Reasons Why My Life Is Pretty Great Right Now

1) Toussaint.  For those not in the know, Toussaint is a glorious two-week break that goes through the end of October through the beginning of November.  The geniuses behind this break have expertly coordinated its scheduling so that it falls just as the exciting novelty of the new school year has worn off and the little kiddies have started going bonkers.  [See my previous entry if you feel that this statement needs elaboration.]  The timing of this break has been effectively absorbed into the French's circadian rhythm, so as of today, it's all anyone can talk about.  It's like everyone woke up this morning with a one-track mind:  TOUSSAINT!  Even the copier broke down this morning and one of the teachers joked, "Ah, it's started its vacation early!"  Then she asked me how to say Hors Service in English and when I walked past the copier later I saw her handwritten sign that read:  OUT OFF ORDER.  I didn't bother to correct it.  I'm on vacation from teaching English.

2)  I bought cheddar cheese yesterday.  Cross off "They don't have cheddar cheese in France" from my list of "Reasons Why I Probably Want to Go Back to America." 

3)  My birthday.  It's this Saturday and one of my classes remembered and sang me Happy Birthday four times-- twice in English, once in French and once in German.  Then they all wanted to do la bise (the cheek-kissing) with me, so they stood on their tiptoes and I bent down, and my heart just about exploded from kissing all of these adorable little French children.

4)  I'm eating organic Simpsons pasta while watching the Simpsons.  The fact that they have organic Simpsons pasta here is another reason why France is a great country. 

5)  I have eight different types of cheese in my fridge.  See #4:  France is a great country. 

6)  Halloween.  Because of this legendary American holiday, all of my lessons for the month of October have been easily planned thus garnering my first month of teaching the official label of: easy-schmeasy.  However, expect the second month to be more difficult when I have to stretch Thanksgiving into four weeks of interesting lessons.  Turkeys, pilgrims and atrocities committed to Native Americans aren't as interesting to French kids as skeletons, vampires, ghosts, zombies and pumpkins.  I have no idea why. 

7)  Revisiting my childhood on a daily basis.  When was the last time you sang "The Farmer in the Dell," "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," "The Wheels on the Bus," and "Five Little Pumpkins"?  It's been a few years, hasn't it?  I get to sing them everyday!  Expect my patience for these songs to grow thin by mid-December and have me ripping my hair out by March.

8)  I have awesome friends here who make me laugh a lot.  Wherever you go, you should always find friends who make you laugh.

9)  My French is getting better.  Very slowly, but steadily.  And I do believe, friends, that it was the slow and steady tortoise who won the race.  So in my proverbial race, I will very, very slowly learn French and by April I'll be fluent while those who have learned French very quickly will... lose.  Yep.  (Please just allow me this fantasy.)

10)  I had to explain to one of my teachers today that no one really knows the verses to "We Will Rock You," until you get to "duh duh duh duh MUD ON YOUR FACE, YOU BIG DISGRACE!"  He asked me if I could listen to the song and write down the lyrics for him.

Thank you, Google, for coming up with this video when I searched, "We Will Rock You France"