60 Thoughts on 60 Days Living in Paris

Time truly does fly by. I had my last supper, at Tim Horton's of course, said a teary goodbye to my dad and sister, and left them and my life in Canada behind. I sauntered through the security line at the Calgary International Airport, found a cozy spot with an outlet, and surfed the internet. My mind was racing. 100% credit to my dad who, up until we bid adieu at the airport, had told me that it wasn't too
late for me to change my mind, return to school, and continue my normal life. But I knew I could not let a chance to live in Paris pass me by. It would destroy my year at school knowing what I could possibly be missing out on. On that note, here are 60 thoughts on my 60 days France. Some of them will be serious, some comical, all of them completely honest. This is Salim Valji unfiltered here. J'éspere que vous profitez beaucoup!

1.     It is still so, so hard to believe. I am living in Paris. Pardon my French, but I am living in freakin' Paris! It is still surreal, 1 440 hours later. Incredible.  

2.     Sometimes living on your own, regardless of the city your in, can wear on you. Eating by yourself, waking up to an empty apartment, not hearing a "hello" when you walk in. These things can tax you mentally. Those times crop up every now and then. I think the secret to getting through those moments is asking yourself, “Do I believe in what I'm here for?” Remind yourself that you’re doing something so few people get to do.

3.      It’s fairly easy to cure bouts of homesickness these days. Twitter, Facebook chat, cheap cell phone plans, streaming NHL games…it’s easy to stay connected.

4.     I’m listening to Everything has Changed by Taylor Valji, err Swift, right now. Ideally, I’d be by the River Seine (about 10 minutes away by foot), but the weather currently doesn’t allow for it.

5.     Parisians are wonderful. I cannot comprehend why so many in Canada warned me about the opposite, and to brace for cold, soulless, merciless people. Whether it is me being lost, or people inquiring about my accent, or giving me extra mandarin oranges at the market, these people are awesome. Totally misunderstood. I have yet to encounter any snobbish or ‘stereotypical’ Parisian or French person. 

6.     The Great Canadian Pub on Quai des Grands Augustins. So cool that a place that hoser-friendly exists. In a very prominent part of downtown Paris no less. The pub overlooks the Seine, and is a ten minute walk from Notre Dame Church. The staff is great, there is always hockey on, and it’s reasonably priced.

7.     But I probably won’t go back for a while. I need to experience French cafes as often as I can while I’m here!

8.     I have a lot of great friends in Canada. If I’ve ever had to complain about something or needed some cheering up, someone has always been there for me, including the lovely ladies (or wives, as I call them) I Skyped with this morning. Much appreciated!

9.     I was legitimately worried that I’d miss out on playoff hockey fever in Edmonton. Hard to believe that the year has gone so awry so early on for the Oilers.

10.   Teaching is a joy. I truly enjoy being at the school. As I explained earlier, I know my limits. I want to be a mentor, an older brother almost, to the students. I want them to feel comfortable around me, learn English, and have a relaxed class. I’m not a hardass. I’m a breath of fresh air for them.

11.   So cool that I can talk about How I Met Your Mother with my students and say, “They mentioned my hometown last episode. Did anyone catch it?”

12.   Montreal prepared me BIG TIME for this experience, in every single way. Learning to cook and clean. Dealing with homesickness. Rebuilding a social life. Navigating a different culture and language. 3620 rue Lorne Crescent will always hold a special place in my heart.

13.   I’ll expand on this soon, but the French education system turns its students into far better thinkers than the Canadian system. I’m quite surprised how complex my students can think in English and the ideas they are able to convey, even if the grammar is a bit off at times.

14.   Some parts of Paris just take your breath away, simple as that. When I visited the Eiffel Tower, while on the metro, there was a very talented accordion player. It’s like what you see in the movies. 

15.   Some parts of Paris smell worse than the latrines of my parents’ homeland. No other way to put it.

16.   Sometimes I do worry I’m taking the city too much for granted. But I think anyone in my position would.

17.   The teachers at my high school have been outstanding to me. All of them have treated me like a family member. They are wonderful human beings. I am very grateful to them.

