La rentrée, 2015

It’s September, which is la rentrée around here – back to work, back to school time. I’m torn between being excited about a new season and a new school year (geek alert) and feeling bummed about the end of vacation. (Actually, it’s more like a “I didn’t get nearly enough stuff done this summer” kind of panic.)

I had a great time in Spain and the north of France but I’m happy to be home in Lyon in our apartment. I love to travel but coming home is such a nice feeling. I sometimes say that if I were single I would give up my apartment for the summer and travel (for some reason I usually envision myself taking the train all around Italy) but I don’t know if I would enjoy that for weeks on end in reality. Maybe if my accommodations were a little more luxe!

So I’m home, simultaneously trying to do my translations and class prep, figure out health insurance (anyone have advice on mutuelles?), corral my bazillions of Spain photos into a blog post, and keep house. (It’s a good thing I have a job to go back to, because I am a terrible housewife. I couldn’t get the oven lit today and I got so frustrated I kicked it. #fail)

This year I’m teaching double the hours I taught last year, but I also have a lot I want to blog about. Spain, Bourgogne, and Lyon are all on the list. I’d also like to create a few posts about FAQ topics like working in France and visiting Paris, because every time I respond to individual questions I write a novel! (I struggle with brevity. You may have noticed.)

I’m also apprehensively thinking forward to next year. I have no idea what is to come or which country I’ll be in. PACSing, green carding, and graduate school are all on the table. I wish I could keep being a lectrice a little longer, but I suppose it’s good to be forced to move forward, instead of cowering in a comfortable, familiar place. If you’ve blogged about life after teaching English, please feel free to put a link in the comments!

In conclusion, something appropriate for new beginnings…