Dinnertime Conversation

I have just finished a fabulous - if I do say so myself - dinner of classic lentil froup (that's Fran-Soup) and salad. I made the lentil froup yesterday, when I was cold and damp, knowing it would be, like most foods, better the second day. Such a good decision.

And dinner was followed with a chunk of bread, and, in my mission to tackle all the cheeses at the market, a couple slices of Morbier, a lovely, flavorful cheese with a pretty cool "origin story" (check out the link).

Today I observed 2 classes - 4th grade & 5th grade - at the smaller of my two schools, St-Exupery (St-Ex, for short). The day was short and quite pleasant. This school has a much more intimate "small school" feel. The kids seemed nice, and behavoir was about the same across the board as it was in the classes yesterday - lots of fidgiting and side conversations going on, that the teachers didn't really seem to want to do much about until the overall noise-level got so they couldn't hear other kids.

The teachers were a bit more openly friendly with me here, which was a little unexpected. I know the French "way" is not to warm up to people instantly, but to be cordial and guarded until they've really gotten to know a person. The 5th grade teacher asked if I wanted him to stay in the room while I taught (but of course!), and said he would help out with the discipline - keeping them quiet and on task, mostly. He suggested that I pretty much lay down the law the first day, which is what we were told during orientation, too. And from what I can tell, they seemed excited to know they would be starting English classes next week (as long as they don't see it as time for a mental vacation!).

Tomorrow is my day off, since there is no school on Wednesdays for elementary kids (or teachers). I expect I'll be spending a very good chunk of the day planning for the SIX classes I have to teach on Thursday! Nothing like a baptism by fire, right?