2 months

On the anniversary of me being here two months, I feel like I've settled into something of a routine- 8am start on monday (which means getting up at 6.30) tuesdays off, tutoring Marie-Dominique on Wednesday afternoons, church on Sunday mornings. This post is going to be a bit of a jumble- just bits and bobs that have happened the past week.

Teaching is going well. College is my favourite- I get to play games with the kids and I know enough French to translate stuff when they don't understand it in English. They're enthusiastic bordering on boisterous, but I can handle that, since I only have 6 pupils in my classes. Lycee's a bit more challenging. Had a class of 12 on friday- terminale- ie. about 16 years old. Getting them to talk is harder, they're shy of speaking and my vocabulary in French isn't extensive enough to explain stuff without having a dictionary at hand. Also feel a bit weird teaching people who are only a couple of years younger than me.

The teachers are all really friendly and have done their best to make me feel welcome. Going to Natacha's house for dinner tomorrow- one of the english teachers at college. She lived in England for 7 years and just moved back to France, so we'll have plenty to talk about I'm sure! Have been to two teachers' dinners so far at various people's housees, and last thursday Susan and I went swimming at the piscine at lycee- thursday night is teachers' night, and it's free apart from the 6 euros insurance. (for the year!) Really good to do some exercise again- was going to join the gym up the road but it's 200 euros for half a year (student price) and I know I probably wouldn't go much. So cycling and walking will have to suffice for now!

Money situation is a bit desperate. The cash machine stole my card two weeks ago (because I tried to go over the withdrawal limit of 300 euros PER WEEK, not per day, per week!!) and after having been to Credit Agricole twice to try and recover it, just ordered a replacement card. Had to ask my parents to put money in my English account just so I could pay rent. Not ideal! So all I have is my HSBC account, which I'm loath to use since I'm almost at the end of my overdraft. Really need the CAF money (housing benefits) to come through soon. There seem to be no hard and fast rules as to how long this takes- Rose has already received hers and she applied after Meredith and I- assumedly they'd want the same documents but I had to go and hand some more into the office. Hate French bureaucracy!

Apart from the money trials, everything is going ok. Feel like my French is beginning to improve again, after hitting a bit of a plateau... I'm speaking more French and am generally able to hold a conversation- always nice.