Part Deux

Last left I was in my hotel in Limoges. Friday morning the teacher who is my point-of-contact at the school I'll be teaching at came to get me at 10am, and from then until 6pm it was go-go-go all over the place. She took me to the apartment/dormitory complex I'm staying at and filled out some papers and talked to the lady who runs it, etc. Then we walked around a little and drove around with her showing me the school I'll be at and a couple other building where I have meetings and have to turn in some paperwork, etc. And we went grocery shopping. And went to the bank to try to get my acct set up (but of course there was some paperwork I didn't have, so it had to wait until today). And she helped me look over a thousand different paperwork items that I have to turn. And attempted to get a cell phone, but that's still up in the air. It was a crazy busy day.

Groceries: loaf bread, chips (flavor: cheese), milk, cereal, toilet paper, paper towels, chocolate cookie/biscuits, bite-size cheese, apricot preserves, beef something-or-other in a can, pasta sauce, just-add-water soup, butter, pasta, ham, tuna, more pasta, grated cheese (for pasta), more cheese

But I got back to my apt around 6ish and ate some dinner (sandwich, chips, easy). Let me tell you...I don't think I'm ever going to commit a crime because I have had a glimpse of what prison would be like, and I do not like it. I'm sitting in my barren room, no TV and no Internet, already read the one book I brought, don't know anyone, everything's practically closed by 7...it's madness. And then I can't sleep at night - I guess it's still the jet lag and acclamation. I don't know, hopefully that will get better.

I didn't really do too much on Saturday, slept late after having not slept the night before. Ate some lunch, then went to the library for some hours while they were open to use the internet. Then back to the apt for more...nothingness. There's only so many times you can rearrange the five personal items you have, and then go through your pictures/documents on your computer while listening to music, lol. Oh, also, a fun time with electricity problems that evening [to follow].

Just a small portion of the Jardin de l'Evêché

Then Sunday I once again slept late, ate some food, and decided to walk around the town. I left around 1:30ish, made my way to the school I'm teaching at (because I had to be there Monday morning to take a tour and meet people, so I wanted to make sure I knew how to get there), then I walked around that side of town that I hadn't explored yet. And I made my way to this enormous garden-type area at an old bishopric. It was really pretty, and I'll have pictures eventually, but I didn't take my camera with me that day, so I'll have to go back and take some pictures. In the meantime, if you would like to get an idea of it, just go to GoogleMaps and search "Jardin de l'eveche, Limoges, France" ("the garden of the bishopric") and zoom in on the satellite view and explore. After that I meandered around town some more and ended up back at my apt to do a bunch of nothing again (because everything is closed here on Sundays).

And now it's 4:45pm on Monday and I have gotten up early actually (8am, after more fitful sleep, unfortunately) to meet my teacher at the high school and meet some of her (my) colleagues and tour (part of) the school. It's a really big building, but they evidently only have about 2,000 students? Again, pictures to come - here is the only (tiny) picture I could find online of it. So I was there for about an hour, then went back to the apt to take a nap, then grabbed some lunch around 1pm, then had a bank appointment at 2pm. And then came to the library to once again use internet and make this update.

My teacher says my French is really good and that I comprehend everything great - at least that's what she tells everyone we meet. (Er, she's either saying that I understand French well or that "my yesterday canary drops under surface umbrella"...one of those two.) And I do find I understand a majority of what everyone is saying - at least catching their meaning if not understanding every single last word. Especially technical words. And those who speak with certain dialects that I'm not used to. But I do feel somewhat accomplished when I follow a conversation, and particularly when I hold my own convo with people (even if I struggle through it at parts). Like the convo I had with my neighbor on Saturday...

Bane of my existence.

Because I got home on Saturday night/afternoon after my wanderings and realized that I did not have electricity. The following took place over the course of a good 1.5/2 hours: I tried to fool with the fuse box (since it's located inside my apt) and get things back working. I flipped all the breakers up and pushed the two buttons marked "test" and flipped things on and off...basically pressing my luck and hoping I didn't set the building on fire. After that proved unfruitful, I figured I had to get some help...but no one was working the front desk since it's the weekend. But I went down there anyways to see if there was an emergency number posted, which there was, so I jotted that down. Went back to my room and hoped it had magically fixed itself while I was gone - sadly, it had not.  (This did not deter me from constantly flipping the light switches - just in case. I was like someone with short-term memory problems...maybe they'll work NOW...nope...oh, maybe they'll work NOW...nope...I was like someone with short-term memory problems...er, I just said that. Sheesh, I'm just like someone with short-term memory problems. Oh, and the lights...nope, nevermind, not yet.)

