My first weekish in Paris.*

*The weeks and days are still a blur.

Well I have a lot of catching up to do. well to get to the place where Katie is anyway. I feel like I have gotten through the jet lag phase finally. All I wanted to do was sleep for the first couple of days but when I laid on the bed, my back yelled at me. Not a comfortable bed at all. I think I have gotten use to being in a different bed now and different country.

I have been told that the culture shock takes a couple of weeks usually, but I feel that I have prepared myself for it rather well. Everything I see so far, I have learned about in the states. Or I just ask Katie. She's my guide. :-) So I will let you know how I feel in a couple of weeks. As of right now, I miss my family, co-workers, friends and the little life I had in Indiana.

À Paris,

For a person who speaks very little French, I feel that I have been doing well. Luckily I can read and figure out what most of the signs instruct and pick out the important words. Thank God for gestures and tone of voice.

The first wednesday, I got to play indoor football (soccer, I haven't meet one European that likes American Football) with a bunch of French guys and some other Europeans. Only one could speak English and he was not much of a talker. Little tip for American soccer players when playing Europeans: Never hesitate when playing. The few times the ball was passed to me, I stop only long enough to look up to set up a cross (I hesitated). As mentioned before, I don't speak French but I could definitely tell that I was being cursed at and by gestures and by the Frenchman making fun of me, one should set up the play before the ball arrives at your feet.

Today was the second day of French class for me and it is going well. I am still not sure what level I'm in or what the professor is saying. It is all in French, no English allowed. I'm not complaining just informing hopefully encouraging others like me reading this. If I can do it you can too....probably. Many that I have spoken to here in the foyer have told me "It takes time and then it just clicks" or "So and so got here not knowing a lick of French and two months later he or she speaks very well." As for me, I am still waiting on that "click" thing to happen. In the meantime I will continue to listen and speak as much as I know and can. Maybe in a month I can write these blogs in French like my awesome Frenchy wife (she's not really French).

Well this Wednesday I will be playing Badminton which is a sport that I have only played in the backyard. Katie and I are going to a meet up group where they speak 45 min of French and 45 min of English, so it is nap time for me. Till I write again......

Cpt. Tom

Demonstrators and Books in the Latin Quarter

One day last week (I think it was Tuesday but the days are kind of jumbling together right now), Tom and I decided to follow one of the walking tours in our Michelin Green Guide. We decided on the Quatier Latin because Tom wanted to see where he would soon be studying.

As soon as we got off the metro, we heard a commotion. What looked like a rather depressing parade was, in fact, a manifestation- a demonstration. We caught a glimpse of the banner. “Contre la privatisation de la poste.”




For the past week, I've been trying to figure out exactly what was going on. Here's my summary, with no promise that it's exact: the French postal service has to, by EU regulation, liberalize and become open to competition by 2011. Postal workers are worried that this means that the postal service will be privatized and will not be able to contend with new competitors. And so, as this is Paris, they went on strike, called grève in French. This confuses me a bit because I've read that they went on strike the 21st, yet we've seen trucks out and about, delivering mail. I've also read that French citizens are voting from today until October 3. But what for? I think that it's a vote to have a referendum (so maybe it's like a petition, demanding a referendum?). It's not a vote held by the state. I need to get in the loop some more.

After finding l’Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises, part of l’Institut Catholique and Tom’s school, we set out towards the Seine. Our walking tour started at Quai St. Michel. We didn’t get too far until I spotted les bouquinistes- secondhand book sellers that have booths along the Seine.




I feel a bit sorry for Tom when we come across a bookstore. Whether it’s Borders or it’s these adorable stalls in Paris, whether it’s new or old, I love looking at books. And I take forever to do it. I didn’t have anything specific in mind, I was just looking for an author or a book that I’d heard of. I ended up buying A la recherche du temps perdu: La prissonière by Proust, which is where the title of this blog comes from, for 3 euros. I soon discovered that I might not be ready for this one. A few days later, at Fnac, I bought La mécanique du coeur, a sweet story that is a little easier to read.

