Lizzy Mo

http://www.brickfish.com/Pages/PhotosAlbums/PhotoView.aspx?picid=1074485_47455348&profilename=fashion&groupname=FabulousPetNames&tab=submit&jspost=1&everr=False&redirlogin=1&cid=5678023&scid=502&new=1&isep=1&pbapi=3325178&pbvi=145642817&plyli=1&pdi=23&=FBPOST¬pbb=true

Okay, so, bises = kissy thing French people do.

They are the source of so much awkward social functioning for me, and I hate them.

First of all, the quantity varies in France based on your region. Or even, the region the particular person you are giving bises to is from. Two is the standard, up to 4. And usually, it could just be right left (2) right left (4), but sometimes, its right right, left left.

So that's the first problem.

Second problem, especially for me is, I don't like strangers getting up in my face. Sorry, we just met. No kisses.

But that could be rude, and you have to do the kisses.

Bises get even more ridiculous when you are in a group setting. Say, dinner, 10 people. You have to do the bises to every single one of them (including strangers) when you arrive. Then again when you leave. That takes a lot of time. What if you just want to go home with out interrupting the party? Not possible.

Third problem, old guys always screw with me with the bises. In Montpellier, this older guy, upper 50's ran the area where I did my volunteer work. Montpellier was three bises, right, left, right. This was probably my third time at the volunteer center, so we'd bised before. Only, my third time, I accidently kissed him near the mouth (somehow). I later learned that this is something he typically does to young girls as a "joke". Real funny, I get to kiss some old french chain smoker. Great joke. Plus, you feel embarassed, you are the American idiot who screws up the bises.

Brings me to third problem, part B. So today, I was teaching phonetics. Or getting ready to. Only I couldn't get the giant contraption that I put the tape into to turn on. (The giant contraption controls everything and lets me listen in on the students. Very essential to phonetics). So I go pay a visit to the tech guy, Michel. (Why yes, he IS an older french guy in his upper 50's, how did you know?)

I always get confused as to which door is his office. Basically, his office is at the end of the mediatheque, but there is a window instead of a wall between the two, so you can see inside. Anyway, I knocked on the wrong door, which was the mediatheque, didn't hear anything, so went to another door to get inside. He says hello to me, I say hello back. He leans in toward me, to my left (so I'm moving right), pretty much up in my face, so I prepare for some bises action. I go for the bises (which I think is strange anyway since I have never done them with him before, but hey, French people like the bises) and he stops me and says, no, no, I was just asking if it was you who was knocking on the wrong door. Really? So then why did you get all up in my face, AND put your hand on my shoulder? All indicators of bises coming in for landing.

So, once again, bises, or lack thereof, make me feel stupid.

It's cute to do with your family and close friends, weird with acquantances, and just uncomfortable with strangers. Plus it gives old men a creepy advance outlet, without it being considered wrong.

Not at all a fan of the bises.

basically, as i get more and more free time here in France, I am becoming more and more obsessed with wedding things.

i feel i've done a pretty good job organizing everything, especially considering I did it all before I left. I'm especially proud of how much everything is going to cost. I haven't gotten away cheap or anything, but I feel smug knowing that what I paid for things like shoes and dress are fractions of what your average person probably pays.

i splurged, recently, in switzerland, on a tiara headbandy-thing. originally i was just going to have flowers or something, but then I found this tiara I really liked. only it was ridiculously expensive. so instead, i settled on another that was half the price.


moral of the story: don't settle.

because, while I am happy with the one I do have, that was half price, now I feel like I can justify spending the money I didn't spend on the tiara, on these:




i might be able to ignore the temptation of such a overpriced and essentially useless material thing, except that i go by the cymbeline store at least once or twice a week here in Dijon. and they are in the window. and i want them.


I'm probably going to cave, further justifying the purchase by telling myself "hey, you only get married once"

plus they're really pretty!

okay, i'm done. sorry if i made you ill or something, I promise to be much less girly next post.

does anyone remember the URL for a website that had all of these cute, well designed games that were all different and frequently featured cute animals? i used to play on it a lot in 2005. it always had really soothing music in the background of all the games. i distinctly remember 3 different games: a duck pond, where you would click on ducks to gain points, a starry night with a little girl, and you would make her jump and catch the stars, and rows of cats that you would have to make sit or walk depending on the command. maybe also a game with some crabs. anyway, i'd like to see it again, but can't remember and don't have it bookmarked anywhere. any ideas would be great. thanks!

