STRIKE HAS ENDED!!!!

Look no Trains aimlessly sitting around doing nothing!!! Well it seems the workers have voted to end the strike for now and go back to work!! Yippee!! It meens that I can finally go and see some of the nice assistants in Valenciennes. Well untill the next strike anyway........

The Sunshine after the Rain!!

It got slightly better at the school today. I was in Joliot Currie, and I'd arranged to meet one of the English teachers to discuss what I could do. I'd already decided that I would read 'We're going on a Bear Hunt' to the children, and when I showed her she thought it would be a good idea. Unfortunately we didn't really get a chance to discuss what else I could do in detail, although I said that I could do something on Scotland for St Andrews Day, and then tell them about Christmas in England, so that takes us up to Christmas...not too sure what I'll be doing after that!

I'd done some Flashcards for the story to help them understand, (it's very hard to draw a snowstorm BTW!! and I couldn't draw a bear so I ended up sticking the word Bear on my teddy!!!) And the teacher held them up as I was reading. They managed to understand almost all of it, I was really impressed, (of course My Wonderful Acting probably helped!!) After the teacher was teaching them about Numbers, and getting them to say their phone numbers in English, she wanted me to give them an English number, the first one I thought of was my home!!! Oh well if Mum and Dad start getting weird phone calls that'll be why!!! Then she started teaching them how to tell the time, she tried to teach them 'Hickory Dickory Dock' but she had forgotten the CD, so guess who stepped in!! I even managed to do actions for it!!! I didn't even know I knew actions, it was just as they were saying it , I thought of them!! I asked Kathryn, and apparently they are the same as the ones she does in the nursery!!! Slightly weird!!

Anyway I did the story again with the next class, It was with a different teacher, and I hadn't actually managed to speak to her about it beforehand, I just walked in the class and said I have a story, I meant to ask 'Can I do it?' but I think I might have said 'I am doing it!!' She didn't mind though, and so I did it with her class too!

Then it was breaktime, I went outside, and immediately had about 10 kids running over, asking if i was going to play...I didn't actually realise that was what they said, but they looked so happy when I said yes..that I was kinda stuck! It was really sweet though, they played a really nice game where half of us stood in a circle, and chose a number, then we counted while the others ran in and out, when we said our chosen number we sat down, and anyone in the circle was trapped!! It was really fun, and I even managed to get some of them to count in English!!!

After breaktime, the class that I had been with earlier was going swimming, so I went into the CE1 class (6-7 years olds) they don't really start learning English until next year, but they really like me, and they know a little bit (hello, goodbye) I asked the teacher if I could read the story, even though it was in English. She said I could. I don't think they really understood all of it, but they liked listening to it, and looking at the pictures. Then the teacher asked if I knew any English Christmas songs, so I taught them Jingle Bells! It was really sweet to hear them try singing it! After, I was thinking about how the kids were really interested in me teaching them English, (but I knew that they weren't meant to start learning properly till next year) but I asked the teacher if I would be able to maybe teach them a little bit of English on Thursday afternoon, She thought it was a great idea, but we had to check with the Headmaster...He said it was a good idea too, (especially as the alternative is me sitting doing nothing!!!!) SO now every other Thursday afternoon from 3:30-4:15 I get to teach the little Kids...it's great because I have Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 free as well, so I can plan my lessons then, and on Wednesday If i need too! Yeah finally have something to do!!!

And Mum is coming tomorrow, and we're going to the Christmas Market in Lille....YEAY I can finally get out of here!!!!

See everything always works out in the end!!!

Love

A Much Happier Becca!!!

The Strikes continue....

This is the view out of my window, there are currently at least 6 trains in the station...they are not going anywhere...just sitting there...teasing me. The assistants in Valenciennes were having a Thanksgiving Dinner today...I couldn't go because I couldn't get there. I really hope this strike ends soon. I really can't deal with another day sitting here doing nothing!!

SOOOOO Bored!!!!

Well it's now Sunday, The trains are still on strike, so I haven't be able to go anywhere. I was invited to go out to dinner with the other assistants in Valenciennes last night, unfortunately I couldn't get there, and so was stuck here instead.

OK, I'll warn you now, this is going to be a bit of a moany post. I'm just sooo bored, I actually don't know what I doing here. This isn't exactly the great 'Adventure' I imagined it would be, it just almost like I'm stuck here, waiting until May when I can go home again. I read the other assistants blogs, and they've all be having a great time, travelling, seeing new places etc. I have been to three new places in France since I've been here, Lille, Valenciennes and Aulnoye. That's it, I haven't done any travelling, and visited lots of new and exciting places or anything.

