where I went through the motions again of introducing myself, telling where I am from, and explaining that I don't know any celebrities, no matter how much they want that to be true. "I'm Sarah," I told them, "and I'm the new English assistant." And one of the boys in the back yelled out (in French), "And a good-looking assistant, too!" "What's your phone number?" I totally blushed. Reminded me of the beginning of the year, when I had a lot of embarrassing questions asked.
After seeing the same classes for the past four months, I'll admit that it is nice to have fresh students who are excited to have an American in the classroom with them. The others have gotten used to seeing me every other week, so it's nice to have a little anticipation for the day's lesson. Feels nice to be appreciated. I'm sure every teacher loves that.
I have other new classes for the rest of the week, and I'm both looking forward to and dreading the same ol' questions: "Do you know Brad Pitt?" "Califoooooornia! Yeah! Do you know San Fransisco?" and "You like McDonald's?"
Oh well. At least I'm cool again.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Fun with Mom, and Other Adventures
Well, I am back to school now, after two weeks of vacation. Have I mentioned that, in the 7 months I am here, I have 2 entire months of paid vacation time? I know, I know...you're jealous. Just as you should be. :)
My mother arrived on Friday, February 6, in Barcelona. I went to pick her up, and we came directly back to Perpignan so that she could rest and see my little town. We went out to my favorite little crêpe place in town, and Mother fell in love with the ice cream concoctions they had there! It's ice cream like you've never imagined it before. She took pictures.
It wasn't until Sunday evening that I told Mom about the Big Surprise that I had been keeping from her since November. Maybe some of you knew about it, too, although I tried not to tell TOO many people. The news was...we were going to POLAND!! Since Mom's father's side is Polish, she has always dreamed of visiting the land of her ancestors. So I planned a trip to Krakow for three days while she was here. She couldn't stop crying when I told her, and I wasn't sure if she was happy or just plain mad at me!
Two days later, we were heading down to Barcelona (our train sat in a tunnel for about a half an hour undergoing some minor mechanical work), and the next day we were in the air en route to Krakow. The city was glorious. It was snowing, of course, and colder than all get-out, but it felt like being in a snowglobe. It was the most perfect snow I've ever seen!
On the 12th, we went to the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. That alone was a memorable experience, to see all the horrors that I had read about right in front of me. We had an excellent tour guide -- a Polish woman whose uncle was executed for treason at Auschwitz I. Perhaps you know that there were three Auschwitz camps: Auschwitz I (the one we call Auschwitz), Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Auschwitz III-Monowitz. We zere able to visit camps I and II, but the Monowitz camp was almost entirely destroyed by the fleeing Nazis, so tours generally do not go there. It was a humbling and sobering experience that will haunt both of us.
The next day, we went to the Wieliczka (veal-itch-ka) Salt Mines, where we descended into a huge cavern dug over many centuries by salt miners in the area. There were big rooms and chapels and statues made entirely out of the salt rock. It was quite an amazing place -- like it's own little city!
While in Krakow, we definitely ate well. We didn't have any typical Polish food, but booooy, did we eat good food anyway! Mother was particularly impressed that they served bread with butter everywhere we went, and that they gave her a BIG soup spoon with every meal. This was definitely her type of place -- definitely her people.
On Valentine's Day, we left Krakow and headed for Paris. We settled into our hotel, grabbed a special Valentine's dinner, and the prepared for our big adventure the next day. On Sunday, we began our day by visiting Notre Dame during mass, then we waited in line to ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower (NOT recommended for people afraid of heights!!), and then descended to go to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa (agaaaaain) and the Napoleon III apartments (agaaaaain). It was a full, fun day, topped by dinner with my friend Vicky. Then, we got on a night train headed back to Perpignan.
In Perpignan, we relaxed in my little apartment, went out for dinner, and walked around town. It sure was fun to have "down days" after our busy week flying around Europe. :)
We went back down to Barcelona the day before Mom left to see the Sagrada Familia (Mom accidentally dubbed it the "Sangria Familia") and other Gaudi architecture. What a fun city! Wish I spoke a little more Catalan, though...
Now, I am back at school, and can continue my posts about academic life. If you'd like to see pictures from any of our trips, let me know (sgallup@pacificu.edu), and I can try to make that happen!