18.   I think that, as a student, it is my job to investigate any and all education options available to me. I have two full years of university left, and I am certain I’ll be getting my journalism degree. For now, I’d say I’m likely (as in 50% + 1) to return to MacEwan University. But I’m not doing my job if I don’t see what else is out there, be it in other parts of Canada, North America or Europe. City University in London, England, Concordia University in Montreal, and Mount Royal University in Calgary would be the likeliest places I would transfer to.  

19.   Student culture in France is non-existent compared to North America. No keggers or frat parties or ragers here.

20.   I eat very little fast food here. My mates in Canada may recall that I’d splurge on a Wendy’s junior burger or McDonalds Big Mac quite often. Not here. I’ve had McDonalds twice since I got here.

21.   Groceries are fairly comparable in price to Canada.

22.   It sure is nice not having any snow!!!!!

23.   How many journalism schools are there in Canada? My estimate, because I don’t feel like doing the research on this, is at least 15. In an industry that loses 2 500 jobs on average, there are still thousands of graduates being tossed out there. Makes very little sense.

24.   On that note, what exactly is the purpose of print/professional writing based journalism programs anymore? I understand that someone cannot wake up one day and decide to become a writer and that it takes practice and time and structure and coaching, but with newspapers shutting down and editorial staff shrinking and processes becoming outsourced, what’s the return on investment of the $30 000 in tuition for a program? Learning how to produce webcasts or or gaining on air skills or taking smart phone footage and turn it into a comprehensive, immersive, online story is what these programs should expand to. There has to be some regulation from somewhere. It’s the same thing with Education. Thousands upon thousands of graduates, and no jobs. Canadian undergrads have it tough.

25.   I think that my number one trait in a potential dating prospect is, “Someone who would be fun to have a beer with.” Simple as that.

26.   I think that first, foremost, and primarily, I am Canadian. No ifs, ands, or buts. John A. MacDonald and George Etienne Cartier are the men who worked to create my country. And yours.

27.   I do anticipate the moment when I return to Edmonton, whenever that is. Sometimes I like to imagine there’s someone doing a play by play of my life. I’m thinking that ‘The Call’ for my first step out of the airplane onto Edmonton soil will be made by former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann. “Salim Valji—Back and better than ever” will be the call.

28.   I have a playlist of five songs for all my train rides back from Paris. Dirty Work (Steely Dan), I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues (Elton John), Long Live (Taylor Swift), Always on my Mind (Willie Nelson), and finally Anything Goes by AC/DC. The tears will be flowing when I realize, at one point, that it will by the final time I play those songs in that setting.

29.   I have a few great mates here in Paris. It’s nice to have a group of people you can text or call to hang out. Met them by chance, and am thankful for it.

30.   It is so, so hard to believe I still have two years left of university. Two. Not one semester or one year, but two years. It seems like an eternity.

31.   My students are quite smart. They can articulate ideas very well in English. Grammar and pronunciation can be off at times, but you have to give them credit for thinking the language at such a high level.

32.   I have given lessons on: Black history, segregation, the American Dream, Steve Jobs, technology, internet addiction, and the history of the United States. All in English. These kids are smart. Worth mentioning twice.

33.   It’s funny how the word success has such a broad definition from person to person or culture to culture. For me it’s if I ‘left it all out there.’ Simple as that. If I can look people in the eye and honestly say that I did everything I possibly could, there wasn’t one more thing I could have done, I’m always going to be proud of what I did do.

34.   I miss being a sports broadcaster and working for the university. I loved interacting with the athletes, and making friends with them. It was quite an experience.

35.   But my interests have changed. I noticed this when I began living in Montreal. I’m no longer completely focused on working in sports. Honestly, I don’t really know what I want now in terms of a career. I know I want it to be related to the field of journalism somehow. But not necessarily as a journalist. Life is confusing.

36.   One of my lesson plans was to get students to talk about their heroes. I remember planning the lesson the night before, and I was having a hard time thinking of my own personal hero. I really don’t think I have one. Strange.

37.   I think I miss bartending. It’s similar to teaching in a way—you’re the caretaker of a physical environment. You can choose how people feel in that environment.

38.   In Montreal, I would hear people say that I had a very Western Canadian accent. Here, of course, people notice the different accent too. I’d love to pick up a French accent here in Paris and continue hearing observations about my voice when I return to Canada.