Even in the schools I really have no idea what I am doing there. Take this week for example, Normally I prefer working in Ecole Stievenart, but when I arrived on Monday afternoon, the teacher explained, that as the children were making something for the Christmas market in a few weeks, They wouldn't be doing as much English. Great!!! This meant that I spent the whole of Monday afternoon sitting at the back of the class doing nothing. I'm not even too sure what they were making, so I couldn't help or anything. The only thing that stopped me going completely bored, was that I could listen to the French, and watch the children. I the had Tuesday and Wednesday off, and I was stuck here.

I went into school on Thursday, early, armed with my books, and my play, with the intention of sitting down and talking to the teacher about what I could do. Well firstly the teacher wasn't there, she came in about 10 minutes later, with her daughter, who goes to the nursery school, so she was sorting her out, I managed to quickly show her the books, but she said she thought 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' might be too difficult for the children to understand. Then she went to take her daughter to the Nursery. I hadn't had a chance to show her the play, and at that moment I didn't really see the point. When she came back, I spoke to her again about the Bear Hunt story explaining that I didn't really think it would be too difficult, cos it's mostly repeating. She had another look, and agreed that maybe it would be OK. I then showed her the 'Jesus' Christmas Party' Story, I wasn't sure if she'd agree with it, but she had a look, and took a copy of it. I'm not sure if we can do it as a play, but maybe I can get some of the children to act it out whilst I read it. Mum has sent me the actual book, so I can use that too. I didn't really get much of a chance to talk to her though, because then it was the end of lunch break and the children were coming back. So I resumed my position at the back of the class just watching.

I did however go into one English lesson, but I didn't do anything. At one point the teacher was explaining about Bonfire Night, and I had the chance to jump up and show the children my pictures quickly. But that was it. After I sat down and went back to doing nothing. At the end of the day the teacher explained, that they wouldn't be doing any English on Friday, because the class were going to the library. On Friday morning, I wasn't feeling very well, in fact I was sick a few times. I really didn't feel up to going into the school, and after I remembered that they weren't actually going to be doing any English anyway, I really didn't see the point. I sent an e-mail to the school, saying I was sorry, but I was sick and wouldn't be coming in, and went back to bed!!

On Saturday, I was feeling slightly better, but I was also feeling a bit guilty for not going in the day before, so I made sure I got up and was in school by 8:30am! In all honesty there was actually no point to me being there at all. I spent the 1st 2 hours sitting at the back of the class, doing absolutely nothing, and then at 10:40 the teacher said we were going to go into another class to do an English lesson. I walked into the class, said 'Good Morning' to the children, and sat down. Half an hour later, I stood up, said 'Goodbye' and walked out again.

The worst thing is, I really don't know how to change this, I don't know what else I can say or do, I don't see how I can be of any use, when I don't know what is going on. I don't have anytime to actually talk to the teachers about it, I might possibly see the teachers for about 10-15 mins before the afternoon lessons start, but that it, and most of the time, they are using that time to planned lessons themselves. They don't really need me to come hassling them.

I'm in Ecole Joilot Currie this week. I have a few ideas about Christmas, which I want to talk the teachers about, but I still have no idea what else they are doing. So I guess I'm going to spend more time sitting at the back of the classroom, doing nothing....oh joy!!!

The only bright spark on the horizon is that Mum and her friend, are coming out to visit next weekend. They are coming in the car, so they can bring over some Christmas things for me to show the children. On Saturday we are going to go to the Christmas Market in Lille. I can't wait, not least because it means I will finally be getting out of the town!! On Sunday, we can go anywhere I want, before they drive home again...I haven't actually got any ideas....but anywhere outside of this town will be great!!!

OK I just re-read this post, and it sounds as if I am really unhappy here. That's not totally true, I am not unhappy....I'm just not that happy!!!

OK positive thinking, I'm sure it will get better soon!!!

More later!!

Rebecca

Stuck in the middle of nowhere!!!

For those of you who haven't seen or heard on the news, the French railway personal have decided to go on strike. And when French people go on strike, they don't mess around, everything stops. Like most towns across France, there have been no trains to or from Aulnoye station at all today. Therefore I am now stuck here, not only are there no trains, there are also no buses either (the bus drivers go on strike too, in support of the train workers.)

