Triumphant Return

Sitting in the Helsinki airport ... Finland seems nice, from the windows. And besides, any airport with free WiFi is cool with me.

On the other hand, I went in so the wrong direction to get here. And I left at 4am. Ughhhh.

More reports upon return to the civilized world ... You know, the one with internets.

School's out!

My last day at school was Tuesday, although I had a dinner with teacher friends last night and I'm going to the teacher BBQ tonight, so the last time I go to school is actually this evening.

Anyway, it was so sad to say goodbye to my 400 (ok so maybe not, but still) different classes ... they were (mostly) so cute, and so sad when they found out that I might not be there with them next year. I gave them my address in Manlius and told them that I'd miss them, and if they wanted to send me letters or pictures I'd be very happy to hear all about their new adventures (and of course I'd respond)! I think I got a bajillion bisous and hugs and they were ready to take me hostage, which a little bit broke my heart.

At any rate, it's miserable here in Paris, it's been 32°C and sunny most days ... aka just about 90°F. There is no worse place to be than a city in such conditions, except maybe an un-air-conditioned city (cough Paris cough) or a swamp.

Monday I leave for La Baule with the family I babysit for a relaxing week of beachy goodness. I'm looking forward to it.

Then after that, hold on to your hats --- I'm back on the correct continent July 13th. I'm so excited to come home that I can barely get out coherent sentences in French these days.

For whom the bell tolls ...

I started freaking out a little because I don't have a contract for next year, and I'd like to at least feel roughly secure in my planning for next year.

So yesterday Nicole (one of my principals) and I call up the bigwigs at one of the twelve thousand levels of French hierarchy to ratchet up the pressure a bit. Instead of reassuring me that of course I'll have my job next year, don't you worry, I hear :

"Not only are old assistants not priority because we want to give new people a chance, this year has an unusually high number of applications, so we won't know whether or not we're taking any old assistants until after we have responses from the new people ... it will probably late in the summer, possibly even in September."

So much for reassuring words.

Now I'm looking at jobs in private schools and internships, and really anything else I can find. It kills me though, because I work in impoverished schools with kids that have very little going for them, and I want to stay ... but the Education Nationale can't get their act together.

Thank you, bureaucracy.

Now I just have to keep breathing, since the sudden stress of this announcement has sent me into stress overdrive.

The dark ages.

Not having internet is upsetting.

Stuff and Bother

Since the other day, the internet at my house has totally crapped out. Not sure what the deal is, but it's not even broadcasting a Wifi signal, although the modem box is lit up like Christmas and everything seems to be fine.

Gah. On the other hand, I have just under a month left, and I have a lot of books to finish ... Maybe it's for the best? We'll see. Thank GOODNESS I bought my Blackberry, it's already saving the day.

Anyway, this one's for you Gennie. Saw it and it made me laugh. It's a fashiony clothes and shoes store. Go figure.

Rainbow ones in the Marais!

Use the force?

This statue is of Henri IV, and it's on the Pont Neuf. I might add that originally he wasn't holding a light saber.

Not sure why we gave him one, but it's AWESOME. It's blue, in case you wondered.

Uniforms -- Yeah cool, but is he holding a violin?

Last night, I got home from school, picked up a few things from the store, and plopped down in front of my computer for a relaxing night of lazy inefficaciousness.

In the course of a quick Facebook tour, I saw that my friend had posted about having extra tickets for a concert of the Garde Républicaine (The French army band/orchestra). That night. In an hour and a half. I quick sent him a message to which he replied "Hurry!"

So I went. So cool. Not only was it fancy (I love playing dress-up), it was in the fancy military closed courtyard and buildings. Huge. Old school.

The best part was their program. The first half was the concert band playing Bernstein, Gershwin and Respighi (the Calvary band made a guest appearance on the Respighi and I was like 5 yards from them). The Entre acte had a surprise performance of Django Reinhardt by some of the orchestra and three guitarists. I think I drooled. Hearing the Marseillaise improv'ed upon, in the by the French army orchestra in Paris? I can probably die happy now. The second part was music I know better -- Berstein, the Carousel Waltz, My Fair Lady, Hello, Dolly! and an arrangement of West Side Story.

On a funny note, the irony of a French chorus (of men only, mind you) singing America from West Side Story (you know, the one where typically Americans pretend to have a Puerto Rican accent), about wanting to 'be in America,' was not lost on me. Also, hearing them sing 'I Feel Pretty.' BAHAHAHAHAA.

Anyway, the other cool thing was that we were seated in a sort of balcony behind the orchestra (which, given the number of brass instruments on stage, was totally cool with me). We could see the conductor and everything, which made for a funny change. The other night I went to see the opera (in concert format) Genoveva at the Salle Pleyel, which has seating behind the orchestra, and I thought about how much I'd like to try it sometime. Done. Things work out :)

Next thing is to get my subscription for next year's concerts taken care of - if you want to have advance tickets for them you have to book now. Hillary Hahn is coming ...