Oktoberfest in Munich

View from Sankt Peter's belltower, overlooking the 

Cathedral and the Glockenspiel

The Glockenspiel at Marienplatz

Theatinerkirche or St. Kajetan, a baroque church at Odeonsplatz

Hohenschwangau Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle

Enjoying the view of Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle courtyard

Bavarian Wilderness

Sankt Peter

Oktoberfest Beer Tent

Oktoberfest Beer Tent madness

Oktoberfest Beer Tent

The best of Bavarian cuisine

Schottenhamel, supposedly the best beer tent at Oktoberfest

Inside Schottenhamel beer tent

The group!!!

My first European holiday since landing a job in France, and I haven't even started working yet! I just returned from Munich Germany with several fellow American language assistants from towns neighboring Metz, and the series of events over the past few days are so action packed that they're a blur! 

Overall it was a fantastic time, although I had a few unintentional pitfalls (getting kicked out of a Biergarten by a scary German cop who I could have sworn was going to arrest me... don't ask! Well, if you MUST know, I stupidly picked up someone's half empty stein, and set it down when I realized my mistake, but the cop thought I had drank half the beverage and tried to set it down discreetly without paying for it. I was physically escorted out, and made to pay a 7 euro fine! It was quite traumatic! My last day in Munich, I was nearly thrown off the train for stretching my legs onto the empty street in front of me, a big no-no, apparently.  The controller screamed at me, and although I apologized profusely and told him I didn't understand German, he continued to rant, making a motion like he was going to strike my feet with his ticket machine, even lifting his leg and shoving his shoe in my face to illustrate his point! Both experiences were results of unintentional, albeit stupid mistakes on my part, and one good thing about me is that I NEVER make the same mistake twice, so at least I know I can never get in trouble again for those gaffes.) 

Despite these experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of Munich, and marveled at how precisely the city was rebuilt after being over 85% destroyed by WWII bombing.  Sightseeing highlights included a free three hour walking tour of Munich, the Glockenspiel, the Cathedral Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), climbing the bell tower of Sankt Peter for a fantastic view of the city, Nymphenburg Palace, the Englicher Garten (a 900 acre park that apparently permits nude sunbathing on Sundays, as we were surprised to discover) a gorgeous outdoor market selling fresh produce, flowers, and gifts, and of course, Oktoberfest itself! We also took a day trip to the whimsical Neuschwanstein Castle (which inspired Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland). Although the trip to the castle was severely delayed due to various train issues, I adored the picturesque German alps, quaint villages straight from a fairy tale, and the sheer magic of the history of King Lugwig II, his mysterious death, and the legacy of his castle. It's definitely topped my list of castles so far.

The German people overall are very friendly. At the beginning of our trip, we were wandering the suburbs of Munich looking for the house we would be renting.  A woman pulled over to help us, and when the language barrier proved to be too much, she hailed another driver (who spoke English) to pull over and help us.  This girl, Sylvia, proceeded to ring doorbells and ask passers-by if they knew where our address was.  This lasted probably half an hour, and we were completely grateful to her kindness. 

The landlord of our rental house, Klaus, was a magical creature indeed.  While we waited for the previous guests to vacate our rental house, he welcomed us with a charming German breakfast complete with bread, cheeses, cold meats, Christmas cake, and coffee.  His home was adorned with his hand crafted mosaics, inspired by Gaudi, and surrounded by fragrant pear trees and gardens.  Even his little dog was perfect.  He was so helpful, giving us tips about the best times to go to Oktoberfest, free tickets to Neuschwanstein Castle, taking a sick girl in our group to the pharmacy, and the list goes on.

In the tents at Oktoberfest, the Germans were festively dressed in lederhosen and dirndls, no matter what their age!  It's quite adorable! They were very receptive when a few of us joined a table in a tent, welcoming us to dance on the table with them, singing German drinking songs, and toasting. The live music played a mixture of traditional German songs and modern pop music, but it seems that every other song was a repeat of an anthem commanding one and all to raise their glasses and drink! Every time it played, everyone stood, raising their glasses, swaying ceremoniously. The name of the song escapes me, but melody endures in my head. The beer was delicious, as were the pretzels, pastries, and brats.  

