I was feeling rather neutral about my last week at Lycée Marlioz. After all, I see most of the students once every two weeks, and I hadn't exactly made the effort to memorize any of their names. I don't mean to say that I didn't like the kids. I just never felt a particular attachment to them. Some of the kids drove me crazy. Some of them never spoke a word. Some of them constantly overflowed with ridiculous comments. But at the end of it all, when they started thanking me for a fun year and telling me how much they enjoyed my class, I felt a little surge of -- reciprocity perhaps. These kids have been object of my late night lesson planning, and I realized that I felt grateful to them for playing this role. They laughed at my dumb jokes, and they participated in the silly games. They turned me into a teacher. And for that I am grateful.
--------
This is my last full week of classes before, yes, another 2 week vacation. After vacation I am going on a 10-day field trip to Holland with a group of 33 10th graders that I have never met. We're traveling overnight on a bus to the north of Holland where we are splitting up to stay with families. I will be staying with some woman. OK. Otherwise, during the day we will be visiting windmills, riding bikes, and visiting flower markets. There is some international student conference in which the students will participate. I am one of 3 "adults" who is supposed to encourage the students to speak English and not to do drugs, etc. I feel both excited and slightly panicked about the trip. What do I know about being a chaperon?
Anyway, after the trip, I will move out of my apartment in Aix and into Tessa Lynch's (another assistant) apartment in the city of Annecy, where I have spend many weekends this year. Tessa is leaving to go back to the states, so I am finishing her lease which runs through June. For May and June then I will be living in Annecy, doing odd jobs to make some money. Hopefully I can make money tutoring. I am excited about leaving Aix-les-OLD. That's OLD as in OLD people. I think I've aged about 25 years since moving to Aix. It's really worn me down...
My sister Joy is coming to France on May 6th, the day after she graduates! I am excited. We're going to spend a few days in Paris, absorbing the touristic and not so touristic sights, before heading to my apartment in Annecy. Annecy is home to some stunning mountain scenery and a crystal clear lake. Hopefully it will be warm enough to take a dip. Joy will stay for about 10 days. I can't wait to spend time with my little sis.
Next year. I have applied to be an assistant again. This time, however, I chose to teach at a school that teaches teachers. The type of school is called IUFM. I would teach adults who are preparing to teach or who need to take some additional English credits. I would be placed somewhere in this same region and would have similar responsibilites to the job I have now. But I would be teaching adults. The positions for this program are given to first-time applicants, however, and I am not guarenteed a spot. I will find out mid-May if I have the position. If I don't get the position, I will probably send my CV to other private schools and see what happens. I'm just not quite ready to leave France.
So that leaves July, August, and part of September open. I don't know where I'll be but I need to be making some money for the fall.