39.   I think that I’ll give a lot of credit to the folks who are still with me. Only 21 thoughts left!

40.   Me living in Paris makes me appreciate all the not-so-fun moments that happened in Edmonton. Lots had to happen for me to wind up here—me being in a particular frame of mind, having confidence, being unattached to a girl or job…funny how if something small had gone different, I may not be here.

41.   At one point, I will perform stand up comedy here in Paris. Bet on that.

42.   I think that it absolutely sucks that universities prevent their own students from achieving great things. Due process is respected too much, and opportunities are frowned upon. It sounds like my journalism internship will work out in Paris, but it still is incredibly frustrating.

43.   I think I will reward myself this morning by having a croissant and coffee at a café.

44.   Every human being should live on another continent. Experience life from another culture, live with different people, be free. Whether you teach English, bartend, or work as a journalist, GET OUT.

45.   I will try to get involved with some sort of mentorship program when I return to Canada. It would be fun to be someone’s inspiration or help them out in some way.

46.   I feel like my life is a bit too focused at times. I’d love to take up some sort of meditation just to give myself a mental break every now and again.

47.   Here in Conflans Sainte Honorine, the small Parisien town I live in, whenever I go to the local pub, every customer that walks through the doors shakes hands with the patrons already there, then shakes hands with the bartender. Very cool custom.

48.   Stade France is pretty epic, but it doesn’t have the big, platinum scoreboard that other stadiums have. I wonder if that is unique to this stadium, or if all sporting venues in Europe just don’t have the big, central scoreboard?

49.   Confidence is a beautiful thing. I feel like 95% of life boils down to if you believe in yourself.

50.   I think that I’d love to make some Parisien friends. Everyone I hang out with is either British or American. It’d be nice to have a group of French friends.

51.   Laundry in this country takes longer. As does opening a bank account. And getting a cell phone. And, well, life in general. The amount of paperwork here is amazing.

52.   Having a sense of humor is HUGE if you are traveling or living in another country. Being able to laugh at yourself and make others feel comfortable goes quite a long way.

53.   I think that ideally, I am nowhere near Edmonton until the end of August 2014.

54.   How many people get to reacquaint with their culture in the manner I will when I return to Canada? It will be pretty cool to come back after explaining the ins and outs of Canada to my students. I’m looking forward to reimmersing myself into Canadian society when I return.

55.   Estranged by Guns n Roses is probably my favourite song of any sort. Starting from the four minute mark to the end of the song, to me there is no better segment of music out there.

56.   My favourite part of any song is the solo(s). They represent freedom and liberation, something every human being strives for I think. Being able to go any direction, at will.

57.   I found a pretty incredible journalism internship in Paris. I have loved it there so far. Such an international office, located in quite a cute part of the downtown area. My coworkers have pretty diverse backgrounds too.

58.   I think that part of the reason why I have been so persistent in pursuing opportunities and gaining experiences related to journalism/media/public relations/etc. is that I know that the school I have obtained my journalism education from is not a Carleton or Ryerson or Concordia. And I would still like to compete with those graduates for positions and opportunities. I’m confident that, with my previous work in Montreal, Edmonton and now Paris, I will be able to fight for any position I want.

59.   I think I am thinking quite a bit about some words a wise friend told me the other day, that “If you want to make it big time, Edmonton isn’t the place you’re going to do that.” As much as I hate to say it, I agree.

60.   The prospect of moving back to Edmonton is terrifying me more than the initial prospect of moving to Paris.

 

Controlling the Line of Scrimmage in the Battle Against Homesickness

Most parts of this story have been pretty great. Running into celebrities at nightclubs in Montreal, being only a 40 minute train ride from the Eiffel Tower, having access to new cultures and people and ideas; these are only things that are accomplished when risks are taken and boundaries are pushed.

There is also another side to this, one that rears its head every now and again. Whether it is fleeting thoughts of, "I'd love to be at the university right now, drinking a Tim's medium double double and be surrounded by friends," or, "It'd be awesome to be at the grandparents' house, drinking a can of pop and listening to them banter," or, "Everyone speaking the same language as me would be nice," homesickness happens, and cannot necessarily be avoided. Whether you are living in a penthouse apartment in Manhattan, or a two bedroom flat in Conflans Sainte Honorine, France, when you are born and raised and mature in the same environment with the same streets and people, eventually when time comes to leave, there will be moments where the mind wanders back to those simpler times.  