Anyways, I thought maybe I should ask a neighbor if they are familiar with how the fuse box worked, and maybe it was a common problem that they'd know how to fix. So first I had to look up the french word for fuse box - la boite à fusibles - because who knows that? And then prepare my opening speech in my head - "Hi, this is odd, but I'm your neighbor, I just moved here, I'm American, my electricity is not working, you can to help me fix now with please yes ok also?..." Or something like that. Then I decided against it and trekked back downstairs, like that was going to do something. Oh, I forgot to mention I don't have a french cell phone yet, so that's why I hadn't yet called the emergency number. But upon re-entering the lobby, I see they have a payphone, huzzah! So I make my way over to it...and it only takes check cards, no change. Fantastic. So I go back upstairs again (no, the lights still weren't working, despite my flipping the switches again. And again.)

I made up my mind that I needed to ask a neighbor. So I knocked on the door beside mine - no answer. Next door down - hooray, a nice girl answered. I explained my situation and she said she's not sure why it would do that, and that it's obviously just my room since the lights in her room were working, and she suggests I look at my info packet for apt to search for someone to call. Basically, not too much help, but at least she was nice. So I went back to my room - lights still not working - and searched for my info packet. But then realized I already had the number (from downstairs), so I decided to say to heck with the exorbitant rates, I'm going to turn on my US cell phone and call for help. But of course it can't even get reception for me to call. Fantastic.

I was going to resign myself to waiting until Monday and just do without electricity (because it was light until 8ish, and I had nothing to do after then anyways except sleep or use computer). But then I realized my fridge wasn't keeping things cool and I needed to preserve them if possible. So I decided to ask my neighbor if she would keep them until Monday. So I went back to her room, knocked, "Hi, me again, sorry...", and she said she could hold on to them if it wasn't too much (it wasn't). And she said she'd found the emergency number, but I said I didn't have a phone yet, so she said I could use hers. (She was a lifesaver). So I called the number (evidently another apt complex nearby or something), and tried to speak with them. They kept using this one word I didn't know - le disjoncteur - saying I had to find it before they could help me. I thought they were talking about our handyman, and I'm like, I don't know where he is. After a good back-and-forth, I asked my new friend what this word meant and she points to the fuse box...not fair, they were using a *different* word for it than I had looked up. Lame. So I went to my room and assured them that all the levers were in "up" position, and eventually they said they'd dispatch someone. I thanked my friend for the use of her phone and made my way back to my room.

So 30/45 min later, a guy shows up, looks at my fuse box, pushes this one button (that I *swear* I pushed before) and it comes on. I feel like an idiot. But then I'm like, "Ok, but why did it go off in first place?" So we start fooling with light switches and stuff, and eventually get to my kitchen burners and discover that one of them is faulty and causes the breakers to trip. His solution: don't use that burner until Monday when the regular maintenance guy can fix it. Fine. I didn't bother my new friend (Claire) to get my food back: one - because it was getting on in the evening and I didn't want to bother her for a *third* time, and two - because my fridge hadn't regained it's coolness yet.  So that was a fun evening. (I got my food back yesterday - Sunday - afternoon).

And thus we arrive at the end of this entry. Stay tuned for an extensive and amusing at look the differences between France and the US that I've come across.

J'arrive

I made it.  Unscathed, un-robbed, etc. The jet lag kicked my butt for awhile, but I think I'm OK now.

