My First Classroom !

I am proud to say that I have survived my first week as a full-time teacher. I slept for over 10 hours last night and I still don't feel like I've fully recovered!

One of the unexpected surprises that awaited me when I arrived in Niger last week was to discover that I had my own classroom. (Technically I share it with a math teacher and another French teacher, but I use it the most so I consider it mine!) It was exciting news until I found out I had a huge bulletin  board to decorate. Decorating is not my forte. But, a blank bulletin board simply would not do, so I decided to I'd better get to work. Here's what I came up with.

I realize I am the stereotypical French teacher with a "J'aime la France!" bulletin board, but all of my creative juices were invested in drawing the Eiffel Tower, leaving none leftover for the title. I haven't decided what I'm going to put in the middle yet. Any suggestions?

Dinan, a Town from the Middle Ages

One of the fun things our family did while together in Rennes over Christmas was take a day trip to a small "village" called Dinan. Dinan is famous for having ruins from the middle ages. It was really cold that day, but the town was quaint and old and beautiful and totally worth the numbness that soon pervaded throughout our bodies! 

We had to cross a really high bridge to get to the town. 

This is looking down from the bus while on the bridge.

Between my mom, Melissa, Andrew, and myself, a lot of pictures were taken.

I'll let you feast your eyes on some of them and add captions here and there.

Sound good?

Great!

 

  

We had fun taking pictures of each other as well.

 

 Victor Hugo stayed in this hotel! Whaaaat?!?!??!

We ate lunch here. Isn't it cute???

 Is it just me, or is there something truly beautiful about a beautiful old stone wall with vines?

It might just be me.

That's okay. I'll relish in my old stone walls!

 Doesn't this well look like it belongs in Snow White? Or Ever After?

No, no, the pictures are not crooked--the buildings are. 

They're old.

Really old.

Here's the chateau we went to see.

 We were able to do some exploring inside the chateau.

After walking up lots of stairs, you came to a door that led outside. 

It was a narrow walk around but certainly worth it for the view!

As we drove through the city, the lights were just starting to come on everywhere. 

Absolutely gorgeous.

Christmas Eve Christmas Market

NB: For those of you who follow my sister, Melissa's blog, this post will be a bit repetitive.

My parents and brother arrived in Rennes early in the afternoon of December 24th. Our family's tradition is to always celebrate on Christmas Eve. Before beginning the festivities, though, we headed to the Christmas Market in Rennes.

 

 My favorite thing about the market were the crepes that were being made.  I bought one with Nutella and it was warm and scrumptious.

 Chestnuts roasting over an open fire!

I took this picture for three reasons.

1. I love hats.

2. Sherlynn loves hats.

3. George loves hats.

There were so many hats!

  It was beautiful, magical, and, I might add, romantic! It was a bit chilly, but we were dressed warm and it was oh-so-fun meandering up and down the old streets in Rennes on Christmas Eve. The lights everywhere were breathtaking.

I love Rennes !

I realize today is January 1, 2012, and thus I should be posting about my new year resolutions. That can wait. I have much blogging to catch up on.

I have quite seriously, but expectedly fallen in-love with the city of Rennes. Before my parents and brother arrived in town, Erika, Melissa and I spent some time roaming the fine city of Rennes and snapping pictures. Well, I snapped the pictures. Okay, I had Melissa snap the pictures for me--hers turn out so much better. She has a nicer camera ... and let's be honest ... probably better skill as well. Here are just a few pictures of the city and us, the sisters, exploring it.

Oh, wait, first, a little blurp on public transportation.

After landing in Paris, you must take a train to Rennes.

Please notice my rainboots.

I have blogged before about my pride and joy in my rainboots. 

The day I decided to wear my rainboots in Rennes, there was no rain.

Where's the justice?!!

Once you're in Rennes, the bus and the metro become your best friends. I have to be honest, I enjoy the bus and metro system here way more than the taxi system in Niamey. Why? Less stress and a higher chance of living. Plus the joy of running after buses here in Rennes is a bit more satisfying than holding up fingers to flag down a taxi.

These are the feet of Erika and I on a bus.

I have always thought pictures of feet like the one above classy and artistic.

Is that weird? 

Don't answer.

How do I describe this picture?

The sisters were trying to look gangsta while holding up bus passes.

Not possible.

I think it's the combination of gagsta and bus passes. 

Okay, back to Rennes. Here's a glimpse:

These are some of the oldest buildings in Rennes.

This house was first built in the 12th century. 

Isn't that CRAZY?!!?

Built in 1440, this served as the main entry into the city in the Middle Ages. 

The Romans built a wall in 275 as a form of defense and ruins of the wall are still visible!