My Birthday/OFII

I've never had a vacation during my birthday, it was definitely bizarre but in a good way.
On the 23rd, the girls from Charleville (the next/biggest town in our department) met up for my birthday. I had decided that since we're in the Champagne-Ardennes region, we should do a champagne cave visit/tasting. I chose Pommery and off we went. It was a wonderful day spent drinking LOTS of champagne (after the Pommery in the afternoon we bought a bottle of Mumm) and eating good French food. All in all, quite lovely birthday.

Then, on the 29th was my OFII appointment. My original message about this appointment somehow never got saved (written en route to Switzerland on my tablet) so I'm re-writing it. I spent the 27th-29th in Reims (it seems that so far I've only gone to Reims and Paris, lol) exploring Reims and hanging out with the other assistants. The friend who I was staying with also had her OFII appointment on the same day. My friend back in the States who had done this program the year before told me that I should get to my appointment an hour early, to be the first one to get in. Well, my appointment was scheduled for 9am which meant leaving Anna's at 7am (she lives on the outskirts of Reims, so getting to the center of town takes half an hour, and getting to this x-ray appointment, 45-1 hour). We decided that it would be best if we walked since she didn't have internet at her place and the mediateque is closed on Mondays (awesome). I printed out the walking directions before I arrived and off we went, at 7am. Luckily we didn't get lost en route, in fact it was a wonderful little stroll where we passed THREE champagne caves! Upon arrival, we got a little lost since we couldn't find the right building on the street (where are the street signs/numbers France?!?!). After 5 minutes of debating if the building we were standing in front of was indeed the correct x-ray lab, we went inside. The building next to the office was an apartment complex that looked like a sketchy motel where some drug dealers and prostitutes hung out. After we went inside the xray lab building, we found two other people waiting, they came from a small town in the Champagne region where one of their neighbors made his own champagne (what?!?! Super jealous!) and she proceeded to tell us how amazing her small town of 2,000 people is and what a culture shock it has been. People drive their tractors on the roads and during harvesting season the air smells of champagne. Sounds delightful. She even has a French boyfriend, the guy who does IT at her school (they had been going out for 1 week) and he had driven her to the appointment- an hour and a half drive North.
Anyway, they proceeded to say that the building won't actually open UNTIL 9am, so there was no point in getting there early. So, we waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, at around 9am (more like 9:05) people began taking the elevator up to the 5th floor (where we were scheduled to do our chest exam). We all took a number and waited in the waiting area. Then, when they called my number, they took my passport and paperwork. After doing the paperwork, I waited some more and finally around 9:30 was taken to a little room where I dropped my coat and things off before heading into the lab for the xray. The x-ray exam was to make sure that you didn't have tuberculosis (because apparently that's still a thing here). Luckily I passed, wohoo! And they handed me my x-ray and told me how to get to the second building for the medical exam.
Off Anna and I went to building number two, but of course, since we're nice people we waited until EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE was done with their appointment so we could all go together (clearly nullifying the entire point of arriving early). After a few debates about which bus to take, we were all on the right bus and headed to our next appointment.
When we got to appointment number 2, we wrote our names on the attendance and waited until we were called. After 15 minutes of waiting, the receptionist informed us that there was going to be a shift change (because why would a French doctor work for 3 hours without getting a break). 15 minutes turned into half an hour which turned into 45 minutes. Luckily, after waiting for 45 minutes another doctor showed up and we were able to get this process started. Since Anna and I waited for everyone, we ended up being the 4th to last people getting seen (urg) AND we had a time table since we needed to catch a train to Switzerland at 3pm. My appointment went well, the doctor apologized for me being in Sedan (a common theme) and told me I was in tip top shape and gave me my resident stamp and wished me well. We were done around 12:30 and went back to Anna's to have lunch/get ready.

I couldn't be more ready for this vacation to begin.

Backtracking, Fall vacation-The Planning

After arriving and having orientation the first week in Reims, we found out that we would have a Fall break from October 9th-November 3rd. We began planning (the French have a vacation EVERY month, what?!?!?!) and decided on Switzerland. Then a few days later I got a letter from the French government saying that my OFII appointment would be October 28th.  Glad I didn't book my tickets for Switzerland yet.

 New plan: Reims for my birthday (who doesn't love doing champagne tastings/tours on their birthday), OFII (immigration appointment where you get your blood pressure measured, height and weight checked, and chest x-ray- in case you have tuberculosis) appointment, then spend 5 days in Switzerland. With this new plan, I set-off booking train tickets, hostels, and  creating the itinerary. Two other girls were joining me and the three of us were excited to take our first international trip as residents of France. Yippee!  

