In Short...

I wish I had more time to post, but internet is hard to come by...
In short, Nikki found an awesome (and huge) apt. in Toulon with an amazing German roomate/language assistant, so we've stayed there the last 2 nights.
Yesterday we had an AMAZING day! We got up at 6 to catch the 45min bus ride to Hyères to meet up with a professor and look for housing. He made a couple cold calls on my behalf, and walked us to the old (very charming) part of town to a house set up for 4 students to share. I was shown the two empty rooms and chose one fabulous little room (furnished) with its own shower/sink....and a great view of the city! Once I am able to upload photos, I will.

So, I move in tonight, then we take the train tomorrow afternoon to Nice for our orientation. Things are working out really --unbelievably---well so far. We met a couple ladies on the street who helped us with directions, and ended up exchanging phone numbers! And our awesome couchsurfing friends took us all over the city yesterday and drove us up a lountain to overlook Toulon.....
gotta go catch the boat to check out La Seyne, where Nikki will be teaching!!! a bientot

French Simpsons

Things I love about Paris:
- picnics in the jardin de luxumbourg with friends from SPU
- riding the metro, even though many Parisians déteste it
- practicing French with my own living French-English dictionaries/grammar experts (aka Anthony and Joanna)
- couples who straddle each other on park benches. Only in Paris.
- the trained pet bunny shaved like a lion that was exploring the public park
- the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Finally.
- having a cell phone
- traditional Jewish dinners
Things I don't love about Paris:
- no parking spaces
- breaking out b/c of the dirty city air
- the prices, of everything
- leaving

And now...
After a week in Paris with friends, Nikki and I took the train down to Toulon this afternoon. We met up with our new friends from couchsurfing who have generously offered us rides, a free place to stay for a as-of-yet-undetermined amount of time, homemade dinner, internet, a trip to the mountains this winter, local secrets about the cool places to go, and French TV. Yes, I am currently watching the French dubbed version of the Sherry Bobbins episode of the Simpsons.

We will be spending the next few days looking for places to stay for the year, Nikki here in Toulon and a place pour moi in Hyères (about a 30min bus ride from here). We'll head over to Nice for our orientation this Thursday. Lots to do and lots of French to learn...we're already making lots of progress :)

I Made it to Paris

Hey everyone, I made it to Paris! I am safe at my friend Anthony's house, typing on his messed up French keyboard. We are going to go into the city to wander around. He says I should tell you all the following: I am already speaking French fluently, I feel like a fish in the water, and I don't miss any of you at all. Of course, these things are not true, and he doesn't know what he's talking about. Anyway, the flights were fine; I got to Chicago and then to Paris sans problème, and even made friends with the people I sat by...always the overly-friendly American, but I'm ok with it. Alright, gotta go! Tonight is Rosh Hashannah, or however you spell it, so Anthony's family is having a Jewish New Year party. A plus!

I Love Folding Clothes

Packing Day

I am packing today. Well, sort of. Really, I'm taking a break. I haven't gotten far. But I have faith in myself, because I really do love folding clothing. Organizing my life is one of my favorite ways to pass the time*.

Paperwork Update

My VISA came in the mail yesterday. Thank goodness! I ran to the door (still in my pajamas, mind you) just in time to yell "YAY! Thank you SO much!" to the FedEx delivery man. Things seem to be coming together alright; I got an email from the Conseiller Pédagogique this morning (the teacher in charge of the English assistants in Hyeres). He said he'll be happy to help me find housing once I get over there, and offered to pick me up from the train station. I also found people to stay with for a few days while I look for housing. Hip hip! I am feeling confident that things are going to work out just fine; there are lots of people looking out for me who are willing to help!

*I've found I have a tendency to sound sarcastic, even when I'm not. This is one of those instances. But you probably already know my ocd tendencies.

You've Found My Blog!

Welcome
Congratulations! You've found my blog! I know I'm excited! Welcome to all friends, family, and otherwise tina-stalkers.

As you may know, I am going to Europe (hence the catchy title and url), where I will be teaching English to cute* little French children at a public elementary school. This blog is to serve as a super-techy way to keep you all updated on my experiences in and out of the classroom. So if you're missing me terribly, or you're so curious about what my life is like in France, or if you're just bored at work, please feel free to come here and read up on what's up with me.

About the Program
Hired by: the French government
Position: Assistante de Langue, école primaire (public elementary school English "assistant")
Length: 9 months, Oct 1, 2009-June 30, 2010
Hours: 12 hrs/week teaching
Location: Hyères, in the south near the Mediterranean coast
Payment: monthly stipend, enough to pay rent/food/some travel, hopefully

The Countdown is ON
I'm leaving in ONE WEEK! I flew to San Francisco (and back) on Wednesday to get my VISA...let's just hope it gets back to Seattle before I go.** Planned time of departure: 9:05am Friday, September 18th. My "to do" list includes: cleaning, packing, and remaining in denial of the fact that I'm leaving Seattle.

That's all for now! Stay tuned for updates from France!

*This subjective adjective has yet to be officially confirmed, but based on past personal experiences interacting with young people from France, I am confident in my presumption that at least some of the kiddos will be so darn cute, I'll wish I had one of my own. Don't worry, Mom, only kidding...

**As it turns out, dealing with French bureaucracy involves long delays. Go figure. My contract, which was due to arrive in mid-July arrived on September 8. Let's keep our fingers crossed, hoping the woman at the consulate wasn't lying when she said there'd be enough time.