Strikes & Disneyland Paris

I think it was last Thursday when it started, I just finished lunch and was going back for an evening class of History, having an extra hour because our French teacher wasnt here again. So I was walking to school and out the front of the gates where you walk through, there would have been only about 80 odd guys at this stage there (80 being the norm amount before school starts) and I went over talking to a group of friends and waited for the bell to ring so the gates would open.

Then a group of older guys stood in front of the gate so nobody could get through. They then went on to grab the largest bins they could find..rolled them over and put them in front of the gates. Then came the chanting..then more people came,.. then scooter's and motorbike's with the horns going off...then flying objects.. I then thought we mightn’t have school today. So this went on for an hour. I wouldn’t have an idea of how many people where there but it was all over the strikes that have been going on about the government wanting people to work long and retire at an older age. Unfortunately I didn’t get a video on my camera so I cant upload it but I can show you on my phone when I get back.

Mostly girls making all the noise.

There have been reports on Australian news so keep an eye out.

I've only had one hour of maths so far this week.

It happened again today. A couple of guy's got together, walked over to the gates and stood together so no one could get through. Didn’t wait around to see if it got to the same amount of roitness as last week but im shore i will hear about it tomorrow.

The first day it happened it was cool...didn’t have to go to school. But now its just annoying, i run out of things to do. I have had to wake up at 6:30 to be at school by 8 and every day we havent had school. But I have a two week holiday coming up after this one so I will have the chance to have some sleep in's there.

Saturday the 16th,

I had another early wake up at 4:45 today. Jumped on a 3 hour train ride up to Paris to go to Disneyworld with STS. Had a nap and listened to mumford and sons because it reminded me of Marty Clarke.

I then walked up the stairs where I met with the rest of the French exchangers. I met up with one of the girls Roosa who is from Finland that I met in one of the area rep meetings we have once a month. The group walked through the Disneyland entry and made our way onto Space Mountain. Disneyland is BLOODY MASSIVE.  We had these fastpass tickets so we didnt have the normal hour waiting in line every time. So it was only a 15min wait until we were on the ride so that gave us a minute to meet everybody else from different places around the world. then went onto different attractions and then eventually got to lunch.

I have no idea what the Disneyworld like is in the US but in Paris it wasnt about the big rides, more about the sights and smells. So it is very different to Dreamworld or Movieworld. 

They had role plays going on all the way through the day, It was half in French and half in English which was a bit weird because it would take me a while to reslise they were actually speaking in English.

It's all a bit of a blurry really, we had around 7 to 8 hours there and didnt even see half of the park I dont think, would love to go back but..might see how I go.

Then got back on the train that would take me back to Marseille St Char train station. I then went and sat with Roosa, Elodie and Anton. We had a couple of hours to pass so after me trying to explain aussie rules again.. we then got onto the Finnish language.

Starting off with asking how to say hello then blossomed into an extensive chat with Anton who gave me an insight into the way Finnish language runs.

All up it was a really good day.

hopefully we will have more STS days planned for the future

sleeping beautys castle

The boys checking everything out

Jeremy trying to figure out how to get up and see sleeping beauty....

When the strikes happen, alot of people dont go to work...because they are striking. So not many busses run,  most of the shops around our block dont open, and the runbbish doesnt get picked up. So at the moment there is 839 043 peoples worth of rubish sitting on the street. 

Somehow I dont think the government is going to win this one.

South side France, striped shirts, soocer and cheese

BON SOIR

I am now well into my French exchange and hopefully will be able to do a fortnightly blogg so you can see what im up to.

Almost a month and a half into it and starting  to get used to the French way of life.

So the first day in France was fun...half an hour sleep on the plane over, 35 odd hours since waking up and then had to get on a train where I would make my way onward to Marseille. I found out that I dont like being on a train bymyself...where I cant speak to people....in English because I didnt have much of an idea what was going on. The train would go for say 40 min then stop for a little while, not a train station but randomly then it would happen again and again and again. Me thinking each time the train did slow down it was time to get off but we were in the middle of no where. Wasnt the happyest little vegamite on the train at this point.      Little did I know the train would be a direct trip to Marseille train station stopping at no other train station. 
When I got off I was greated by my newly made French host mum, Christaine. . From there we went home and I slept for the next 3 days. The weather was very hot..
I then had my first day of school where I had all the teachers come talk to my class about what we need to buy and do throught our school year. We then had lunch and returned to a room where our grade you can say met ( 2nd2 is the name of my class it took me some time to figure out). We had a talk from this one teacher who looked like he didnt have a happy childhood and he spoke for an hour then we went home. First day done.