Luckily, (or unluckily depending on how you look at it!!) I can walk to the schools, so unlike most of the assistants living in Valenciennes I can still get to work. Unfortunately today is Wednesday, and I don't work Wednesdays. My plan had been to go into Valenciennes to meet up with some of the assistants, but obviously that didn't happen, so I'm stuck here staring at these four walls for another day!! I really hope the stupid drivers have decided to go back to work by the weekend so I can hopefully meet up with them all. I think that the strike is only for today, but apparently some trains might still not be running tomorrow, and it might even go on till next week!! Oh joy!! Also, so I read earlier, some teachers are meant to be going on strike as well on Tuesday, so I'll have to check whether that's the case at Joilot Currie, If so, I'll have an extra day off, but if the trains are still on strike, I won't be able to go anywhere!!! Grrrr!!!

I must admit it is quite funny that the day the french transport system goes on strike, is the same day that Eurostar open it's new high speed railway line from St Pancras, so now u can get to France even quicker then ever before...but then you can't go anywhere after that!!

Anyway because of the strikes I have spent the last 2 days here doing absolutely nothing, (well I did my washing yesterday...very exciting!!) I've changed the days that I work at Ecole Stievenart, so I now work Mondays instead of Tuesdays. Which means that I have 2 days off, then work one day, then have another 2 days off. I never thought I'd complain about having so much free time...but I'm so bored!!! It's almost a relief to go into the schools, it gives me something to do for 3 hours!!

Saying that, I get the idea that the teachers at Joilot Currie, still don't know what to do with me. I was meant to start work at 10 on Thursday, but I went to the school, and it was locked, I couldn't get in. I waited about 20 mins, and I still couldn't get in, so I gave up and came back to the flat. I was good though and spent the next hour finding out some facts about Bonfire night to go with the pictures that Dad took at Aunt Trish's bonfire night party last weekend. I went back to the school to get the coach to go to lunch. As I was getting on the coach, one of the children asked what my Poppy was, (I was wearing it on my jacket) That gave me an idea, so while I was eating lunch I wrote some notes about Remembrance day to tell the children. It was quite funny, I'd forgotten how protective the French are of the lunch, and I got some strange looks from the children and teachers, for writing while eating!! I didn't mind it gave me something to do!!

When I got back to the school I saw one of the teachers. I showed her what I'd done, and she said that she'd already done something on bonfire night before the holiday, but she said I could show the photos and tell the children about Remembrance Day, However she thought that they might not understand if I just explained it in English, so she explained it in French as well. I then sat at the back for the rest of the lesson. In the 2nd lesson with the other teacher it was a bit better, I got to explain about Bonfire night and Remembrance Day, the teacher summarised what I said in French, and even wrote a few sentences on the board, so they copied them down. By the time they'd done that it was the end of the lesson! Unfortunately they still really don't know what to do with me after the English lessons. I was meant to stay for another hour, and the class I was with were going swimming. I'm still not sure whether the teacher actually goes swimming as well, but even so I am a rubbish swimmer and don't really like it, and so the teacher, just said, oh go over to that classroom you can sit in there. So over I went. The teacher had no idea who I was, or what I was doing there, so I just had to sit in the class. I'm still not sure what class it was, I think it might have been a SEN class, cos it was kinda mixed ages, and the work was quite simple. It was fairly interesting, but I just don't know why I was there!

On Friday, I had to go into Lille to meet up with my tutor, (well I say my tutor, she's actually a new tutor at the uni, I have never met her before) To start with I was a hour late, cos I missed the train (don't worry I did text her and tell her, and she was fine with it) Jade was there to, and as I hadn't seen her since we have been here, It was nice to see her. The tutor had brought a friend with her, and so they were speaking french (obviously) We walked around Lille, trying to find a restaurant. I wasn't actually very hungry, and we walked for ages in the freezing cold.We eventually found a restaurant, (and like all restaurants in France, a no-smoking table, basically just means one without an ashtray!! So I ended up having smoke all around me almost the whole time) I ordered chicken, mainly cos it was the only thing on the menu, that I was actually sure what it was! We had to speak in French the whole time, which was really hard, especially for me having only just come back from England, but I tried my best. The really annoying thing though was when the tutor told me and Jade that we had to speak french to each other. It was so stupid, cos we were talking about student loans and the fact that we weren't meant to be paying fees, so we were using English words and things, apparently when we spoke French to each other we both lost the French accent entirely, and were just speaking French, but with a completely English accent!! The tutor's friend couldn't understand us, cos we sounded so English!!! I'm not sure how well it went, but at least I got a day out and a free lunch, so that was good!

