Something else to note is that I currently have no clue what to do about the new baggage restrictions on international flights. I finally got my backpack for Guatemala with the goal that I might be able to take it as a carry on. If I take it as a carry on I can avoid the whole "maybe I will lose my luggage in a third world country" dilemma. If I am not allowed to carry sunscreen, however, then there is no way I can carry on my backpack. Myself, with red hair, blue eyes, and my prized china doll complexion, will roast in Central American minus sunscreen.
The restrictions also include hair gels and cremes and such. Myself, with curly hair will come back looking like a white Diana Ross. My parents will think it hilarious, I will not be pleased to comb all the knots out of my hair.
This weekend I went to one of my best friend's, Hilary's, birthday/graduation party and had a blast! I got to see our friend from high school, Liz, who just last year had a baby boy! He was soo cute and happy as a clam wherever he was. Hilary's neighbors have a dog but Liz doesn't have any pets so Jacob (the baby) was quite intrigued by the dog being furry and having a tail and such. It was good to spend time with Hilary and I'm glad I got to meet her friends from grade school and Fleet Feet as well. :-D
Thursday my mom and I will move my little sister, Katie, into the dorms at St. Xavier University so she can go to nursing school. I think she is more excited to move out of the house than she is to go to college. Katie has a greaseboard on her bedroom door where she counts down the days until she moves out. While I understand her sentiments (our parents are quite the bunch), I don't know that she quite understands that she won't necessarily be killing me by moving out and making me the only child again. First of all, I was already the only child for the first three years of my life. While I don't really remember anything of those three years, I'm sure they were maaaarvelous. Second, I'm really only going to be an only child for about three weeks because of Guatemala and France. I can handle my parents for three weeks, that's not a huge deal. However, Mom and I are moving Katie in on Thursday; I volunteered to spare her the embarassment of possibly bringing Dad along for the ride. :-D
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
I got my first immigration document!!!!
I am now the proud recipient of a brand-new French long-stay visa!! Granted it's only for three months, but still! Tres excited!!
Another development in the going-to-France saga is my acquisition of Skype, the internet telephony system. I downloaded it onto my parents' computer as well. When I eventually go to France we can talk and it will be free! Yay free!
I am now the proud recipient of a brand-new French long-stay visa!! Granted it's only for three months, but still! Tres excited!!
Another development in the going-to-France saga is my acquisition of Skype, the internet telephony system. I downloaded it onto my parents' computer as well. When I eventually go to France we can talk and it will be free! Yay free!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
France, Here I Come!!!
I received my arrete late last week!! Finally, I know exactly what town and school I will teach in!! I will call Charleville-Mezieres my home starting late September and I will teach at the Lycee Generale et Technique Monge which is in the city center. Hurrah!!
I've done some research on the city itself, to get myself acquainted with this new city I've never even heard of. Charleville-Mezieres is a small city of about 53,000 people and it is the seat of the Ardennes region. For those not well acquainted with the map of France, I will be about a half inch away from Belgium and Luxembourg. In fact, I'm closer to Brussels and Luxembourg than I am to Paris, which is a new sense of proximity for myself. Personally, I'm simply happy that there will be a grocery store and pharmacy located actually inside the city limits, not to mention a major train station. As long as I can get out if I want to, and I don't necessarily need a car to get around. Oy vey, if I need a car, I don't know what I will do.
I also did some research on the school at which I will teach. The technical high schools function more like magnate schools here in the US in the sense that I won't be teaching English to a bunch of carpenters. In fact, it works out quite nicely that my high school's specialization is in economics, business, and ISOM; I received my degree in Economics and International Studies in May. I get to teach them economics jokes!! The only slight problem is that I didn't receive any sort of contact information for a person at the school, just the school's address. I just sent an email to the head guy taking care of all the assistants in my region, hoping he would have more information. I need to make sure I can secure housing with my school or see if I can send boxes to them, etc. If I can send over one box full of toiletries and such, that would make such a difference in baggage, etc. Of course that would also mean that I don't have room in my bags for the trip home for all the stuff I will get at the soldes. Yay Soldes!!!
No news yet on what exactly I'm going to do with Dean. I'll figure it out.
I've done some research on the city itself, to get myself acquainted with this new city I've never even heard of. Charleville-Mezieres is a small city of about 53,000 people and it is the seat of the Ardennes region. For those not well acquainted with the map of France, I will be about a half inch away from Belgium and Luxembourg. In fact, I'm closer to Brussels and Luxembourg than I am to Paris, which is a new sense of proximity for myself. Personally, I'm simply happy that there will be a grocery store and pharmacy located actually inside the city limits, not to mention a major train station. As long as I can get out if I want to, and I don't necessarily need a car to get around. Oy vey, if I need a car, I don't know what I will do.