There were eight of us in the group, and while we split up at certain times, we managed to stay together a good portion of the time too, which ended up being the perfect mix.  The night train from Munich returned me to Metz at 6am, after which I proceeded to crash until noon.  It's so good to be back in France... 

Arrival in Metz

Now that I've shared how lovely Metz is, I can get on with the difficult arrival process. I woke up at 5am to call a cab to take my ridiculous amount of luggage from my hotel to Gare de l'Est in Paris for my train to Metz.  

My luggage included: 

TWO massive suitcases, one weighing 70 pounds, the other, 50 pounds (I paid handsomely for this at the airport.) 

A large over the shoulder carry-on containing my laptop and tons of electronic devices, batteries, chargers, cameras, etc.

A large 'purse' that really should be called a tote bag. In fact, according to Vera Bradley, it IS a tote bag.

All of my bags were bursting at the seams, and thankfully, a Frenchman helped my drag my belongings onboard the train.  The ride itself was very brief (only 82 minutes from Paris to Metz on the high speed TGV trains).  However, getting off the train was another matter.  I managed to lug one suitcase and one carry-on onto the platform, but had to reboard to grab my other suitcase and totebag/purse.  Naturally there was a crush of people exiting the train, rendering me powerless to get back onboard... Miraculously, I did get back on board, and managed to rescue my second load of worldly possessions as the doors were closing.  

I felt everyone's curiosity/amusement as I fashioned my rolling luggage into a sort of train by hooking them together.  Trudging toward the elevator, I had to wait for the crowd to diminish before squeezing inside, and then caused people waiting on the ground floor to miss the elevator as I struggled to drag everything out.  I resisted the urge to glare at the guy who laughed at me boisterously without raising a hand to help me.

Breathless, I arrived outside the station, where I was ignored by taxi drivers for nearly half an hour (the short fare and daunting amount of luggage wasn't worth their effort.)  I finally sat on the ground behind my fortress of baggage, fighting back tears of frustration, which caused one of the drivers to develop a heart and agree to take me.  We made small talk in French, and he complimented my ability, which was very sweet of him, considering the fact that I'm hardly fluent yet.

At the foyer where I'm staying, I was proud of myself for handling the check in process, paperwork, and questions entirely in French.  My studio is pretty small, but with a pleasant view of a church.  It's quite simple, with a desk and chair, bed, bathroom, shower, and bureau. There is ample shelving space, but I hesitate to unpack since I plan on moving into something better within the month.  This place is very utilitarian, and not especially welcoming, so hopefully I'll find some friendly Frenchies to reside with in the near future.

Armed with a map of the city, I set out to accomplish Mission number 1: getting a French mobile phone.  I found a centrally located SFR shop, where I was able to secure a very basic flip phone and a prepaid plan.  The owner of the shop, as well as several French customers in line behind me, complimented me, saying that they wished their English was as good as my French. I ate up that bit of reassurance like a fresh piece of pain au chocolate! Obtaining a French cell phone has been one of my dreaded tasks, but it was remarkably easy, compared to the rest of my day.  

With newfound confidence, I explored the city a bit before heading back to my foyer for lunch... I walked into the cafeteria, flashed a smile and a bonjour to the café workers, and proceeded to place food on my tray.  Fresh baked bread, salad, cheeses, and fresh fruit!  

"Mademoiselle? Votre carte! " A woman in an apron emerged from the back, demanding to know where my residence card was... I replied that I had not yet received one from the front desk, as today was my first day.  She told me that I could not eat without the card and made me put everything back that I had on my tray.  My cheeks flushed in embarrassment, and I could feel the eyes of everyone in the dining room on me. Every bit of confidence gained in the cell phone experience seemed to be deflated now.  Still, I returned to the front desk where I was able to obtain this magical card, and everything turned out fine back in the lunch room, although I still felt self-conscious when some of the diners tittered when I walked back in. I remade a tray of food, sat down, and buried my head in a book.  It would have been nice to have company... I'm one of those people who has a natural inclination to smile at passers-by, but in the foyer, not many people return this gesture... especially in the cafeteria.

