lots of laundry and lingering looks

We ventured out today to the only laundromat in the city. 20 euros and 3 hours later we had clean but still very wet clothes! I don't think that this was the big trip that we had in mind when we bought our backpacks but it was still an adventure. We took the bus in town and then trecked around because we didn't know where the laundromat was. When we found it we were disappointed because half of the machines were out of order and as soon as we walked in we slipped in a huge puddle that was half the floor. Anyway we dont plan to go back for a while...

Even though we have already mentioned this, we have to address it again. No matter where we go necks are being broken. We dont think that we look that different but for some reason the french can't control themselves from staring. Today was the worst especially since Mary Elizabeth decided to break out some shorts (it was laundry day) on a day that was slightly colder than the previous days and or course we were wearing our backpacks. The worst was a when we were at the train station and she was given the once over by a lady stading 2 feet away...the lady had an orange mullet in need of a trim, penciled on eyebrows, a bright purple jacket and some choice shoes. Everyone was asking if she was cold and asking everyone around her as well.

femmes femmes femmes femmes

We are doing a pretty good job of finding things to do considering we live in a town that goes to sleep at 8. Some of the highlights have been;

• a super posh ballet in a freezing church where 16 year old girls failed miserably in their dancing attempts
• many trips to the town center to visit the library, the cinemas, shops, bakeries and cafes
• a 'nature walk' around a man made lake that doesn't allow swimming and is under enormous power lines which create a constant buzzing
• we have created our own club in our flat with shiny disco balls, lazer rings, flashing rainbow lights and various collages...and of course wigs for dancing. we would like to thank a certain bar for donating these supplies
• and of course our favourite hangout a hip little joint called 'Barfly'. We first fell in love with Barfly our first weekend in town. Some guys told us to go there but we were afraid that they were going to kill us so we walked the other way...but we ended up there anyway. We didn't know what/how to order so the bartender brought us some mojitos with glowsticks. After we suffered through them we asked for the bill and were told that it was already taken care of. we were skeptical but the gentleman had already left...chivalry is not dead my friends. Round two at Barfly was disco night! We started off the night at home with some 'Old Nick' rhum and 'Jean's Cola'. It was a near disaster when a ghost locked Mary Elizabeth's door and she almost had to go the bar in her slippers! It turned out to be a good night and we got some disco merchandise and great wigs (hot pink bob and purple afro). stare stare stare stare 'allo' stare stare (best pick up line ever)

-> So in apartment news...we finally got a lock on our door (ps mom we didn't have a lock but we do now so don't worry) and there is talk about getting an oven! well toaster oven but we'll take it. We have a new roomie for a few days, Marcus, Becky's boyfriend. No Problem! He reminds us of Andre the Giant "anybody want a peanut'? We've been working on our french while competing against each other in really intense UNO games. Katie was very romantic yesterday and bought her boyfriend (M.E.) some beautiful pink flowers. We spent the afternoon crafting a vase a la collage de sunny D container. Then shared in a romantic dinner (merci katie). We are definitely roughing it considering we had to wash our knickers in the sink!

-> We are going into Besancon on friday for our second trip to meet with all the language assistants. It is nice to see another part of france and hopefully we will be doing more travelling soon! Our first break is October 24th.

LOVE - ask katie about this

school house rock

For the past two weeks we been observing classes (ish). The teachers have been giving the students the oppotunity to ask us questions in English. We have gotten some real gems such as;

• what is your name? (this actually gets a big laugh when they hear our accent. ps katie is now known as 'Kelly' and Mary E is 'Mary-Elisabit')
• do you like maple syrup/you ahh like pancake?
• do you want to learn how to do a french kiss?
• do you think french men are beautiful/do you prefer france or canada?
• you have big teets! (comment to katie...)