Before May 10, 2013, I had no idea what homesickness was like. Before then, the longest I had ever been away from Edmonton, Canada was about two weeks. It was in high school, when my dad, sister and I set forth on a journey to the United Kingdom.

My first encounter with this feeling was on Sunday, May 12, 2013. I had just moved into my apartment in the McGill Ghetto of downtown Montreal. 3620 rue Lorne Crescent. I remember having just looked up the route I would be walking to work (left at rue Prince Arthur, right at Avenue Parc, walk through Place des Arts, right at Boulevard St Laurent, left at rue Notre Dame, and the museum is on the right), and was outside my building pondering a simple question:

"Will I ever miss it here?"

I sure was missing Edmonton at that moment, and was curious if I would ever develop that longing, that love, that appreciation, for another city that wasn't where I was born or where my family lived. It seemed impossible.


Living in Montreal gave me an introduction to a whole new world. I learned how to cook, clean, and do my laundry, yes. But I also learned more valuable skills. How to build a social life from scratch. How to adapt to a new culture and language. And how to deal with those times when everything seems unfamiliar, and you sometimes want to go where everybody knows your name.

I knew in Paris, I would battle those feelings every now and again. They tend to crop up on Sundays for some reason. Maybe it is because on Sundays, I generally don't go out of my sleepy town, and often don't have any in person interaction with anyone else.

Everyone experiences it, and has their own way of coping with those feelings. Some find solace in a movie, or putting on a music playlist, or calling up home. For me, in those toughest of circumstances early on in Paris, whether it was the anxiety before my flight from Calgary or facing the prospect of being homeless for a night in the Parisien suburbs, the question that I have and already know the answer to is this:

"Do I believe in what I am here for?"

The answer to the first question, to those who know me, was a resounding yes. I miss Montreal more than Edmonton Oilers fans miss having a winning season. More than the Green Bay Packers miss Aaron Rodgers. It will always hold a special and dear place in my heart, and I will always try and visit the city during the summer. It really is the place where I grew up.

This weekend, a couple of times, I pondered the question of if I believed in what I was here for. The answer, again, is a resounding yes. For every moment I have felt lost or missing home cooking, there have been ten experiences I could not have had otherwise. Talking about life with an elder French gentleman on the train tracks. Watching a French pro hockey game. Drinking an espresso while being a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower. Is that possible without a bit of homesickness?
 
My efforts have turned to summer 2014, where the possibilities are numerous. Normandy, Paris, London, Nairobi, and Montreal are all realistic and plausible options for where I may work between May and August 2014. The question I find myself thinking of now, with one more summer of global opportunities, has a bit of a different tune:

"How on Earth will I go back to living in Canada?"

À la prochaine, mes amis. 

Being an English Teacher In France--How I Approach My Role

Just because the story isn't written on a court or in an arena or on a field, doesn't mean there aren't winners and losers. 

 

Whether it is a game of Monopoly or poker or XBOX NHL 13, if I do something, I do it to win. I want to beat you. Bad. The same thing goes for teaching English. I want to be the best. No exceptions. I flew halfway around the world to take a job; you're damn sure I'll fight to be the best at it. 

In the football game of life, the teachers at my school are the starting quarterbacks (take a minute and visualize one of your old high school teachers in a helmet and pads). They are the ones who run the show, having been given a playbook by the administration and taking the reins from there. I'm a quarterback too, but obviously not the starter. Heck, I'm not even a backup. I'm the change of pace guy. I change the way the offense is run. I add flexibility, a new dimension. I make the defence stand on its toes with my sheer presence.

I know my role, I know my rights, and I know my responsibilities. My role is to help these students (aged 15 to gulp 21) understand, write, and speak English. My rights are that I can discipline them my writing in their carnets, which would then have to be signed by a parent. I can also send them out of class, or send them to the principal. I'm not here to be a disciplinarian, nor am I here to be a bro, but on a scale of the two, I'd much rather be the latter. I'm not illusioning myself into thinking that I will be the difference between a kid 'making it' (whatever that means) and a kid 'not making it'; at the same time, I know I can be a positive influence in their lives to a small degree. I get to play the role of student teacher without the pressure of having to mark assignments and be a hardass. Bottom line: I want to get them comfortable and perhaps even fond of speaking the English language.