My mother arrived on Friday, February 6, in Barcelona. I went to pick her up, and we came directly back to Perpignan so that she could rest and see my little town. We went out to my favorite little crêpe place in town, and Mother fell in love with the ice cream concoctions they had there! It's ice cream like you've never imagined it before. She took pictures.
It wasn't until Sunday evening that I told Mom about the Big Surprise that I had been keeping from her since November. Maybe some of you knew about it, too, although I tried not to tell TOO many people. The news was...we were going to POLAND!! Since Mom's father's side is Polish, she has always dreamed of visiting the land of her ancestors. So I planned a trip to Krakow for three days while she was here. She couldn't stop crying when I told her, and I wasn't sure if she was happy or just plain mad at me!
Two days later, we were heading down to Barcelona (our train sat in a tunnel for about a half an hour undergoing some minor mechanical work), and the next day we were in the air en route to Krakow. The city was glorious. It was snowing, of course, and colder than all get-out, but it felt like being in a snowglobe. It was the most perfect snow I've ever seen!
On the 12th, we went to the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. That alone was a memorable experience, to see all the horrors that I had read about right in front of me. We had an excellent tour guide -- a Polish woman whose uncle was executed for treason at Auschwitz I. Perhaps you know that there were three Auschwitz camps: Auschwitz I (the one we call Auschwitz), Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Auschwitz III-Monowitz. We zere able to visit camps I and II, but the Monowitz camp was almost entirely destroyed by the fleeing Nazis, so tours generally do not go there. It was a humbling and sobering experience that will haunt both of us.
The next day, we went to the Wieliczka (veal-itch-ka) Salt Mines, where we descended into a huge cavern dug over many centuries by salt miners in the area. There were big rooms and chapels and statues made entirely out of the salt rock. It was quite an amazing place -- like it's own little city!
While in Krakow, we definitely ate well. We didn't have any typical Polish food, but booooy, did we eat good food anyway! Mother was particularly impressed that they served bread with butter everywhere we went, and that they gave her a BIG soup spoon with every meal. This was definitely her type of place -- definitely her people.
On Valentine's Day, we left Krakow and headed for Paris. We settled into our hotel, grabbed a special Valentine's dinner, and the prepared for our big adventure the next day. On Sunday, we began our day by visiting Notre Dame during mass, then we waited in line to ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower (NOT recommended for people afraid of heights!!), and then descended to go to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa (agaaaaain) and the Napoleon III apartments (agaaaaain). It was a full, fun day, topped by dinner with my friend Vicky. Then, we got on a night train headed back to Perpignan.
In Perpignan, we relaxed in my little apartment, went out for dinner, and walked around town. It sure was fun to have "down days" after our busy week flying around Europe. :)
We went back down to Barcelona the day before Mom left to see the Sagrada Familia (Mom accidentally dubbed it the "Sangria Familia") and other Gaudi architecture. What a fun city! Wish I spoke a little more Catalan, though...
Now, I am back at school, and can continue my posts about academic life. If you'd like to see pictures from any of our trips, let me know (sgallup@pacificu.edu), and I can try to make that happen!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sarah's Tale of Two Cites
My apologies for the delay since my last blog. I left the cord to my camera (the one with the USB plug on the other end) at my friend Vicky's house in Paris after Christmas, so I haven't been able to upload pictures. Vicky was kind enough to mail the cord back to me, but the French postal service was so kind as to lose it for me (*insert much hatred here*). I'm still in denial, thinking that my package could arrive any day now. But really, it's been almost a month since she sent it to me from Paris. I should accept that it is gone forever and move on. But there are pictures waiting to be uploaded and to be shared with the world. Thus, my hatred for La Poste, as it is known, shall endure through the ages. In the meantime, I do have some fantastic stories to share (the pictures will have to come later). So here they are...
ROME:
On January 23, I got on a plane in Girona, Spain, and left to go to Rome! Some of my friends from Oregon were planning a weekend layover in Rome on their way to Tanzania, and I decided to join them. Never having been to Rome before, I was finally given a good excuse to go! It was so good to be around familiar faces again, and to feel a little less of the "Token American." We were everything that I hate about tourists: speaking loudly in English, poorly navigating the host language, bothering locals about which bus line to take to such-and-such tourist destination, stopping every five seconds to check the map... It was great. And I loved every minute of it.