Well this has been a really long post, (as usual!!) but at least it has given me something to do! I'm working in Ecole Stievenart tomorrow, and I'm hoping to go in early to discuss a few ideas with the teacher. I have a few children's books to read to them, and I had the idea the other day of seeing if I could do a little play with the children. The play I was thinking of is a Nativity play based on the story of Jesus' Christmas Party. It should be OK, because it's quite simple, and is mostly acting, rather than lots of words. I am slightly worried though because I know the French have this thing about teaching Religion in schools (i.e they don't have anything religious!) and so it might be seen as being too religious, but I'm hoping that if I explain that it's traditional for Primary schools in England to put on a Nativity Play each year, then I might be able to do it as a cultural point about England!!!

Will keep you updated!!

Rebecca

Remembrance Day Photos

Top: The Service at the War Memorial.

Middle: British War Graves in Aulnoye Cemetery.

Bottom: The Unknown Soldier (Can you spot my poppy?)

Remembrance Sunday in Aulnoye

I really wanted to post this dated the 11 November, but I didn't realise the time, so unfortunately it's come under the 12th November. (therefore as it's just after midnight, when I say today, I mean the 11th, not the 12th!)

I went to the Remembrance service in Aulnoye today. I wasn't even sure if they would even have one, I'd tried to find out, but hadn't managed to find anything, so my plan was just to walk to the war memorial around 10:45 to see if anything was going on. In the end I got woken at 10:20 by the band matching past my window!!! I moved sooo fast, jumped up, got dressed, and was out the door in about 5 mins!! Luckily the parade had stopped outside the Station so I was able to catch up with it there. It was a bit different to the parade in Ashford, Much much smaller, there weren't any guides or scouts! Instead there was the band, followed by the firefighters, and the junior firefighting corps, the some representatives from the nearby steel factory, the station and old soldiers carrying flags (only about 6 though) and then some of the children from Joilot Currie, then the rest of the town followed behind. We walked to the War Memorial for the service there. I couldn't really understand what was being said, the guy speaking was speaking quite fast, but I got the general idea. The only had 1 minutes silence at 11am though, either that or it was a very very quick two minutes!! There was no Last Post or Reveille, although they did lower the flags, in fact the only way I realise it was over, when they raised them again!! Then the children sang the French National anthem, unfortunately it was raining, and they were quite quiet so I couldn't really hear them, which was a shame.

Then everyone started leaving the memorial, I thought it was the end, but then the band started playing again, I wasn't to sure if it was like in Ashford where the band plays again afterwards, and we just parade back to the start, but everyone was following them, so I followed.

We walked a little bit further up the road to the town cemetery, I walk this way to Ecole Joilot Currie, but what I hadn't noticed before was that at the back of the cemetery there were some British war graves. As we approached I saw the Union Flag flying from the flagpole (I'm almost positive it wasn't there when I walked past on Thurs, or else I was really stupid not to notice it!!) The cemetery is quite small so we had to stand outside in the road, whilst the children went in and put flowers on each of the graves. The band then played 'God Save the Queen' I must admit because I wasn't expecting it, it took me a couple of seconds to work out why I recognised it!! Afterwards they played the French Anthem again and then we continued walking round to the 'Hotel de Ville' (Town Hall) where they ended the service. In total, (bearing in mind I missed the beginning) It was about an hour long, so it was longer than in Ashford, but it didn't really seem that long cos we moved around. After people were going into the Town Hall, so I went in, they had a kinda reception thing, with drinks and nibbles, but as I hadn't had breakfast I turned down the glass of wine! The mayor, (or someone from the town council anyway!) then made a speech to say thank you to everyone which seemed to go on for ages! I left about 11:45 initially I intended to go back to the flat to see if I could watch/listen to the service in London online, but as I walked past the cemetery I decided to have a look.

There were 44 graves, 43 identified and 1 unknown soldier. What was quite surprising was that they were all from 1918, and in fact 21 were killed on the 6-8th November 1918. Almost spookily 8 of the 21 were from the Middlesex Regiment, which considering I live in Ashford, Middlesex, makes it one of the Regiments that would have been based closest to my home. It was so bizarre to be standing in a cemetery, in a small town, in the middle of France, and see Middlesex written on a gravestone. I mean I know WWI was fought in this area, but I was just thinking of all the main battlefields like the Somme, Ypres, Flanders, you know the ones we learnt about in school. I never imagined finding graves in a tiny town such as Aulnoye.

