Update: Monday 3 Dec

I'm getting mixed signals from something my French teacher said today. I can't decide whether or not to be offended. Every Monday we have to give a sort of presentation in French, no more than two or three minutes long. I usually don't say much because somehow I always get cowed into doing the topics that no one wants, because I wait 'til everyone else takes their pick before I choose. There's a reason no one wants those topics though... They are impossible to research.

So today I talked my full two minutes and for feedback, my teacher said that it's good that I make my own sentences, that I really have the French base down well.

Wait. So does no one else make their own sentences? I find that hard to believe. So are you saying this because you are shocked that I actually know how to make my own sentences? Do you think I am really bad at French or something, just because I don't talk much? I realize that if I don't say anything, she has nothing off of which to base her opinions on how well I can speak. But... what?

Oh come on. I'm good at French. Most of my classmates hate our class, that was a well-known fact to me. Last week it came out that they hate it because they find it too difficult. Well gee, and here I was finding it too simple. Things I learned six years ago.

She did, however, say that my grammar was perfect. I'm a bit confused... I guess it doesn't matter though. Apparently we are graded simply on whether or not we show up to class. Miss more than three classes out of twelve and you fail.

Today, I bought an advent calendar for one euro, it's purple and has Tinkerbell's face on it. I don't care if it's childish, sometimes I like to be a child. And I wanted to eat all the chocolate at once but Jenn told me I couldn't. She's no fun.

This week is Sinterklaas, the Dutch holiday celebrating Santa Claus. The Santa Claus that is popular in North America originated from Sinterklaas.

To celebrate, my class is doing a sort of secret-Santa type thing, Dutch style. Everyone has to write a short (2-line-ish) poem for their person, and buy a small gift (5-euros-ish) and on Thursday during our project meeting we're going to do our little exchange.

I don't know what to write. I don't want it to be too personal, or be too impersonal. I hate things like this, I hate people reading my writing too. Well, I hate writing things that are meant for just one person, that everyone is going to see (because of course we'll have to read the poem we receive out loud to the class). I am so not looking forward to this.