On Friday, we took advantage of the lack of rain, and walked up Palantine Hill after walking around the Coliseum, breathless, saying things like, "Ooooh...Ahhh..." "Woooow", and "Can you believe all the stuff that went on there?" Our walking tour led us to what we believed to be a back entrance into another one of Rome's many hills...instead, it led us straight into the private property of someone's backyard. Oops. Finally recognizing our mistake, we apologized and quickly backed out.
We then ventured to the ancient ruins of a Byzantine-era chapel, now buried underneath a Catholic church. Our tour guide told us that they were the oldest ruins in all of Rome...although our tip might have influenced that extra tidbit.
On Saturday, we set out for our real touristy activities, despite the heavy rain. We were all poorly dressed for our sight-seeing (they, after all, had packed for African weather!). We signed up for a tour of the Coliseum, and learned all about the gladiatorial "games" there and the many people and animals that were slaughtered within the walls where we were standing.
By the time our tour of the Coliseum was over, we were all soaked and ready to go back to the hotel. We changed into dry clothes, warmed up a bit, donned our umbrellas, and began heading for Vatican City. Since we arrived there late in the day, we had to rush through in order to see everything and get our 14 euros worth (although my student card got me in for 8 euros...tee hee hee!).
Although we followed the signs for the Sistine Chapel, we were led through a maze of other rooms first. Each room was filled from floor to ceiling with piece after piece of artwork. Even the ceilings in most cases were covered in frescos! We saw everything, from original artwork of the Renaissance to modern artwork to sculptures and mosaics. It was stunning all of it, but exhausting at the same time. My mind could hardly focus! And then we got to the Sistine Chapel...and it was nothing what I expected it to be. There was art all over! And the famous work by Michelangelo was stunning. Some of the paintings were disturbing, and some were hopeful. My friend Wayne and I stood in the middle of the room, with both of our chins up in the air, staring at all the pictures. If we could have taken pictures in the room, I'm sure it would have been a funny shot.
After the Sistine Chapel, we went through St. Peter's Basilica -- a massive church filled with relics and sculptures and Latin engravings.
On Sunday morning, we visited the catacombs a long-ish bus ride on the outskirts of Rome. Here is where members of the early Christian church would hide underground during times of persecution -- where they would bury their dead in shallow graves in the wall, and where they would also worship. It was an amazing place (and, quite literally, a maze).
I left on Sunday afternoon, but the rest of the group stayed until Monday. I had a hurricane -- I mean, work -- to get back to. Well, actually, we did have a near-hurricane while I was gone (184 km/hour in my town!). What a perfect weekend to be out of town!
PARIS:
Just three days after getting back from Rome, I packed up again and went to Paris, this time for business. We had our required Fulbright mid-year meeting, and I was scheduled to speak with the other four Fulbright ETAs about teaching in priority-level schools. The other Fulbright scholars were there, too, and shared about the progress they were making on their individual projects. I'm sure it is like this every year, but everyone's projects were so varied and interesting that it was easy to get enraptured with each presentation. There was everything, from studying a museum in the Louvre to studying hip-hop music in the French banlieues to studying the color-changing powers of carbon nanotubes to studying addiction disorders. The weekend reminded me of why I love higher education so much, and how I love being challenged by colleagues.
The best part was WHERE we gave our presentations. You may have never heard of the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, but you can bet that the French have. It's the most prestigious university in the country -- akin, let's say, to the graduate schools at Harvard or Princeton or Yale. A big deal, nonetheless. And I got to give my presentation there!
The bad part about Paris was that I brought a cold back with me. I haven't been too sick, but it's been the first case of the sniffles that I've had since I've been here. And that's good, considering that I was sick the whole time I lived in Poitiers. I've been drinking lots of tea and watching movies in bed, so I feel a lot better now.
And that's good, considering what is next: Mom's visit in only three days!!
