After 7 months of sporadic classes, ridiculously long vacays, and one or two really obnoxious students I had my last day of school today. I was supposed to have 3 classes but 2 of them were cancelled because the students are in mock exams. So I had one class with a group I don't really know too well, that talked too much, didn't really understand my game, and then overheard me kinda tattling on one of the students who was more obnoxious than usual to their english teacher. Overall kind of anti-climactic. So instead I'll relate Tuesday's last class.
My favorite class whom I've had all year since I began, with my favorite english teacher, is my last class on Tuesdays. They're Premiers meaning they're all about 16 or 17 years old, and they're in the European Studies division, so they're all really smart. They always surprise me with their level of comprehension, how they understand me even when I forget where I am and rattle off sentences way too fast, and they get all my hilarious jokes. I love them. They were the ones who while playing the I Know Someone Who game, said "I know someone who... loves Frenchcoco!" and every one of them got up to switch chairs. I love them so much that when I was asked to do my hour class with only half of the class, I stayed an additional hour afterward so that I could say goodbye to the other half. Some of the students cried while they asked me final questions and while I told them stories about my experiences here in France. But mostly there were a lot of laughing. I gave them my last name and told them they could find me on facebook now that they were no longer my students and by the time that I walked the 5 minutes back to my room I already had 3 requests from cell phone accounts. If anything was a catalyst for making me want to continue teaching or if there was a specific moment that spawned the idea, it occurred with this group.
This year has been absolutely incredible and I cannot believe it's almost over. I usually feel this way about everything but it's 100% true that I regret absolutely nothing about this experience - including the 10 pounds I gained and then (almost entirely) lost.
On to EUROPE! The itinerary is as follows over the month of May: London, Ireland, Dublin, Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Madrid, Rome, Pisa. Stay tuned for wacky photos and worse language gaffes! <3