As I was standing there I heard the clock tower strike 12, (i.e 11am in England) so I had my own little 2 minutes silence, thinking about these men that had come through the town 89 years ago and those who would never return home. I was still wearing my poppy and so just before I left I took it off and placed it at the foot of the grave of the Unknown Soldier. (I got it when I was at home, they don't have poppies in France) It just felt like the right thing to do, my little way of saying Thank you, and Remembering the men who died here.

I was thinking about the men who died, particularly those who had died in the final days of the war, and I really wanted to know why they had died, what they were doing in Aulnoye. So when I got back to the flat I looked it up online. I managed to find a really detailed website about the 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment (which was the one the 8 soldiers belonged to) which said that the 6-8th Nov 1918 was the Battle of the Sambre. (The Sambre is the river just to the north of Aulnoye separating it from the town of Berlimont) The Germans had held Aulnoye since 1914, making particular use of the railway line to bring supplies in to the front line, and so on the 6th Nov 1918 there were still a number of German troops stationed here. The British troops had to get across the river from Berlimont, and although they tried at night, they were met with Machine-gun fire, and several soldiers were killed. They eventually made it into Aulnoye, and assembled in front of the station. It's so weird to think that 89 years ago there were British troops fighting right here where I am now! The next day the Battalion advanced on the road towards Avesnes but were met with shell fire and another 4 soldiers were killed, one of whom Lieut. W.L Hudspith had fought since 1914. The rest of the Battalion reached their objective, and then were relieved at 4am on the 8th Nov, when they came back to Aulnoye before marching on to Sassegnies, a tiny village just south of here, where they stayed until receiving news of the Armistice.

Sorry I know that was a bit of a history lesson, but I found it really interesting, I thought it was especially sad that the soldiers died right at the very end of the war, in fact during the very last advance that the Battalion made toward the Germans. 24 hours later and it was all over for them. The fact that some had fought throughout the whole war, only to die right at the end, is really sad.

It's strange, every year I take part in Remembrance day parade, and I can see the list of names inscribed on the War Memorial, but that's all it is...a list of names. To actually take a name from a grave and find out how old they were, where they lived, where they fought, and where they died, makes it more real. It's not just a name anymore, but an actual person who walked the same streets I do, and died in this town fighting for Britain.

Anyway, sorry for wittering on, this is rather a long post, and it is now 2:45am so I'd better get to sleep or else I'll be late for work tomorrow (even if I start at 1:30!) I'll update again soon with how it's going in the schools and stuff.

I do also have some photos from today, but for some reason blogger won't let me post them, so I'll add them later.

Rebecca

Back in good old England!!

Hello

I know I haven't updated for a while, I've been quite busy. Well as you may be able to guess from the title, I didn't go travelling round France, because the Americans I was going to go with decided not to go. So faced with 10 days with nothing to do I decided to come home for a week. It wasn't an easy decision, considering that Dad and Natasha had come out especially to see me, and so I wouldn't have to come home, plus I was worried that it will be hard to get back in to the 'French mode de vie' I was just about beginning to feel settled, and now It's all messed up again. I've had fun at home, and I'm glad I came, but it's weird.

I've settled back into being at home so quickly, It feels as though the last 6 weeks have been a bit of a dream, and they didn't really exist. I've completely lost the tiny bit of french I had managed to retain (I was just starting to sometimes think in French) But now I'm completely back to English again. To be honest, I don't really want to go back. I've loved having my family round, and having dinner with them, and being able to watch TV in the evenings. It's exactly what I was worried about, I guess I just have to wait and see what happens when I do go back.

To make matters worse my tutor from uni is coming to see me on Friday. I knew that we would have to meet with the tutor at some point in the year, but I thought it would be at least Jan/Feb time. When we meet the tutor we have to have a discussion in French. Not only does she want to know how I am doing, but also we have to talk about 'current affairs'....I have absolutely no idea what is going on in France at all. Not only because I have been at home all week, but also because even when I was in France, I didn't actually read any french newspapers or anything. I listened to English radio, and went on English websites. In fact I have hardly spoke french at all! It's really bad, I need to speak more french but I don't know how. I know I should probably be listening to French radio or something, but I love my Radio 1, It's like a little security blanket, a reminder of home.

OK, New resolution...Will try to speak more French (possibly,maybe...If i have time!!!)

Right g2g, but will try to update at the weekend,

Rebecca