Another Beginning

Hi friends,

I'm starting a blog for the time that I will be spending in France. Partly so my family can see what I'm doing and partly because I kind of wish that I had kept something similar last time I was there.

What I'm doing: Teaching English to elementary children in France. I will be teaching from October until the end of April.

About the program: According to TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program in France) the goal of the program is to "strengthen English-language instruction in French schools by establishing a native speaker presence, while also providing American Francophiles with excellent teaching experience and first-hand knowledge of French language and culture."

Why I'm doing this: Because I love children, English, teaching, and France, it would be more surprising if I weren't. I spent my junior year of college studying in France, and I've missed it more than I expected that I would. Initially, I thought about applying to this program after graduating, but I wasn't at all interested in teaching at that time. Then, I discovered that I am happiest when I am working with children (thanks CLS and MCM!). Trust me, no one was more surprised to find that out that than I was. That series of events plus a few other things eventually led me to applying to TAPIF.

What's going to happen: I have no idea. Things in life rarely happen the way that I expect for them to. Usually what happens is better than I could ever have imagined even though it sometimes seems like a messy disaster during the middle.

What I'm looking forward to: Teaching French children, traveling around Europe, meeting new people, speaking French, eating pastries and eclairs and crepes, and going to Switzerland.

There's still a little bit of time left until I leave, so right now I'm concentrating on not driving everyone around me crazy with my impatience to get to France.

More updates will follow when something exciting happens.

Or possibly when I'm bored in an airport in a few days. 

Because that is likely to happen.