Music Teacher Moments

Ok, this is officially really cool..

I joined a choir, Accord'Elles, back in the beginning of January.  They were instantly welcoming, and it's really been a joy singing with them every Tuesday night.  What's more, it's an all-women choir, which was just what I needed to feel like I was home after having been in amazing all-women choirs at SMC for the last four years. So that's already cool, right?  It gets better...

We had a concert last Sunday, and took precious pictures..

Classy, singing ladies.

Did someone say action shot?

At the concert, I had mentioned to my director (the rebel without a scarf), that I'd love to teach them a song if she'd be interested.  Well, she was interested!  So the following Tuesday, I taught them a simple arrangement of the spiritual "Yonder Come Day."  Here's the result:

Dancing or singing? Pretty much all the same for me.

Love these ladies.

This was really an incredible moment for me for a lot of reasons.  First, I was able to be a music teacher.  B. I taught a song all in French!! III. These women were kind and respectful enough to put up with my French and youthfulness and were really responsive to me as a teacher.  4. I was able to leave a little musical memory of myself in France.

See? I told you it was going to be a cool post.

Harmonically yours,

Angie

PS: All of these photos are stolen from a woman in my choir! Thanks, Christine!

Accord'Elles 2014

So that's what they're calling a palm these days?

This is what I received for Palm Sunday. Doesn't seem very palmy to me...

Peace,

Angie

My Favorite Crêperie

Hey, everybody!

There are few things that I love to do more than eating, so this blog post is dedicated to the best (and pretty much only) place to eat out in the town of Savenay: my crêperie, O Crêp'uscule.

The food is wonderful, and the service is even better.  Though we only went there six or seven times over our six months there, the server knew us about half way through the year.  By the end, we were telling him about our plans for next year, why we were here, discussing language differences, and laughing at the fact that he still spoke in hyper speed.

Open every day except Tuesday (I think), this little restaurant seats no more than 40, so you always feel like you're sitting in someone's really nice dining room.  I just can't say enough about how much I'll miss this crêperie.

He's the man.

Note about the picture: I would have cropped it so that you could see everyone's faces better, but I love that you can see the restaurant a little this way.  Just behind that counter is the little kitchen where they cook all the crêpes.  If I'm not mistaken, they only cooking surfaces for three crêpes or galettes at a time.  It's the best!!

Much love to all,
Angie

The Big Two Three

So, I turned 23, the beginning of the end of birthdays that are inherently really cool, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy myself all the same!!

Spoiled with birthday love.

Even though I haven't been home for any of my previous four birthdays, I was a little worried that it would be a bummer to be so far away from everyone on the 19th of March.  Oh was I wrong...

One of my colleagues at the collège where I work invited me over for lunch with her three precious daughters. That obviously worked out well. I now live with her.

Then, my awesome, awesome roomie, Natalie, offered to make me lasagna for my birthday without even knowing that's my go-to birthday meal at home.  Talk about wonderful.

Yes, it was as delicious as it looks.

I was also just showered with lots of birthday love from friends and family around the world. It was really a special day that showed me how strongly you can feel love from people, no matter what the distance!

My turn to wear the birthday hat.

 Lovesies.
Angie

A Walking Tour of My Apartment in Photos

Hey, everyone!

Big news! I'm moving in with a super precious French family tomorrow evening.  I'll be there through the end of my time here, so I thought this, my last night in the apartment, would be the perfect time to put up pictures of my beautiful home in Savenay.

Without further ado, I present to you my apartment...

When you walk in the door, this is the first thing you see: my kitchen!!

AKA YUM ROOM

Let's look around to our right, shall we?

Oh hey there, little oven!

You still make no sense to me.

 

So there's one half of the kitchen.

Our lovely little table.

Check out the year on that bad boy.

So, that's the door you came in through.  Let's go back out and to the left to see the other rooms!

Ooooh! Hallway!

 First door on the left is:

Natalie's Room!

P.S. I totally did not ask before taking these picture of her room. Sorry, Natalie!

Back to the hallway. Next stop: first door on the right!

And here we are...

Woo! Sink!

And our lovely shower.

So, that's it for that room.  You may have noticed something's missing from a typical bathroom, and you are right... if you're not in France!  The toilet is generally in its own little haven in French homes.

Back to the hallway!

Now we'll go all the way down to the end of the hallway, and down the stairs...

And there she is.

Complete with pink toilet paper.

And there's only one room left!! I bet you can guess which one it is...

MY ROOM!

Welcome!

My bed!

My wall and desk!

My clothes!

My post card and map wall!

Another picture of my bed!

Well, kids, I think that's about all! That's where I've been living for the last 6 months, and I must admit I am a little sad to leave it.  My room has been home, and I've made a ton of great memories here, but I am so excited to spend a few weeks living with a French family! I'm sure it will be a great end to a wonderful year.

Love from France,

Angie

My Entire Town Smelled Like Manure Today

I just thought you should all know.

Love,
Angie

It Is Better to Have Loved and Lost than to Sit in the Corner by Yourself

Tonight is my last night with my roommate, Natalie, and dang it, I'm feeling nostalgic.
Disclaimer: If you don't want to read mushiness, DON'T READ ON!!

One of our very first selfies together.

Let me tell you something, kids. This woman has absolutely been one of the best parts of this year for me. Every time someone asks me how I like my city I respond, "Ya, it's a little small, but my roommate is really cool!"  Seriously, she is awesome.

