Why?

This post will be giving more information about this English assistant assistantship - whoa confusing. Anyway,it will detail the who, the what, the where and the how- so brace yourselves, it could be a bumpy ride.... !!!!

We'll start at the very beginning when my cousin (aka worldtraveler) Ben suggested that I apply for this program where they send English speakers to public schools in France to help teach English. The application process included filling out the typical application and then providing with it a 500 word essay (in French) detailing why you want to be an assistant. That had to be the easiest question I have ever had to answer - so I was psyched that they didn't ask something difficult like "Why do you like English" or something wacky like that. In my essay I listed all the reasons: 1) I am obcessed with everything French, 2) I love France and their culture, 3) the way they live their lives (slowly and deliberately) just astounds me, 4) I like kids and I have ample experience with them and 5) It is my dream/my passion/my everything to live in France! After I got that squared away I had to then translate my essay to French. Now, if it hadn't been for my cousin Ben (wow, two mentions in one post Ben... haha.) I would have absolutely and epically failed at the essay. Anyway, after about 3 hours of grueling translating we finished!

After submitting the application in the middle of January the countdown to April started. To my surprise, those months flew past until the end of March was upon us, then the weeks started moving like molasses......

FINALLY, on April 6th I recieved in email from Carolyn Collins from the Embassy in Washington D.C. announcing that I had been selected as an English assistant for the Academie de Lille (very northern France). And that I would be looking forward to recieving my placements in the next couple of weeks. Lo and behold they finally came along with my Arrete de Nomination (work contract; which I needed to get my long-stay visa). I have been placed in two colleges (middle schools) in Fourmies, France (about 3 hours out of Paris and right on the Belgian boarder). Also, the town is about 13,000 people - not too shabby!

I have been in contact with this wonderful older couple - Annette and Bernard who live just outside Fourmies. Annette has actually worked at one of my schools as an English teacher and she's wonderful. She and Bernard found me a great little house for me about 4 minutes walk from one of my schools. They have been so helpful to me and I cannot wait to meet them (finally) in two weeks!

After a mound of paperwork and emails I scheduled my visa appointment at the French Consulate in Chicago. Thankfully, my grandma was able to accompany me to this appointment. We flew there early in the morning for the appointment and then did some sightseeing and then hopped on the plane that same night! It was a hectic day but it was great to get that over with.

Now that my visa is safely with me I am now free to go! I am scheduled to leave (with my grandma) on September 14th in the morning and then I'm coming back on December 18th for 9 days for Christmas then I will officially be back sometime at the end of April. Its going to be a wild and crazy adventure and I'm getting excited!!

Stay tuned for the adventures!

Sister City!!

Today on Wikipedia I discovered that Fourmies' sister town is Fridley, Minnesota!! How sweet is that?!

26 Days & Counting

Today marks the 26th day until I leave the U.S. for France. I looked at the calendar last night when I couldn't fall asleep and I realized that I have about 3 and 1/2 weeks left before the big day. Needless to say I was a little shocked... there is still a lot that needs to happen before I leave! Too many people to say goodbye to still, my job needs to end, my siblings need to start school, I need to buy train tickets from my grandma and I and I need to purchase a lot more stuff!! The to-do list is slowly getting shorter...

This past Sunday my aunt and uncle threw me a going away party with all of my relatives and it made my leaving more of a reality. Most of the guests at this party I will see at Christmas, but the other half I won't see until I don't know when, that being said, WOWZA that's crazy. But it was great to see everyone before I left and to have a toast in my name :)

I have mixed feelings about leaving in 3 and 1/2 short weeks. I'm abandoning everything I know here at home (family, friends, school etc) and I'm putting my faith and trust in God. From the beginning I have asked God only to give me this opportunity if it was the right thing for me to do and that I could survive it (haha..), when I recieved the answer "yes" I knew this was something I had to do.

This assistantship combines my three loves: France, French and children. My French skills are more than a bit lacking I find as I continue my French lessons at the Alliance Francais in downtown Minneapolis. It is disheartning and it makes me even more nervous but there is no where to go except forward!

For some of you, you know how much of a struggle these past few weeks have been. During these past weeks I have become stressed out to max... I've been dealing with paperwork, lists, planning my first few days in Paris, planning other excursions with friends, booking plane tickets etc etc. In the end it will all be worth it I keep telling myself! When I first signed up for this Assistantship, I didn't realize at that time how much work and stress it is moving your life to a different country but I thank God for the people who have helped me in more ways than one with getting things situated. One of these people has been this couple, Annette & Bernard, who live near my town (Fourmies). They have helped me find a house to rent only a 4 minute walk from my house and they have called French government offices to ask my questions. Having a place secured now it was such a relief off my shoulders and my parent's as well. I'm so excited to see it and to get accquainted with the town.

Let the countown continue - 25.....

Catch you on the flip side ~
Marie