Our tour ended at the Panthéon, but we got there right as it was closing. Another day ☺

How Being Exhausted Wreaks Havoc On My Emotions

Hurray for (more) regular Internet access! We do not have wifi in our room, but we bought an Ethernet cord, so we can now use the common room of our foyer to get online. I wrote the following post on Monday, and am just now getting to typing and posting it. Still playing catch up.


Aujourd’hui, c’est le 21. Nous sommes arrivés le 18. Je ne sais pas si j’ai fait face au « culture shock » ces 3 derniers jours (puisque normalement le choc ne vient que des semaines après l’arrivée). Mais si oui, je ne l’ai pas reconnu, ou les étapes ne sont pas comme j’avais appris. La première étape, c’est l’enthousiasme, « la lune de miel. » C’est vrai que j’étais vraiment ravie quand j’ai vu encore les sites de Paris de notre navette (notre chauffeur agissait aussi comme guide). Mais en arrivant au foyer, après avoir signé les papiers et apes le tour, je me sentais tout d’un coup déprimée. J’avais un sentiment de peur. Qu’est-ce que je fais ici ?! 10 mois ?!

Nous avons fait un somme, pas très longue, mais ce n’était pas une bonne idée. Quand je me suis réveillée, le sentiment s’est élevé et j’ai pleuré. Lune de miel ? Je crois que non. Peut-être c’était à cause de la fatigue, je ne sais pas.

Apres le somme, je me suis installé pour rendre notre chambre un peu plus comme chez nous. Les sentiments ont commencé à disparaître, peu à peu. Et Tom, il va bien depuis le premier jour, au moins il le semble. C’est moi qui a étudié le français et demeuré en France pendant 6 semaines, et c’est moi qui parle français (au moins conversant). Mais c’est lui que n’as pas peur. Il est vraiment un soutien merveilleux.

Maintenant, nous apprenons toujours cette ville (ou bien notre quartier) et le foyer. Nous avons trouvé un marché pas trop loin. Il y a aussi un centre commercial près d’ici. La, il y a Casino, où nous avons acheter les serviettes de toilettes, un sèche-cheveux, et d’autres choses que nous avons laissé chez nous parce que les tailles de nos valises ne les ont pas permis.


For the Anglophones

Today is the 21ist. We arrived on the 18th. I don’t know if I’ve encountered culture shock or not these past 3 days (since normally culture shock doesn’t come for a couple weeks after arriving. But if I have, I didn’t recognize it, or the phases are not like I had learned. The first phase is enthusiasm, or the honeymoon phase. It’s true that I was really excited when I saw the Parisian sites from our shuttle (our chauffeur also acted as our personal tour guide). But when we got to our foyer, after signing the papers and the tour, I suddenly felt depressed. I felt scared. What am I doing here?! 10 months?!

We took a nap, not very long, but it wasn’t a good idea. When I woke up, the feeling grew and I cried. Honeymoon phase? I don’t think so. Maybe it was because I was so drained, I don’t know.

After the nap, I unpacked to make our room feel a little more like home. The feelings started to melt away, bit by bit. And Tom, he’s been doing well since day 1. I’m the one who studied French and lived in France for 6 weeks, and I’m the one who speaks French (at least conversational French). But he’s the one who’s not scared. He is really a wonderful support.

Now, we are still learning about this city (or at least our neighborhood) and the foyer. We found a market not too far away. There is also a mall close by. In the mall there is Casino (a supermarket, not a casino) where we bought towels, a hair dryer, and other things we left behind because our suitcases wouldn’t permit them to come.

Nous sommes à Paris

Nous sommes à Paris...mais toujours fatigués et il nous faut partager un ordinateur pour le moment. Alors, je promets d'écrire plus la semaine prochaine!

We're in Paris...but we're still tired and we have to share a computer for the time being. So, I promise to write more next week!

Cutting Out Some of the Stress

Several months ago, a fellow English Assistant pointed me in the direction of this very useful site. You can use this to get public transportation (bus, metro, RER, and/or tramway) directions within Paris.