Limoges, in relation to Paris

Plane left Charlotte at noon and got into Newark around 2pm, waited there for 4 hours (ate some overpriced food, read, etc). Plane took off sometime after 6pm US time and landed in France at 8am local time (ie, 2am US time). The plane trip wasn't too bad. I was on the window seat of a three person row, and my bookbag was kinda too fat to fit under the seat, so it was between my feet the whole time, so my feet were confined as to where they could be. Before the plane took off I went to use the bathroom, someone was in there and the flight attendant said I needed to sit down for the safety demonstration, then I could use the bathroom. So I sat down in an empty seat right by the bathroom as the demonstration went on. Then, after it was over, another flight attendant came by and said, you can't stand up / walk / use the bathroom while we're on the runway... I guess they had backed up during the demonstration? Whatever the reason, I had to sit in not-my-seat (while having to use the bathroom!) for a good thirty minutes while we taxied, took off, and waited for the seatbelt sign to go off. Then I finally used the bathroom and got back to my seat. I watched a movie (21 Jump Street), and they served dinner. Then I tried to sleep - fitfully, on and off. Then we landed. (By now I'd been up about 19 hours with a few hours of fitful sleep. Now, keep in mind my body is telling me it's like 2am.)

So I get off the plane, go through this maze of a line to get into the airport, wait for my luggage, then went to search for the train station (that is in the Charles de Gaulle airport). I used my first French of the trip to ask someone where the station was. (They said "downstairs"), So I toted my luggage (20lbs backpack, pillow, 40lbs rolling-suitcase, and 47lbs rolling suitcase) through the airport, down some escalators and got to...the tram. So I had to take that shuttle to the other side of the airport to get to the train area. I got off, wheeled my luggage around some more, found the train area (which I recalled from my last time being there upon my viewing it). I went to a ticket machine to buy a ticket to Limoges...and it said I couldn't purchase that ticket at the machine. So, I had to go stand in line at the ticket booth for about 30/45min. When I got to the counter, I actually spoke all in French (as did the lady) and understood the majority of what she said - sweet. I ended up buying the Carte 12-25 (which is a young person's discount card for the trains) and the ticket (which was a series of tickets, I had to first take a train to a station in Paris, switch lines, then get to the station that went to Limoges). The discount card and ticket cost me right at 100Euro (about $140).

Train. That is all.

By now it's about 9am local (3am US), so I lug my suitcases to the  platform and wait a few minutes for the train from the Airport to the station Saint-Michel / Notre Dame. (It was pretty brisk...about 50 degrees F, so I put on my light hoodie out of suitcase.) That trip took about 10 min (about 6 or 7 stops). Then I got off there, went up (down?, I don't remember) some escalators and a few flights of stairs (yes, stairs, with two 40+ pound suitcases, one at a time of course), then got on another train to ride for a few stops to the Gare d'Austerlitz, which is a hub for the Paris-trains, and the larger tracks that go all across France. I toted my junk up and down a few more flights of stairs and escalators (yes, more stairs, fun times). Then arrived at the waiting platforms around 10:15am (4:15pm US), and my train wasn't until 12:45pm. So I sat and read for a while, and I ate some of the snacks I brought. Then I was thirsty and had to pee, so I went to the bathroom (cost me 75c, pretty standard for a public toilet in France) and washed my face, then I bought some water, and punched my ticket (something you have to do before you get on a train in France). I then sat back down and snacked and slept on and off mini-naps for two hours. Then I went to my platform and got on the train and stowed my luggage. The train left and I read [this book] and snacked a little (I guess I snacked a lot because my body didn't know what was going). The guy checked my ticket, and then for the next 3.5/4 hours I tried to sleep.

I arrived in Limoges around 4 or 5pm local time (10/11am US) and am now up for 26 hours with two periods of 3 hour-fitful-sleep (plane and train). I disembark the train and make my way to the exit to flag a taxi. I take the taxi to the hotel I'd reserved (less than a mile away, cost me $10, didn't care, I was tired and didn't feel like toting all my luggage around the streets that far). Checked in with the guy at front desk (the owner/manager, etc). My room was on the 4th floor, no elevator of course, so I hefted all my stuff up the stairs. This isn't like a Sheraton or Holiday Inn...rather it's like a small town hotel you'd see in the movies (or find in France everywhere), and my room is small with a bed, table/chair, tv, sink and bidet. The toilet is in one room at the end of hall, the shower in another at the other end. I slept for about 2 hours, then decided I was hungry. I didn't feel like exploring the city at night (as nightfall was approaching now), so I decided to eat whatever came along first. I was expecting a grocery store or something, but as I was walking down the street, a Subway appears! (Yes, the sandwich shop we all know and love). So I decided to get food there, which I did and took it back to the 'hotel'. (Footlong turkey cost ~$8.50, so yes, their food is more expensive). Ate it back at hotel, tried to log on to wifi networks, but all were password protected. Took a glorious shower and brushed my teeth (it had been about 31 hours in the same clothes with no shower/teethbrush and that's having been on 2 planes, 3 airports, 4 trains, etc) Read a little more, then went to sleep around 9pm local (3pm US). Woke up at 3am local (9pm US) and tossed turned for 30min, then went back to bed.

