La vie francaise, tu me manqueras

After posting a list of the negative of living here, I can only post a list of things that I will miss about this place. It is hard to think that this is my last night in such a wonderful place that I have made into my little French home, but reflecting on all these amazing things makes my heart happy to have had this experience rather than sad about leaving.

Things I will miss about France

FOOD. Petit Ecolier cookies, pain au chocolat, fresh baguette (specifically tradition francaise from caracteres boulangerie), muesli au chocolat, green olive tapenade, croissants, orangina, duck. These are just what I could remember - really though, food here is just amazing! Including the way people eat and appreciate food, sitting down for three course meals for several hours at a time.

Fresh fruits and vegetables easily accessible. This goes along with the food idea - I am going to miss picking up fruits and veggies and knowing they came from local producers.

The weather. Constant blue skies and sunshine and a warm climate, with 300 days of sunshine a year. Don't be surprised if I go through seasonal affective disorder coming back to Michigan...

The friendly provencal “bonjour” I receive as I walk down the street. I swear, most days I feel like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I will miss walking down the street and seeing people I know (students, teachers, etc.) but also greeting all the people I don't know. Whether you're stranger or friend, here in small town Provence, you always offer a big "bonjour!"

Hearing French everyday. Though sometimes all I wanted to hear was English, I have gotten so used to hearing this lovely language being spoken by its locals. It is rare to here in America, and I will miss it.

Being able to speak French everyday. When I arrived here, I was so scared to use the language. Unsure of myself and worried, I thought I would never improve my speaking skills, let alone enjoy speaking without huge amounts of anxiety. Now, I can say I truly enjoy speaking French, and am not worried so much about the mistakes I make when I speak - we are all human.

Provence sunrises. Opening up my blinds each morning to the sun peeking over the trees. Pure bliss. 

Hiking to a nearby village, or two, all in one day. Again, the perks of living in the Luberon.

The colors of Provencal architecture. The beautiful rusty orange, weathered taupe, musky coral buildings with periwinkle blue shutters

Street musicians constantly performing their craft. It wouldn't be a normal day if you didn't hear a lone accordion or a man strumming his guitar and singing songs.

SATURDAY MARKETS. Guys, I just really love markets. Especially Saturday markets in Apt. For a city that most times appears so dead, one would not know this on market day, where you have to shove through a seas of people to get anywhere. I will miss walking around with my straw basket, buying fresh produce and fish as well as other trinkets.

Cheap, but delicious, wine. Noone can go wrong with a 1.50 euro bottle of Cotes du Rhone!

Cheap, but delicious, seafood. Not always so cheap, but always so fresh!

French books for a euro. I have found so many great reads for so cheap, wish that the only option at home was ordering from Amazon.

Being able to hop on a train or plane and three hours later be in a different country. The ability to travel to an entire different culture in a very small amount of time. 

The ease and accessibility of train travel. America, when are you gonna step up your train game?!

History everywhere, within everything. They really know how to appreciate old things here, rather than the new always being so important in the States.

The rolling hills of the Luberon. Filled with vineyards and hillside villages

2 euro bus rides going up to 60 miles away. That's a good deal!

Ummm all boulangeries and patisseries. And all their amazing goodies. See my first item about food.

Not having a full work week. Having classes cancelled constantly, working 12 hours (but mostly less) per week.

Giving private English lessons. I really enjoyed giving private lessons this year. I feel like I have a huge strength in working with students on a one-to-one basis and plan to keep in contact with each of my students in the future!

Planning one lesson per week. Rather than the 15 to prepare a week as a French teacher in the US. Though I do admit, repeating one lesson 15 times got a little monotonous....

The people. Many of my fellow teachers, students, parents, friends have asked me what is the number one thing I will miss about living in France. My answer has always been this: the people I have met. Whether it was my French colleagues and students or the assistants I met from America and other countries, these people were so friendly and welcoming, helping me to feel at home in a place that was miles away from my comfort zone. Because of them, I was able to grow into the person I am today - more independent, self-assured, globally aware, and confident. Merci beaucoup to all of the amazing people I met here (and also to all of the amazing support I got from home!).

I don't know what my future has in store for me - when I look out on to the horizon, all I see is a hazy vision of a road ahead. Before this experience, that might have scared me; I was always one step ahead with planning my own life. But now, I know that it will be alright - things will fall into place as they should. All I have to do is take the next step. Merci bien, France, for leading me down this road, but now I think it's time for me to take a different path. I will be back someday and even though I don't know when that will be, I know I will come back to you, like seeing an old friend after a long time apart. Au revoir, mon amie - and thank you for everything.

