All in the course of a day...

This morning I set out to attend the English speaking church I found in Lyon. I figured I would take a new route to get there and explore a new bus and metro line. All good in theory, except that I could not find the bus line (#11), even though I am sure I have walked by it a dozen times? Plan B was to walk to the Part-Dieu train station and take the metro, but Plan B lead back to Plan A and I stumbled across the bus I was looking for! Okay so back on track and 10 minutes behind, but like a good sheep I found my way onto Metro line B where I got off at Debourg and began my 10 minute trek to church – and in the right direction for a change!!

Ah the nice familiar language of English and a roomful of people all in the same boat – original English speakers living in Lyon!! While the service was inspirational and incorporated great parallels and comparisons of living a God filled life, and the importance of advent and preparing ourselves for others, I was most struck by the sharing of peace. I am used to a simple shake of hands with the immediate neighbours around me but I was not prepared for the traditional French custom of kiss your neighbour!

Most people gave peaceful handshakes while wandering around the church greeting as many people as possible. The English Chaplain also made his way around the room and as we approached to exchange peace, and I began to extend my hand, I realized that he was moving in for the cheek to cheek. So peace to the Chaplain on each cheek it was…, which was made even more strange when he asked my name and where I was from, after the fact.

Fast forward to communion… Standard practice and tradition, except the congregation forms a circle around the alter and receives communion one by one including real wine!!! Did I mention that I haven’t had the pleasure of indulging in much wine since arriving here. I think I may have found a new home ;)

Following the service and on my walk back to the metro station, my MP3 player decided that it would not play. Maybe it was God cancelling out any convenient distractions or maybe it was because he too was listening to track 3 by Metric while I was walking to church; and I am sure it is not an appropriate Sunday morning tune; or maybe it randomly does not play because it is finicky that way...

 So sans music and back on the Metro, a man sat across from me and proceeded to get his next cigarette ready… This involved a tiny cube of hash, rolling papers and a lighter… oh yeah, and the metro was packed. Without hesitation he lit the block of hash and proceeded to prepare his manufactured smoke.  Trying not to appear as though I was watching as he was merely inches in front of me, we made eye contact and he asked some general questions about my day (en français) and then asked if I smoked, to which (don’t worry Mom), I said ‘non’. Then he explained that it was to de-stress and something that he does not do every day, as if he needed to justify and defend his choices. Hmm, maybe my MP3 player decided not to work so I could have a friendly chat with this man whom I would usually and naturally though my own interests not have the opportunity to meet?

It is now only 12:30 and I have kissed a priest, drank wine (okay only a sip), and met a man comfortable with drug use in public, while managing to find my way back home….  I think it is time for a nap….

weather forecast: 82% chance of snow flurries

Yesterday was my official first day of training for my new job teaching English... Many questions swirl around my head, and I am not sure if it is for me just yet....

Yesterday was also the first day of snow flurries in Lyon! While it was a bit chilly at 2°C, there were noticeable snow flurries most of the day! All evidence has since vanished without the faintest dusting of snow on the ground, but the forecast calls for more snow today! I have been told that snow in November is unusual, and anything more than snow flurries in Lyon during winter is exceptional. It is rare that the streets are covered in snow and anything over a centimeter or two of snow creates panic amongst drivers. I guess it is generally cold (around 0°C) for 10 days or so in December and January, but otherwise the temperature stays around 6-7°C.

Maybe I brought the good ol' Canadian weather with me...

maybe I am missing elements of home...

maybe I am reminded of all the blessings bestowed upon me...

maybe I am feeling a bit nostalgic...

and maybe just maybe I am thinking too much...

Oddly enough, when I thought about this entry and the day yesterday one of my favourite movies came to mind... ahh the ever puzzling, thought provoking, bizarre film that is Magnolia.... One of my faves, and one that reveals a new insight with each viewing, but one that I cannot fully grasp or understand.

Perhaps the parallels don't end here...

perhaps our paths are lined with preconceptions, misconceptions and realizations...

perhaps the light that illuminates our journey ever flickers, smoulders and embers...

and just perhaps our eyes are widened and awakened by the mystery of it all...

J’ai trouvé un emploi!!!

Another piece of the puzzle is in place…. I have successfully secured employment!!! Thank you to Marie-T and my expanding resource of global connections and support!

Last week I was encouraged to apply for a teaching position with a company in Lyon that offers language instruction to business professionals. In my best English I sent off an email of interest and within a couple of hours received a reply asking for my CV and cover letter. A few hours after emailing my info I received a call from my new boss, again in English ;) and was offered a formal interview on Tuesday Nov 23/10!

Tuesday morning, finally dressed in something other than jeans, I waited at the first of 2 bus stops…. And of course being one of three people at the stop, the other French girl had to turn to me (the French girl who does not speak French) and ask if I knew anything about a strike happening that day?!?!? Um, what, strike, I have an interview to get to and… wait, I don’t speak this language yet…. Ahhh, why didn’t she ask the nice looking guy to her left??? So I replied in my most convincing French, “je ne sais pas”, with an exaggerated expression of confusion since the French seem to be more animated and expressive in their communication which I have picked up without reservation! If you thought I spoke with my hands a lot before (blame it on my Italian heritage) you should see me now…. Not only do I use my hands to speak but I also have to act out and demonstrate most of what I am trying to say since I don’t know half of the words ;)

Manifestation (strike/demonstration) or not I was on the first bus without delay. Good thing I had a valid ticket for the bus because when I got off the first bus to board the second the French transit police were verifying all tickets… and of course… my ticket had to beep and reject from the scanning machine twice… great, now I have to try to explain that my ticket is valid in French… but lucky me!!! the nice transit police man just turned over the ticket to verify that the date imprinted on the back was from today and a language disaster moment was avoided!

Bus #2… I boarded the second bus at the last stop before turning around to head back in the opposite direction. Of course, again… the bus driver asks, “Où allez-vous?” And I, in panicked French, as I knew the direction I wanted to head in but did not know the exact stop by heart fumbled with the name of the street; but I think I came across as an authentic Lyonnaise because before I could mumble out the full street name (Blvd Yves Farge) he was off asking the same question of the next patron.

And alas, I arrived without further interruption to my interview! Forty-five minutes later I was submitting copies of my banking information and national identity card and confirming training start times for this Friday! Et voilà, je suis employée! I am now an official English teacher and will be teaching business professionals business English!!