I also did some research on the school at which I will teach. The technical high schools function more like magnate schools here in the US in the sense that I won't be teaching English to a bunch of carpenters. In fact, it works out quite nicely that my high school's specialization is in economics, business, and ISOM; I received my degree in Economics and International Studies in May. I get to teach them economics jokes!! The only slight problem is that I didn't receive any sort of contact information for a person at the school, just the school's address. I just sent an email to the head guy taking care of all the assistants in my region, hoping he would have more information. I need to make sure I can secure housing with my school or see if I can send boxes to them, etc. If I can send over one box full of toiletries and such, that would make such a difference in baggage, etc. Of course that would also mean that I don't have room in my bags for the trip home for all the stuff I will get at the soldes. Yay Soldes!!!
No news yet on what exactly I'm going to do with Dean. I'll figure it out.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Conundrum...
So everything for France is basically set. I have my plane tickets, my Eurail pass, and some luggage. All I need to do now is wait for my arrete to come in the mail from my school to see exactly what town and what school at which I will teach. Hopefully I will be in a larger town or city and not some rinky-dink little French hamlet of population 50. Granted if I am in a small town I can practice my French every time I leave my apartment.
One thing that has crossed my mind in the past few weeks is what exactly am I going to do about my boyfriend, Dean. There are two opposing forces at work in my brain right now, each characterized by the side of brain that forms logic and that of emotion. They are:
LOGIC: I am going to France at the end of September for seven months. After that, I may go to graduate school, maybe law school in the states, maybe in Europe. Don't really know, going to play it by ear. He will recieve his MBA in May and then wants to go back to work at an accounting firm back home in San Fransisco. I have never been to San Fransisco, so I have no opinion of the city in terms of living there. And then once I think about that the little Gloria Steinem in my head says, "Sarah, moving your life for a man is sooooo passee!" and I have to agree. Because of the lack of knowledge about my life after May and the lack of geographical proximity to each other, it won't work out and we must break up before I leave for France.
EMOTION: I am going to France at the end of September for seven months. He will be in Chicago when I am supposed to return. San Fransisco is supposed to have nice weather. On top of which, he is supposed to come and visit me in France while I'm there! The other day, in fact, we talked about him coming to visit and he, out of the blue, said, "What would you do if I don't leave once I get there?" I was of course flabbergasted and said something about leaving his great opportunities, but my heart practically jumped out of my chest!
Of course, it's only June and I leave in September. While I realize the summer is going to absolutely fly by, we will have this talk before I leave. I hope I can get it sorted out to everyone's liking. I don't know if I want to have a boyfriend while in France, but then again I don't know if I want to give him up. I can only hope that something will happen either way in the near future that will help in deciding. If something horrible happens and we break up in a fit of rage at each other, then my problem is solved! Unfortunately, I'm not one to start fits of rage, so I'm sequestering myself to a summer of anticipation and slight dread. Alas.
In other news, my job is going swimmingly! I'm working at my dad's dealership this summer as customer service in his service department. At first I absolutely dreaded the thought of returning to working for my father as well as working in a car dealership. However, it has turned out to be much, much better than I expected. The people I work with are absolutely fabulous and there is almost never a dull moment either with them or the customers. Apparently a major demographic of Saturn customers is that they are craaazy. Or at least the ones I speak with. Also, I'm making bank compared with the rest of my friends who are working. This is mainly because I have no expenses aside from my credit card, but whatever. I also figured out that no one else can actually guarantee me more than what I'm making now and since my main goal this summer is to save money for France and Central America, it's stupid to leave a job for a lesser paying job. So all in all, my money-making summer is going quite well! Who-hoo!!
Went to the gym three times this past week. Working on losing weight and pants sizes so I can a)not die of exhaustion while hiking in the jungle and b)have a chance of fitting into french clothes. No lie.
One thing that has crossed my mind in the past few weeks is what exactly am I going to do about my boyfriend, Dean. There are two opposing forces at work in my brain right now, each characterized by the side of brain that forms logic and that of emotion. They are:
LOGIC: I am going to France at the end of September for seven months. After that, I may go to graduate school, maybe law school in the states, maybe in Europe. Don't really know, going to play it by ear. He will recieve his MBA in May and then wants to go back to work at an accounting firm back home in San Fransisco. I have never been to San Fransisco, so I have no opinion of the city in terms of living there. And then once I think about that the little Gloria Steinem in my head says, "Sarah, moving your life for a man is sooooo passee!" and I have to agree. Because of the lack of knowledge about my life after May and the lack of geographical proximity to each other, it won't work out and we must break up before I leave for France.
EMOTION: I am going to France at the end of September for seven months. He will be in Chicago when I am supposed to return. San Fransisco is supposed to have nice weather. On top of which, he is supposed to come and visit me in France while I'm there! The other day, in fact, we talked about him coming to visit and he, out of the blue, said, "What would you do if I don't leave once I get there?" I was of course flabbergasted and said something about leaving his great opportunities, but my heart practically jumped out of my chest!
