News May 2010

Some news to share:

I am still teaching at the International School and will continue until the end the the school year on July 2. I kept waiting and getting permission to get an extension. The time kept changing. Finally, all is okayed. I don't think the woman I'm replacing is coming back to school this year. I have an appointment with the school director Monday to see if I can secure a contract for next year. I would really love to continue teaching. It is a great job! I don't work on Wednesdays and we have 8 weeks of vacation during the school year. I work at night and on the weekends though to get my classes set up, but I've worked a bit in advance, so that makes it easier. I don't have soutien anymore during lunch, so I will have 2 hr lunch breaks to get photocopies done and things organized. I also am officially in the public french school system I think. So, I am technically building retirement, I think. I also have just recieved a French social security number.

Anais's first grade french section won a trip to Paris for writing a book. There was a contest with a publisher with 600 first grade classes all over France to write the story of a book and create a cover. Anais's first grade came in 3rd place. They are going to get their book published and will have some kind of ceremony in Paris. The kids are leaving by train from Aix-en-Provence this Tuesday early and will stay in a hotel overnight and come back late Wednesday night. They will see the Eiffel Tower and take a Bateau de Mouche on the Seine. They are very lucky.

I will now start doing some translations for the school soon. When my kids are ill and I take off of work, we have to make it up and one way that everyone is forced to do is translating, since the school has no official translator. So, I am the only person yet to translate. At least I will be able to put that on my resume. This Wednesday I have to work because we will be testing about 30 kids for their English abilities. It is only for pre-school, 3-4 yr olds. But this is my first time doing this. We have a friend whose son is getting tested, there are few spaces available, but I will see what I can do.

I'm going to get my papers together for l'autoentrepreneuer. It is a status for people in France that is easy to begin and become self-employed. I want to buy some educational books for school for references and for me to save time getting my classes set up each time. If the school doesn't pay me back which is likely, I want to be able to deduct my costs if possible. I will have the whole summer to work for myself as well.

I got Nikki into the local daycare here full-time, thank goodness and so far, found one person who is reliable who can watch Nikki when he's ill. I also offerred a set up to pay her to fold our laundry and iron our clothes. I'm overwhelmed with housework, laundry taking up the most amount of time. I don't want to spend my free-time doing laundry. Next on my list is find a cleaning woman to do the dirty work and I'll be all set.

Other news, Xavier got corrective eye surgury 2 weeks ago. He is not yet completely healed, but is seeing already pretty well. Austin will be going on an overnight exchange as well with his pre-school class soon. I still have to get his teacher the papers back.

My next goals are to get l'autoentrepeneuer set up Monday, get the education system figured out. I want to get my translation certification and go back to school and get an advanced degree. Most education is afterall free in France, so I want to take advantage of that. I'm going to keep my career in education because my kids are small, I want to have more time to spend with them. I have a hard time making choices regarding career and I know I choose not to compete in the traditional way, ie. kill myself regarding working hours. I want to have a well rounded life. I still want to write novels and become published, but it is more important right now to get my career started and stabilized a bit. Writing will come later. We also want to buy a house here, though the costs are staggering and the size is nothing more than a human box. That is a little frustrating. I knew I wanted to go back to work. I just didn't realize how badly I needed it. I like getting out of the house and having a purpose. Educating kids, you actually see them learn and increase their knowledge. It is nice. I'm learning a lot. I really wanted to work for myself, but lacked the self-confidence, because I had very little experience. That was my problem. Now, I feel much better, even though I've only been teaching full-time technically for 2 months. I've learned a lot in 2 months. One of my American colleagues said the English teachers got together and all support hiring me on full-time for next year. They are giving me a positive reccomendation. I had a very rocky beginning, but I think everyone does. I still have a lot to learn about teaching methods and more importantly for things that don't come nearly as naturally as teaching as controlling a classroom and children. I'm buying books now about classroom management and sort of reward systems and punishment for naughty kids who are disruptive and don't learn. There
is a huge amount yet that I need to learn regarding teaching. It's nice to use my brain again. Xavier is much happier as well. I finally have a perfect balance in my life. I feel much better and am soooo thankful to be able to work again and really, truly have the perfect job for the current time in my life. I couldn't imagine anything better than what I'm doing right now, including the hours. It is really great! I am very happy and have luckily shortened the length of depression one associates with moving to a new country. The first 4 months being in France were difficult, being socially isolated. But we have started to have friends now and I feel much more integrated. I am very, very fortunate. The international school is a bubble and the international people are well educated and well-travelled. I don't want all of our friends to come from this bubble, but I am soooo thankful to have access to this bubble in the first place.

Have a good day!