Three Weeks to Takeoff

Can I pack already?

The countdown begins. In exactly three weeks from today, I will be boarding the train from Grand Forks to Minneapolis only to meet Claire and hop our flight to Paris the next day. SO READY.

This weekend was crazy. I went out both Friday and Saturday, which happened to be the first weekend all the college kids (non-inclusive) were back in town. This summer was slow out on the town, being that this is a college town. I was getting used to the intimate group of people and recognizing most of the faces I would see. This weekend, however, was not in the least bit what I had grown used to. THERE WERE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. Don't get me wrong, I love people! But it made me a bit nostalgic watching everyone excitedly greet each other, asking how their summers had been, and making plans for the school year. That's no longer me. I have no regret in graduating early, nor would I want to actually be going to my first day of class today. I do, however, envy the excitement around me. I know, I know. I'm going to France. I just felt left out (and we all know how I want to be included in everything!). And this is why I'm ready to get right outta here! I want to feel the anticipation of what's to come... and have that day actually arrive! Until then, I've got my 22nd birthday to celebrate, my last day of work (where I have slaved away for the past four years), and a going away party. THEN I can pack.

An Early Surprise

What a lovely thing to wake up to this morning: the postman delivering a much anticipated envelope (which may I add, cost $18.30 for the stamp), two week before I expected! That's right. I received my visa within four days of applying for it. WOW. Thank you express mail.

My token to an amazing year to come!

Commercy (and a lot of cows!)

Well, well, well. I have many a thing to tell!

On June 30th, while getting ready before work at Grandma's, I received the most wonderful email of my summer.

Hi BreAnna,

I am Nathalie and we have just heard about you in our high school, I am one of the six teachers of English. There are about 100 teachers and around 800 pupils (aged 15 to 22). I am sort of 'head of department teacher' but actually you'll be in contact with all of us. The names of the other teachers are: Anne, Anne-Sophie, Sabrina, Françoise, Louisa and Emmanuelle.

We hope that you are feeling fine coming to this part of France (the North East is not usually asked maybe because we are not a seaside coast but the people are very friendly and welcoming and all the assistants are delighted and wish to come back, never want to leave, ha, ha!!!

You will have your own flat 'free of charge' no rent to pay and the station is just about 15 minutes walk in order to travel to Paris (2 hours on the train) or nearest big town: Nancy (30 minutes on the train and a lot of assistants and things to do in Nancy) Commercy is in the countryside (about 5000 inhabitants and a lot of cows!!)

We will be very happy to wecome you and help you with all your administrative tasks and other things, don't hesitate to ask many questions and the name of this year's assistant was Alice Bridson, she is on facebook, I can send you her mail address if you wish to ask her about us!!

I am really looking forward to hearing from you and answering all your questions,

We hope you are still ready to come and spend 10 months with us and French pupils (they are nice and cool in our area)

Nathalie XXXxxx

What exciting news! I emailed Nathalie straightaway that morning and heard from her again that afternoon, as well as three of the other teachers (complete with pictures)! To know that they are so anxious for me to spend the year with them makes me all the more enthusiastic to go! It is such a relief knowing that I won't have to search for housing once I'm there, let alone have to pay for it. There is a Facebook group for all of the American assistants who will be in the Lorraine. Many of them were upset when they found that they would be living in a small city. I, on the other hand, am looking forward to the opportunity to truly become part of a small, rural French community. I already feel so welcome!

The next step was waiting for my actual contract to arrive, which came less than two weeks later. With my "arrêté de nomination" in hand, I was able to schedule my visa appointment for August 8th. Claire and I made a weekend trip of the 12 hour drive. We had a night to remember Saturday, reminding me of why I love having a friend with the same desire for adventure and fearless personality. We truly know how to take in the world around us. Our appointments were at 9:20am Monday morning and with an hour and a half train ride in to the city, we left ourselves with plenty of time for the Monday morning traffic. Little did we know that this wouldn't persist as a problem. Therefore, we found ourselves on Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile that is!), sleeping the hour before our appointment away at a table outside the consulate. When the nine o'clock hour arrived, we headed up the elevator to the 37th floor where we were surrounded by the French language on signs, on the T.V., in books and in magazines. The worry of having to speak French after a night of little sleep overwhelmed me, but after entering the waiting room, and using my stellar eaves dropping skills, I was relieved to hear the woman behind the counter speaking English. The appointment went so much smoother than when I applied for my visa in Boston before studying abroad. Perhaps because this was old hat or the fact that I wasn't alone this time. Either way, Claire and I spent all of 15 minutes in the building, then got right in the car for the 12 hour home. As frustrating as it may have been to travel such a long way for such a short rendezvous, I was so thankful to have the time with Claire to dream about our coming year.

Now, I'm ready to pack. My life is in serious shambles. I feel like I'm living out of my car and while the average assistant leaving for France is probably fretting about the chaos that is to come, I'm anxiously awaiting finding myself in a routine.

P.S. Can I just say I LOVE LOVE LOVE Nathalie's "and a lot of cows" line! SO funny!!

Bre and Claire at the French Consulate in Chicago