We Buy Gold!

Slept until 8:30/9am local (3am US) and had alarm set so I could eat breakfast downstairs. Cost another $9 but it was in the hotel and whatever. It was coffee, orange juice, a croissant and a half-baguette. I drank the drinks (coffee included which I'm not the biggest fan of...but I'm in France and was tired, so), ate the croissant w/ some butter, and ate half of the half-baguette w/ strawberry preserves. I took the other half (and packet of honey) to my room to save for lunch. I went back upstairs and decided to seek out the library for some WiFi. I asked the manager where the library was (which made me laugh in my head because "Where is the library?" - "Où est la bibliothèque?" - is such a cliche beginner's French / hear it on those "teach yourself French" tapes / etc). And he said turn right out of here, and follow it straight down. Ok, so I took my backpack with me, and wore a hoodie (because again, it was brisk). There were signs that said "library - this way" that I followed for probably a mile or so, and I found it without too much difficulty. It was about 10:30am at this time...aaaand the library doesn't open until 1 - awesome. So I turn around and walk back to hotel - I didn't mind too much, it was a decent day and nice to get out and see part of the city. On the way back, I happened to pass the Office of Tourism, so I got a map of the city from there (free - most French cities have this Tourism office w/ free maps and city events and people to answer questions, etc). I passed many buildings and stores, obviously, ranging from restaurants to Pharmacies to a huge high school (not the one I'm at) even to "We Buy Gold!" stores (which evidently exist everywhere in the world).

I get back and decide to read and/or nap until 1. However, I really end up laying in bed talking to myself in French (in my head) and looking up a ton of words in my French-English dictionary. I eat my leftover baguette and some granola bars for lunch and head back out to the library around 2. (I'd put on my jacket, but had to take it off because it had gotten warm). I got there, went inside, past the front desk, sat down, pulled out laptop, pulled up internet...and you have to put in your library card number / name. So I go to the help desk and explain (in French) that I'm here to teach, I need a library card, don't have a French social security number or address yet (will be getting that Friday), etc. She says it's cool, everything's free, they just need identity (passport) and address to issue the card. She said to explain my situation to front desk and they'd be able to help. So I do, but the frontdesk lady says she needs the address of where I'll be living in order to issue the card, it's mandatory. Fine, I'll be back tomorrow. I walk back to the hotel, and notice on his little sign it says WiFi...so I ask and he says yes, here's the password.  To think, all this time I could've had access. Oh well. I have it now, so I logged on and checked Facebook/email...and then typed this.

So there you are, the first adventures of Andrew in France. I'll probably chill in my room a little more, go find some dinner, and then tomorrow morning the teacher from my school will arrive to take me to my housing and do errands (like open a bank account, fill out paperwork for social security, etc).

The dinner I found. And yes, that giant key was actually my room key.

Bonjour et Bienvenue

Hello and welcome!

I'm here in Limoges, France to be an English language teaching assistant. This blog shall serve as my open letter to the world, documenting my time here and expressing my quirky thoughts of life in Franceland.

The great thing about a blog is that I don't have to try to email a thousand different people the same stories, and anyone can easily access this, and I can include pictures and hyperlinks. And etc.

I hope you enjoy it! Please feel free to comment on the posts or shoot me an email - I love to hear from all of you.

Another IMPORTANT NOTE: please subscribe in order to receive an email alert when a new post is published. That way you can stay up-to-the-moment with my travails. Just click on the "Subscribe" link at the bottom of the page. Alternately, just keep checking in every few days - I hope to keep the new content coming.

(Be forewarned: the first few posts are lengthy and probably not very exciting - a mere documentation of my arrival here in France. However, fear not: they will quickly become shorter, more interesting, and more entertaining! Like the blog my friends and I maintained for the first half of this year: Some Guys, Some Thoughts, Some Words - check it out if you have time!)