So today was a very exciting day because I finally received my orientation package from the university!!! All my contracts are signed and mailed, including my housing contract, so I'm pretty much set. I also went all OCD and bought an organizer folio and sorted out all of my documents (you'd be surprised at the amount of random pieces of information the french government needs to allow you into their country...let alone get a bank account) and put them all in order with multiple copies...as I have learned, when the french say they need extra copies, bring double the amount they ask you too. Not to mention passport photos, I have had about 10 of them made already, and I'm going to need probably about 6 more at least.
So the classes I'm going to be teaching, I am relieved to learn are all conversation and composition classes of varying level and subject matter. I may very well end up teaching a "medical" class or a "psychology" class, but basically a class on conversation and vocabulary concerning that subject, not actually teaching about those subjects, just their vocab in English. Another thing I am loving is the amount of vacation time I'm going to be getting, 1 week in oct, 2 at christmas, 1 in feb, 2 for easter, and then I'm done teaching at the end of July and I have the entire month of August to roam Europe! Graham has decided that is when he will be planning on visiting so we can roam together! Very exciting!
Today I learned all about how to hunt for apartments, get hooked up with bank accounts, cell phones, furniture, bicycles and food. Turns out you can rent a bicycle from a stand on one side of the city and return it somewhere totally different, kinda like rent-a-wreck only for bikes with super sensors so they always know where they are, Neat! I have attached a copy of the map of all the different neighborhoods in Tours and where to hang out and eat. I must say I am totally stoked for this adventure and am far less sad about leaving, now realizing that there will be plenty of opportunity to see Graham on one of my vacations! Imagine living with someone everyday and then being a continent away from them for a 12 month period of time...it's not a lot of fun, trust me. I have already received such an outpouring of support from friends (both old and new) and I thank you so much for your encouragement, it means so much to me! Right now all that is left to do is wait for my visa!!
I am put a little online dictionary on the bottom of the page because I am going to start putting up a french word or phrase with each post...and you guys can look it up and educate yourselves:)
~Voici mon secret, il est très simple: On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. (Antoine de Saint-Euxpéry)
♥
Vieux Tours (1) : Centrally located, near the Tanneurs university campus, and the pedestrian
area around Place Plumereau, but some areas can be seedy and the area overall is noisy at
night.
Cathédral (2) : Historic district near the Loire river, relatively calm and within walking
distance from Tanneurs and the main downtown area. Contains the pedestrian street of rue
Colbert, with plenty of bars and restaurants.
Prébendes (3) : Upscale residential neighborhood south of Vieux Tours, within walking
distance from the shops downtown and the Tanneurs site.
Velpeau (4) : Middle/Working class residential neighborhood south of the cathedral, near
the train station. Within walking distance from downtown.
Febvotte: Middle/Working class neighborhood south of the Prébendes. A bit far to walk to
work unless you're used to it.
Tours nord / St Cyr sur Loire: Middle-class/Upscale neighborhood on the hill across the
Loire river from downtown. Within walking or biking distance from downtown, but with
perhaps a long steep uphill return.
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