I wish I could have cool dreams, as I once did, but lately all I have are crazy real life situation dreams. Dreams should be an escape from reality, I think, more than an amplification of the stress of reality.

The first dream, I had a couple weeks ago, was my first "wedding" dream. As far as wedding dreams go, it wasn't so bad. Rick already had two - in the first he was getting married and everything was going fine, but he wasn't getting married to me, and knew it was wrong, and was trying to find me, but couldn't.

In the second, we got married fine, but then I said I didn't want to go to the reception and ran away. He then had to explain that to everyone, and go find me. I was asleep on the lawn of some guy he went to high school with.

Mine was pretty lame by comparison. My dress just kept falling off and I had to hold it up during everything. Kinda wonder what that means.

Last night, I had a really awful, awful dream. I woke up feeling so angry and depressed. It's not much of a dream, but it really just exaggerated what I hate about my job here in Dijon.

The university keeps adding classes to my schedule. I just started a new class, 3 weeks into the semester. And always, the same thing happens - the secretary asks to see me, and I go to her office, and she gives me another freakin' class. The one I added last week is only 7 students, and they are all pretty active. But the sports students I was given two classes of, are students from hell. They barely know English, they don't understand me AT ALL, talk whenever they want, whether or not I'm talking or another student is presenting. They are always late to class and generally disrespectful all around. I decided this week, that if they act like assholes, I'm just going to walk out. On top of all that, I teach them back to back, 8-10 and 10-12:30. 4.5 hours of misery.

Basically, I hate that they keep springing classes on me, and don't tell me what I'm supposed to do with them. I was literally told for my sports classes: "they're sports students, so just talk about sports. And health related to sports. And medicine related to sports. You also have to write them an exam, and give them a grade." But we don't know what kind of grade, how many points, etc. I don't even have a class roster.

So last night, in my dream, I get called again to Christine's office. She tells me they are adding another class, on Monday, which means in my dream I would work 9-5 straight through with no breaks. I get really pissed, but there is nothing I can do because I don't have the 300 hours you need for the full year, so they can keep adding classes until I have all the hours. Then, she tells me its a SPANISH class. I tell her, I don't know any Spanish. She says, oh, its okay, its really easy, you can just use the book. For some reason, I agree to this, and go to teach my first class.

All the Spanish students behave like my sports students, and I get a really bad headache and can't teach them. Then I finally manage to start using the book, only I can't understand it that well because it is all in Spanish, and I can't physically read it. I end up just teaching the class in English as though it were an English conversation class, and it goes okay.

The next week, it is the same. Everything goes okay, except now the students are angry that I am not teaching them Spanish. They also keep asking me questions I can't answer. So I go to the prof in charge and tell him, look, I can't teach this. I can't conjugate the verbs or anything! I can't answer their questions! And he says, well, just try one more week. It really isn't that hard.

I keep teaching, and the next session, the prof comes in, berates me, tells me (in French) that I am a horrible teacher, that I have no place here, that I am going to be fired. And I tell him I'm not meant to teach Spanish! I don't even know it!

Then I wake up freaked out, and double check my schedule just to make sure I wasn't given some extra class I had forgotten about over the mini-break.



This weekend was spent in Switzerland, pretty cool, got some fun pics. I'll send an update email with them soon, or you can check the website in my facebook.

http://ppaurora.blogspot.com/

there are many reasons i could give for why exactly France is the perfect model of inefficiency. i think i found my favorite today as i was leaving the office: the cleaning crew scrubbing the floor of the bathroom that is always locked and consequently, no one uses. oh, france, when will you learn?





p.s. - it is not a special bathroom for professors, or anything like that. it is just always locked.

did you know the Canadian dollar is worth more than the U.S. dollar now?

i've been out of the news loop a bit because I only recently got internet, still no TV, and I would just like to say, I am very, very happy by the fact that I got my first (in Euro) paycheck a couple days ago.

hopefully you all already knew about the canadian dollar's triumph, but, this may sound stupid, I was little shocked. oh the woes of the dollar.

in other news, Rick and I met a really cool guy at this thing called Cafe Polygote, where they set up language tables at this bar in Dijon, and you sit at whatever table you want and only speak that language. I stuck with English, and we met this guy from Guadeloupe. We started discussion mildly enough, sports, music, etc, but worked our way into talking about the Caribbean and eventually the U.S. It was a good talk, but parts of it made me so depressed. All the things I was telling him made me feel so depressed. Our politics, our situation, Iraq, (and the whole middle east for that matter), Al Qaeda hunting, how our next president is going to inherit fuck all garbage and be screwed. I don't want to quit the U.S. but I've only been here a month and I know it is going to be the most difficult thing in the world to go back. Honestly, I think it was good planning on our part that we made our wedding fall right after we're scheduled to return. It will probably be the only thing enticing me to come home.

