Stage, part 1 of 2

Let's just start right off by saying I spoke and listened to a lot of French today.  That sounds like an obvious thing to say, but it was all million-miles-an-hour French.  I managed to keep up for the most part, and even got some nice compliments about my French, so maybe I'm making up for some of my past and future bêtises. 

Today we had the first day of our stage, where we spent the morning doing such exciting things as learning about MGEN (social security, so we can get the free government health insurance) and MAIF (some other kind of insurance for non-health related issues, like theft).  Then we got our school assignments!  I'm working 9 hours between 2 elementary schools, and helping at the IUFM sometimes as well, so it will be about 12 hours/week. 

So after a nice long lunch break (I love France) we were all driven to one of our schools.  (I'll see the other on Monday.)  For privacy reasons, I'll just be calling them school #1 and school #2.  I will be spending equal time, 4h30, at each one, so we'll just go chronologically and call the one I went to today school #1.
I met the directeur and the four teachers I'll be working with, who were extremely nice and welcoming.  They set up my schedule really nicely, which I appreciate because really, what choice do I have?  They need me when they need me.  But luckily, the directeur is awesome, and he also promised not to leave me alone in the classrooms for awhile.  Or ever, hopefully.  It will really undermine my position with the students if the teacher tries to step out to get a coffee and I'm clinging to their leg like a 2 year old.  It's going to be awhile before I master classroom management - so I would definitely appreciate the teacher staying to help with that part.
I also met the students, who seemed pretty excited about the whole deal.  They were given a chance to ask me questions...and did so entirely in French.  Enjoy it now, kids, English is a-comin'.  They were incredibly excited and bouncing off the walls, but they were quite cute.  And I'd definitely rather have excited kids than unmotivated ones.
Some of my favorite questions:
"Did you drive from America, or come in a boat?"  (another kid answered this one, mais non, she came in a plane!)
"Have you ever seen a star in New York?"  (she actually said "star" in English)
"What's the English word for lapin?"  (that's the only question you have about America?)
"Can we sing songs in your classes?"(yes, actually I have no lessons planned for the first week yet so I hope you kids REALLY enjoy songs)
"So do you live in France now?"  (No.  I drive home every night.)
"What season is it in America?"  (either they had an Australian assistant in the past or they think I'm from another planet.  It's anyone's best guess.)

In other news, Leah and I have basically planned our futures.  We are going to blow off all responsibility, and live here, in France, in a house made out of cheese, with a Kinder Bueno roof, croissant pillows everywhere, and a sushi garden.    There will be a wine lazy river that flows through the house and garden, which we will float on leisurely, drinking the wine through straws.  Sounds amazing, non?