Although just under 2 months has passed since we arrived here, it really does feel like we've been here for ages and like an awful lot has happened in that time. Here are some high/low lights...As no-one here apart from the English is really that keen on talking about the weather I'll start there. Yesterday was the first rainy day we've had since we got here. Talk about a culture shock compared to Leeds. Rain, it seems, turns very smooth road surfaces into ice rinks for bicycles, so I embarrassed myself at the station yesterday morning with a sliding, bouncing crash/dismount. I tried to walk away looking cool but I seriously lost my bike cred. Commuting by metro has been an interesting experience. The atmosphere is one of sustained disinterest in others and every man for himself. If you want to get on a train, especially with a pram, you really have to push. It feels rather odd and has taken some getting used to. However all this time on trains has meant I've made some great mileage reading books. Ironically, the only decent conversation I've had whilst commuting was on one of my 'it's Thursday so I'll do the long ride to work on a bike' journeys, with another cyclist called Jerome. I have to say though, I'm not getting bored of the chance to cycle past the Louvre and in view of the Eiffel Tower on the way to work.
Both jobs have presented their challenges, not least the music teaching, where it has turned out that I need to teach the younger children in French. This does tend to leave my mouth aching after a full day of getting my lips around different sounds. I have also discovered that some words have a number of meanings: on my first day, in 4 different classes, I had children singing scales, first on la, then making the sound ung, then various others including zee. Every time a class sang zee zee zee zee zee etc they burst into laughter. By the fourth class I had the idea that I was missing something, so I asked a girl who timidly replied that a zeezee is what boys use to go to the toilet with. Oops. Other linguistic challenges include: me thinking I was asking children to put chairs under the table (en de sous) and them all lifting them up and placing them on top of their tables (en de sus)- the pronunciation is almost unrecognisably different to an English ear, talking about the string section of an orchestra elicits giggles as a string in French is a g-string, counting the beats in the bar is difficult as a beat (bite in French) is another rude word that children certainly ought not to be saying. I have been called Mr Mish, Mr Teacher, Mrs meshmash... The other job, whilst a little calmer has presented its challenges too, though they are somehow less amusing and not worthy of recording here.
We're gradually coming to terms with driving in Paris- again every man for himself is a good motto, and priorité a droit is still petrifying (it basically means anyone coming on a side road from the right has priority, even if it is a tiny road joining a huge one- the Arc de Triomphe is one giant priorité a droit roundabout!) We have developed a reputation for getting lost, and we are frequently very late and take absurd detours whenever we go somewhere new- Paris is basically one massive one-way system, so potentially very confusing.
We have, however, nailed getting to church, on the other side of Paris, and this week the CVV celebrated its first birthday. As usual the food was amazing and the atmosphere was both joyful and very expectant of what's to come, these are exciting times.
Rémi also celebrated his first birthday not long ago with a visit from his maternal grand-parents. Last week, whilst at our friends Naomi and Yann's, he decided that it was about time to start walking, so now we have our very own miniature drunk waddling, tumbling and babbling about the apartment. He takes great pleasure in mimicking words, his best few being duck (duh), bath (bah), ball (bah), plum (um), banana (baba) and mama (baba). Strange that mama and banana come out the same I know, interpretations of this are welcome.
Katie's been busy making herself busy doing a sculpture course. At first she felt left out being the only one who didn't wear 'intelligent' glasses but is settling in now. Last week they had a nude pose on a rotating table so they could model her, which was a new experience for Katie. Interms f activities where no-one is naked, mother and baby groups are a little bit rare here and friends from church are spread rather far and wide, however there seems to be a good group at the baby swimming session that happens twice a week (when the pool staf aren't on strike!) and some encouraging contacts within our block of flats. Finding grass for Rémi to play on has also become a challenge. All the best grass is brightly adorned with keep off signs (pelouse interdit). These would be fine if dogs weren't able to go on and poo all over the grass. This is the case in our own communal garden behind our apartment block. It means there's a fair old walk to the nearest walkable grass. But, this does mean that Rémi has met some other toddlers on his stroll/fall/strolls on this particular piece of hallowed turf, as everyone else also has to travel to get there.
As gripe-filled as this entry may sound, we are having a lot of fun and we're excited about being here. We've discovered the blessing and glory of tickets-restaurants (restaurant vouchers given as a benefit at work) which means we can make the most of the food-life in Paris, we're enjoying having visitors (Masons, Cartledges, Long... all coming soon) and creating our own balcony allotment (old habits die hard).