We had planned to use public transportation when we first arrive, to get to our residence hall from the airport. I used that website to see what that would involve: a 47 minute ride on the RER (Réseau Express Régional, Regional Express Network) and then taking a tram and some walking. I have absolutely no opposition to public transportation. In fact, I'm thrilled that I'll be taking the metro and buses and walking a lot more (so sick of driving!). But due to previous horrific experiences of taking trains and buses whilst lugging around a couple suitcases, I decided we could "splurge" on a shuttle.

Thanks to the Michelin Green Guide that French Professor S gave me a few days ago, I found ParisShuttle. I made a reservation today. It was 36€. Not getting off on a great start of saving money, but I think I've saved us a lot of stress. We'll have plenty of time to experience public transportation.

On a side note- I'm not sure if this blog is functionning correctly (maybe something to do with the administrator) and I'm not sure comments are working. So if anyone is out there reading this, please try to comment. If it doesn't work, drop me a line at katherine.ayers@gmail.com. Thanks!

What's to Miss?

Well there are 9 days left of living it up in the U.S. Because there is so much that I will miss here in the States and yet so much to learn and experience in Paris, I can't decide if I'm sad, happy, excited, stressed, or crazy. As far as I know, I am still sane despite what my wife says every now and then.

I know the sad parts are the people in my life that I will miss the most. I will definitely miss all of my family and friends. I write "family AND friends" because most of my family are my Closest friends. People that I can hang out with and play any sport with and not seem like a family outing. In other words, when I'm with my family, it is by choice not obligation.

I will also miss working at the YMCA, because it's been more than just a place of employment. I have worked at the Y in Anderson for three years (as of Sept 2009). I started in JUST youth sports and then expanded into Aquatics, Before and After School care, and the rental department. I was a site director for youth sports working next to the director operating basketball and soccer programs and leagues. I then became fascinated with the aquatic environment. I became the Head lifeguard, Assistant Pool Operator, and a Lifeguard Instructor. As a head lifeguard, I was able to meet and get close and have tons of fun with many different people and it made me more outgoing and able to connect with others. Abilities that I plan to use in Paris. So to say that I will miss the Anderson YMCA, is a bit of an understatement.

Lately, my life has been wrapped up in My Wife and the YMCA. Thank God I will still have one with me in Paris and Thank God it will be my wonderful Wife. I love the Y very much, but nothing is better than my Katie.

Yes, I will miss Anderson

Sunday was our last day at The Mercy House. Our pastor Matt had us come up to talk about where we are going and what we were doing. To introduce our announcement, Matt said something close to "for some strange reason, Tom and Katie are leaving the wonderful and exciting city of Anderson, IN for the lame who-would-want-to-go-there country of France."

Although there was obvious sarcasm in his description of both cities, Matt truly loves Anderson. And really, so do I. It's certainly not for its selection of restaurants, availability of jobs, or all-around coolness. Because it doesn't have any of those things. When I came to Anderson in 2004 to go to AU, and when I moved here in 2006, I would never had imagined missing Anderson- especially if the alternative were Paris! And despite the fact that I feel that Indy is "where I'm from," Anderson has become a home.



The Mercy House is a top-of-the-list reason why I feel so connected to Anderson. We don't exactly have a big group of friends in Anderson, but TMH has been a place to connect with others, to learn, to worship God, and to serve the community. I love TMH atmosphere and the people who are doing wonderful things: starting and running a thrift store, creating a free after-school program, and caring for the spiritual growth of TMHers. And Tom and I, we coordinated the coffee bar, admittedly not a ministry like the others. But I think a lot of people appreciated having delicious lattés to sip on Sunday mornings. And I loved doing it!





Tom and I are looking forward to becoming part of a community and church in Paris, but I will certainly miss this place over the next 10 months.

Applying to be Assistante d'Anglais

Once I decided that I was definitely interested in going to France as an English language assistant, but still while I was thinking it wouldn't happen, I obsessively checked the French Embassy site for the 2009-2010 application. I am ashamedly addicted to checking email and Facebook, but thinking about the assistantship application was something different. I didn't check for it because I was bored. I would be working in my new storage-supply-closet-turned-office, trying to focus on improving the volunteer program through capacity building and organization, when a familiar-sounding voice would whisper. "France. You could be going to France."