Sedan, Sedan, Sedan

I know I keep apologizing for the lack of updates but it has been difficult here in Sedan-almost from day 1. Writing is difficult when you live in a depressing and desolate area. My window overlooks a factory and an elementary school and our kitchen/living room window overlooks the ZUP (the Zone Urbaniser en Priorité) which is the equivalent to public/social housing. The landscape is dull, the sky is constantly gray, there are no stars at night, and on most days on average there are 2 hours of sunlight. Sounds like a great little oasis in Eastern France?......If only I could say that. Sadly, I'm 100% sure that once this program is done, I will never return to this town again (unless for some odd reason I end up working on a show that tours in the Ardennes).

But, I've been growing more frustrated since returning from the Salon Du Vin and experiencing the amazing Parisian life. We have more than 1 Parisian friend, something we can't say here. Our only friend in this town is one of our neighbors, he is 27 and lives with his father and younger brother. The people here are very nice, but they do not speak proper French (let alone a word of English). Whenever we travel, everyone is sympathetic or scours when we tell them where we live and they respond with "I'm sorry, why do you live there?" Or, "I'm sorry, why don't you move?" 
This is why I haven't spoken much about Sedan since my arrival. It is almost exactly how I expected it to be, but for some reason I thought it would be tolerable. The only tolerable aspects of living here are my colleagues, neighbors, and 12 hour work week. Recently when attempting to describe Sedan to others in the Academy of Reims, someone had come up with the clever notion that Sedan is "the Detroit of France". Everyone laughed, but then the two of us American assistants actually thought about it, and yes, Sedan IS the "Detroit of France."

This is a panorama taken from the street corner where I live/work. I live in the building to the right of the lamppost 

Ever wonder where sedans came from? Well, they were invented right here in Sedan, France. Unfortunately since the recession hit France, the economy here has dwindled significantly. The Christmas lights (not even on every street in down town Sedan) stays on for less than 5 hours......what?!?!?! Why even have them up if they turn off after 9pm. There are more for sale signs than rented/owned space.

Taken on Armistice Day, Place Alsace-Lorraine

This is where all the delinquents hang out. 

Fun Fact: we have to pass this to get to the closest grocery store 

 Taken from the corner of our building

At least the trees are pretty in Autumn 

Blanche Nuit; The only night out of the year where Paris doesn't shutdown after 2am

Nuit Blanche, the only night where everything in Paris theoretically stays open all night. But, just as when Chicago tried to do the same with "Looptopia", things closed as 2am. The nifty thing about Nuit Blanche is that you can get a map/program of the night's event at almost every train station. Unfortunately, the few times I tried to get one at Gare De L'est they were out or no one knew where I could find it when I asked. So, we were left to search for things (without smartphones) via their poorly laid out website. Luckily I found some cool things on their site and printed some maps and saved some screenshots on my iphone. Today was also the day that I finally had a working phone! SFR has a pre-paid weekly plan for 5 euros you get unlimited texting and calling (within France) on nights and weekends and unlimited texts and 2 hours of talk during the day. This plan was perfect for our evening (minus the no 3G) but, since Paris is big and there was a lot of us, we needed a working phone to get in-touch incase one of us got lost. We saw some pretty cool things that night, but the highlight of the evening was the 3 hour fireworks display. While they were re-stocking the fireworks, they had a water and lights show (the fireworks were being set off from the Seine). It was amazing, and something I will probably never experience again.

 Me at the Myth of Olympia 

 At the Place De La Republique 

 The first thing we experienced 

 In front of the Centre Pompidou

 A garden in the Myth of Olympia

 The Louvre at night

 The three amigos at the Louvre 

 Fireworks on the Seine

 Video of the fireworks

We ate dinner at a creperie called "Camille", they had wonderful crepes and salads (for some reason I was craving a salad). After we ate, we kept going down the Rue De La Republique and ran into some unique things like an outdoor short film festival, a "mythical garden", and a mist spectacle. Around 2am, we hit up a cafe close to the Bastile and leisurely sat in the warm cafe people-watching. After our coffees, we headed back outside and tried to look for something to do, unfortunately 3am is about when the performers abandon their station so by the time we made our way to something that looked promising (from the piece of paper I had printed) no one was at their post and the station was desolate. Since we hadn't eaten since 9ish, we found one of the only things  to eat,  which was Kabab. Then, we strolled the streets of Paris until Gare De L'est opened, which was 5am. Co-incidentally, that is the same time a scrumptious boulongerie opened. Before heading the station, we grabbed a yummy pain au chocolat for breakfast and waited in the station (our train left the station at 7:44am).
Of course right as we entered the station, there was an entire row of pamphlets/programs for "Nuit Blanche". I don't know how I missed that when we arrived, but I took one nonetheless and wrote down the exact location where I found it. I will get one for next year!

