So I also wanted to write about a conversation I had with my dad yesterday.
I was talking to him about something unrelated to me leaving, but I don't remember what it was! Somehow he got into a little speech about how you have to live life fast, and take every opportunity because most of them only come once. He also told me that you only get to live this life one time, and it goes by so quickly so you have to do all you can now, while you can. I thought this was very wise, and excellent advice! Especially for someone like me who is indecisive, and wastes a lot of time mulling over the details of something rather than just doing it! Thank God it didn't get in the way of me going to France, but I want to really take heed to everything he told me!
Live your life and be free!
<3
Francesca
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Almost Gone!
It's really late, I'm sleepy, and I haven't started packing yet so I am going to go to sleep ASAP so I can wake up at a decent hour tomorrow, but I just wanted to pop in with a quick update. I wanted to write more frequently leading up to my departure, but time is going by so quickly!
So I only have 6 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!!
It's starting to hit me.
I've felt like a crazy person at times over these last couple of days because I have so many emotions that keep coming up. I either break out into a spontaneous dance start screaming out of pure excitement, or burst into tears, or just start getting short of breath, when I think about the move. Lol I guess I am kinda crazy, huh? This is such an amazing opportunity, and such a blessing to be moving to France! It really is my dream come true, and I can't believe it's real! And it will also be so amazing to be on my own for the first time! It's going to be so cool! I'm glad it's an apartment and not a dorm or something.
Over the weekend I celebrated my going away by salsa dancing thursday, country dancing friday, and having diner and going to a bar with music after on saturday. The most touching was saturday, because it was spent with my best friends. Going away has really made me stop and appreciate what I have here, and how fortunate I am to have great people in my life who love and care about me. It's one of the lovely side effects I guess.
So I also did something crazy today and GOT A TATTOO! It was really painful, but also a beautiful moment for me because it's such a major decision and my mom and sisters were there for me and encouraging me to suck it up and do it! :-) My tattoo says "faith" and is something that will really be meaningful to me in this experience!
La vie est trop bonne!
<3
Francesca
So I only have 6 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!!
It's starting to hit me.
I've felt like a crazy person at times over these last couple of days because I have so many emotions that keep coming up. I either break out into a spontaneous dance start screaming out of pure excitement, or burst into tears, or just start getting short of breath, when I think about the move. Lol I guess I am kinda crazy, huh? This is such an amazing opportunity, and such a blessing to be moving to France! It really is my dream come true, and I can't believe it's real! And it will also be so amazing to be on my own for the first time! It's going to be so cool! I'm glad it's an apartment and not a dorm or something.
Over the weekend I celebrated my going away by salsa dancing thursday, country dancing friday, and having diner and going to a bar with music after on saturday. The most touching was saturday, because it was spent with my best friends. Going away has really made me stop and appreciate what I have here, and how fortunate I am to have great people in my life who love and care about me. It's one of the lovely side effects I guess.
So I also did something crazy today and GOT A TATTOO! It was really painful, but also a beautiful moment for me because it's such a major decision and my mom and sisters were there for me and encouraging me to suck it up and do it! :-) My tattoo says "faith" and is something that will really be meaningful to me in this experience!
La vie est trop bonne!
<3
Francesca
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
And the countdown continues...
Il y a 13 jours restant!
I leave in 13 days! I feel like I'm on an emotional rollercoaster. Well actually, I am. But such is normal for someone experience all that I am right now.
It's really an unbelievable thing, to be going so far away for such a long period of time. And for me it's complex (as everything seems to be) because I'm used to travelling, and the idea of "leaving" is nothing new for me. But my brain is just now starting to register that this is not just the average vacation. In fact, it's not a vacation at all! I'm going to live there. Create a life there. Grow and change as a person there. It's crazy!
But I'm so happy, and excited, and thankful that it's France. Of all the places in the world I could end up, it's a blessing to be placed in France, a place that makes me truly happy.
I was reading through my old journal from the first time I ended up there, and how sad I was when I left. I was so heartbroken, and so desperate to make a way back one day. I had so many hopes because of that. To learn French, to stay longer. Now look at me! God is good.
I remember listening to this song so much when I came back, and feeling just like she does. I know it's corny, but it's true! I love listening to it now and not being sad, but knowing that my dreams are coming true instead. :)
<3
Francesca
I leave in 13 days! I feel like I'm on an emotional rollercoaster. Well actually, I am. But such is normal for someone experience all that I am right now.