Before a game, a prescout usually takes place, with lots of film study and open discussion that is attended by all players, including your seldom used COP QB. You want to find out your opponent's tendencies, their strengths, weaknesses, etc. Are they a 4-3 zone defence? Do they blitz the left guard more on first down or third down? Do they throw the ball downfield a lot, or do they run a West coast style offense?

In my case, film study and a prescout take the form of conversations with teachers about the students I will have for that particular day (usually between eight and 12). These discussions take place a day or two before I see the students. Are they willing to speak English? Are there any class clowns in this group? Is Jacques comfortable with the past tense?Are there any students I need to split up? Do they even like football (I mean soccer)? 

The next step is me hearing from the starting quarterback the formations I am supposed to run. In other words, what topics should I talk about for the day? Will I have freedom, or is there a strict lesson I must follow? I will expand on this in another post, but I am quite impressed with the topics that English students are learning about at my high school, ranging from Black is Beautiful to homosexual/non traditional marriages, to an in depth look at social media.

For the most part, I'm allowed the freedom to construct my own lesson plans as long as they are within parameters. My goal for every class is to stimulate discussion en anglais. Usually this involves the showing of a provocative article or picture, followed by an open ended question. However, any successful quarterback, COP or starter, will tell you that before you get to the line of scrimmage, you need to be ready to audible in case you don't like what the defence is showing you. You can't go in assuming your play is full proof and that the corner will bite on the pump fake with your primary target being uncovered.

Back to teaching…I have to be prepared that these kids will not be receptive to my ideas and plans for our one hour lesson. I can't go in thinking my notes and grandiose ideas will be full proof, because reality is that some crowds just don't feel you sometimes. I should know, having been in front of these crowds when I perform stand up comedy. For every lesson plan, I have four other plays I can potentially call at the line of scrimmage. I have four backup lesson plans. To put that in Canadanese, imagine the Edmonton Oilers started Richard Bachman, but had Devan Dubnyk, Jason Labarbera, Olivier Roy, and Tyler Bunz on the bench, goalie suited up and ready to go (insert joke about team's defensive prowess here).

If they're not digging a particular discussion, I can seamlessly move onto something else without skipping a beat while still being well within the parameters of my teacher's preference. With these preparations, I should never have to find out if silence is actually golden.

Before a lesson begins, I always remind myself of my role and what I'm ultimately here to do as a COP QB. This has to be more fun than a normal class. I have to get these students to feel comfortable speaking in English. I usually start with a remark about something they will understand: American movies/television/culture. Tomorrow, my framework for the lesson plan will be about students and their heroes. Already, I know that the first sentence to come out of my mouth will be about the Foo Fighter's song There Goes My Hero. I also speak a few words of French with grammatical mistakes, usually asking how their days/weekends have gone. I smile genuinely when I do this. I want them to feel comfortable making mistakes in another language.


The hour passes, usually with humour and smiles injected at most junctures. More often than not, I stop with five minutes remaining, giving them a chance to chat amongst themselves.  Again, my role isn't to have them sweating until the bell. It also gives me a chance to chat with them on a more casual level. They know I'm close to them in age, and more often than not we can relate well to one another. Even during these informal chats, I speak English with them.

The final step is the post game analysis. I report back to the starting quarterback, and we go over film. Who was speaking? Who was quiet? How can I get the more shy students to speak up in class? Was the lesson plan and framework effective? What can we do to improve results next time? There is always something that can be done better. And then, repeat the process.

As a COP QB, I know my limits and what I can't do. My starting quarterback is my boss. In my first few weeks as a rookie, I can't dramatically alter the offense, nor can I change the overall strategy. There will come a time, soon, when I will be able to show my students articles from the Edmonton Journal and have them interpret events and discuss the happenings of small town Canada, but I need to grasp the fundamentals of teaching first. 

I also know that I have distinct advantages being the COP QB. I can have deeper relationships with students. I can talk with them like they're buddies from back home. It is less formal. I don't have the guilt of having failed or poorly graded them.



Just because I'm a COP QB, doesn't mean my role is any less vital to the success of my team. And by hook or by crook, if I am on the field for three snaps or 30, I promise that you'll get 110% every second I'm out there.