Vacation ends tomorrow (sorta, I go back for 2 hours and then have a 3-day weekend as per usual. Did I mention I only work 12 hours a week?) and I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'll be kinda glad to go back. I need something to do! What's that saying about idle minds? If my mind weren't so idle right now I might be able to remember. But despite our limited funds (assistants in my region haven't been paid still. Oy vey), I have to say I did pretty well with this break! In addition to the places I mentioned last week I went to:
- Langeais - they still raise and lower that drawbridge every day by the way.
- Villandry - lots and lots of gardens
- Paris again to meet up with Seth, a friend from UGA study abroad who's also an assistant and Debbie, our study abroad director who was in Paris working on making it a semester-long program, buy books at the best bookstore known to mankind - Gibert Joseph, wander parks, and of course, it's never too cold for Berthillon ice cream. Though I failed to take pictures of anything but landmarks. Oops!
More pins to put in my France map when I get back to the states! I'm enjoying our proximity to Paris, it's only 16 euros for the slower train that takes about 2.5 hours, or for a little more it's only an hour away with the TGV - really easy and cheap to take daytrips there so you don't have to pay for a hostel! It's hard for me to even fathom that I can get to Paris in half the time it took me to get to my parent's house in Kennesaw from Athens. I'm going back to Paris next week to take the GRE... dun dun dun. It's only dawning on me since this vacation that as much as I love it here, I don't think I'll be able to live here for the rest of my life. The bottom line is that over 4,000 miles is really just too far from home, and unless someone invents that teleportation device reeeeally fast, I think I may be coming back to the states for good next summer. But alas, we all know how indecisive I am. We'll see.
For now though, I have my parents' Christmastime visit to look forward to! They're going to stay for a couple of weeks and see a little bit of a day in the life of a Tourangelle teaching assistant, explore Paris, and hopefully Germany/some of the U.K. weather permitting. There's a little town in Germany called Holzhausen, so of course I want my picture next to the sign. Lifelong dream. Should be a fun trip because they've never been to Europe, and I really haven't seen anything apart from France and London for a short weekend trip. This will also be my first time "hosting" Christmas chez moi. I don't know when I grew up, but apparently it's happened! Could be interesting due to the fact that my kitchenette consists of two hot plates, a microwave, and soon a mini-oven. I never have been much of a cook, so we'll see how that goes! But in all seriousness, all I really care about is being with my family on Christmas. We've never been apart for the holidays and I couldn't imagine it without them. I even considered coming back to Atlanta for a couple of weeks, but alas, I'm not a millionaire and flights across the Atlantic are not cheap, especially at the holidays. Better that they come here! Though I certainly wouldn't have minded seeing my dogs. I keep fantasizing about the day I come home and Grady tackles me. It's gonna be great. Hoping they still remember me after my 8-9-month absence though!
But in the meantime I'm having a fantastic time! There are roughly 30ish other English assistants in my town I believe, not to mention the Italian, Spanish, and German ones, so I'm in quite good company! Meeting people from all over (though I probably haven't been making as many French friends as I should).
And I'm still in the immigration process. I'm an immigrant! Well, at least I'm on file with the office of immigration. Never thought that'd happen! We're supposed to have a medical visit to "validate" our visas if you're not from the E.U., so that should be coming up soon, but in typical French style, they haven't told me anything yet. Hopefully they don't assign me for the day I'm supposed to take the GRE. It could happen. The lady in charge of assistants in our region told us you get two shots to go to your medical visit and then... well I don't know what. Deportation? Kidding of course, I'm sure it won't come to that.
For now though, I have my parents' Christmastime visit to look forward to! They're going to stay for a couple of weeks and see a little bit of a day in the life of a Tourangelle teaching assistant, explore Paris, and hopefully Germany/some of the U.K. weather permitting. There's a little town in Germany called Holzhausen, so of course I want my picture next to the sign. Lifelong dream. Should be a fun trip because they've never been to Europe, and I really haven't seen anything apart from France and London for a short weekend trip. This will also be my first time "hosting" Christmas chez moi. I don't know when I grew up, but apparently it's happened! Could be interesting due to the fact that my kitchenette consists of two hot plates, a microwave, and soon a mini-oven. I never have been much of a cook, so we'll see how that goes! But in all seriousness, all I really care about is being with my family on Christmas. We've never been apart for the holidays and I couldn't imagine it without them. I even considered coming back to Atlanta for a couple of weeks, but alas, I'm not a millionaire and flights across the Atlantic are not cheap, especially at the holidays. Better that they come here! Though I certainly wouldn't have minded seeing my dogs. I keep fantasizing about the day I come home and Grady tackles me. It's gonna be great. Hoping they still remember me after my 8-9-month absence though!
But in the meantime I'm having a fantastic time! There are roughly 30ish other English assistants in my town I believe, not to mention the Italian, Spanish, and German ones, so I'm in quite good company! Meeting people from all over (though I probably haven't been making as many French friends as I should).
And I'm still in the immigration process. I'm an immigrant! Well, at least I'm on file with the office of immigration. Never thought that'd happen! We're supposed to have a medical visit to "validate" our visas if you're not from the E.U., so that should be coming up soon, but in typical French style, they haven't told me anything yet. Hopefully they don't assign me for the day I'm supposed to take the GRE. It could happen. The lady in charge of assistants in our region told us you get two shots to go to your medical visit and then... well I don't know what. Deportation? Kidding of course, I'm sure it won't come to that.
Reading a book called A Year in the Merde ("shit" for you anglo-saxons) about an Englishman who comes to live and work in France for a year. Highly recommended, especially for anyone who has spent time here.
Also just realized I haven't really taken any pictures of Tours, which is quite ironic and kind of a shame. I'll get on that for my next post. =) I'm thinking "a day in the life" theme.
À bientôt, mes amis!
Also just realized I haven't really taken any pictures of Tours, which is quite ironic and kind of a shame. I'll get on that for my next post. =) I'm thinking "a day in the life" theme.
À bientôt, mes amis!
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