I just did this thing on facebook that picked out my top 10 statuses for 2010 and I thought this was the perfect place to post it. You may notice a pattern when looking at it.
Looking back on this list of statuses (which I think are based on the number of 'likes'), the theme is clear: travel. That's what my life has been about these past 12 months. Oh, and if you're wondering about that last status that got cut off, I'm pretty sure it was something about the evil Hummer truck I had to drive upon arriving in the US after 24+ hours of no sleep (and not driving for an entire year). What a fun day that was.
Now that I reread these, especially the ones about the US, I just remember how utterly thrilled I was to be coming home from China. I can still remember the feeling of elation when I stepped off that first plane in LA, the swelling in my chest like a giant balloon of giddiness to be somewhere I belonged. God, it was such a relief. I won't say that I didn't enjoy China, because I did, but coming home was a much needed breath of fresh air. Granted, the reverse culture shock was... surreal to say the least. For a week afterward, I walked around thinking, "Why are there so many foreigners here? Oh wait, no, those are just normal people." It persisted past a week, but the first one was the worst. I walked into a grocery store, walked around the whole thing and walked right back out. I had no idea what to do or how to function in it. It was crazy. I never posted anything about it here, but it totally happened.
I could go on about the reverse culture shock because it's actually quite interesting, at least to me. I remember sitting in the airport in LA waiting for the next plane to Phoenix and realizing that everyone around me spoke English and that if I wanted, I could talk to any of them. I didn't know what to do with myself. It was a weird feeling. I also realized that I couldn't just say what I was thinking without consequence. I'd spent the past 11 months doing it in China and I literally had to stop myself from making off-handed comments about things I saw.
Anyway, the point is that my China experience was about a million times different than my France experience has been, and it's only been three months here so far, but I know that come April, I won't be clawing my eyes out to get back home. I'm not saying China was bad because I learned and did a hell of a lot of things I never thought I would or even dreamt of doing, it's just that it's so much harder than Europe is and you have to be so much stronger to go there. I'm sort of glad I went there first, though. It's made France a breeze, and all those people complaining on the forums ought to shut up and get a clue because it could be a million times worse.
It's Christmas Eve Eve and I should probably go to bed but I haven't been sleeping lately, so I'll stay up a little longer and contemplate how much easier France is. Happy holidays, all.
There is a girl in one of my classes named Chlésia and all I can think of when her name is said is Chlamydia.
Today in one of my classes, I decided to do the traditional, "let's make turkeys out of your hands!" that every American kid had to suffer through every year from age five to ten. Well, my kids liked it anyway, but they love anything that has to do with coloriage. Afterwards, I told them that the drawings were for them to keep and take home. And lo and behold, about seven gave me their drawings for me to keep and take home! lol.
On Thursday, I have my inspection, or... observation. I don't know. Willy is going to come by and watch me and that's not nerve-wracking at all! Not a bit.
I woke up this morning to a fine layer of snow blanketing my windowsill and the sidewalks and roads outside. And for once, I had a nice, interesting conversation with a French person that consisted of more than just, "Oui," and "Okay." Kévin (a sort of teaching assistant - he helps the "challenged" kids) drove me to the train station after work (it's another town over) and it was nice to talk to someone who wasn't twice my age. For once, I was bringing up subjects and actually answering questions. I know my French isn't horrible but a lot of times it just feels inadequate. But hey, everyone understands me and I've gotten really lucky with my school in that all the teachers are nice and accommodating and they seem genuinely happy to have an English assistant (it's the school's first year). But I've actually heard that all of the people in my département are happy with their schools (by département, I mean the nine of us teaching primary school in the Pas-de-Calais region), and I think it has a lot to do with Willy, who really does care, hence why he's coming out to do inspections and give us some tips.
I'm really glad for my situation, and after looking on the forums (god, people complain a lot), I think maybe they don't appreciate it as much as I do. There are plenty of people that didn't get to come who would gladly take one of those complainers places. As for me, I'm happy just where I am.
A week after the worldwide release and two days after the French release, I finally saw Harry Potter et les reliques de morts, or the Deathly Hallows. I spent my last few euros to go into Lille and see it in English at the UGC cine cite theater.
Given that I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and have read all the books a lot (I seriously couldn't tell you how many times as I lost track back in 8th grade), and a lot of my friends I've met because of Harry Potter, I obviously have very strong opinions on how the movies should go. Of course, I have been disappointed every time, and every time, my expectations have dropped a little farther so that, by the time we reach the seventh movie, my expectations are low enough that I can almost finally enjoy the movies.
