1 more sleep

Tomorrow I (well, we) hop on what Dad continues to call the Big Bird, and the journey begins! At this stage, I'm quite happy for some action... while it has been great to have this time in Napier, it's a bit bizarre just hanging around without much to do. I've had my fill of waiting around, and now I'm ready for some action!

Fortunately, everything fits in my suitcase, although it's rather heavy. Then again, one suitcase and a backpack for carry-on is not too bad, I don't think. Although Ma & Pa are taking a few of the souvenir-y things for me. Thank goodness they have succeeded in packing lightly.

And, I may be jinxing myself here, but I have managed so far without any (too) tearful goodbyes (despite someone's efforts to make me cry), so am hoping to keep that up tomorrow when family comes to farewell us at the airport!

Back home for r&r

Step 1 of the leaving process is complete; I'm no longer in Welly! Came up to Napesville with band, marched around in the Blossom Festival, and didn't return. Actually, must say that it was a great time to stay on a marae and get a dose of Kiwi/Maoritanga before leaving. Not to mention the great sing-along, which included many a good Kiwi song.

Am making the most of this time to catch up with whanau, as most of them are up here and I hadn't been home for a while. (Ooops!) Got my first euros the other day, too. Great excitement! Was quite keen to inspect them, as I hadn't seen any real live euros before. ;p

Now begins the part that I dislike: packing. I've got clothes out in piles but, apparently, I can't keep stuff to a minimum. Damn liking things with patterns and not liking to wear all black!

Mucho excitement!

Well, it's been a fairly big week...

Have been trying like crazy to catch up with people as much as poss before leaving Wellyville, so have spent lots of good times with friends (who I am going to miss!).

Yesterday was my last day of work, and got a great prezzy from the folks in the CDC @ AXA: a handy-dandy travel/toilet bag, already filled with some useful goodies. There was also a great morning tea, in accordance with CDC protocol!

I also found out (made my week) that I can live at one of my schools - the Collège Didier Daurat - and it will be free. So, not only am I hugely relieved to know that I'll have somewhere to go when I get there, it also reduces the financial burden! The teacher from that school that I've been corresponding with is super helpful, and offering to meet me when I arrive. :)

With all of these changes happening, I'm actually beginning to believe that it's all real! It's quite funny because, in a way, this whole year has just been one of me being 'on hold', waiting for France. Now, it's a matter of weeks away!

I'm not excited about saying goodbye (or, at least, 'so long') to heaps of cool people, but I'm getting really excited about seeing new places, and starting my adventure.

I'm not the only one waiting for news...

Have just been having a squiz at the local paper for the region I'm going to, and come across the following article (http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/08/28/895886-Des-eleves-sans-lycee-pour-la-rentree.html if you can understand French, or have some kind of Google-ish toolbar which offers to translate it for you).

Apparently, many students are still waiting to find out which school they have been accepted into, with the return to school only a couple of weeks away. They, too, have been waiting anxiously through the school holidays. No wonder the schools haven't been too forthcoming with info for me!

Contact with Schools, and Past Assistants' Knowledge

A few more important things have happened, so it's time for an update!

1. I reapplied for my visa, and it has been processed and arrived at Mum & Dad's place. Hooray! I am now officially allowed into France, which is a very good thing. However, it was interesting that my (this time) carefully-selected, signature required envelope was simply left in the letterbox. Then again, it's still a big improvement on last time.
2. One of my schools replied to my email! Huzzah. While they didn't offer me a lot of info, they did respond to the questions I had asked, and the principal's secretary (who responded) was also going to forward my email to the assistant coordinator for the school.
   They also said that I may be able to get accommodation at one of the collèges that I'm teaching at. Fingers crossed for that. (Really would like to have a bit more certainty than that at this stage, but anyway. Apparently, this is typically French!)
3. I caught up with a former assistant over lunch one day, and it was good to get her insider knowledge. Apparently, I need to be prepared for some teachers not to be too bothered about whatever I teach the students. And I probably will be alone with the class, even if I'm told otherwise. I need to get into all my paperwork as soon as humanly possible, and expect the processing to take a long time. She even had one guy ignore her when she spoke because he thought her French was bad!
   However, I can also expect an awesome time. :)

It really is only a matter of weeks now, which is insane. I think I've gained a new appreciation of my current life, probably helped along by the imminent changes. Anyway, am making the most of it while I'm still here!

It's real...

I think I might be in denial! Just can't believe that I'm really going, and in a matter of weeks. It's craziness!

Anyway, am trying to look at accommodation for a bit today, and see whether the apartments advertised in the local paper are close to my schools/public transport, etc. The fun side of this is that I've realised I can look at my schools on streetview.

That... should be Lycée de Bagatelle, my main school.

This... should be Collège Leclerc, one of the ones I'll spend 2 hours at.

And there doesn't appear to be street view for Collège Didier Daurat, another 2 hour school. :(

Passport+Visa=Lost!

Well, without even having actually begun, it's already an intersting journey!!!

While it'll all turn out fine, I've suffered the minor setback of having my passport, complete with French visa, get sent back to where I was living, but not get to me... After much to-ing and fro-ing, it seems that a series of unfortunate events (probably mainly me not having got a courier envelope to send passport back in, and the Embassy not thinking to enquire about this, and sending it in a non-signature envelope) has led to no-one knowing where said passport is. I'm still not sure why I had it in my mind that I was going to have to pick up my visa, but anyway.

Basically, it was a $150 mistake, and my new passport should be being delivered (to work!) soon... Then off it goes to get its visa again.

So much for thinking I had it all organised well in advance, eh?
Passport/visa FAIL