Of course, it's only June and I leave in September. While I realize the summer is going to absolutely fly by, we will have this talk before I leave. I hope I can get it sorted out to everyone's liking. I don't know if I want to have a boyfriend while in France, but then again I don't know if I want to give him up. I can only hope that something will happen either way in the near future that will help in deciding. If something horrible happens and we break up in a fit of rage at each other, then my problem is solved! Unfortunately, I'm not one to start fits of rage, so I'm sequestering myself to a summer of anticipation and slight dread. Alas.
In other news, my job is going swimmingly! I'm working at my dad's dealership this summer as customer service in his service department. At first I absolutely dreaded the thought of returning to working for my father as well as working in a car dealership. However, it has turned out to be much, much better than I expected. The people I work with are absolutely fabulous and there is almost never a dull moment either with them or the customers. Apparently a major demographic of Saturn customers is that they are craaazy. Or at least the ones I speak with. Also, I'm making bank compared with the rest of my friends who are working. This is mainly because I have no expenses aside from my credit card, but whatever. I also figured out that no one else can actually guarantee me more than what I'm making now and since my main goal this summer is to save money for France and Central America, it's stupid to leave a job for a lesser paying job. So all in all, my money-making summer is going quite well! Who-hoo!!
Went to the gym three times this past week. Working on losing weight and pants sizes so I can a)not die of exhaustion while hiking in the jungle and b)have a chance of fitting into french clothes. No lie.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Les Avions
Going to buy my tickets tomorrow!! Can't wait!!
Pressing issue: Central America needs to be done tomorrow.
Other Pressing issue: need to lose a few pounds to blend in with thin french people.
Pressing issue: Central America needs to be done tomorrow.
Other Pressing issue: need to lose a few pounds to blend in with thin french people.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Normally I loove planning travel...
But not so much recently.
This past spring semester I bought a couple raffle tickets from my friends selling them to benefit their Latin Hip-Hop night. The morning after their event, my friend called me up to tell me I won a trip to Costa Rica! Of course I have been in a fantabulous mood for the past few weeks because whenever I think of something bad, I say to myself, "But Sarah, you won a trip to Costa Rica!"
Arrangements have to be made by this coming 15th of June, so I went into STA travel, the student travel agency, a couple weeks ago. I told them that while I'll go this summer if I need to (I mean, it's an almost free trip to Central America for christ's sake!!) it would make my life that much easier if I could go next June, after I come back from France. I need to work and make money this summer and while with all the money I can afford to lose out on the $1500 or so to go on the trip, I would rather not. She, the agent, said she understood but I'm kind of at the whim and whimsy of the airline and tour company, which I understand. I left the agency happy :-D
Skip ahead a couple days and my agent calls me back after checking with the tour company and said the tour company actually discontinued the tour I was supposed to go on. Now, don't get sad or anything, because they offered me two other choices: a tour through Mexico starting in Mexico City and going on to Cancun, or a tour starting in Cancun and ending up in Guatemala City. I'm leaning a lot towards the second tour, the one going from Cancun to Guatemala City because I wouldn't stay in just the one country. The tour runs from Cancun down through the Yucatan Peninsula, to Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and then I would fly out of Guatemala City. Excited!!!!
If only it were next June. There are a few problems with going this summmer:
a) I currently don't have a passport. I would need my passport in order to book a plan ticket and possibly the tour as well. No telling when I will get my passport and if it will be enough time to get visas, etc.
b) It would be a pain to get money for this trip. While I can just take it outo f whatever I'm making this summer, I would rather not as that's going to France. There are other sources aside from my parents from which I can draw, but I would rather not. But then again, I'm going to Guatemala for heaven's sake. When would I go again? It's not like my family and I go to Central America every chance we get.
c) Time off work is hard. Maybe I can get a shorter tour?
d) My parents are freeeaaakkking out about me going on this trip. They are convinced that while there I will be kidnapped or meet another horrible fate. While their fears are not entirely unfounded, I think they should back off a bit. It's not like I'm going alone-if I get kidnapped, they would have to kidnap about 30 other people as well, a daunting task for even an experienced hit man.
All in all, if there are no dates for next June, I'll probably go in about August. That gives me plenty of time to work and make money, and then come back in plenty of time for France. Phew!!
This past spring semester I bought a couple raffle tickets from my friends selling them to benefit their Latin Hip-Hop night. The morning after their event, my friend called me up to tell me I won a trip to Costa Rica! Of course I have been in a fantabulous mood for the past few weeks because whenever I think of something bad, I say to myself, "But Sarah, you won a trip to Costa Rica!"
