As of this evening, I have access to internet in my apartment! I realized I had very few options to get wireless in my apartment and this morning I wrote a letter to my neighbor and left it in their door. My note included a brief introduction of myself and why I am in Tours. I explained that I could not pay for a year long internet contract, as I will only be here for 7 months, and offered to pay half of their bill if they were to share their wifi password with me. Yes, the note was a bit desperate but hey, I really was hoping they would take pity on me and agree. This evening, while a friend was over for dinner, my neighbor knocked on my door. He is Christophe, a 27 year old law student from Blois. We chatted for a while about school, wine, things to do in Tours, etc. I went in to his studio to get set up with the internet. When I asked if I could pay him, he refused, and asked that in return I help him with his English. He also invited me to a law student gathering later on in the week to introduce me to local students my age. So alas, I have internet!
Today I spent in College Montaigne observing English classes of different levels. I met another English professor who was not there last week. Michelle. She was nice enough to help me fill out paperwork so I can get paid, and even drove me home. Tomorrow she is going to take me to apply for a social security number. She also has a daughter, 20, who studies English and Italian at the university in Tours and plans to pass along my phone number so we can meet.
The teachers at both schools have been enormously helpful and I'm really looking forward to working with them. However, although some of the classes are wonderful, there seem to be a lot of discipline problems. Some classes are quiet and eager to learn, while other classes (generally the older students, ages 14-15) are more disruptive and disrespectful. They seem to like me so far as I'm the new American teacher. Hopefully that attitude will continue...
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