I dreamt that I signed up to teach an algebra class in French. But I struggled with the language, mangling the tenses as I practiced, recalling the words with difficulty. But I did persevere.
Read moreI tried to tell the organizers that I may not make it but they told me I would be fine, so when it came to the first day of class I sat at the front in a room that looked like an old shop.
The shop had banquettes on the side walls as well as the rear and the students sat packed in, facing each other while Andy Christiansen, my companion teacher, mon professeur adjoint, I should say, sat in amongst them on the left side.
I began by introducing myself, however, towards the rear and on the right side banquette two taller men kept talking over me. The men sat spaced apart, a woman between them. One of the men wore a blue jacket.
I had to tell them to be quiet.
They stopped talking then, and I continued.
Then just I was about to introduce my assistant, the man with the blue jacket started talking again.
I told him to be quiet more forcefully, and this time I apologised, as well, for my basic French.
As I was apologising, I noticed a young woman who could gave been Haitian or Aborigine, sitting in the front.
The woman had a round pretty face and her frizzy black curls parted in the middle framed her face, and she looked up at me reassuringly and said, “No, you’re doing fine.”
So I continued on with the introductions.
Image of rebus sent to Voltaire by Frederick the Great created by Bonč posted to WikiMedia Commons.Photo of aboriginal girl by Adam Jones by via Flickr.