After lunch, I walked back to the city center, to do some exploring before dinner.  Thank God for the Cathedral. It will be my favorite place in Metz. The portals are magnificently carved (some of the finest examples of Medieval carving in Europe), but one is completely unprepared for the splendor that awaits inside. Built in the 12th century, Saint-Etienne (Saint Steven) has one of the highest naves in Europe.  I gasped audibly when I stepped inside.  The sheer height of the nave and incredible amount of glass is like nothing I've seen before at even Notre Dame, Saint-Denis or Chartres.  Apparently the cathedral is one of the largest in France, and has one of the largest expanses of stained glass in the world, which has earned it the nickname: God's Lantern. At night, it's lit from the inside, exposing the stained glass to everyone outside. It's not often that beauty moves me to tears, and that's exactly what happened in Saint-Etienne today. The best part is, my favorite artist of all time, Marc Chagall, completed the stained glass windows in certain sections of the church. I spent quite some time there, even exploring the crypt from the original church beneath the foundations.  The atmosphere was warm and cleansing, and seemed to say "Rest, you'll be safe here." The lack of sleep and series of stressful events of today seemed to melt away.  

Since people tend to eat dinner much later in Europe than in the States, I assumed I'd be able to stroll down to dinner at 7:30pm without a problem.  I assumed wrongly.  The cafeteria was already closed, which meant I had to venture back out for dinner (and spend more money!)  I wandered through Metz, which is lit up beautifully at night to enhance its architectural features. Unfortunately, the sandwich stands and pastry shops were closed.  I couldn't justify eating out at one of the fancy brasseries or outdoor cafés alone, and those seemed to be the only things open.  For a Friday night, the streets seemed practically deserted, except for the nice restaurants.  I was about to accept defeat and return to call it an early night when I stumbled upon O'Kebab, a sort of mediterranean fast food joint.  After all the carb-o-licious cuisine I've been sampling, I decided on a salad.  I read some more Camus before returning to my foyer to spend my first night in Metz, looking forward to a hot shower to wash away the grime of travel.

I burst into tears when I couldn't figure out the shower in my studio... it seems that it turns itself off every 10 seconds to save energy/water, and each time I press the button to restart the flow of water, the water is frigid again, and just when it starts to warm up, it shuts back off again, and the process begins anew.

I attribute my emotional reaction to the shower to lack of sleep and the stress of being submerged in a new country with a different language and cultural norms, and being completely taken away from my world as I know it.  I reassure myself that it can only get better from here, and that with time, I become settled into life dans le pays messin. 

Metz, ma ville...

I arrived in Metz today.  Before getting into my misadventures of getting settled, I thought I'd share some views of my new 'home' for the next nine months... 

L'esplanade, one of many green places to enjoy in Metz

Le Graouilly, the legendary dragon that terrorized Metz in the Middle Ages until vanquished by Saint Clement. This sculpture appears on rue Taison.

Saint Etienne, the cathedral of Metz

A closer view of Saint Etienne

Stained glass windows in Saint Etienne by Marc Chagall

Interior of Saint Etienne

The Moselle River, overflowing with Swans, overlooking le Temple Neuf, a Protestant church.

Fall colors on the Moselle

More Parisian Pleasures

Today brought with it more endless wandering of the streets of Paris, with the exception of a two hour rest I was forced to take when I began experiencing painful spasms in my left foot. Perhaps I've overdone it a bit.  I particularly enjoyed exploring the grounds of the Louvre, the Tuileries, la Place de la Concorde, and the l'Orangerie museum, which features two large, oval rooms of Monet's water lilies. It feels as though you're truly standing on a bridge in the midst of his water garden, what an absolutely lovely experience that was! 

I also visited l'Opéra Garnier, and then spent quite a bit of time exploring le Quartier Latin on the left bank.  I wandered through Musée de Cluny, La Sorbonne, Saint Séverin, and la Place Saint Michel.  

