Since Fall 2018 (roughly around the time I stopped writing regularly on this blog…), I’ve been venturing into the complicated, sometimes arduous journey of becoming a qualified English teacher in French secondary schools. In the handful of Facebook groups I participate in, I field a lot of questions about this, because many former teaching assistants … More How I became an English teacher in a French high school
It seems like all of my posts recently have begun in the same way: “Wow, I can’t believe it’s been such a long time since the last time I wrote! Oof, it’s been a crazy couple of months – hard to find time to write! Yikes, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?!” So anyway…. it’s … More Six months gone by…
Charlottesville, Virginia is one of my favorite places in the world. It was my home for four years while I attended the University of Virginia, and there’s still a part of me would be willing to move back in a heartbeat. Lots of people are emotionally attached to their university towns, but Charlottesville is truly … More Get off our Lawn
7:48 Slam the door, run down two flights : 40 stairs 7:49 Down the hill to the metro 7:53 Down three flights to the platform : 82 stairs 8:12 Down the escalator to the bus stop : 26 stairs 8: 29 Up the hill to the … More 24 mars – my day in stairs and hills
Many little family shops or neighborhood bars have quirky bathrooms. You know the ones I mean. Some are covered in cheeky murals, others have funky toilet paper holders, and they all extend or reveal a bit about the character of the establishment. France is notorious for particularly grim public restrooms. They usually consist of a toilet with … More 23 mars – when you gotta go…
From my table, I see the old men playing pétanque for hours on end. I watch, impressed, as their heavy metal balls clink effortlessly against their opponents’, decades of practice making the gesture as natural as walking. From my table, I hear the school bell signaling students and teachers. I listen to its cheery, etherial music as it marks … More 21 mars – from my table
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