HP7 was the best so far. Most definitely. It was the truest to the book and THANK GOD the actors finally learned how to act. It only took them six movies. The writers finally learned how to write, and the actors learned how to cry. For the first time in six movies, I actually believed Emma Watson when she said her lines. It's no secret I've had big issues with her acting, and Dan's for that matter.
My favorite parts were the Tale of the Three Brothers. The animation was a nice cut from the rest of the film. My other favorite part was the return of Ron and his story about the ball of light. Not gonna lie, I cried. For the first time ever in a Harry Potter movie, I felt like the movie did real justice to a scene. Rupert added emotion behind the words to a point where it certainly needed it.
My biggest issues were the random dropping of information. I understand the need (because they've forgotten to do it the last 6 movies. come on.) but it's still annoying. "Hey, they're Snatchers." "I'm Bill." "He's Mundungus." P.S., where the hell has Kreacher been for the past three movies? Apparently he's just been snuffling around cupboards in the Black house since Sirius died.
My other issue was Wormtail. He didn't die. What exactly happened to him anyway? I was confused there. Also, the reintroduction of Dobby in the beginning. I was sitting there thinking, "Man, he's annoying, and I'm supposed to be sad later when he dies." - Dobby's death was the single time I cried while reading the entire HP saga. Oh, and Voldemort. My god, is he in love with Snape or something? I swear, at the party meeting, Voldemort was like, "Snapey-poo, where have you been, darling? Come sit, I saved you a place right near me so that I may pet your greasy hair as I speak."
But overall, it was good. Even from the first scene with Hermione and her parents, I thought Emma somehow reigned herself in and did a good job. She stopped acting with her eyebrows and her overdramatics finally came in useful. Rupert was brilliant, as always, and I wish the writers would stop acting like he's only there for comic relief. It's too late now, but still. He never gets enough credit. Dan... was better. I didn't cringe in the theater at his acting, so I count it a success.
And Draco, my lovely Draco. Only two lines. Someday you'll have your revenge.
Date: November 10th, 2010
Location: London, the UK
Mission: Stalk the Red Carpet premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Meet the stars. See JK Rowling. Be a complete and utter nerd.
10:30PM
On arriving in Leicester Square, the wind was sharp, the air was cold, and the tents were already up. Some people (those diehard fans who, I hate to say, are possibly more hardcore than me? - is that even possible? I was told by several people this weekend that I was more hardcore than they were even... and I don't even go on mugglenet. crazy!) had been set up since "teatime." The line wound halfway around the square already.
12:00AM
I finally took my place in line, near the end, and the security guard who probably thought we were just as crazy as everyone else divided us up into groups of ten and moved us along the fence. He sat us down near a gate and said, "Sit there and don't move." And don't move we did... for the next nine hours. I made friends with my neighbors, from America, Mexico, and Wales. It turns out that probably about 80% of the crazies camped out overnight were Americans. I suppose most of us saw it as our last chance, and really, it is. There's only one more premiere left and if we don't go now, we miss out on something all of Britain has had for the past six movies.
2:00AM
The cold had set in and I could no longer feel my fingers or toes. We sang songs from A Very Potter Musical/Sequel, drew up ridiculous posters that eventually never made it out of the bag, and huddled together under thin blankets and sweatshirts. A few people managed to sleep under umbrella-made shelter from the wind, and I had to stand up just to get the feeling back in my toes. The drunk hecklers stumbled out of the surrounding clubs, slurringly asking what we were doing, one guy pissing on umbrellas, and a girl, barefoot and stumbling, shouting, "Don't you feel stupid?" Honestly, not compared to you.
3:00AM
A woman from a British radio station I've never heard of came out and interview me and another Australian girl I met there. The questions were standard - How long have you been out here for? Who do you want to see the most? What does Harry Potter mean to you? - My answers were easy - about four hours, Rupert Grint, and I came out here and am sitting in freezing cold because it's my last chance and the end of Harry Potter means the end of my childhood which is depressing when you think about it, and I've been thinking about it far too much lately. She also asked what I would do if I got to meet Rupert, and my answer was something like, "Probably say something stupid because that's what I always do when I meet people like that."
5:00AM
The rain begins. The umbrellas go up. People began to arise and rub the feeling back into their limbs. New (idiotic) security guys arrive and are apparently not briefed on anything. Those not-so-dedicated fans show up and try to cut in line. We send them to the back with only a few snapped words, attempting to be polite after seven hours of waiting already.
