My long weekend in Avignon was AMAZING. I remembered so much of the city, got to meet some of Nicky’s great assistant friends, and ate home-made dinners chez Nicky every night. Seeing the Palais des Papes was something I had always hoped I would get to do again, and it didn’t disappoint. It reminds me of all of the great moments I spent in the city with my friends three years ago, and I think will always serve as the focal point for my memories of Avignon.
But as life tends to go on, bringing with it shocks and disturbances as often as it brings good times with old friends in places we love, I found myself a bit disheartened when I returned to Chambéry. Having spent part of the weekend at Nicky’s using her much more reliable internet reconnecting with people back home, I came to the realization that I managed to make some really terrible life choices before leaving for France. Add this to the stress of needing to actually finish my graduate school applications and my frustration with teaching elementary schoolchildren with whom I don’t really share a common language, and the past week or so has been rough to say the least. I never thought I would be the kind of person to want to leave Europe (or a job right after graduation) but I’m finding myself close to the point of just buying a plane ticket and going home, and ending my contract early. The only reason I really want to stay is because I want to be able to move on to bigger things next year, i.e. grad school, and I know that I wouldn’t be a serious candidate if I left this contract early.
Aside from that angsty mess, things are going as well as could be imagined. I’m getting help with lesson planning and am coming up with new games to play with my kids. I started teaching Thanksgiving this week, so at least a small portion of my lessons is going to drawing handprint turkeys, a welcome relief from the emotional strain that accompanies teaching children (especially those who still can’t read in any language, let alone a foreign language). Things will go on, and get better, and I just want to be able to make it to that point with some sanity intact. Also, I think I am boycotting boxed wine. It makes me an emotional (and belligerent) wreck. Sorry to anyone involved in Friday night’s rambling attempts at serious, emotional conversation.
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