It's really an unbelievable thing, to be going so far away for such a long period of time. And for me it's complex (as everything seems to be) because I'm used to travelling, and the idea of "leaving" is nothing new for me. But my brain is just now starting to register that this is not just the average vacation. In fact, it's not a vacation at all! I'm going to live there. Create a life there. Grow and change as a person there. It's crazy!
But I'm so happy, and excited, and thankful that it's France. Of all the places in the world I could end up, it's a blessing to be placed in France, a place that makes me truly happy.
I was reading through my old journal from the first time I ended up there, and how sad I was when I left. I was so heartbroken, and so desperate to make a way back one day. I had so many hopes because of that. To learn French, to stay longer. Now look at me! God is good.
I remember listening to this song so much when I came back, and feeling just like she does. I know it's corny, but it's true! I love listening to it now and not being sad, but knowing that my dreams are coming true instead. :)
<3
Francesca
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thinking about the Kids
Today I was reading the Assistants in France Forum, and going through some of the posts about teaching Primary school. They were exchanging advice about which books to read, sing-along songs and what keeps the kids interested or what helps them really learn. I started picturing myself in front of a classroom of children, and the transfer of knowledge that will take place. I'm really going to help someone learn something! It's so special to me that I have the opportunity to help them. I really hope I can be a teacher that they remember, and appreciate, and learn from. Even if it's something as simple as colors or the alphabet, I really want to help spark their interest in English and encourage them to continue with it in the future!
I'm going to go to a used bookstore and try to find some good books to bring. I'm also going to bring a couple of Dr Seuss books I have left from my childhood. I'm assisting, and they'll probably tell me what to do so I won't get too crazy bringing my own things. But I'm looking forward to it! It's times like these where I really wish my grandma was still alive so I could tell her about it, and get her advice (she was an elementery school teacher). She would have been so proud of me...
<3
Francesca
P.S: 22 Days left!!!!!
J'ai reçu mon visa!!!!!
I got my visa in the mail today! It was such a joyous occasion.
Last night some major drama went down at my house. It involved a lot of screaming and shouting and was downright exhausting. What happened has nothing to do with my trip to France (thank God), so it has no place in this blog and therefore I won't go into detail about it.
This morning it was difficult to stay asleep (the LA heat probably has something to do with that though), and I spent hours tossing and turning until the afternoon. When I woke up, I stumbled into the kitchen to get some Ben and Jerry's to comfort myself, and on the way I spotted a large envelope on the diner table. It was the envelope I had brought to my visa appointment! I tore through the enveolope and opened my passport to see a page with a photo of myself and a visa to work in FRANCE! Soooooo freakin exciting! It really lifted my spirits and was just what I needed. So there you have it! I'm almost ready to go! All I have to do is pack, and in 23 days I'm off!
Fact for all you future assistants: it took 9 days for mine to arrive in the mail
<3
Francesca
*Side Note: Sorry it's blurry, but I don't don't think it's safe to have all that info out on the internet! But at least you get the picture. ;)
Monday, September 5, 2011
Pourquoi avez-vous peur, gens de peu de foi?
"Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?"
I went to church this morning. It was the first time in a couple of weeks, (which is a long time for me!) and it was the first sunday of the month so we took communion. I was really late, because I attempted to make the 8am service this morning since I was going to lunch with my grandma.
The message was inspiring, and he spoke about avoiding sin because it so often ruins lives, and fixing our hearts on Jesus and God's will.
Afterwards, I went to the prayer room and asked one of the "mama's" to pray for my trip to France, and my family as I go. In her prayer she said that everything would be great, and that everything that comes from God is good, and asked Him to help me be a teacher that He would be proud of. Afterwards I told her I was hoping for the best, and she looked at me like I was crazy! lol! I fumbled a little bit, and said "I'm believing it will turn out okay." ERRRRR, wrong answer. Then I stuttered "I know everything will be great." This seemed to satisfy her, because she said okay and hugged me.
After that I realized, I really need to work on my faith! I know God is sending me on this journey to France, and that He has a purpose for me there and that He will never leave me or let me fall. The purpose of my faith and the reason I follow Him is because of all the great things He's already done in my life, and because I know that I can trust Him. So why do I worry all the time? To be honest... I'm not even sure what I'm so uncertain about! I have no real reason to fear, and so I always give myself dumb things to worry about just so I don't "have my hopes up." This in itself is against my religion, because we are instructed to operate in hope, faith and love. I think it might be some sort of control issue, like I want to be in control of how sad I feel, or how dissapointed I get, by being prepared for the worst. But it just makes me fearful for nothing, and I waste precious time that could be spent happy and living in the moment!