Arrangements have to be made by this coming 15th of June, so I went into STA travel, the student travel agency, a couple weeks ago. I told them that while I'll go this summer if I need to (I mean, it's an almost free trip to Central America for christ's sake!!) it would make my life that much easier if I could go next June, after I come back from France. I need to work and make money this summer and while with all the money I can afford to lose out on the $1500 or so to go on the trip, I would rather not. She, the agent, said she understood but I'm kind of at the whim and whimsy of the airline and tour company, which I understand. I left the agency happy :-D
Skip ahead a couple days and my agent calls me back after checking with the tour company and said the tour company actually discontinued the tour I was supposed to go on. Now, don't get sad or anything, because they offered me two other choices: a tour through Mexico starting in Mexico City and going on to Cancun, or a tour starting in Cancun and ending up in Guatemala City. I'm leaning a lot towards the second tour, the one going from Cancun to Guatemala City because I wouldn't stay in just the one country. The tour runs from Cancun down through the Yucatan Peninsula, to Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and then I would fly out of Guatemala City. Excited!!!!
If only it were next June. There are a few problems with going this summmer:
a) I currently don't have a passport. I would need my passport in order to book a plan ticket and possibly the tour as well. No telling when I will get my passport and if it will be enough time to get visas, etc.
b) It would be a pain to get money for this trip. While I can just take it outo f whatever I'm making this summer, I would rather not as that's going to France. There are other sources aside from my parents from which I can draw, but I would rather not. But then again, I'm going to Guatemala for heaven's sake. When would I go again? It's not like my family and I go to Central America every chance we get.
c) Time off work is hard. Maybe I can get a shorter tour?
d) My parents are freeeaaakkking out about me going on this trip. They are convinced that while there I will be kidnapped or meet another horrible fate. While their fears are not entirely unfounded, I think they should back off a bit. It's not like I'm going alone-if I get kidnapped, they would have to kidnap about 30 other people as well, a daunting task for even an experienced hit man.
All in all, if there are no dates for next June, I'll probably go in about August. That gives me plenty of time to work and make money, and then come back in plenty of time for France. Phew!!
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Ahh, Something to Do!
A few weeks ago, I recieved my arrete de nomination telling me that I was hired to teach English in France! Hurrah! I will teach in the Academie of Reims, which means that I am teaching somewhere in the Champagne-Ardenne region. This does not mean, as my dad wrongly considered, that I am teaching in a big school known as the "Academie de Reims" and didn't believe me when I said I didn't know where I would be teaching exactly.
Every day at work I'm doing something that has to do with France. I check expedia every day for airfares. I check the France Language Assistants website to see if there are any new developments that will help me. I've even chcked the samsonite website to see if there are any sales on luggage right now. The other day I realized that I checked expedia for fares for probably the fourth time that day. It was pretty bad.
Tying in my title of this post, the fact that I have something to do come October is more than many people can say. Aside from my friends who are continuing on to graduate school or another equally as noble venture, I am the only one who is doing something of this nature. Teach for America I don't count. They get paid more than I will. They will quite possibly also risk their lives going into school every day. Me, on the other hand, won't. The French are not known for their ruthless violence towards each other. While some may bring up the recent riots as evidence against, no one actually got hurt during those riots. Just stuff. You can be violent against inanimate objects, I don't care about that. But I probably won't have a gang problem at my high school; if it is, it's a French gang. I have more street cred than a French gangster.
Everyone is pretty excited about me going to France. I don't have tickets yet, but my parents already have tickets to come and visit me over Christmas. My friends are all planning on visiting as well, for which I'm quite happy. Hopefully I will live in a place that has room and that will allow me to have overnight visitors. Hopefully I will find a place to live.
More later.
Every day at work I'm doing something that has to do with France. I check expedia every day for airfares. I check the France Language Assistants website to see if there are any new developments that will help me. I've even chcked the samsonite website to see if there are any sales on luggage right now. The other day I realized that I checked expedia for fares for probably the fourth time that day. It was pretty bad.
Tying in my title of this post, the fact that I have something to do come October is more than many people can say. Aside from my friends who are continuing on to graduate school or another equally as noble venture, I am the only one who is doing something of this nature. Teach for America I don't count. They get paid more than I will. They will quite possibly also risk their lives going into school every day. Me, on the other hand, won't. The French are not known for their ruthless violence towards each other. While some may bring up the recent riots as evidence against, no one actually got hurt during those riots. Just stuff. You can be violent against inanimate objects, I don't care about that. But I probably won't have a gang problem at my high school; if it is, it's a French gang. I have more street cred than a French gangster.
Everyone is pretty excited about me going to France. I don't have tickets yet, but my parents already have tickets to come and visit me over Christmas. My friends are all planning on visiting as well, for which I'm quite happy. Hopefully I will live in a place that has room and that will allow me to have overnight visitors. Hopefully I will find a place to live.
More later.
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