May 29

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

I had a really fun day today (at school). I went to the college where we had our OSEF meeting this past Sunday because that is where Marie-Paul is the principal. As we talked to all the people that were waiting to ask her questions on the way into the office we ran into Claire, one of the teachers that also teaches at elementary. They were going to Chambord to have a nature day in the forest there! And I got to go with them…
We took a very nice bus for the 15 minute ride to the castle forest (no such thing as school buses here!) but we didn’t even see the castle. And the kids didn’t even care! I was happy that I saw it yesterday because I would have been frustrated to see the forest and not the castle. The forest there is so huge though that they actually still use the horses and dogs to go hunting…I know I mentioned that yesterday, but it is just so Marry Poppins that it blows my mind!
So in the morning the 6 and 7 year olds along with a couple parents, the nature guide and me walked around in the forest to try and find animal tracks. We had a few lessons on what animals we find in the forest and things like that – and I sure learned a lot! In grade 9, when we did all the forest-type animals I was pretty good with the names in French, but not any more! I knew no animals (except deer)…so that made things a lot more confusing for me! I think I learned the difference between two different type of 4-legged deer-type tracks today…but I can’t honestly tell you what!
As we were walking we saw a wild boar! I was pretty excited. They are huge and black…and I really don’t think we have them at home? I think I may have seen one at Heritage Park, but I am sure they don’t exist in the wild at home. And I also heard a real live Cuckoo bird! (I heard one for the first time in Grenoble, but I think I forgot to mention it) I had no idea that they were real…I thought the Swiss just made them up to make a clock out of it! I was jumping around like, well, one of the 7-year olds!
We got to this clearing in the middle of nowhere and there were animal prints everywhere! It was so much fun. I found three really good prints – and was a nice and responsible adult – and gave them to the kids. I got a crappy little print for myself, but it is still pretty cool! Made me happy!!
Then, after lunch, and a game of “Simon Says” (which is actually called “Jacadi a dit” in French) we did a nice little walk in the forest for a couple of hours. It was great! It didn’t get above 10ºC all day long, but it was windy and sunny, so that was a huge bonus! Doing all that with little kids in the rain would have been awful.
Back at the school I had a nice nap in the hallway outside of Marie-Paul’s office as I waited for her to finish her meetings for the day…I am totally capable of sleeping anywhere and at any time!
And then I went for a great run down by the river again. When I run down there I run by at least three different castles! Is that not the coolest thing ever?! All three of them are privately owned too. I have such a hard time wrapping my head around that idea. So amazingly cool.
And for now it is bed time. Tomorrow morning I am on cherry picking duty!! This time I am going to wear shorts, even if it is cold, because getting the cherry marks out of my pants last time wasn’t really all that fun.

Night

-Allison