Ah, normalcy.... almost

The only way this pizza (loaded with mushrooms and ham) could have been any better is if they'd put pineapple on it. Maybe that's why I love this pizza at home, because it reminds me of pizza in France. Anyway, on my way home from yoga, I stopped and got this for dinner. It was a good Friday night. In my post-yoga relaxed trance, I started to reflect on a few things... Here are some of them.

• I think I'm going to love Thursdays. They feel the most productive and well, normal, to me. Don't tell the French, but I like to work and Thursdays I'm at school all day. I see every group of kids I've been given and after a couple of weeks now, I think we're starting to figure each other out. (Not that there aren't some ugly moments ahead I'm sure.)
  

• Most of the kids are starting to talk more. This is good because there are some painful moments of silence. At home, when teachers give "think time" there is always a kid ready before you've ended the question and you have to make him wait. Sometimes when NO ONE wants to answer, you just wait and you can feel the kids getting uncomfortable. Finally someone can't stand it any more and will answer the question. Here, they're champions of "whatever, I can't wait this out." It is crazy. You can look a kid dead in the eye and they still will just stay tightlipped and not answer. Its like playing chicken. I lose every time.
  

• By the end of the week, every group of kids had asked: "Can you help me find a penpal?" "Are we going to do an exchange?" "Do you know of any programs where I can go to America during the summer?" "Mme, c'est quand que vous nous emmenerez aux Etats-Unis?" (Mme, when is it that you're taking us to the States?) "Do you think we can do an exchange at your school for our senior year and your students can live here?" This last one came after we finished watching videos on Edina: they saw the Robotics team, the Forensic team, the cheerleaders at the MOA, a football clip, last year's Homecoming pepfest etc. They were fascinated by the activities and the school spirit and "community" that American schools work so hard to create. But what intrigued them most was the Edina principal talking to the students in his green attire and giving them bumps. (The French word is "check"). Here, some kids didn't even know there is a new principal.
  

• Twice a day there is a break of 15 minutes between classes. The teachers all meet up in the teachers room for a coffee and a smoke and the students meet out front of the school. The funny part is that this time is named "la recréation" or recess. I can't stop thinking about American kids (like my nephews) who are at recess and imagining them with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths.
  

• The best moment is when they're all congregated in front of the school. It might be the most beautiful day ever but all you see out front is a sea of black. If it weren't so awkward, I'd take a picture of it, (I still might). I really want to break into the closets at home to see if they even own anything of another color. Maybe they do, but it is just so depressing for them to be at school from 8 until 6 that all they can stand to wear is black.
  

• (Continuing on the last thought but I wanted a new bullet). Here is one major societal/ cultural difference. In France, kids are under pressure until they graduate from college and get a job. Then you get your vacation time (remember France has the highest average of time off with 5 weeks) and get to live your adult life. Personally, I think we're the opposite. I think we tell kids "enjoy your childhood and being a teenager. Life will change ONCE you get a job" and then we work ourselves to the bone. Yup, thats what I think.
  

That's enough for the deep thoughts, especially on a Saturday morning. I'm off to the Comic Book Fair...