Strangely, I don't remember the day that it was up. But it was in November, leaving less than one month to make the first deadline, December 1. I wasted no time.

I realize that my readership is at about 2 at the moment, but my hope is that my experience with applying can be helpful to others. The following is in no way official information, but my personal notes and timeline.

Overview of the application process*

Online Application Form. This includes basic information, teaching experience, time spent in France, and reasons for wanting to be an assistant. In French! This is also where you select your geographical and type of contract preferences. This is just the beginning. This has to be printed and mailed, with the following, in a super-meticulous order.

Medical Form. Requires a physical and a form to be signed stating that you are healthy enough to teach for 12 hours per week.

Dependant Waiver. Since my husband is going with me, I had to sign this saying that I understand that the assistant stipend is not sufficient to support more than one person. Applicants planning to take children must also sign this.

Two forms of recommendation. Luckily, I had two French professors who know me and my French language abilities well (Note: unlike many other teaching abroad programs for which you don't have to speak the host country's language, you are required to know at least some French).

Passport photos. Like every other type of application in France, and perhaps Europe, this requires 2 passport-style photos.

Easy things. Transcripts and copies of passport.

Proof of housing. If you already have housing in France with family or such, you can submit a utility bill as proof and you may be more likely placed in the académie of your choice. No guarantees. If you plan to study too, you can submit proof of enrollment. Problem: the application is due in the winter, and most universities and study abroad programs don't accept applications that early, much less review them. Riddle me that. Once we decided on Paris, I made copies of Tom's study abroad application and wrote "mon mari va étudier à Paris" in large print and highlighted at the top. Just between us, he had not actually submitted the study abroad program yet, nor did this turn out to the the school he chose. Mais qu'est-ce qu'on peut faire?

Waiting

After submitting the online application, I got a number (I was around the 300th person to apply), but nothing more. No emails or letters. No confirmation letter once my documents reached Washington. Just waiting and a great exercise is learning to be patient. There are about 1500 positions for American English assistants in France, and probably thousands of applicants. There's only one contact person in Washington for questions about the application process. That ratio isn't good for either side.

The Assistants in France forums saved me from insanity during this waiting period. Ok, that may be a tad dramatic. Honestly, though, the forums allowed me to share my frustrations and excitement with other hopefuls, and to ask the experts (current and past assistants) my many many questions.

The waiting lasted a grueling four months.

Getting the news, bit by bit

"Dear Future Teaching Assistant," so began the much awaited email that looked so beautiful on that April afternoon. "Congratulations! We are very pleased to inform you of your acceptance into the French Teaching Assistantship Program for the 2009-2010 academic year, sponsored by the French Ministry of Education. You have been placed in the Académie of Créteil."

I was, of course, at work when I got the email. It was the end of the day and my VISTA friends were gone. I tried to call Tom, who has a habit of being in class when I need to talk to him. I called my friend Heather. Then I told Teresa, the Administrative Assistant for Emergency Services at the Red Cross, who had no idea what I was talking about. But I couldn't stop telling people.

Créteil is in the Paris region, but it's a big académie, so I was worried that my schools would be too far away from Paris to be able to live in the city. The first email only gives you the name of the académie, and not information about the type or length of contract, or the names of your schools.

Two months later, in June, I received an email from the Académie of Créteil stating that my placement was in Maisons-Alfort and would be for primaire (elementary schools). Good news again! Maisons-Alfort is not in Paris, but it is on a metro line. So, commuting might take longer than I'd like, but it won't involve a car! This email also gave me the name and email address of my tuteur, or contact person.

Later in June I received the prized arrêté de nomination (certificate of appointment). I found out that my contract was for 7 (and not 9) months. After a few emails to my tuteur, I still do not know the names of my schools, or even how many I will have. I could have up to three schools.

This has been one crazy adventure already, and it's been mostly paperwork!

*For more information about applying to the program, I highly recommend visiting Jennie's Assistants Guide. Jennie has done an amazing job of summarizing the program, the application process, and much more. There's no need for me to duplicate the work, right?