France has been great so far, my only other recent frustration has been that yesterday, I went to a meeting about getting a maitrise (and the meeting was, of course, a waste of my time), because I want to do Master's 2, not Master's 1, because Master's 1 is the equivalent of your last year at university in the U.S. So I go to talk to the prof in charge, and she says it's not the equivalent, not if I haven't done a 40-50 page paper (which I haven't, only 20, and it's not even saved on my laptop, but my dismantled computer back home). But, those students, that is ALL they write for the whole year. AND they only take 2 classes/semester. So if I were to add up all the pages I've written for 4 English classes, I bet it would be more than 40-50.

Before the meeting, I was thinking I wouldn't even do it, but then they started talking about all these interesting classes, and I kind of changed my mind. And then the prof made it seem like I was being ridiculous for thinking I could be equivalent without said long-ass paper, despite the fact that I am already a Master's student, and now I am so irritated by her I just want to do it anyway, to spite her. Not the best reason to get a degree, really, but if I get a Master's 2, I can toy with the idea of getting a doctorate here, thus making it possible to flee the U.S. when necessary.

We'll see.

hey everyone....so i'm pretty much giving up on LJ, for now, at least, until I get a wave of creativity or something. Right now all my creative energy goes into getting settled, getting ready to teach, and wedding stuff. I will, however, be sending out email updates about me and Rick's French adventures, so if you're interested, let me know. I would probably also need your email address, unless it is in Facebook or something. Hope all's well :o)

So, I am leaving tomorrow for France. I'll be staying in Dijon for 9 months....scary. Everything is packed but I'm pretty sure we overpacked - it's hard when you have to pack 3 seasons worth of clothes. Plus I made a point of stocking up on things that will cost us more there, probably not the most genius idea but hopefully it will actually save me money.

We are not bringing the kitty, which makes me sad, but I'm pretty sure it would be a ridiculous hassle and an unfun experience for all involved (including Mies).

If you want a postcard or something, let me know. We are very excited to have any visitors, once we get settled in, so if you'll be in the Europe area, maybe stop by?

So, this summer has been pretty hectic-feeling (but not actually hectic). For the first month, I did nothing but workout, lay in the sun, swim and take care of wedding-related things. Then I started teaching for Upward Bound....when you put me in an un-airconditioned classroom, plus 14 kids who just got back from lunch, who don't know french, who are hot, and late.....it is rough. It has gotten better since - we have AC now. It is kind of depressing because on the one hand I really like teaching them and on the other I am very apathetic, because they are very apathetic. I know it is summer and what we're doing doesn't count for a grade, but it still hard to teach when you know a lot of them don't care.

I could see myself teaching high schoolers for the rest of my life, and I don't mind. But I also see the apathy that could develop, and that scares me.  I also have the problem of getting certified, which pisses me off. I can teach college kids but not high schoolers, WTF? Anyway, I am thinking about doing Teach for America. It's a commitment, BUT, I am sick of grad school, so I would rather do that than stay in C-U even LONGER to get certified. Plus I feel like once I do that, there is no where to go but up. I could handle lots of situations, rough kids, good kids, etc. The last thing is, I think I want to quit grad school. I'm technically halfway done, and I'm thrilled I get to go to France (with Rick) for all next year - but after that, I want to quit.  Will it look bad to teach with only half a master's? I could lie and say I am "working on it" still or something, but that wouldn't be the truth. I am just burnt out on school and the thought of reading so many books in French is terrifying.

I just feel like as far as my academic life/professional life goes, it will suck. No matter what. I will hate having some stupid translation job, some stupid office job; if I try for an MBA I will hate that, I don't want to stay in grad school, but I feel like an ass for giving up. Teaching will get boring after awhile and it might be nice to have the depth I would get being a professor with a PhD, but I can't stand the idea of putting my life on hold for 7-8 years. I want to own a condo or a house and I want to just have a job where I make decent money and get good health insurance....and being in school just makes me feel like I am stuck forever being a student, and I won't ever be on my feet until I get a degree. I should have gotten certified while in undergrad.....

The rest of the summer, I will teach at U of I while finishing up Upward Bound, cat-sit/house-sit AND dog-sit for awhile, go to decatur for a few days, and then Naperville, before I fly out. I will be in Naperville hopefully August 23/24-Sept 3. If anyone is there we should do something. 1. Great America 2. Something else fun.

