Tuesday
I got to sleep in for a bit, as Mme Bodet was taking me into school with the boys. I got there just in time to get my lessons up and go grab the class from the end of the hall.
The first 5eme class has a really low level, so when I explained I was leaving they had no clue. One of the students got it and translated for everyone else. I explained that we could play games and figure something out that was special for our last few classes. They were happy with that. We learned a bit about Boston. They thought that the Little Italy portion of the town was pretty cool.
The next 5eme class has the highest level of the three groups. They understood when I told them that I was leaving. They asked me a ton of questions about the US and about my plans for afterward. We had a conversation about the vaccination rollout in the US. They were shocked that the US is actually doing a good job with it- I mean, aren’t we all?
My final class of the day, as usual, was a mess. They had a hard time understanding that I was leaving. When we finally got that communicated, they acted shocked that I would leave them and expressed that they would miss me sooo much. I had a good laugh to myself, they’re so naughty but apparently I’m their “favorite.”
I booked it out of the school and to the bus. I tried to read on the bus, but the Hardy Boys could not hold my attention. Two older ladies were having a very loud conversation that was just far too animated for me to read at the same time. I waited at the Meyzieu stop for 10 minutes and hopped on my next bus. The sun was absolutely wonderful outside. I fully planned on going for a walk, but I ended up sleeping until almost dinner time!
I went over to the Bodet house to find it decked out like we were having a party. I was a bit confused. Bernadette told me that her day had been super busy and she’d been getting calls from all her friends. I asked her if everything was okay and she said yes-that it was her birthday! I kicked myself, I wish that I had known and had brought over some wine or something! I immediately told her “joyeux anniversaire!”
Daniel brought over a bottle of wine from 2002 and we all clinked glasses saying “santé!” We enjoyed some charcuterie and chatted for a bit. Before long, Ianja brought out a few gifts for his mom. She opened them and said thank you. We transitioned to the dinner table and poured some more wine. That night we ate from the “planchette.” It was essentially a long, board-like electric griddle. There were plates of spiced and seasoned meats and a plate of veggies to fry up. Everyone could select what they wanted. Our first course though, was cold white asparagus. It was the first of the spring from the garden. We ate it with a mustard and parsley sauce. Finally, all of us put on our first meats. The sizzle and the smell was absolutely amazing. I liked this a lot better than raclettes.
When we finished the main meal, the plates were cleared away for dessert. Daniel poured all of us some pink champagne. He prepared a fruit tarte with sparklers and brought over. We sang happy birthday in French and in English together. When the sparklers went out, Bernadette cut the cake and served each of us. It was delicious. After dinner, Ianja stood up and gave us his presentation on his internship. All the 9th graders have to do an internship for a week and then present on it for a big part of their grade. He got to practice and have some feedback from us. Before heading home, I made sure to tell Bernadette happy birthday again and thanked her for the wonderful dinner.
I ended the night with a call with two of my good friends. We got some good news about grad school from one of them which was such a highlight.
Mary-Est-En-France 