39 degrees this morning when I left home, and the sun was still battling in the underworld with Apophis. I had to go to the high school for class this morning, on my last day of work before the break. A class of nine or so students who sat there and stared blankly at me when I tried to get them to speak. It's annoying. Of course, I was the same way in high school, doodling or scribbling in my notebook rather than paying attention, and rarely did I ever volunteer information (unless it was a history class, then it's another story). I'm sure I drove my teachers just as crazy, but seriously, folks. Your government (which means your parents, through taxes) are paying me to be here to get you to speak English, and to correct your English, and how am I supposed to do that if you don't speak? It's not like they're hard questions. I know it's the last day before break, I don't want to be here either, but I am. Having been on the other end, knowing I'm a hypocrite, I still find it vexing. Ah, well, and so.
This update is brought to you by my iPad in the teachers lounge at St.-Ex. I have a hot chocolate by my side to try and warm up (freezing in here! they don't do temperature control inside like we do). For breakfast on my way to the bus this morning, I got a pain au chocolat, fresh from the bakery. The chocolate inside was still melty and the pastry a warm puff ball in my hands. Who needs gloves when there are pastries made less than an hour earlier?
Today is my busiest day of the week with four classes. Two at the high school in the morning, two in the afternoon at the middle school. After the past several weeks of barely anything, having a full day is annoying. Not to mention, I'm exhausted. I went over to a friend's apartment for dinner last night and didn't get home till 10:30, then took my time going to bed because I'm easily distracted (and distractions abound). I watched Looney Tunes in French, and I have to say, "What's up, doc?" in French ("Quoi de neuf, docteur?") just doesn't have the same ring to it. Yesterday afternoon, after class and before dinner, I watched the Mighty Ducks in French, which is always amusing. I adore those movies. Quack, quack, quack. Such cheese, but good cheese, which I happen to be a fan of.
Tomorrow begins the week and a half vacation, the first of five. Called vacances de Toussaints (Allsaints), it falls just in time to qualify as a Halloween break. Too bad they don't celebrate Halloween. Still, I've got a trip booked to the nearby town of Saintes, the Gallo-Roman town with lots of ruins and a neat little center city waiting for me to explore. From there, I'll take the train to Cognac, then back to La Rochelle. I may or may not go to Bordeaux for a few days, either to shop or simply to explore. I'm going to try tomorrow to find a winter coat (so I don't freeze so much), but if I can't, I'll have to start searching nearby cities. It'd be easier if I weren't so picky, but what can ya do? I am what I am.
I'm still bummed about missing the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, but I'll manage. At least I'll be able to watch it on iTunes.
I really need to find a way to wake up. I don't drink coffee (can't stand the taste), but I need some serious caffeine. Hot caffeine. Tea? At this point, I'd even take a warm coke. It's like being in high school again (ok, it is being in high school again, just not as a student) getting up this early. How did I ever manage for four years? Not to mention middle school and elementary school. I'm not a morning person, I guess.
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