All in all, it was a successful evening.

What have I been doing for the past 90+ days

Let me tell you folks, getting internet was both amazing and horrible at the same time.

 Omg, we finally visited the castle (the only tourist attraction in Sedan)!

I've been so busy I have no idea where to begin, so let's start off with Nuit Blanche.....yes, I am aware that it took place October 5th but between then and now I've been dealing with alot- a new roommate, an actual class schedule (which is quite ridiculous- for example on Monday I teach at 9am and 5pm), and lots of daily life/travel organizing/planning/auditions.
Before I recount Nuit Blanche (which could have 1,000 times better had our smartphones been able to be smart, Paris where's your free wifi!) Let me just say that I definitely COULD NEVER BE A TRAVEL AGENT. Planning trips for one person is difficult, but when you add more than two people things get complicated. Needless to say, I took on the responsibility of booking hostels, creating itineraries, and accessing/taking screenshots of maps (of course the printers at the school weren't working) all while creating lesson plans and teaching. Also, right after my birthday I got the flu for four days (not fun while you're trying to plan a vacation). I say this because I've just finished booking everything for my up-coming winter vacation- Rome during Christmas, Vienna on New Years, and home to England to see family (with a trip to the Harry Potter set tours somewhere in there). Luckily, I have three and half weeks to plan this trip (whew), yay! Let's hope this time I won't get sick *fingers crossed*

Invited Dress Rehearsal

Last Thursday I was invited to the dress rehearsal of "La Derniere Nuit De Moliere". It was written by the same person who directed and starred as Moliere. Obviously this wasn't going to be very good-it very seldomly is when you have youur hands in many different jars. So, one of the French professors invited me to her classroom since this man was going to be giving a presentation on the play, his process, and theater. First, I was shocked when he asked the students who had ever been to a theater (there's 1 professional one 20 minutes away from Sedan and a few 1 hour away). ONLY 4 out of 28 had ever been to a theater, and these were Sophomores. I couldn't believe it! It made me glad that I grew up in a city with an excellent Arts scene. The presentation wasn't very interesting (I would never give an actor 55 minutes to speak without prompts). 

Later that night, I went to the theater expecting a half full house. Instead, I quickly realized this was an invited dress- there was me, the theater teacher, two French teachers, and the staff at the MJC. I had no idea what I was in-store for...

Thank goodness for theater history and music history! There were so many inside jokes and historically relevant notes that will definitely go over the kids heads. It was 90 minutes with no intermission, NO MASKING (meaning, you could see the one person stage crew leaning again the wall the entire time), and NO PROPS. There was however, a one man orchestra/stage manager. That's right-the stage manager was the conductor and orchestra. Often times using garageband or some music program (like Sibelius) to play the music....from his Macbook....on stage.....

Occasionally he was also used as a messenger. 

Let me move on to the costumes-this tech/music guy's costume was period correct as was Moliere's. His wife/daughter's (they're the same person, he married his daughter after the death of her mother/his first wife) costume was 1950s large polka dot skirt with black top, and Moliere's doctor wore a lawyer's robe. Clearly, they didn't have a budget. But yet, the few scenery pieces they had consisted of early 1900s womens undergarmets and hoop skirts on a rment rack. Why wouldn't she just change into any of these more appropriate clothing pieces.....

The set was just some pipe and drape seperating the main playing space and "Moliere's room" which was seperated by a red curtain hanging from the pipe and drape system. 

Since the only thing it really had going for it was the lighting, there were times when it became a light show. But, with nothing interesting happening on stage, I was glad there was something good about this production.

Overall, it was a sad effort, I don't think I could ever sit through that piece again. 

Cracks in French public transit

For the past month (it'll be a month in 2 days) I've been all over the East of France and taken several trains to and from Paris without a problem. Of course there were a few close calls but that was mainly because we left too late. The conductors have been nice and everyone always wait while you are getting your tickets or looking for the correct platform. 

Today was the first day where something didn't go right. Granted France is allowed to have those days, but the TGV and SNCF in general is praised as having awesome transit-maybe that only applies to the trains, My bus (or autocar as its called here) was 15 minutes late!!! Normally, I wouldn't care but this was a bus that was connecting me to Reims, and I have an appointment (for a champagne cave tour and tasting) later this afternoon. So, I need the time to put my stuff down and get a few things before heading to Pommery. 

We arrived in Charleville (where I had my connection) with one minute to spare. Luckily, I flagged down one of the workers on baord the train I need to take, and they held the train for me and a few other people. Yay! Crisis averted. Now, to enjoy some fresh champagne straight from the source. ;)