I adore the Latin Quarter.  For dinner, I found myself on a crowded street of Arabic, North African, and Greek restaurants and vendors, each complete with a greeter in the doorway battling one another to beckon me inside. Several languages and lively ethnic music filled the air, and the multicultural flavor of this area is such a different Paris, which is why I love it so much.  I was rather put off by the aggressive men who tried to physically pull me inside, so when a pleasant young women quietly asked me "Couscous?", I gratefully stepped inside. Presently, I was presented with a sumptuous Moroccan feast of couscous, tender chicken that just fell off the bone, and an array of cooked vegetables and the most sensuous drink I've ever tasted, a sweet mint tea. 

After dinner, I stepped back into the chaos of the street, and made my way to Shakespeare & Company, a world renowned bookstore featuring English language texts. Those who purchase from the store receive a special stamp in their book.  

I ended my last night in Paris in the usual place... my favorite place on earth... Notre Dame. An informative film was showing in the cathedral itself, projected on a huge screen stretched across the nave.  I was grateful for a chance to rest my legs once again, and to end my stay in Paris there. After the film, I sat outside alone, attempting to take in the glory of Notre Dame, which is golden in the moonlight, but was overwhelmed by the abundance of couples holding hands and stealing kisses as if to taunt me in my solitude.  I also was fending off the advances of amorous/ drunken passers-by, so I decided to call it a night. My thoughts returned to how much Jim would adore this city, and how I can't wait to share it with him.  Sigh.  

Tomorrow, I'm off to Metz, which I will be calling home for the better part of a year.  

Bonjour, Paris

Some highlights from my first few days in Paris! My feet are raw and blistered from wandering the Marais district and throughout Montmartre all day, and I've never been happier.  It's such a pleasure to get to know Paris on my own, without being constrained by a study abroad group like I was on my last visit.  The Marais and Montmartre are areas that particularly fascinate me, and I am delighted to finally explore at my own pace.  I'm also getting by quite well with my French, which has been very encouraging! 

The Farewell Tour

Tonight, I leave for France.

This past week has been a flurry of goodbye dinners and lunches with family, friends, and colleagues.  

Highlights include:

My last costume ball board meeting at the Scarab Club, where my beloved fellow artists treated me to an adorable cake, dinner, and wine!

Goodbyes to Haley and Genna, who will be sorely missed! Haley gave me a beautiful pair of fleur de lis earrings and a matching necklace, and Genna crocheted me this adorable octopus amigurumi.  

A visit to MSU to say goodbye to my lovely sister Liz and her boyfriend Nick.  We toured the campus, feasted on bubble tea and insomnia cookies, and fed ducks on the Red Cedar river. 

An intimate crêpe dinner with my parents. Not only was the menu absolument délicieux, the opportunity to spend time with my parents will be treasured in the lonely weeks to come. Enclosed in a beautiful, encouraging card was a generous wad of Euros, which will come in very useful when I arrive in France.

My last Sunday playing piano at Saint Teresa of Avila.  Father Tom called me up for a special blessing, and a reception followed Mass, complete with delightful snacks and a massive cake. I was touched by the steady stream of well-wishers (many of whom I had never met before) who approached me to tell me how touched they were by my nine years of performing with the music program.  The singers in my group also presented me with a lovely card and necklace. While Metz may have a lofty gothic cathedral complete with Chagall stained glass windows, it will never match the lovely community I've had the privilege of playing for. 

Romantic dinner with Jim at Sweet Lorraines.  We're having a hard time saying goodbye, but we know this is the start of something wonderful.  I'm not going to lie, this is very difficult and I foresee a tearful goodbye a few hours from now.

Workplace Farewell

I received the most marvelous sendoff at work yesterday. While it was no secret I would be receiving a luncheon, I was completely blown away. I was summoned to the conference room to be greeted by not only my wonderful colleagues, but my family and Jim as well.  Balloons and a spectacular Bon Voyage poster graced the walls, and the conference table was loaded with a heavenly spread of middle eastern food, wine, and homemade dessert.  The owner of our company had paid for everything. I was also presented with some beautiful gifts and a card. I was astounded by the effort put forth by everyone, and will always cherish this memory.

About an hour before I left, my boss called me to his office to thank me for my hard work and let me know how valued I was, and how proud of me he was.  I very nearly began to cry, but managed to keep myself together. 