Now it's time for lunch.

http://video.msn.com/v/us/fv/fv.htm??g=e771e428-bc1a-4ba7-8715-b871d757ccce&t=m3334&f=06/64&p=hotvideo_parishiltonjail&fg=&gt1=10056

of course she's awesome, she's polish.

and no begging required!

I asked for a little tiny extension on a paper that was due today, and he told everyone in the class we had until NEXT monday.

And then, for my other class, we have until the 18th for a set of article summaries, previously due...WEDNESDAY!!! I might do them anyway......but then again, who am i kidding?


The finals gods have shined upon me....I hope the rest of you are blessed with the same luck :o)

Why the Jewish mother stereotype exists:

love mom

1) "pure white or ..." - now, this one isn't full blown, because she could have meant ivory or off white or something, and i don't think those have a negative connotation (although both "pure" and "..." set off some alarms)

and 2)  "A wedding demands that.
it is clearly not my choice :p

also, note the implied guilt in both 1 and 2. bingo.

ah well, she can't stop me from wearing a dress 5 in shorter than a normal dress! ...yeah


i don't know if anyone will find this funny, but it amuses me.

Well, it looks like this summer is going to be busy. Once school ends, Rick and I are taking care of these two awesome Indian kids - they are 10 and 14, so we are just basically hanging out with them and driving around. Then, in June, I start teaching for Upward Bound while Rick takes over the kiddies. I am a bit worried about this because I have to make the syllabus and lesson plan all by myself! And I teach two different levels in the same classroom. It will be interesting...and, when there is about two weeks left doing that, I will start teaching Fr 102 for U of I summer school. 8am-12pm M-Th. The nice part is I have already taught 102 so I have most of the materials ready to go. So for two weeks I will work 8 am -12pm then 1-3 (or 12-2? I don't remember). Either way....it's going to be busy. But I need the money, so there you go. I'll be in Champaign all summer...feel free to visit :o)

All teaching ends August 2, then I get to move out and go to France! -- you should visit me there too!

This weekend I am presenting at a conference at Indiana University so wish me luck....thats all the news I got

and i've lost my sense of smell :o(

so, for the first time in a long time, i am really sick. very bad cold (but not flu i don't think). it has been pretty crappy, especially since i had a paper due tomorrow. luckily everyone is very helpful and I have both an extension and someone subbing for me tomorrow. life savers :o)

my usual reciped for wellness when i get a cold is:

spicy food
lots of soup
ice cream
sleep


however, because i went vegan, i didn't really get to have much chicken noodle soup or ice cream....sooo i am bending the rules a bit. rick is out getting me a blizzard. i tried using sorbet but it wasn't the same.  i think god will understand. it's probably mental, but I've been sick from Friday and that is just too long. also i am watching the oscars for the first time since i was in elementary school i think.

i don't know if i said this already but i really liked pan's labryinth, especially the soundtrack, and you should go see it. the queen was pretty good as well. i have yet to see the departed because every rental place is out of it. finally, little miss sunshine is great. and i <3 steve carrell. that's about all of the oscar films i've seen. so there you go.

i think by tomorrow i will have gone through a whole box of kleenex.

so, on a rather poorly thought out whim, rick and i decided to go vegan for lent. mainly because rick wanted to try it and lent was a good fixed period of time. anyway, i wanted cereal this morning, but we failed to buy soymilk this last weekend. so i am sitting at the table eating some dry life cereal.

rick: how's your dry life?
me: pretty good actually
....long pause....
rick: our life isn't actually dry, is it?
me: no
rick: good, because i don't want you eating symbolism for breakfast

..........

also, i am being recorded today while i teach. i haven't decided yet whether i think it is more or less stressful than being watched live. i chose to do it so i could pick the day, but now i am picturing my observer constantly rewinding the video to find every error...this may have been a bad choice :o(  (plus i am very not into watching myself teach)

on the plus side, i also decided i don't really care. i can't do THAT badly.

...........

i got accepted to go present a paper at a graduate conference at indiana. scary.

..........

i might go to tunisia. we'll see.

All classes have been canceled for Tuesday (Feb. 13) at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. More than 5 inches of snow fell overnight, up
to another foot of snow is possible by Tuesday night and a blizzard warning
is in effect. U. of I. employees who have been designated as essential
personnel are expected to report to work.


I heard it's the first time in 28 years. Nice.

Harry Potter as previously only seen by Dumbledore...