Well, I can't read English but because of the French ideals on what late is and isn't I can say that all went better than what would've happened if this happened to me in the states.
Let me start from the beginning..
When I signed up and paid for my class on September 18th, I received a packet saying what the important dates are. In it, I read that classes started October 21st however as I was pointed out last night it actually said they started October 10th. I thought it meant that the testing started again and registration for the mandatory social security number if your under 26 even if you are foreign and then classes would start on the 21st. So an email came out on October 9th saying what class one was assigned to. I am in B1 which is the intermediate level and I am fine with that. My classes are Monday through Friday 12-2pm. I think that it will give me a chance to reinforce what I already know and learn something new since it will be a French class in France. Once again, it said that classes started October 10th. Once again I though it meant the testing and stuff. I had a phonetics test on the 10th. The phonetics test was nothing. I waited in a line for over an hour to talk to a lady in French about where I live and why I decided to come to France. She asked me to repeat a few sentences and then that was it. She told me my pronunciation was actually very good which made me feel good since a native French woman told me I pronounced French well. Then she talked with every other 'tester' in the room to find out when I could take the class. She kept telling me that I couldn't go into the 11am class since my classes are at 12pm and its an hour long class. Then she was like what about 1030am and then she was like no that won't work you won't have enough time to get to your next class. I was like thats fine, I have a half hour to get from the fourth floor of the building to the first floor. I don't know why but that didn't seem like enough time to her for me to get to my class. I don't know what she thinks I need time for but she was like well its your schedule so she put me in the class. I was thinking about it later like my classes in the states had 7 minutes between each class to get to the next one so I think that a half hour will be plenty.
After this 'test', I went out to help one of the girls I met in the hall while we were waiting for the test find the books for her class. Her name is Kate and she is from Denver and went to school in L.A, she moved to France to live with her boyfriend who she meet at school. A love story...aw :) Well she is in the beginner level but in the same class I am for phonetics. I am not sure how that worked out but I am glad to know someone in one of my classes. She is very nice and she was telling me how her classes started that day (the 10th). I was thinking well maybe they start the beginners earlier or something.
So I went back on the 11th to pick up my book, one of my books was provided by the school and I asked the lady in the bookstore if classes started on the 21st, just to make sure I had the right day. She tells me they started on the 10th. I nearly died. I missed the first day of classes. She was like its all okay just go to class today and you'll be fine. Thankfully I came to get my books early with a free ride from Mr Nguyen who had to be in the city at 10 so he dropped me off. So I had two hours to wonder what my teacher was going to say when I tell her I missed the first day of class on complete and under accident because I can't read english now. I'm sitting their waiting all nervous and stuff and I see this girl come by and check out the room and sit and wait for class to start. So I go over and introduce myself and tell her how I accidentally missed the first day and ask what I missed. Well it turns out that she signed up that day and it was her first day too so I felt much better that I wasn't the only new person. So I got into class and talked to the teacher and, thanks be to the Lord on high who is way way too good to me, she is the nicest person ever. She was like oh its no problem here's the other two books you need to get and they just introduced themselves to the class and didn't really do much. From my experience, if you miss the first day of school in the states its over. The teacher thinks your a slum who won't do well in the class and you miss all the important stuff from what to expect during the semester from the class. Apparently at these classes here in France, its totally okay if you miss the first class like no big deal you are here now. My teacher is so great! Such a funny person, very good at explaining things and just had an overall great first day of classes even though it was the second.
After class, I went out with the girl I met before class to get our other two books. Her name is Cristina and she is from New York and an experienced world traveler. She seems to be a few years older than me since she has graduated from college and is working on her dissertation for her masters. So she's here on research and taking French classes to help better her skills. She invited me to come along with her as she does her research. I was thinking cool! I have a friend whose doing research in Paris and I get to tag along! Awesome!!
Overall, even though I missed the first day, all seemed to work out very very well. I am so thankful that the Lord is so good to me!! I feel truly blessed :)
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