After the ritual of hugs throughout the office, I walked numbly out the door for the final time. I haven't even arrived in France yet, but my life is already forever changed.

Eight days away

This week will be my undoing.  Emotions are running high, as is to be expected.  I blame lack of sleep and stress.  

It's my last week in the United States, and I don't know how it happened so fast. Suddenly, my job in France is no longer this abstract idea in the distant future.  So far this week I've succeeded in shortening my to-do list by booking my airport transfer from Charles de Gaulle to my hotel in Paris, booking my train from Paris to Metz, notifying my bank that I will be making charges overseas, and compiling printouts of all essential documents.  

I've been toiling away at freelance and pro bono design projects that need to be completed before I leave.  

I've been training my replacement at work, who is interestingly a former college acquaintance. She's very talented, and I'm positive she'll be fine, but the stress of teaching her everything I've learned in three years has been weighing heavily upon me.  I have only three days of work left before I leave, and I don't know how I'll manage to get through everything in that amount of time.  

I've also elected to take a grad level course in French literature as an independent study through Wayne State.  I am nearly finished with the French degree and wanted to exploit my time in France by studying there. After months of effort, I finally found a professor willing to take me on as an independent study.  This class covers 20th century French literature like Camus, Sartre, Apollinaire, and Proust.  I've got heaps of reading and writing to do, and and I'm honestly beginning to doubt my ability to handle this heavy class while establishing myself in France.  At the same time, I know that there is no better place on earth to read 20th French literature than in France itself, and that my French would improve drastically by studying there.  However, I fear that the stress of the class will inhibit my enjoyment of living and working in France... I have to make a final decision by September 17th... Clarity? Any time now!

I've made some progress packing, but still have some issues to sort through. The mass of belongings that was taking over my bedroom last week has been subdued into either my suitcase or one of several manageable piles on my floor. I'm trying to weed as much unnecessary belongings as possible out of my suitcases so that I don't exceed the weight limit on the plane.  I've conceded the fact that I'll have to cough up the $50 fee for the extra suitcase on the flight, and quite possibly another $50 for having overweight luggage.

There are so many relatives and friends who I haven't had a chance to say goodbye to, and I realize it may not happen before I leave.  I'm kicking myself for not addressing this issue earlier, giving myself more time to say goodbye to aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends I don't see as often.  I may need to resort to phone calls. This pains me greatly.

Mom and I chatted about my leaving tonight... When she became teary-eyed, I realized how missed I will be at home, and how difficult parting will be.

When I envisioned this move to France, all I saw was happiness, baguettes, and Eiffel Towers... I failed to anticipate the difficulties and heartache that accompany such an undertaking. 

Packing chaos

This is a bird's eye view of the chaos that is my bedroom at the moment, due to my efforts at packing for France. What you don't see is the mess that spills into the hallway.  I've concluded that one suitcase will simply not be enough to move across the ocean for nearly a year. Some stuff I definitely need has been packed, and then there's the vast majority of of my belongings that litters every horizontal surface... trapped in Traveler's Limbo. To pack, or not to pack?

Interesting how the condition of this room mirrors my current state of mind: confused, scattered, and overextended.  By this logic, my anxiety should be dissolved as soon as this mess is.  My mission today is to conquer this lawless cave of doom, and emerge composed, self-assured, and completely undaunted by this new life that awaits me in two weeks.  To think, my troubles can be over in a matter of hours.  

I think I'll take a nap first.

New camera

Bring on the chateaux, cathedrals, lavender fields and mountain scenery! After much research (and two years with a Kodak camera that consumed batteries like it had a contract with Energizer) I have finally joined the ranks of the elite.  That's right, I finally got a Canon. Mr. Nawara (my watercolor teacher) couldn't speak highly enough about Canon, and most of my photographer and artist friends hold the brand in very high regard.