-> Katie is the language assistant at Le Grand Chenois (which is a short walk from our flat). The staff are a rowdy crowd and we saw this first hand last tuesday when we went with them for a bowling night. It was a classy spot (star bowl) and we had dinner (various cold salads, sandwich meats, baguettes, cheese and radishes) and some wine. It was pretty fun when we got the double kissing total strangers down. There was one monsieur who had some mad scruff who double kissed every person there. All of the students smoke and it is a bit of an obstacle course to get through them in the morning. Katie feels important because she has her own keys and even a 'pigeon hole'. We all feel like the teachers are not very accomodating toward us, sometimes we feel like we are in the way or they can't be bothered with us. Katie feels unwanted (but not by the students). Anyway things should improve when we begin taking our own groups. When it comes to lunch time steer clear of the caf at Le Grand Chenois. Katie thought she was getting a pastry...turns out it was fish innards yum yum. (sidenote: last week katie again thought she was getting a pastry and it was cheese...i think we will work on that with her)

-> Speaking of fish, Mary Elizabeth had a ballin' lunch at her school, Lycee Armand Peugeot. There was a special lunch for her and Becky, the german assistant. So there was a little speech then we all had some scotch and cheetos, then for lunch we had shark! Ferocious! and crepes as well. it was a great french lunch! School is going pretty well for her, she is also excited to start her own lessons. It is about a 25 minute bus ride to get there. The school day is very different from Canada. Classes go from 8-5:30. death. However, we only have to work 12 hours a weeks so we can't really complain.

La Vie en France

We are pretty settled in now and we are living with three other language assistants: Becky from germany, Mhairi (Mary) from Scotland and Anent from India. We all get a long pretty well and we've been getting everything ready for the schools and exploring the city. Some of the highlights in Montbeliard include:

• the Cinemas that shows foreign movies from the 60's. It's really different from the theatre at home. There is no concession stand BUT luckily there is a popcorn machine and a vending machine. We watched an Iranian movie with French subtitles...jealous?
• We've been to a few cafes and sandwicheries. The prices are a bit higher than they are at home, a bottle of coke costs about 5 dollars. The other night we went to Buffolo Grill for supper and before the waitor brought us our meal he brought out a delicious urn of popcorn... it was quite nice.
  
• A short walk a way from our residence there is an equivalent of a superstore. We bought cheap wine for 2.50 euros and made a night of it. Half the store is actually baguettes and cheese... but they don't seem to have ANY peanut butter! And they have an insane amount of sweets.
  
• Mary Elizabeth and Mhairi were feeling quite adventurous yesterday and went and got some piercings. Bad ass.

We are living on a campus of a technical school so the students are between 16 and 21. Eighty percent of the student body are boys. We feel really foreign because the stares are unbelievable. Yesterday the five of us were walkng and we actually got hissed at.


As for the actual reason we are here, Mary Elizabeth had her first day yesterday. She got to observe a few english classes she might be working with. The students asked her a few questions and when she answered them they literally gasped at her accent. Katie finally got a hold of her contact yesterday and will be starting on Tuesday. Side note: He didn't pick Katie up from the train station and failed to contact her or reply to the numerous e-mails she sent him.

-

Getting There

Allo, Bonjour!

We left Charlottetown last Sunday and had an eventful flight to Montreal. It was a near catastrophe as Katie threw up her rocket chips. We got into Montreal, had a quick sponge bath and we were off to France. The second flight was much more enjoyable but when we landed we were in for quite a workout. To make it to Montbeliard (Our final destination) we had to first figure out the trains and then figure out how to pull, drag and squeeze our luggage onto and off of the train. Actually Mary Elizabeth destroyed one of the ticket gates because she couldn't get sumo bag through the doors.

On our first subway there was a guy who passed out a piece of paper saying that he was deaf and showed us trinkets he had for sale if we wanted to buy them. And then there was a guy who strutted through with an amp and busted out some sweet tunes like our fav, La Bamba. Then he went asking for money. Anyways we arrived in Montbeliard and tried calling our contacts. Mary Elizabeth's showed up within 30 minutes and welcomed us with the tradtional double kiss. That may have not been the best way to greet us becuase we had been travelling for many hours (And someone had barfed...down her shirt...yum).

Nadine took us to our home away from home. We are staying at a residence at a lycee for 53 euros a month, BALLIN! Luckily we are right next door to eachother. We got ready to go to sleep in our bed straight out of the 70's. Katie got all snuggled in and heard a crack and BOOM she was on the floor. Basically what happened was her mattress fell right through the box spring. And as our German roomate put it, it was Kaput! So she spent the first night sleeping on the floor.