No English word is able to convey the bustling, rustling atmosphere which surrounds the rentrée des classes. This particular event has become a concept in itself, neigh, a complete way of life, requiring much planning and plotting - as well as a distinct publicity stunt. Fail to make the right impression on D-day, and resolve to hang your head in shame the whole year round. Exaggeration? I am sorry to say that it is not.
Of course, when the regular imperatives are coupled with extensive homework and holiday reads, as it is the case in prépa, be warned not to take it all too seriously. French people like to start things du bon pied, and when we know how important education is in the French system, this also applies to the school year. Resolutions, workplans, alarmingly stern first-day-of-school pep talks (in which one can often detect a slight political reference, cliché, anyone?), the works. If you are the type of student who enjoys sizing up the competition on the first day of term (in opposition to sizing up the guys, the normal thing to do - understand, what my friends and I do - when you are a 'summer is over' teenager who is already bored to death by the endless talk of 'discipline', 'punctuality' and 'efficiency'), then good for you. But you probably need a(nother) holiday.
So what, you're thinking, same thing whatever the country. Not exactly. I just think that we have come to an age where we are perfectly capable of pressuring ourselves, thank you very much, and do not need teachers to drill their doctrines into our already half-full skulls. I'll admit it is nice of them to care, really, and some give rather pertinent advice. But no one should leave the classroom trembling after the teacher has boomed, 'If you feel out of place, then you are not meant to be here. Go home.' Admittedly, no one did. But should personal determination be acquired through intimidation? This sort of treatment creates competitive, I-am-going-to-crush-them-all student-types. Very healthy.
Yes, the French school system is efficient. The country produces well-read, cultured and media-savvy beings. Some of my closest friends belong to that group. But believe me, it ain't easy in day-to-day life. 'You haven't read Dante?' What, are you going to tell me to go home too?!
