End of Model School.. :/

Model school is coming to an end, so here is a summary of my class (5eme B) in numbers:

13 kids (I know, model school has been spoiling me)

8 last names

5 girls

4 weeks

2 tests (called devoirs)

3 new boyfriends

Monday: Devoir Day

Last week, I had told the class that the test would be really easy because we hadn't had any time to review. Obviously, after they took it, I wanted to confirm that they agreed.

After the test, there were little batches of students milling about in the grassy area between the classroom and our bikes.

I leave the classroom and three of the girls are right outside. "Facile, oui?" I get a somewhat shy "Oui, Madame" in response. Success.

Next, the (five or six) little troublemakers hanging out under the tree. I get "A demain Madame!" with some frantic waves as I get closer. "A demain! Facile?" I get a few excited "TRES FACILE!!"s and arms raised in victory, so I return the enthusiasm with arms up and a "TRES BIEN!" This seems to amuse them, and a couple of them come running up, one for a high five and the other for a fist bump. I continue on my way after "Bonne journee"s all around, but I only make it a little bit past them before I hear another "Madame! Madame!" 

I turn.

Ibrahim is holding something out between both hands. Hmm, it resembles a bracelet, stretched out so I can put my hand in it. I do so, and he is delighted. I look more closely, and it's a rubber puma (the brand) bracelet, still wet from when he washed it off at the pump. That explains what he was doing over there...Boyfriend #1.

Tuesday: Test Return Day - aka Last Day of Class

Autumn and I go over the test (she taught zoology, I taught botany, and we gave a split test).

Armel is the LCF observing today, and at the end he asks if we want to take pictures! What a good idea, Armel. The kiddos agree and I'm glad Armel is there directing the endeavor because the photo op makes them very rambunctious and I can only understand about every other word. After the big group photo, Alimata begs me to take a picture with her and her friend (whose name I forget...). I find this both sweet and amusing because she gave me serious sass the first few days. The boys photobomb us, and then Ibrahim and Nicaise want a separate picture too. Boyfriend #2.

Tuesday: Post-Photo Op

Okay, so there are two notebooks for each class: the cahier de texte and the cahier d'absences. In the cahier de texte, you write down what you did that day, and as you might guess, in the cahier d'absences, you write down who was absent.

One of the students will usually remind me if it looks like I'm going to forget, and today it was Romaric. He stood next to me and told me who was absent and then I needed the date, so I pulled out my phone. He then pulls out HIS phone and says all innocent-like, "Madame! Ton numero?" And he looks at me as though this is normal and I'm like "PSH!!! Noooooo!" (except it's more like the French non, so it sounds more like "nawwww!" haha) and we laugh and he pulls this fake disappointed face even though he knew what I was going to say from the beginning. Boyfriend #3.

Wednesday: Grade Calculation and a Confirmation of Love

I'm about three bike-minutes away from the lycée (school) when it becomes really hard to pedal and I hear a strange sound from my bike. Uh oh... Yes. A flat. Joy. Time to walk.

As I'm crossing the field in front of the lycée, one of my students (Romaric) sees me and comes running up to take my bike. I show him the problem, and he makes all the appropriate sounds of dismay. He seems surprised when I flip the bike over to take the back tire off.

I brought the tire to the lycée (we park them a ways away) and as soon as I started fixing the flat, I attracted a horde of helpers - who then insisted on doing it themselves. 

So I guess the moral of the story is that I'm going to miss those little snots... Don't worry, I brought them candy today.

xo, c