So I declare it right now, MY MOVE TO FRANCE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, I WILL BE HAPPY, I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS A TEACHER IN FRANCE!
This I claim in Jesus name,
<3
Francesca
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
La Réussite
J'ai des bonnes nouvelles!
My appointment with the consulat général de france was a success! By the grace of God I managed to wake up early, get out of the house (later than I planned, but it all worked out so it doesn't matter), go to CVS and print passport size photos, go to the FedEx office and get the necessary envelopes, and make it to my appointment only five minutes late! I would have been right on time if my GPS hadn't told me it was on the opposite side of the street!
What goes on at an appointment with the French Consolate:
So it sounds a lot more intimidating than it is. Even the security guard seemed more intimidating than he was. At first I didn't like him because he seemed mean. He barked at me to come inside through the speaker, and upon entry demanded that he "wants that phone off," and shortly after ordered me to go outside and throw away my yogurt container. But somehow we ended up talking about my roots (I love this about Francophones, they always ask or try to guess my heritage, because everyone HAS to know where their roots are) and about his in Africa, and by the end of my appointment I was his "little sis" lol.
This was the process of my visa appointment:
1. Sit and wait for my name to be called
2. Walk up to the counter and hand over the required paperwork, which should already be filled out and photocopied as stated on the website. Easy!
3. Take fingerprints
4. Fill out FedEx envelope so they can send your passport back in the mail
5. Say "au revoir" and go wait for your visa to arrive!
Et voila, there you have it! It was really simple, and fairly quick. No interview, no millions of forms, no real hassle. So now all I have left to do is wait to hear from the teachers at my school so I can start preparing lessons for my students! I'm so excited. I genuinely hope the teachers like me, and that the students love me!
<3
Francesca
Oh yeah, I do have a peice of advice! For passport photos, a really cheap route is to take your own photo with a white background (mine was against the living room wall) and go to CVS and print them out as four wallet size prints. It only costs .29 cents, as opposed to paying 9.99 for passport photos! A passport photo is 2x2, and wallet size is 2x3 so all you have to do is trim the edges and you have the same exact thing for wayyyyyy less! I was so happy when I discovered this that I could have (and probably would have if he wasn't my neighborhood CVS guy) kissed man who helped me with the prints!
Bonne nuit mes poupettes! :)
My appointment with the consulat général de france was a success! By the grace of God I managed to wake up early, get out of the house (later than I planned, but it all worked out so it doesn't matter), go to CVS and print passport size photos, go to the FedEx office and get the necessary envelopes, and make it to my appointment only five minutes late! I would have been right on time if my GPS hadn't told me it was on the opposite side of the street!
What goes on at an appointment with the French Consolate:
So it sounds a lot more intimidating than it is. Even the security guard seemed more intimidating than he was. At first I didn't like him because he seemed mean. He barked at me to come inside through the speaker, and upon entry demanded that he "wants that phone off," and shortly after ordered me to go outside and throw away my yogurt container. But somehow we ended up talking about my roots (I love this about Francophones, they always ask or try to guess my heritage, because everyone HAS to know where their roots are) and about his in Africa, and by the end of my appointment I was his "little sis" lol.
This was the process of my visa appointment:
1. Sit and wait for my name to be called
2. Walk up to the counter and hand over the required paperwork, which should already be filled out and photocopied as stated on the website. Easy!
3. Take fingerprints
4. Fill out FedEx envelope so they can send your passport back in the mail
5. Say "au revoir" and go wait for your visa to arrive!
Et voila, there you have it! It was really simple, and fairly quick. No interview, no millions of forms, no real hassle. So now all I have left to do is wait to hear from the teachers at my school so I can start preparing lessons for my students! I'm so excited. I genuinely hope the teachers like me, and that the students love me!
<3
Francesca
Oh yeah, I do have a peice of advice! For passport photos, a really cheap route is to take your own photo with a white background (mine was against the living room wall) and go to CVS and print them out as four wallet size prints. It only costs .29 cents, as opposed to paying 9.99 for passport photos! A passport photo is 2x2, and wallet size is 2x3 so all you have to do is trim the edges and you have the same exact thing for wayyyyyy less! I was so happy when I discovered this that I could have (and probably would have if he wasn't my neighborhood CVS guy) kissed man who helped me with the prints!
Bonne nuit mes poupettes! :)
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