They all dress pretty good here. The same as what Emily said about Italy, what we would wear out they wear to school. So I might have to step up my act in that area from tshirt and shorts with volleys. The other guys and gals here are pretty helpfull and friendly despite what people say in Aus about them being some what rude.   The smoking is crazy. We arnt aloud to smoke at school but as soon as you step out of the school ground it is as if the teachers dont care. Most of the girls smoke, guys not as much but still heaps. cant see myself taking on this habit.

I have a pretty good class. All help me out. Have made a few friends. Mr Antoine Van Eeck helps me a fair amount and seems to know whats going on, and know where its at. Also have Charlie Mitchell and his group of friends that talk at school, had lunch the other day which was good and had a Sunday afternoon the other weekend with them which was good be around other guy's and gal's my age.
Also went and watch the soccer when Marseille played...someone.We lost. Was really good to meet his family who were really nice. One of their family friends loves surfing and said he was watching the Bells Beach on tv and heard an anouncment about some big game was on with the score update. Was then I showed a few videos of AFL to explane.

Most of the guys at school speak good English so it makes it hard because they all speak much better English than my French so they just go straight to English even if I try with the French..will just have to keep trying and learning.

The teachers speak really quick so its hard to pic up everything they say. I just try to take a few words out I do know and go from there. For the first month really I was just looking around, trying to figure out how the days work, how the teachers work. The teachers dont get too fired up if I cant do the work or dont realise there is homework...apart from the French teacher who does scare me. am thinking of a way to bring out a good, happy side.....

I recieved a parsel from mum the other day with the French learning books and cd's I left in Aus, So I will be doing as much of that while im here. Also scored a Darwin tshirt from their recent adventures. Thanks mum.

I live in an Appartment which is in the best spot I could have. I am a 5 min walk from school, Gym just across the road and the beach is a 15 min walk away.
The gym, called Set Squash, keeps me pretty busy.

I can hear the crowed from the Marseille football (soccer) stadium when the big games are on. They really are crazy about soccer here. Hopeing to go to a game soon.
I have tried to explain Aussie Rules to heaps of people because they allways ask what sport I play. I say you kick mark and hand pass..the really dont know whats with the handpass. Then I showd a video to some and they couldnt believe we dont wear big protectieve gear like in American foosball.

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHLLLLLIINNGGGWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD
god, the one year the boys pull their finger out I'm not in the country. The time difference wasnt too bad, had to wake up at 5:15 to watch both grand finals.. Saturday morning to listen  to Rex Hunt over live radio and then watch the last quater at the Demansers via skype. So that was fun. Thanks Anny and Geoffery
Just recieved a parsel from dad today with all the articles from when Collingwood won. Thanks dad.

My French host family are very nice. Very French and not 37 Boorook street Mortlake...But that is what it's all about. Have had to get used to the eating patterns. Im the only one who eats breakfast in the house. Then I have lunch around 12:30, Then dinner any where between 8 and 11pm. So I do have to snack...alot.

I only have one enemy here,  that being the dog. Went inside my room TWICE and ripped up about 8 pairs of jocks, some how he had a sence of which ones I bought be4 I came over. Also had a bite out of mums quilt she made me. Did get my angry face on.

Im off to Paris again this weekend to go to Disneyland with STS. Big group of around 60 going I think so that should be really cool to meet more people from around the world.

Check out my pictures on facebook. I will take more this weekend in Paris.

Im sorry if I cant talk or write to all of you but if you send me and email of letter I should hopefully be able to get to it.


If you join my blogg I think it should send you a message when I puta new post up.

Thanks everybody for the support over the past 2 months.
My computer is getting too hot so I better get off.
catchya.