Owl....comme "Hoot Hoot"

So in France, normally you drop your kid off and pick them up at the gate.  No one but teachers and kids go in the school (ok, thats a little bit of an exaggeration, but it's more closed off than schools in the US).  But from day one, Erin's principal made it clear that we are the exception.  That I was allowed anytime and that it would be a welcome change for me to visit the school.  Problem was I just didn't really know what that meant.  So on Fridays the school runs a restaurant and I went to that - once.  Other than that - nothing.  But then Halloween came and Erin had a contest for the best drawing of a carved pumpkin.  She would then carve the winners from each grade during recess. When the time came though she realized she needed my help since having 50 kids in the library with knives and her having to carve 4 pumpkins might get a little crazy!



So I headed to the school and was greeted by a swarm of kids in the courtyard.  I opened the gate and put on my best brave face and walked - fearful that at any moment one of these (admittedly adorable) kids would speak to me!  What would I do then?  Bolt for the car?  Then as I got to the doors for the school I saw they were blocked by kids lining up to go back in.  Were the doors locked?  Surely if I tried to open the doors and they were locked the kids would start talking to me.  Panic set in and my life flashed before me eyes, but then a bright light blinded me and I saw an angel opening the door - a miracle saved me....well actually it was just Erin opening the door and wondering why I was late, but it was a miracle in my eyes!

We went to the library to get things set up and then she let the kids in and I can honestly say I've never been more impressed with Erin.  Sure I knew she could speak French.  But speaking French to 20 different people and managing the chaos was quite impressive.  In any given minute she had 20 different kids from all over the library asking her questions and demanding her time.  All of this of course in wicked fast french (which since we're talking about little kids I assume was not the most proper french).

So there I am, the mute tall guy, helping the kids separate the seeds from the rest of the insides of the pumpkin. What do I say when they ask me why we're separating them?  Oh because I'll cook them and you can eat them.  What do I say when they ask if they can use the knife and cut?  "No, you can't, Madame Cleveland said I have to taste it." (In my bad french)  "You're going to taste it?" They say while giggling.  Then the sweetest girl in the world (when Erin talks about her from now on that's how she refers to that girl so I know who she's talking about) politely tells me I meant "cut" it (gouter vs. couper).

But the kids had fun (I think).  And so did I.  So I start to clean up and Erin asks me to stay for the next class so she can finish carving while I play bingo with the kids.  So the kids come and some of them ask me if I know some songs or what some words from songs mean (how am I supposed to explain the meaning of "to shuffle on" in french?!).  We finally started playing bingo - basically I called out halloween words and then they marked it on their board.  We have fun with it - when I say something half the class goes "what'd he say?!?!?" and the other half translates it.  Unlike a true teacher, I quickly picked my favorites.  One of my favorites didn't understand when I said "owl" so I hooted for them and they loved it!  I also learned which kids like which phrases in English (there's "slow down" boy, "hush" girl, etc.).

All in all it was a lot of fun.  I was hoping to head in the next day for another halloween day but I was too busy preparing for our vacation.  But with Thanksgiving coming up I'm sure I'll be able to go in again.