Weekend Fun

Late Friday afternoon I had three new classes to teach at work that I will have every week from now on.  They all went pretty well.  The first one is going to be really fun - it's just two girls who want to do more English and we were laughing so hard in the class.  I hope I can keep the class up to that same level!!!

In Noisy-le-Grand : outside the RER station on my way to work.

Friday I was invited to an apéro.  An apéro is short for apéritif - which is the before-dinner-drink, but can also be a appetizer/dinner event.  One of my classmates, Anna, was doing one at the Cité-U, where I had applied to live.  Even though I was 15 minutes late, I was the first person there by about 20 minutes... Anna and I had fun talking a bit though.  The next two people to show up where some of the friends she has made a the Cité-U - an Italian gal and an Belgian gal.  We all had a great tie talking and as a bonus, when the Italian got there, everything switched into French!  A while later, 3 more of our classmates arrived and we had a great time talking and eating.  Then it was off to check out some parties that were going on at the Cité-U; I think I've decided I enjoy more low key get-togethers.  The apéro was awesome - but I left soon after we got to the party since it was late and not my type of thing.  

Saturday evening I had two events - tutoring and a teacher (from work) get-together.  I learned that my punctuality had really been noticed at tutoring - I was 10 minutes late (between a migraine and metro - I was moving a tad slower) and the mom and my student were really worried about me.  It was sweet, but I felt bad - I hadn't noticed the time adding up - but they understood and were happy I was there.  

Afterwards, I walked over the Camille's house for the teacher party.  It was an English-Chinese teacher party + a few other favorite colleagues.  I got there in time to participate in the Chinese dumpling workshop!!!!  It was really cool.  

It's lots of work!

I was told I am as good as a Chinese!!  :-P

The little celebrity of the night!

I really enjoyed the entire evening, but am now flabbergasted.  I've always wondered why this one Chinese teacher, why her daughter of about 12 was often in the teacher's lounge and more often than not, by herself.  The Chinese teachers are just visiting teachers from China - so I thought maybe she wasn't attending a normal school...  No.  Turns out, she isn't 12.  Turns out, she isn't one of the Chinese teacher's daughter.  Turns out, she's 23.  Turns out, I'm not the only teaching assistant.  WHAT?!?!?!?  Why did no one tell me - don't know....

At the end of the evening, the teachers started a little dance party.  It was pretty awesome.  Definitely my type of get-together: 80s and 90s music - half in English.  I had a great time.  We ate the dumplings we made, had crepes (dinner ones and dessert), and ate cheese.  I sure hope we get to do it again!

This is the view from Camille's bathroom... Jealous?

Camille and Lea :-)

Today has been more low key.  My evening fun has been cooking up a half-batch of banana bread muffins and trying out a recipe my dad sent me - Lentil soup with sausage  :)