ROME:
On January 23, I got on a plane in Girona, Spain, and left to go to Rome! Some of my friends from Oregon were planning a weekend layover in Rome on their way to Tanzania, and I decided to join them. Never having been to Rome before, I was finally given a good excuse to go! It was so good to be around familiar faces again, and to feel a little less of the "Token American." We were everything that I hate about tourists: speaking loudly in English, poorly navigating the host language, bothering locals about which bus line to take to such-and-such tourist destination, stopping every five seconds to check the map... It was great. And I loved every minute of it.
On Friday, we took advantage of the lack of rain, and walked up Palantine Hill after walking around the Coliseum, breathless, saying things like, "Ooooh...Ahhh..." "Woooow", and "Can you believe all the stuff that went on there?" Our walking tour led us to what we believed to be a back entrance into another one of Rome's many hills...instead, it led us straight into the private property of someone's backyard. Oops. Finally recognizing our mistake, we apologized and quickly backed out.
We then ventured to the ancient ruins of a Byzantine-era chapel, now buried underneath a Catholic church. Our tour guide told us that they were the oldest ruins in all of Rome...although our tip might have influenced that extra tidbit.
On Saturday, we set out for our real touristy activities, despite the heavy rain. We were all poorly dressed for our sight-seeing (they, after all, had packed for African weather!). We signed up for a tour of the Coliseum, and learned all about the gladiatorial "games" there and the many people and animals that were slaughtered within the walls where we were standing.
By the time our tour of the Coliseum was over, we were all soaked and ready to go back to the hotel. We changed into dry clothes, warmed up a bit, donned our umbrellas, and began heading for Vatican City. Since we arrived there late in the day, we had to rush through in order to see everything and get our 14 euros worth (although my student card got me in for 8 euros...tee hee hee!).
Although we followed the signs for the Sistine Chapel, we were led through a maze of other rooms first. Each room was filled from floor to ceiling with piece after piece of artwork. Even the ceilings in most cases were covered in frescos! We saw everything, from original artwork of the Renaissance to modern artwork to sculptures and mosaics. It was stunning all of it, but exhausting at the same time. My mind could hardly focus! And then we got to the Sistine Chapel...and it was nothing what I expected it to be. There was art all over! And the famous work by Michelangelo was stunning. Some of the paintings were disturbing, and some were hopeful. My friend Wayne and I stood in the middle of the room, with both of our chins up in the air, staring at all the pictures. If we could have taken pictures in the room, I'm sure it would have been a funny shot.
After the Sistine Chapel, we went through St. Peter's Basilica -- a massive church filled with relics and sculptures and Latin engravings.
On Sunday morning, we visited the catacombs a long-ish bus ride on the outskirts of Rome. Here is where members of the early Christian church would hide underground during times of persecution -- where they would bury their dead in shallow graves in the wall, and where they would also worship. It was an amazing place (and, quite literally, a maze).
I left on Sunday afternoon, but the rest of the group stayed until Monday. I had a hurricane -- I mean, work -- to get back to. Well, actually, we did have a near-hurricane while I was gone (184 km/hour in my town!). What a perfect weekend to be out of town!
PARIS:
Just three days after getting back from Rome, I packed up again and went to Paris, this time for business. We had our required Fulbright mid-year meeting, and I was scheduled to speak with the other four Fulbright ETAs about teaching in priority-level schools. The other Fulbright scholars were there, too, and shared about the progress they were making on their individual projects. I'm sure it is like this every year, but everyone's projects were so varied and interesting that it was easy to get enraptured with each presentation. There was everything, from studying a museum in the Louvre to studying hip-hop music in the French banlieues to studying the color-changing powers of carbon nanotubes to studying addiction disorders. The weekend reminded me of why I love higher education so much, and how I love being challenged by colleagues.
The best part was WHERE we gave our presentations. You may have never heard of the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, but you can bet that the French have. It's the most prestigious university in the country -- akin, let's say, to the graduate schools at Harvard or Princeton or Yale. A big deal, nonetheless. And I got to give my presentation there!
The bad part about Paris was that I brought a cold back with me. I haven't been too sick, but it's been the first case of the sniffles that I've had since I've been here. And that's good, considering that I was sick the whole time I lived in Poitiers. I've been drinking lots of tea and watching movies in bed, so I feel a lot better now.
And that's good, considering what is next: Mom's visit in only three days!!
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