8:00AM
The line begins to move. The groups ahead of us were moved up and we were left with a flippant, "Someone will be along," and a person who never showed. We asked the guy in the yellow vest. He knew nothing. He bumbled about different gates. Someone from the group ahead of us came back to tell us people were attempting to shove in ahead. Eventually, Dumb Yellow-Vest guy tells us we were right, and we should move up. We push out the cutters and take our rightful places.
9:00AM
We are finally allowed to enter the all hallowed ground of Leicester Square and get squashed in with little red stamps on the backs of our hands. And then we wait.
And wait.
And wait.
2:00PM
The rain decides to dump everything it's got on us. Umbrellas are squashed together and dripping on everything and everyone is wet and cold and tired, but no one leaves. We discuss how amazing it will be to see everyone, how utterly unbelievable it would be to meet JK Rowling. We discuss the books and characters. We are dorks to the max. It is awesome. We wait.
4:30PM
The red carpet is finally assembled! The press begins to arrive, video cameras tell people to scream over and over again, giving us false hope each time.
5:00PM
It begins.
6:00PM
An hour after the announcement that a star has arrived, they finally enter the red carpet area and it begins for real. The crowd is screaming and squishing and shoving autograph books and papers in front of people who we don't even know at times. My spot is directly behind the interview stage and I get to see Emma Watson, Dan Radcliffe, and Tom Felton way up close. I saw "Neville," "Luna," "Dean," and people who play Padma (or Parvati? Still not sure on that), Jason Isaacs, and new actress who plays Gabrielle.
7:00PM
It ends. We're all exhausted, exhilarated, thrilled, tired, so happy. Nineteen hours later and I don't regret a single thing, well, except perhaps the lack of a tent or sleeping bag.
Would I do it again? YES. Do you even need to ask?
What did I do with my Sunday, you ask? Well, I spent the majority of it messing around on photoshop creating a comic for a friend. It's mostly about Harry Potter. Don't judge me. I can't draw for my life (*chorus of Hermione Can't Draw plays in the background*) but I can use the computer, so it's simple but you can tell who is who.
Obviously we can see how well I'm integrating into French society! But do not judge my social habits based on this one day spent frowning at a drawing's eyebrows and wondering how I can make them look happy and devious and excited all at the same time.
Yesterday, I saw The Social Network... in French. I liked it, yes, but I really want to see it in English now. It's a talky, smart movie, which doesn't work so well when you can only get about half of the dialogue. Normally, I don't like Jesse Eisenberg (or the many others that are so similar to him: Michael Cera, and that other guy). They all play the same characters and I don't see how it's possible to like one better than another). But he seemed to do a good job here. At least he was playing a somewhat different character than normal. Even without the English dialogue, I felt really bad for his best friend. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend it.
As for the Toussaint holiday, I had plans but now they are fuzzy, and I'm still not sure what's going on. My friend is being flaky, which I hate. I suppose I will know soon enough. I should really go start a lesson plan or two.
So I've been in France four days now. I flew into Belgium, somewhere I've never been before. Immigration took an excrutiatingly long time, just for a few questions and a stamp. The woman told me that the French really need English teachers, lol. Then I got to spend over five hours hanging around the Brussels-midi train station, only to have my train be late! Yes, it was late, therefore I missed my second train once I got to Lille. But apparently (it's been a while since I took a French train, and I've never taken one where I had an actual, specific ticket for one) you can just jump on the next one to wherever you're going. I did not composter my ticket - there wasn't time and they didn't check anyway - but that is something I need to learn how to do...
I've gotten so used to Chinese trains and the fact that you never have to change trains to get where you're going... So it's a little strange right now. Although, thank god, European trains are so much nicer than Chinese ones!
I'm in Arras right now, about 40 mins outside of Lille. It's a small, quaint-ish little town with cobblestone streets and red brick houses. It reminds me a little of UofA, but only slightly. I met my referente at the train station, despite being about half an hour late due to the train change, and we went straight to the house she'd found for me.
It's a three-story house about 2 minutes walking from the train station, owned by an older French couple. My room, and my roommate's room, is on the third floor, or 2nd if you're going by French measuring standards. Basically, everything is included in the rent - electricity, internet, water, whatever. The internet is wi-fi (wee-fee en francais) and there was some trouble but I finally got it figured out yesterday. I've also got a French phone and food and basically I pretty much set on basic necessities. Except trash bags. I keep forgetting them when I go to the store.
Now I need to find a copier so I can send in my OFII form and get that out of the way.
