À la prochaine Nancy!

Time has flown by! This was our last week of work, and I certainly tried to make the most of it. It has been an extreme pleasure to get to know the other primary school assistants in Nancy! Meilleurs voeux! Best wishes for the future!

Nancy Primary School Assistants 2012-2013

Last Saturday, I went with a friend to the foire (fair) that is in Nancy for a whole month at Place Carnot. We went on several rides, but one of the most scariest was the montagne russe (roller coaster). Unlike a normal roller coaster, this one had no safety harness of any kind- you simply sat in the cart and held onto the metal bars at your side, hoping that you wouldn't fall off the ride. Obviously, we did not realize this until we had bought our tickets and were in line.

In school this week, I accompanied the first graders to the swimming pool. The students had already been divided into groups based on their swimming level. I have a lot more respect for the English teacher now because not only did she have to organize the students to get to the pool, but she is also a swimming instructor. She has to teach beginners how to swim, and in English! She had them using kick boards and noodles, allowing the students to get used to being in the water. I really am going to miss working with the teachers and students at my school, they were really welcoming this entire year.

On Wednesday, I finally visited one of the most famous museums in Nancy- the Musée de l’École de Nancy. This museum houses an enormous collection of Art Nouveau pieces, an art movement that has significantly influenced the city of Nancy. Art Nouveau was a movement that started in the late nineteenth century, and from my understanding, the philosophy of the movement was that art should be part of every aspect of life. The movement often drew inspiration from nature and incorporated this inspiration in all forms- from paintings to glass work to furniture and other everyday objects. Here are some highlights of the museum:

Stay tuned to read about my spring break travels!