It's a Powershot SX 120 IS, and set me back about $250. 10 times optical zoom, 10 megapixels. I nearly purchased an exquisite $399 model, but thought better of it. If I'm going to drop that kind of money, I'd just as soon go for an SLR than a point and shoot. I also have visions of being mugged for it, like my cousin was on a trip to Poland. (To her credit, she put up a fight and got it back) Plus, I need to be extremely frugal from this point on, if I plan on traveling throughout Europe (and possibly Africa) during my stay there.

Bring on the Bon Voyage dinners!

I really should consider moving to France more often... The bon voyage dinners thus far have been delightful, and I anticipate quite a few more before I leave in 19 days! I feel immeasurable gratitude for all the wonderful people who care this much about me. I will miss them terribly.

Last month Aunt Pat and Grandma took me to The Hill in Grosse Pointe for filet mignon and crème brulée, and regaled me with tales of their adventures all over the world.

This past Thursday, I enjoyed French fare at What Crêpe with Genna, Nicole, and Amanda, and got to meet Amanda's newborn daughter, Cleora.

And last night, Jim's parents took me, Jim, his brother Chris, and Chris's girlfriend Marianne to Waves in St. Clair Shores for margaritas and seafood dinners that couldn't be beat! It meant the world to me that they wanted to celebrate my job in France, and I'm feeling more and more a part of the family. I love them.

I spent most of today washing clothes, packing, working on my ever growing to-do list, and shopping.  While it sounds like I've accomplished a great deal, I've really only succeeded in making a huge, chaotic mess on my bedroom floor... 

Giving notice

As much as you fantasize about escaping the drudgery of normal life, do you ever notice how painful it is when you finally get what you wish for?

I worked up the courage to give a three week notice at a job I've held for three years. It was my first "real job" after obtaining my fine arts degree in 2006.  I was hired in as a design intern, but eventually ended up running the entire marketing department.  I probably learned more there my first six months of work than I ever learned in four years of college.  

Needless to say, I labored over my letter of resignation last night, agonizing over what to say.  I was trembling when I closed the door of my boss's office and broke the news to him, but his reaction diffused my tension.  When I told him I had a a job lined up in France, he was so genuinely happy for me, and he even gave me a hug.  He appreciated that I had given them longer than the standard two weeks to ease the transition process, and wants me involved in the hiring of the new employee.  The owner of the company was also very gracious to me, shaking my hand, and telling me that I am always welcome to return if they have room.  I decided to send an email to my coworkers rather than distract people one by one, and within 30 seconds, everyone was streaming into my office, squealing with delight, hugging me and congratulating me. It was lovely.  AND, they're planning a luncheon in my honor!

Through all the hardships that accompanied my job, it is really an outstanding group of people, and I will miss them.

I didn't expect to feel as saddened as I do.  Now that everyone at work knows, it's starting to become more... real. 

This is really happening... 

Resignation

I'm gathering the courage to give my notice of resignation at work tomorrow... for me, this is far more daunting than the upcoming move to Europe! I've written a cordial letter of resignation, which I will present to my bosses tomorrow.  I will update tomorrow with how it went!

Officially certified to teach English as a second language!

Despite being one speeding ticket (no points), a U of M parking ticket, and $950 (class cost) poorer, as of today, I am nevertheless officially certified through Oxford Seminars to teach English as a second/foreign language (TESL/TEFL). Although not required for my upcoming teaching position in France, I decided to take the intensive 60 teacher training certification course to gain confidence in the classroom.  

My anxiety over teaching in a foreign country has diminished to a tolerable level, and I definitely have a firmer grasp of lesson planning, classroom management techniques, and teaching speaking, listening, reading, and writing. 

Needless to say, it's been three sleepless weeks, as the workload of this course was heaped onto my piles of other responsibilities (French paperwork, doctor's appointments, packing, freelance design work, etc). I was so relieved to complete the class that I promptly came home for a 4 hour nap. 

I leave in 28 days... and so much still needs to be done... including informing my boss that I'm leaving... the scariest part of all! 

I just need to have faith that I'll get everything done... Miraculously, up until this point in my life, I always have. 

Visa arrival

Wow, this is amazing! My French Consulate appointment was Friday morning in Chicago, and my visa was already delivered via express mail this morning! I wasn't expecting to receive it for at least a few weeks.  

