Chapter 6: F-Rennes-ds

The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy and beyond post #6

I already posted today, but I have bews.

Bews the First:
I have a favourite spot called Esprit Cafe where I write my blog. The guy who works here is my first real friend. He is very nice. I spent hours searching for coat hangers today, with no luck. When I returned here for an afternoon coffee, Pascal had gone to a store where he knows the owner and got a bunch of coat hangers for me. Then he told me I was welcome anytime to use my computer, and that I didn't have to buy anything if I didn't want to. He's taught me a lot about the region and life in Rennes. I will continue to come here, even when I have a thousand friends and am very, very busy on my Blackberry and in real life. I'll never forget where I came from. I'll never forget my humble roots, here at Esprit Cafe with Pascal and my miniscule lappy486. Never. End scene.

Bews the Second:
I have plans for tonight. Not a meeting at the bank (that's tomorrow) and not a meeting with the department head (also tomorrow). And also not fulfilling my personal schedy of buying coat hangers or shampoo. Nono.. REAL plans. I'm meeting two of the others that will work with me for some drinks at 8pm. I'm excited to have a night out. Every night since I've been here, I've walked up and down the "rue de la soif" (Thirsty Street!), watching the people sitting outside on the cobblestone, pedestrian-only lane.. They're all laughing and having a great time, and it's nice to watch. I want to join them, but the girls kind of intimidate me, so I just walk. There's a nice man who works at a little kiosk selling meaty sandwiches. Both nights I've sat with him and we've chatted a bit. But then I go home before dark. But tonight I will enjoy it like a reeeealll Rennian. And I'm pumped.

Bews the Third:
At Queen's it was Lee.
At UofT is was Lou.
Now, it's Fabien.

Fabien is in charge of all things administrative, and has been awesome at letting me know the ins and outs of what my job will actually entail. Finally. For example, he gave me the documents to get a library card that allows me to take out books for as long as I like and to eat university food for pennies. It's sweet. Today he told me that they'll select one of the lecteurs (my job title) to teach the Teacher's College students. There are four new ones, and a bundle from last year, so competition is tough, but it would be the best position I could get. The salary is higher, which is nice, but the perks are better. I would be with the highest level students and would get to go to conferences to represent the university all over the country. I really want to be that lecteur. He says the screening process will take a week and a half, starting tomorrow when I meet the department head. I'll be interviewed in French and English, and record my voice for him. Then they'll send my recording to someone who will tell them what my accent is like. He says they often pick someone from England, because of their accent, but not if it's a difficult one to understand (like maybe a Liverpool one?) but that I'm the first to arrive, which may make a difference. Anyways, that opportunity would be awesome, and I hope tomorrow goes well. I think acting sometimes helps with stuff like this - enunciation, cold reading, and the like. Bah. Who knows.. But I hope for it!

Conclusion:
I'ma return to the slum motel and get ready for my hot date with Louise and Claire. I'll write more tomorrow. Also, look forward to the first optional reading post, which will be an historical report on the region I'm in. Get pumped.

Signing off,
Hincks.