And I Felt Like Carrie Bradshaw...

Alors. I had my first week of classes this week, and....

They went well...I think.

My first class consisted of students in their second year of lycee, or high school (15- to 16-years-old). 

Marie, the English teacher, got the attention of the students, and I promptly took her seat at the head of the class. I introduced myself, slowly and clearly, in English. (Ah. English. As I get further acquainted in a small, old town in Brittany, the word is nice -  even to type).

I gave them the basics: age, native city, degree, reason for being here, hobbies, interests.

A hand is raised.

"Yes?"

"Do you like New York?"

I thought for a second, and I responded, "Yes - I love it, in fact. I'm not from there, but -"

"What do you like in New York?" The student relayed back.

"Oh. Well, I don't know - I've been there only twice, but it's full of excitement, nightlife, fashion..."

"It is the city that never sleeps?"

"Yes, yes it is called that. And Chicago is really quite similar-"

"How late is the pubs open in New York?" Another student demanded.

I took a breath. "Some bars in New York don't even close," I said. "And in Chicago, there are some really fun bars that stay open until 4:00 a.m."

For the first time since I took my seat, I could have heard Breton crickets. Until,

"Have you been to Guggenheim Museum?" A girl in the front row asked.

At this point, I think my face was resembling nothing short of Jim Halpert's immediately after pulling a prank on Dwight Schrute. You know the look.

All this NYC talk had inspired me to feel just slightly like Carrie Bradshaw as she stood and spoke to single women about dating tactics, when she, really, had no idea what to tell them. Unfortunately, unlike Carrie, I couldn't sweep all of them from school grounds and take them back to my glorious city of Chicago on a Ferris Bueller-type-expedition, so I did the next best thing.

"No, I haven't," I responded. "Though I would love to. Which reminds me - The Chicago Art Institute has just created a Modern Art Wing, and it's fantastic. Also - who here has ever tried, what we call in English, deep-dish pizza?'"