To Travel is To Live

After a couple relaxing days in Apt, Ali and I are off on a 20 day European adventure starting tomorrow morning! Yesterday, I picked Ali up from Avignon TGV and we have been enjoying the past two days soaking up the laid-back atmosphere of Provence life before our whirlwind of travels. With most of my administrative stuff taken care of now, it feels like it is time to leave and see new places. What new places, you may ask? Here's our itinerary: Avignon->Barcelona, Spain->Avignon->Marseille->Zadar, Croatia->Dubrovnik, Croatia->Split, Croatia->Zadar, Croatia->Marseille->Nice->Cinque Terre, Italy->Pisa, Italy->Milan, Italy->Athens, Greece->Santorini, Greece->Athens, Greece->Geneva, Switzerland->Avignon. We won't be back in Apt until May 9, so definitely no posts on here until then. Be looking for updates on Facebook and Instagram, will be posting when I can! Until then, imagine you are with me on the beaches in Santorini....

Yup... I'm really excited!

British or American?

When I applied to be an English Teaching Assistant in France, my main goal was to learn more of and improve my knowledge of the French language; a goal in which I feel like I have attained. However, I never expected to learn so much about my native language of English! As I have lived the past seven months with Amy, a British university student, I have learned that how the British speak is miles different from how Americans speak. I find it only fitting to finally post my list of differences between British and American English today, as I just said a final (and tear-filled) goodbye to my British flatmate this morning. So, here goes!

**Note: this was a list compiled over the course of our living together. It is from our personal realizations of differences between our nation's vernaculars and is not at all complete.**

American	British
Fries	Chips
Chips	Crisps
Flashlight	Torch
Sweater	Jumper
Garbage/Trash	Rubbish
Vacation	Holiday/s
Hot plate	Hob
Sneakers	Trainers
Sweatpants	Track suit bottoms
Panties	Knickers
Movie	Film
Candy	Sweets
Math	Maths
Pimples	Spots
Dinner/Supper	Tea
Fall	Autumn
Saran wrap	Cling Film
Wallet	Purse
Garbage can	Bin
Coupons/Gift cards	Vouchers
Check-out	Till
Mocking you/Making fun of you	Taking the piss out of you
Hard cookies	Biscuits
Movie theatre	Cinema
Lucky	Jammy
Sledding	Sledging
Pajamas	Jimmies
Wrinkles	Creases
Santa Clause	Father Christmas
Crock Pot	Slow cooker
Pants	Trousers
Eraser	Rubber
I don’t care	I’m not bothered
Round Trip	Return
Little things	Bits and bobs
Apartment	Flat
Roommate	Flat mate
Thumb tacks	Pins
Mardi Gras	Pancake Day
Closed	Shut
My house/your house/her house	Mine/your’s/her’s
Go to bed	Tuck in
Lay out	Sunbathe
Dessert	Pudding
Braid	Plait
Hair tie	Hair bauble
Take	Pick
It does what it says on the label	It does what it says on the tin
Line	Queue
Bill	Note
Grades	Marks
Canker sores	Ulcers
2:30	Half two
What do you want to do?	What do you fancy?
Drive stick	Drive with gears
Bachelorette Party	Hen night
Expenses	Outgoings
In a wedding	Going to be a bridesmaid/groomsmen
Cup of tea	Cuppa

All the vocabulary differences aside, I could not have imagined spending seven months with a greater person. Living in Apt is hard - it is one of those things that is difficult to explain to people that have not experienced the assistantship like we have. Through good times and bad, we got each other through this experience and I can not be more grateful to have gained another great friend, British or not. Although she will be across the pond, I hope we will stay in contact for years to come, with reunions in England, America or elsewhere. To Amy, wishing you a last two great weeks in Provence, and best of luck in your adventures this summer and beyond! Tu vas me manquer!* xxx**

*Look, I finally figured out how to order it!
**Your British ways are rubbing off on me... :)

An end is just another beginning

I never thought this day would come so quickly. Today, I taught my last classes, which means my contract as an English Teaching Assistant in France is completed. I am feeling so many emotions right, but if I had to put it in just one word: bittersweet.

This entire week has been a whirlwind of goodbye classes, giving goodbye gifts, and the never ending process of trying to close accounts down. I am happy to say that everything is now in the process of being closed* which brings the stress of the end of this experience way down. Now, I can enjoy my last few days here, before traveling all around Europe.

Monday, I had my last lessons at the business where I gave conversation lessons. I wrote each of the adults a nice card and brought chocolate to celebrate. When they came in and saw this, they said "Good, we got something for you too!" and presented me with hand-crafted lavender oil from here in Provence. They said it was a souvenir to remember this region and them - surely I will never forget their kindness! As I said goodbye to my boss's wife and dog, while all of us had a little bit of tears in our eyes, I finally realized how amazing that opportunity was. To teach at such a small business which made me feel like a part of their family was an unforgettable experience. As I exchanged les bises with my boss at the end of our last car ride together, I continued to thank him for everything he has done for me and promised to contact him when I return to Provence after my travels, so that we could maybe get together for a lunch or something. Even though I realize this might not happen, the invitation is just another example of the quality of people I have met here: they are some of the friendliest and welcoming people I know.

