just talked with patricia about the third class today. she didn't seem at all worried about it and in fact told me that most likely i would not meet with this class again because they don't really need the practice. phew! she said it's the same sometimes for her; she thinks things will be exciting in class and sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.
enough already.
tomorrow i have 5 classes, weds. and thurs. i don't have any classes, friday i have 2. of course, friday's classes are in the afternoon! i have to go to the doctor's office on thursday for my whole visa-stay thing, but that's it. i think i will really explore this city during my little two-day break; check out a museum or two, take some walks, meet up with other american assistants, etc. maybe get a library card.
i think i may head down to beaune for the upcoming holiday.
ok, here's what happened last friday at the big dinner with the other teachers.
there were about 25 of us and the champagne was flowing. the first course, a "salade ardennaise," was great: greens, tomatoes, small potato fries, egg, chicken sausage and little bits of bacon. excellent. then, the main course: beef!! oh, i was so excited and starving. the waitress came out and asked us how we wanted the meat prepared and i said "bien cuit!" which is well done but in france, well done actually means medium well. just perfect.
the waitress brought out my plate of chow and immediately spilled it all over me and the floor. apparently the "bien cuit" meat resulted in a piping hot plate as well, which the nonexperienced waitress was holding, i think, with her bare hand. there was butter sauce and beef and potatoes everywhere. she was so apologetic and embarrassed and insisted that i bring back my clothes so she could have them dry cleaned. (luckily i wasn't wearing anything that really required dry cleaning.)
georges later told me that the waitress and her husband, the chef, who own the restaurant just opened it about a month ago. they used to sell cigarettes at the convenience store next door but hubby had this dream of opening a restaurant because he loves to cook and it brings him great joy to cook for other people. wifey has little to no experience waiting tables. one of my collegues said that if a waitress spilled a plate at any other restaurant in town she'd be fired immediately.
i didn't mind, really. they brought me a fresh steak and it was so good; cooked just perfectly. dropping a plate is something i would probably do... no harm no foul. i told georges, hey, shit happens. it was an accident. and no one will forget that meal!
the rest of the evening progressed nicely; a lovely cheese course, dessert, coffee, etc. the assistants didn't have to pay anything because we were the guests of honor. perfect.
saturday and sunday were rainy and cold; i bought a wool turtleneck sweater and a puffy vest. it feels so frigid here, probably because we're inland. but today was warmer and sunnier.
time for dinner...