As you can see, the visa is a sort of sticker affixed to a page in my passport. I look like a secret agent in my photo!

The arrival of my visa gives me the legal right to live and work in France for one full year, which means I'm cleared to leave September 21st.

Getting my French Visa in Chicago

I'm officially one step closer to France! Dad accompanied me to beautiful Chicago for my Visa appointment at the French Consulate, where I had to appear in person and submit my arrêté de nomination, as well as my passport and some paperwork.  My Visa should be delivered within two weeks, at which point I will be free to leave for France!

Dad and I had an absolute ball!  Being cut from the same cloth, we get along famously! We wandered the streets all weekend, photographing everything in sight, and eating quite well too!

Highlights of the trip include:

*Cloud Gate, a three story steel sculpture affectionately known as "The Bean," in Millenium Park.

*Visiting Seurat's Un dimanche après midi à la grande Jatte and Hopper's Nighthawks at the Art Institute of Chicago.

*Dinner and Guinness at Elephant and Castle Pub.

*The stained glass museum at Navy Pier (refreshingly air conditioned and devoid of crowds.)

*Free Opera performance at the Jay Pritzger Pavilion in Millennium Park.

*Exploring our two favorite skyscrapers: My favorite is the Tribune Tower, and with its neo gothic architecture, and stones and bricks from places all over the world, including the Pyramids of Giza, Notre Dame de Paris, and Edinburgh Castle. Dad's favorite is the Hancock Building, the structural expressionist masterpiece in the commercial district.

*Outdoor breakfasts, drinking in the sounds of the city waking up.

What an unforgettable trip! I'm thrilled to have shared this experience with my dad! As amazing as our trek across the city was, it was the conversations we shared that I will treasure the most.  

FINALLY: The arrival of my Arrêté de Nomination!

At long last, it's here, my Arrêté de Nomination, which is my work contract.  My darling, yet nocturnal college student sister slept through an attempt at delivery yesterday morning, and so I had to wait until this morning to pick it up at the Post office. (ohhh the suspense!) Thankfully, I had today off, so I was there 15 minutes before opening, and the clock could not move quickly enough! I was so nervous about whether or not I would receive the contract length I wanted.

When the envelope was safely in my hands, I could not stop trembling with excitement, which made opening it take longer, and of course, put me in even more of a panic.  Once I had torn the envelope open, my eyes darted all over the page, scanning for the vital information... This took awhile too, as the document is entirely in French. Ahh, there it was! 9 months!!! Primary!!! Exactly what I wanted! Sweet relief!

Now that I have my Arrêté, the next step is to travel to French Consulate in Chicago to obtain my visa, which will give me the legal right to work France. 

Bonjour, Metz!

Although I've known since April that I've been accepted to the Nancy-Metz académie, better known as the Lorraine region of France, up until today, I had no idea what city or town I'd be placed in, the length of my contract, or the age group I would be teaching. The odds of getting one of the two large cities of Lorraine (Nancy or Metz) are pretty slim, and I anticipated getting a small town or suburb. I didn't even want to get my hopes up for one of the big cities.

Today I received my first contact from my school district in France, via email.  It seems that indeed I will be teaching in the city of Metz "proper", the capital of Lorraine! This is wonderful! It's a fairly large city (not by American standards, of course). 

After some Googling, I've determined that Metz (pronounced "mess") will be a lovely place to live. It has a gothic cathedral, Saint-Etienne, which contains stained glass windows by my favorite artist of all time, Marc Chagall.  It has a large train station which means I'm only an 82 minutes from Paris, and even closer to Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium! The city center is closed to traffic, and very pedestrian friendly.  The Moselle River splits in two around a small, picturesque island in the centre ville. Nicknamed the "green city", Metz has a number of public gardens and parks, all beautifully landscaped. 

Of course, the arrival of my work contract, or Arrêté de Nomination, will tell me what age group I'll be teaching, as well as the length of my contract. I'm hoping to teach primary aged children for the longest contract available, which is nine months. I want to spend as much time in France as possible.  Apparently, the Arrêté should arrive this month. I can hardly contain my excitement... I need to know!