Second Chances

Just so you know... life in Paris isn't perfect. It's close, but not completely.   :)

I can't believe I have been here three weeks! Sometimes it feels like I've been here for ages, and other times it feels like I just arrived. I think back to my first full work week. At times I was very stressed out. The parents were on vacation. I was kind of thrown in, sink or swim. The first two days... I was definitely sinking! I was so worried about getting all the kids to school/activities on time and finding parking was a total nightmare.

I remember that Monday I finally found a parking spot near one of the schools after searching for about 15 minutes. I was so ecstatic and felt huge relief because I was right on time to pick the daughter up from school. My car was ever-so-slightly touching a crosswalk. I mean, barely touching the paint. I was getting the youngest child out of his car seat when this older woman, pushing a baby in a stroller, started cussing me out for being on the crosswalk. I mean, she was yelling and shaking her finger towards me.
I couldn't believe:
1. This was that big of a deal... she could still walk across the street using the crosswalk, no problem
2. That she would yell at me in front of children.
 
In general, the French are truly lovely people. They get a bad rap sometimes in the US because "they do not accommodate English-speaking tourists." Whatever. I have not found that to be true at all. The only thing I have noticed, is that you can meet the most wonderfully nice person and then when they get behind the wheel of a car, you better watch out... I thought Americans had bad road rage. Please! They take this behavior to a whole new level!

I see this elderly lady almost everyday while we're both waiting to pick up our kids. I have avoided her at all cost. After my first impression of her, I immediately pegged her as a mean, anger-filled older woman, who would look for reasons to be in a bad mood. Why would I want to speak to her? We obviously have completely different outlooks on life, not to mention, we probably have nothing in common because of our age difference.

On Thursdays the kids' teachers post their homework assignments for the next week in their agendas. I take them to the park for an hour or so, and translate the text so I know what is due. Yesterday, I sat down on one of the park benches next to an elderly man. Noticing my French/English dictionary, he asked me if I was American. He had spent 3 months in California years ago and had also traveled up the east coast a bit. Towards the end of our conversation, he warned me that he was going to leave soon. His grandchildren's babysitter was on her way to watch the kids. A few minutes later, I noticed the angry old woman in the park. She began to walk towards us....then you wouldn't believe it, but she sat down on the bench next to the nice old man. He then turned to me and introduced her. She was the babysitter! She very shyly stuck out her hand to greet me. Barely even looking at her, I said hello and then went back to my translating. Before you think I am an awful person, I have been truly afraid of this woman... no joke.

The nice old man left, leaving us alone on the bench. Probably five minutes passed without us speaking. I don't remember who initiated conversation, but we ended up slowly speaking to one another. Before I knew it, we were laughing about different experiences with our respective kids. We actually ended up having a great conversation. We even hugged when we said goodbye.

Today when I went to pick up the kids, I didn't even notice her until I saw two arms flailing about, while she shouted her greetings towards me. I had to smile. Second chances are more important than first impressions.