Chapter 51: When The Dog Bites

nerd blog post #56

I talked to my good pal, Rob Macnamera, on skype yesterday (20 points!) who told me there was snow on the ground in K-Town. I forget it's almost December. Feels like late September here. For a Canadienne like myself, this is nothing, and it's not going to get much colder. The Rennais, though, are bundled up like we're in Nunavut, and when I sport but a sweater, they look at me like a crazy person. If this is Winter, bring it on.

On Tuesday night, I headed over to Merrill's for an aperatitf. That's like a pot, but less food. A drink and some snackies. I ended up staying there for a few hours, and we have christened Tuesday night a hangout night, since neither of us work all day, and usually don't do too much.

Wednesday's theatre group was really great this week. We did French scenes, and it was more fun to see them act in their native language. Much more at ease, and much more open to trying new things. I had said in my last nerd blog post that I struggled with not being able to teach them basic things, because it's a club. This week I realized that you can teach without lecturing.. They really got into the little things I told them about. For example, I was saying that if they were miming a prop, they had to keep it alive. So if they were holding a coffee cup and then had to answer the door, they couldn't just leave the coffee cup in mid-air.. So during the scene, when they had to put an "object" down, they would do it with such exaggeration, and then look at me, to show that they got it, and that it made sense. It was fun. I wish I had someone there to share it with me.. They're really into it, and wanting to put something up next semester. I'm not sure what we can do with such a large group (x2!) but I'm sure we'll do something.

On Thursdays I have two hours in between teaching. The first is an office hour, where I usually blog. This is followed by an hour in the prof cafe, where I enjoy a 65 cent coffee and read. My pronunciation classes only have one week left before the exam, so my office hour was spent helping a student who needs to work really hard if she's to pass. We've set up another two hours together over the next week. She's not alone. Many of the weaker students are starting to scramble, and though I've offered extra help from the beginning, they are only now realizing how soon the exam is, and how important passing this class is for their degree. I feel their pain, though. I was always last minute with my schoolwork, and am happy to do what I can to help out.

Last night I went to the soiree anglaise where I enjoyed a free drink for speaking English. The second and third drinks are half-price, and after befriending the bartender, they only cost 1Euro. I think soiree anglaise could become a popular Thursday night trend.. I saw quite a few students last night, and it's fun to interact with them outside of class. I also saw Brock, my Isabella friend, who introduced me to the only other known Torontonian, Peter. He's actually from Mississauga (shout-out Jess) but we had a nice chat about PizzaPizza and its delicious garlic dipping sawce.

Some good work news:
1. I have been asked to teach another course next semester. This is not a lecteur course, but one that a prof has declined to teach because of a heavy work load. They're a bit low on profs, I guess, so they asked me. I don't know too many details yet, but it's a brand new course that I will need to design. All I know is that it's for "professionals" .. Whatever that means. As I'm now over my contractual hours, I will be signing a new contract with the school for the new hours I take on. More details to come..
2. I am going to meet with the principal of Veronique's school on Tuesday to find out about what they'd like me to do there. I have cleared this with my bosses at the university, who have cleared it with the Ministry of National Education. So as long as the work hours don't conflict, everything is fine..
3. I have been asked to read at a conference on Toni Morrison at the Franco-American Institute on Tuesday evening. I'm not sure how this opportunity arose, but she got my number and e-mail address and I was happy to say yes. We're having a practice on Monday. Reading aloud is one of my favourite things, as well as whiskers on kittens and brown paper packages, no doubt..

I have some applications and other business to take care of today. And would like to visit Hossoen. I haven't seen him this week, and was away on the week-end.. I am going to a cremaillere tonight, which is like a housewarming party. A member of the theatre group invited me. I haven't been to a cremaillere yet, but can't wait. People really dress up for them, and there's a ton of food. I have seen her handing out fliers for it all week, so I think it'll be a big party. I'm excited.

Love to Canada.

Signing off,
Hincks.