Jeudi le 11 decembre - John the kiwi!

I have had classes at the Lycee this morning and am writing my blog in between them! It really is frustrating as I end up taking 2 hours for a 1 hour class – or like today I have classes at 9-10 then 11-1:00 then 3-4:00! Not enough time to go anywhere in between the classes.
I have also been asked to hand in a copy of my timetable to the Lycee – eekk! It doesn’t look very full because teachers block off times with me then cancel because they have assessments or tests or something else. Also sometimes the classes are fortnightly too. One week (last week) looks fairly empty but this week is fairly full! Not sure how this goes down but nevermind!
The last class today the teacher handed me a picture, some vocab and said I would like you to work on this “Clashes”. Then I walked with her up to the class and she opened a door and directed me inside – she didn’t follow – waited and then about 9 students turned up, 17 year olds. I then had to do the whole thing! Not really sure what to do as there hadn’t been any discussion really. I found it quite hard to explain the vocabulary as the students are not allowed dictionaries and I can’t translate – I know some were totally lost as was I at times! This was really hard – I don’t think we would do that to a teacher in NZ. Also remember that the school structure is very different and I certainly am not used to 17 year olds either, but I quite like them!
Home to a very early tea – as we were meeting John the Kiwi at 6:00 in a bar in town. This turned out to be really good – Nev is still there as I write this now. It was so nice to meet and talk naturally about things we know! It was also nice to drink like a kiwi – John’s words!
John is a non linear engineer at the university who spends most of his time in research. We certainly are spending a lot of time with academics. He has a 3 year old girl and a 10 year old boy, who rang while he was with us, and he was busy teasing him that we were just planning the arranged marriage – this was nice for our girls to see some typical kiwi humour. He also reminded us a lot of Lumpy – not sure which part exactly but just the whole package – not that you can be replaced Lumpy, so don’t feel threatened!
I do wonder what time my hubby will roll in – the most we have consumed in a while!
Strasbourg tomorrow – off to the Alsace/Lorraine area, apparently have great Xmas festivities so am really looking forward to that.
The girls have also a whole school event “un cross” which we thought was a cross country at first but now we are not so sure. I have volunteered to go with Seph’s class and Nev with Hermione’s. I do know they have to take a lunch – how unusual – will let you know what it turns out to be.