Tuesday brought a large surprise: an organized goûter in one of my favorite classes! As we sat around eating sweets that all the students had prepared and talked about my future and their futures, I realize how much I have made an impact on some of my students. They presented me with a sheet of paper with lovely goodbye messages, some so touching that I again was holding back tears. For my second class of the afternoon, we saw my house on Google Earth, which was weird and somewhat comforting to realize that I will be going back there soon. As I said goodbye to this class, another favorite, I couldn't help but well up yet again, saying that maybe we may see each other again, yet knowing in my heart that it won't happen. That is when Marc turned to me and said something I will never forget, "An end is just another beginning."  At this point, I was about to boil over as he had tears in eyes too.

After class, Cathy took me somewhere that we have tried again and again to go to together: Rustrel, also known as le Colorado Provençal. It was finally a perfect day to go so we set off with her dog Fluffy in tow. We wandered around the red rock formations of this wonderful site, which also included a small waterfall and a desert area nicknamed le Sahara. Although it was no Grand Canyon, I could see why everyone said I needed to visit this site before I left - it was absolutely incredible to take in. It was such a nice way to spend a beautiful afternoon, speaking in French with my coordinating teacher, reflecting on this entire experience together. At the end, I gave her the card and gift for her and her husband and tried to get out a simple "merci" without crying. When I explained that it is difficult for me to think about leaving, she said, "But you can always come back! You will always have a place to stay with us!" Again, the overwhelming kindness of the people here never ceases to amaze me - I will be back.

Wednesday brought more goodbye classes but one was special in particular: my private lesson with a student in Seconde. As we have been having guided conversations in these lessons, I thought I would try something different and just see if we could carry on a conversation for two hours with no prompts. We can and did, which goes to show how much better this student's English has become. As I gave her a card with my contact information and chocolate, I said that she could come and visit me whenever she wanted, so she could experience America, or write to me. As I went to hug her goodbye, she decided to give les bises and said to me "Here in Provence, we do three [kisses]!" I replied, "I know, I was giving you an American goodbye: a hug!"

Thursday included my last three classes. As none of these classes were my favorite ones, I hate to say my last day of teaching was less than climactic. However, there were 2 more organized parties with more nice goodbye notes - one class even wrote completely in English! After one more private lesson after school, Amy and I got a ride from Cathy and Marc to a soirée that was hosted in our honor at Veronique's house. It was wonderful to have one last time together, with my teachers as well as Amy, to celebrate an amazing seven months together. There was a moment of stress, as Amy and I were prompted to give an impromptu speech: a description of positives and negatives of our experience in Apt in French to a room full of native speaking teachers AND administrators staring at us. If I didn't mention it before, I am kind of terrified of public speaking. Nevertheless, after we spoke they all said how impressed they were with how well we speak and our accent, so I guess we have improved from being here! We spent the rest of the night drinking wine and champagne while munching on pizza, quiche, veggies, tartes and cakes. My teachers even surprised me with two other amazing keepsakes: a book about the Luberon (filled with amazing pictures of this region) and a French novel that is a thriller and written by a man who is from this region and places the story here as well. I cannot explain how grateful I am to have had such welcoming and friendly teachers to work with, and I plan to keep in contact with them after I return to the states. Ils vont me manquer!** As we all exchanged les bises and said goodbye, it was pretty hard to leave, knowing that the assistantship is officially over.

Amy and I and all the English teachers I worked with! From left to right: Amy, Veronique, Marc, Cathy, Isabelle and Me.

As I sit here on this late Thursday night contemplating all that was, I can't help but have tears welling up in my eyes. I have not fully gotten upset yet***, as it still doesn't feel like the end - I am sure that I will not realize it until later. Amy leaves for Annecy in the morning, meaning that this is our last time in the apartment together, after sharing it for nearly seven months. Although I will go tomorrow morning to pick up Allie from Avignon TGV and will spend the next four weeks traveling around with her, it is going to be weird to be here without my British compatriate - I will miss her! How seven months can go by so quickly, I will never understand. As I am having trouble truly (and succinctly) putting into words what the assistantship meant to me, I am going to try to put it into three simple words: c'était incroyable - it was incredible.

And now, onto another beginning!

*That is, once I mail my phone and already written lettre de résliation on Saturday to Virgin Mobile.
**Translation: I will miss them!

***That might not be true - when I started writing this Wednesday, I might have sobbed like a blubbering idiot. But reporting from Thursday night: I am fine (at the moment).