Meetings.

As you can imagine with all the paperwork we have to fill in, there also comes plenty of meetings. The first meeting for assistants in this region took place in Orléans, I cannot say I was particularly thrilled about having to catch a train at about 6.45am, but hey ho. Ultimately, I felt the majority of this first meeting was a waste of time- literally everything I needed to know could have been summed up within 30mins, but instead us Europeans had to sit through talks about Visas etc. and of course there was time wasted on stupid questions which led to me pulling my scarf tighter and tighter around my neck.

However, I got some pretty pictures while on our whistle-stop tour of the city.

The French love their water features...

And this man loved his teddybear so much, he took it to work and strapped it in the passenger seat, I'm absolutely gutted that he sped up as soon as I got my camera out. We'd seen him earlier in the morning too.

And our second meeting took place in Chateauroux, I can't say it went to a good start- Isy and I were late, the ticket office at the train station wasn't open so we had to spend our last pennies buying tickets on the train, then we got slightly lost in the city, were sent on a wild goose-chase around the school trying to find the other assistants, then were so happy to find out that lunch would cost over 5 euros. Fortunately the professeur  in charge was very understanding and kind. 

The other assistants appeared lovely, though I have to say I felt very outnumbered on the carnivorous front as they all berated vegans whilst going on about how they couldn't live without meat. I also found the lunchtime chat about Proust a bit difficult to digest. I have to say I found it amusing that one of the assistants seemed annoyed and surprised that his kids knew nothing/couldn't care less about politics, cos you know- 11-15 year olds today, I just can't get them off their wee soapboxes. 

I saw this yesterday on The Breakfast Club FB page, thought it somewhat appropriate. 

As for my most important meetings- with the students, I have to say I've got a lively bunch at the college (tweens) and I've got another mixed lot at the lycée (teens). For the most part I'd say they're a good bunch, though I've heard some tales at the college e.g. one kid stood up and said their teacher dressed like a whore, while another class gave their teacher a present of a toothbrush as a hint he had bad breath... All I can say is I hope I don't get any presents this year, though as I'm my usual unkempt self, I may be presented with a hairbrush at some point no doubt.