Sorbonne Confidential by Laurel Zuckerman

Author:Laurel Zuckerman [Zuckerman, Laurel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Read, Non-Fiction
ISBN: 9780615252896
Google: HHhKrL-hf4kC
Publisher: Summertime Publications Inc
Published: 2009-08-22T04:00:00+00:00

***

Monday: My interview with Superétude! did not go well. The young woman at the receptionist’s desk greeted me coldly.

“You are?” she demanded in French, nose stud glinting in the office light.

“Madame Wunderland,” I said. “For an appointment at 10:00 a.m.”

“About what?” she challenged.

“For a job interview as an English teacher.” This information seemed to displease her.

“Resume and handwritten letter,” she ordered, omitting “please.” As I handed them to her, she looked past me, to the wall clock over my head. “But it’s 10:10! Que vous arrive-t-il?”

The rudeness of this question—“What happened to you?”—destabilized me momentarily. Had I retained my wits I might have answered, “I got hit by a car,” but instead I blathered something pathetic about a wrong building, wrong floor.

“The interviewer expected to see you at 10:30 a.m. It is too late now. Candidates need thirty minutes to prepare for their interviews.” She waved a sheaf of papers at me. “I think it best to reschedule your appointment.”

“I live quite far away,” I said, pretending not to be angry. “Let’s drop it.” At her expression of satisfaction, I had second thoughts. “On the other hand,” I reasoned, “it’s only 10:15 now. Perhaps I could fill out the forms in fifteen minutes and still meet the interviewer at 10:30 a.m.?”

“As you like.” She thrust the papers at me. “Last door on your left. Be sure to fill out the “Demande d’extrait de casier judiciaire10. You will be working with children.” While I’ve never been arrested in my life, I wasn’t sure I wanted her to know that, since she looked like a girl who might respect a criminal past.

“Thank you,” I said, reaching for my briefcase.

Two well-groomed young people smiled up at me from their desks as I passed their open doors. The place looked busy—a good sign, I thought as I settled in the conference room. I picked up the contract. Oddly enough, Superétudes! had already signed. I was just starting to read it when a severe young woman appeared at the door.

“I am here to interview you,” she announced, not extending her hand. “Follow me.” She led me back down the corridor to her office, which was just barely large enough for her vast desk and two chairs. She pointed at one. “Veuillez vous installer,” which, given the sharp tone of her voice I would translate as “Sit!” She took the forms from me and demanded to know whether I had any questions.

“Yes,” I said, “How do you assign me to students?”

She frowned. “If there’s a student in your sector, we call you. You could start tomorrow.”

This took me aback.

“Uh, could I perhaps see the textbook I would use?

“I don’t have any here.” She crossed her arms and leaned back.

“Then how do I familiarize myself with your textbooks before the first class?”

“We recommend that teachers use the student’s materials.” She snapped closed her pen. “Look, I’m in personnel management, not teaching. It’s all in the document! Had you read the document you wouldn’t need to ask these questions.

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