My New Favorite Song

I have to blog about something that NEVER happens.  I'm not talking about finally being able to stay up past midnight without drooling on my shirt whilst trying to watch a movie with my husband.  No, sadly, I still can't manage that one.  I am talking about discovering a song that I absolutely loved, then introducing it to Jason, and he first, also liked it, and second, had NEVER HEARD OF IT!!!  If you know me or my husband, you know that's a feat that defies nature.  Here's why: he is a music afficionado.  He seems to know something about every genre (except maybe country music) and also most artists (even ones he won't readily admit).  I, on the other hand, have always been a little clueless in that department.  Like anyone, I enjoy music, but Jason is the one who loads my iPod, buys me CDs (to this day I have never bought myself a CD), and downloads songs he thinks I might like from iTunes.  Basically, my link to music and especially anything current is through him.  Pathetic, I know.

Anyway, I was listening to this song on a local English-speaking radio station called "Riviera Radio," and I had heard it once before as well.  I thought it was maybe a new single by "Barenaked Ladies," since it sort of sounds like them a little.  I kept singing the melody to Jason, trying to figure out the name of the song.  I thought it was called "You're My Always," or "My Shining Star," but I had no idea.  The radio station DJs never say who sings what, so I was on my own.  This song is catchy though, and I was positive it had to be a hit, and I was just the musical idiot who is, like always, behind the times.  But a strange thing happened: as I sang bits of the song to him, Jason could not place it to save his life, and that has never happened before in 14 years of marriage.

Again, we didn't know the name of the band or the song, so we started searching on YouTube using phrases from the song that I could remember.  It was tough, but Jason finally tracked down the song.  It's by a Dutch band named "Ten Sharp," and the song is called "You."  It has only been available for download on iTunes since May of this year, but get this:  the song was recorded almost 20 YEARS AGO in 1992, and it never crossed over to America for some reason.  I can't figure it out.  This song should be huge in America.  Or maybe I'm just so out of touch with America's musical preferences that I shouldn't have an opinion about that.  (However, it can't just be me.  This song was a #1 hit in France and several other European countries.)  Why don't you listen to it and see what you think?  It's worth it for the piano alone, which is truly outstanding.  Then tell me if you like the song as much as I do!   

Before you do though, I have to warn you the video is sort of dumb.  It'e very European--it's just a bunch of young attractive people sailing around in what looks like the French Riviera.  But video aside, do you like the song?  Could it be the next big hit in America now that it can finally be found on iTunes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsc-oT9PsSQ

Did you like it?

Stand by Moi

I just got home from my new job.  And yes, it’s a teaching job.  (What else am I qualified for, right?)  But it’s unlike any teaching job I have ever had: 

·         First, it’s English teaching and not science. 
·       Second, the kids are younger than I am used to.  The ages of my students range from 8 to 10-years old. 
·         Third, my class size is 9.  (That’s a big difference from the class size of 36-40 I am used to.)
·         Finally, the kids do not speak English, and therefore do not understand a word I am saying!

Half of me feels giddy with the fact that I am back doing what I love.  I genuinely loved being a teacher in America, and I have truly missed it since we moved to France.   I taught for 13 years.  I had thought of myself as a “teacher” for so long, that without it, I almost felt like I had lost a part of my identity.  Teaching was what I knew.  It wasn’t ever easy, but it was comfortable. 

The other half of me is wondering what in the world I have gotten myself into.  In typical “Tiffany fashion,” I had over-prepared, and it only took me five minutes to figure that out.  I assumed since I have the older, “more advanced” class, that I would be helping mostly fluent children with grammar, spelling, and reading in English.  All the teaching materials I received indicated as much.  But when I handed out a 5-page (but simple and age-appropriate) pretest to help me plan the 11-week curriculum, and then told the kids to begin by writing their name on their papers, all I got in return was 9 blank stares.  Yeah, I pretty much knew at that point that I had over-prepared. And way overestimated the ability level of my students. 

Luckily, I had some fun activities planned, and I was able to modify like crazy.  I think the kids enjoyed themselves, and I did too, though I now remember how exhausting teaching is.  As I spent more time with the kids, I realized they are definitely not beginners; they just need a lot of practice and have forgotten a lot.  They may also have a more difficult time with my American accent rather than the UK English they are used to hearing.  (I was already asked by my boss to redo worksheets I had made with British spelling rather than American, so "color" is "colour," and "favorite" is "favourite."  Whatever.)  Truly the hardest thing about the experience was when a couple of the kids didn’t have the skill or understanding to do what I asked, they would just tune me out and start talking to one another in French.  When I asked them to stop or pay attention, it was like they didn’t even hear me!  They weren’t being disrespectful; they just didn’t understand I was talking to them until I got them to look at me.  So I had to use a lot of eye contact and body language and motioning to get them to understand.  Of course, writing everything I said helped too.

I only teach on Wednesdays (the day French kids have off from regular school) from 9:00-12:00.  So on paper, and compared to what I am used to, this job should be a breeze!  But actually, I am sure it will be fairly challenging.  And like always, it will take far more prep than it’s worth monetarily, but such is the life of a teacher.  That was one part of the job where I definitely knew what to expect!     

First Day of School

Last Monday, September 5th, was our first day of school.  Jenica and Jocelyn started "Form 3" (which is 2nd grade), and Maisy is in a class called "Reception" (4-5 year old preschool).  Like all Moms, I had mixed feelings about the kids going back to school.  Mostly because this is the first year that all three girls are in full-day school, so I have every day to myself.  In some ways that's great for me, but in other ways, that's an awful lot of time to fill until they get home each day. 

Today is Tuesday, so it's now the 7th day they have been in school, and . . .so far I am loving it as much as they are!  I've managed to stay very busy, and I am always surprised that it's already time to go pick them up at the end of the school day. It's funny how that works.

This pose is what Jeni came up with when I told her to "show me you are excited for school to start!"

They were all beyond ready and so thrilled to start classes, but especially Maisy.  The first thing she had asked me every day for two full weeks before school started was a very hopeful: "Mom, is it school today?"  She was always so disappointed when I told her, "almost, but not yet."  I worried Maisy might have a hard time being away from me all day, but honestly, she gives me a kiss and hug in the morning, walks through the school gate with her teacher and doesn't even look back.  I have never seen a child more eager to learn and socialize.  She absolutely loves it!  Yesterday she brought home her first "homework," and she was practically giddy to show me what she got to do (it was just some little picture books to look at and discuss with me).

I think I overshot on the backpacks.  They are cute, but way too big.  The twins stopped using them after the first week.

Here's to hoping things continue to go as well as they have the last 7 school days!!  Happy "Back to School" to all of you out there ( though probably a little later than you are used to).  May your pencils stay as sharp as your wits.

Loving Our New Hot Tubs!

After a long break, I am back online at my own computer and happy to be blogging again. 

Our summer has been fantastic with more pictures and write ups to follow, but I had to quickly post about one of the funny things the kids came up with to fill their free time.  While we were in Utah at a family reunion in Bear Lake, the kids spent HOURS in a hot tub there.  When we got home they had an idea to make their own out of a little inflatable boat we already had.  It took maybe a day of the intense August sunshine to heat up the water in the boat to a really comfortable temperature.  The problem: not all three girls could fit.  So, to save ourselves the headache of hearing them fight over who gets to use the "hot tub," we bought them two more cheap little baby pools.  Problem solved!