So, Natalie, here are just a few reasons of why you are one of my favorite people:

- When I met you, you were eating a tomato like an apple.

- You realized that I sing to myself when I'm happy.

- You now hum to yourself when you're content.

- You are the best date I could ever ask for. Let's go back to the crêperie soon, ok? 

- You not only tolerate my terrible German, you encourage it.

- You drive me to Hyper U when I am too lazy to walk.

- You make me walk to Hyper U when I'm too lazy but need to exercise.

- You shook ton booty with me. Zumba love.

- You have made me look like the biggest underachiever of all time this year. That is seriously impressive.

- You made me the most delicious lasagna for my birthday.

- You are always up for little trips together, whether it be to the supermarket or to another town.

- You are an incredibly kind human being.

- You let me harass you when you're talking to your boyfriend.

- You bring me delicious Christmas presents.

Thanks for being an amazing roommate who turned into a dear friend.  I know that this is only the beginning of our friendship, but it sucks that it's the end of us living together.  Please know that I have loved every minute together, and I want everyone to know it!

Much love,

Angie

Here's a Cute Picture of Me & My Little German

I want to hug whoever decided to put us in the same school.  Natalie has been the best German roommate I could have ever asked for.

Pic stolen from Natalie.

Why does she have to leave me on Saturday?!?! WAHH!!

Lovesies,
Angie

Rookie Mistake

Today, I made the mistake of going to the supermarket without buying a baguette. I realized this huge error as I was checking out.  It was too late, there was nothing to be done.  And so I took my bags, and I walked.  I walked a 15-minute walk of shame back to my apartment, considering the effects of my actions, and debating whether or not I could make it through a day without this dear loaf of goodness.

The answer, kids, is no. There were just too many cheeses that needed spreading, too many scoops of Nutella that needed a vehicle to find their way into my mouth.  And so this happened:

They even included a little paper to give it a hug!

One special bakery trip later, I was fully equipped with my weapon of choice, and fully prepared to enter the only war I ever condone: my personal battle against the delicious foods of France.  Somehow, they keep multiplying, and I must eat more and more! It's a vicious battle, but someone has to be on the front lines.

Love and bread everyone,

Angie

Really?

Really? Cookie Dingler? That's really your name? You know you can choose a stage name? Oh no. You didn't choose Cookie Dingler, did you? Oh, sorry, no, that's a great name. Very, uh, sweet, and, uh, dangly? No, wait, that didn't come out right.... Ya, great name, great name, sir! You're like a tempting little dessert that we all want a bite of? Dingly cookies. Cookie Dingler.

To each their own, I guess.

Angie.

Kölsch-Bierprobe

There are many benefits to living with a German. For awhile, I thought maybe hearing a strange language flowing through the hallway was the coolest part, and then I thought that maybe it was her strange obsession with bread "that tastes like you're eating bread" or even just knowing that I can go visit Köln whoever I please for the rest of my life. But no, friends, this is officially the best:

Receiving a beer tasting as a Christmas present. Sitting and testing beers together while watching a crappy American movie that was only made worse by the fact that it was dubbed in French will forever be a holiday highlight for me.

Lovesies,

Angie

A Little Look at My New Reality

So is life really that different in France?  In so many ways, no.  People are people, teenagers are teenagers, and teaching strategies work everywhere.  However, there are some key differences that I'd like to bring up.  Some of them are because I'm living in France, some are because I'm living in a school, and some are just because I'm finally living on my own.  

Here's the first picture I'd like to offer to you to explain some of these similarities and differences:

Sure, it might not look like much, but it says a great deal about my life at the moment.  For instance....

- Look at that little electric stovetop deal we've got going on there.  There is, in fact, a real stovetop hidden between the electric one and the oven, but it's gas and has been turned off because we live in the school building.

- Those oven nobs.  Hieroglyphics would be more helpful.

- Check out that lid, or shall we say 'top hat' because it's just so classy.

- If you direct your gaze to the right of the oven, you'll notice the bread tower.  Here you can find out baguettes, brioche (sweet bread that, when combined with the power of Nutella, is arguably the best thing on this earth), and a new addition: donuts. (Note: we only have donuts because they were Natalie's comeback for my brioche purchase.)

- And to finish, my personal favorite: the "turned off??" sign.  This is only up because I, twice in the same day, left our little electric burners on, and nearly burned down our apartment.  What's life without moments to keep you humble, right?

Until the next installment,

Angie

Shout Out to My Roommate!

Just two little assistants in one big lycee!

Although I've thrown love at many a person on this blog, one person in particular has been overlooked for far too long: Natalie, my roommate.

I've now gone potluck on roommates twice in my life: freshman year of college, and freshman year of real life.  So far, both have been out-of-the-ballpark wins.  Eileen, my first collegiate roommate, remains a great friend, even after learning of my ranch obsession, and strange music-major sleeping hours.  And now I have Natalie, my German space sharer, who I knew would be perfect from the moment she saw me wearing my TMNT boxers as pajamas and said "those are great!"  I feel so incredibly lucky to be sharing this year with someone who cares if I'm home or not, who listens to every time that I screw up, and that is struggling through this language right along with me.  So cheers, wait, crap, prost to you, my new buddy. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us.

Love from France,
Angie