On this my last day of midterms, I wake to 44 degree temperates and cloudy skies. Normandie. I have some kind of maladie on my throat, suspiciously feeling like the strep throat I had when I was 17, but only on one side, and I await my french coffee to finish brewing. It's been almost 3 months since my return to France and I go home in a month to celebrate Christmas stateside. I'm lonely. Things are different this year. There are no fun, young assistants to do random things with, or know that they are 2 doors down if I feel like being social, there are only students whom I cannot go out with because it's unprofessional, because I'm giving them grades that will influence their college gpas, and university professors some of whom are younger but who speak fluent French and 3 words of English. Students, professors, and P-baby. Who is lovely. Every other weekend or so I'll go back to Vernon, so that changes it up a bit, but I'm pretty bogged down with life and haven't been able to go lately. We did throw a fantastic Halloween party there though at which I was a pirate zombie - thank you the ONE HALLOWEEN STORE IN ROUEN. I'm also teaching P English because if I can't teach my own boyfriend, I'm a pretty sorry English teacher indeed. So my days consist of going to school to teach, coming home to prep lessons, and then teaching. And the gym. I joined a gym which costs 47 euros a month and wins the title of Smallest Gym I have ever seen outside of an apartment complex rec room. Worse, I recently witnessed the French phenomenon of the bises (the kisses on either side of the cheek) in the weight area; a man went around and shook the hand of every single male in the space and then did the bises with the two women there as well, who got off of their machines to do so. I haven't been down to do weights in a week. I would! I don't mind at all in public or with P but I get a certain level of social anxiety when (as a woman) I might have to kiss everyone in the weight area after sweating on the cardio machines upstairs. I'll have to wait when it's less crowded and then pop in the ole ipod shuffle for an incognito approach.
I found pumpkin pie! Rather I found the Thanksgiving Store in Paris which specializes in imported American and English goods. I bought 3 cans at 3 euros each, 3 cans of evaporated milk at 2 euros each, and a ready made graham cracker pie crust at 5 euros. I regret nothing. And I made a convert out of my frenchman.
I've been seriously considering the pros and cons of returning to school to get a Masters in English I guess, with a teaching credential in French. But I'm not sure of the wisdom in that. I don't want to be stuck teaching in high school at $44k each year for the next 20 years, I would love to teach at university level, but then that means I could most likely be using my English masters to do that, and I'm not sure I'd like to teach English. Otherwise, I don't know what I'll do when I come home, without any serious degree or diploma or certification to back up the last 2 years of teaching in France. I really hope I'm fluent by the time I come home.
I think that's enough introspective moping and worrying for now. I intend to be much peppier on egg nog and brandy the next blog entry I write, but who can say? (who can say??? The Thanksgiving store! Who also sold egg nog for 9 euros a carton) Off to class!
