Update

What have I been up to? 2014 has been a great year...full of interesting new changes.

In just a few months, I will be finishing my Masters! Yes! I honestly cannot wait for it to be finished...don't get me wrong, I love school and learning but it may be time for a break. I'm honestly not sure if I will continuing with my doctorate as of fall 2015 but that will be decided later. 

Biggest game changer or 2014? A REAL JOB :) Since March, I have been teaching for a company called Firstep en Anglais. I'm teaching english to all ages beginning at two and a half. I love it! What I do changes every day and it is never boring! While I focus on kids, I also work with adults, students and professionals so I am able to see how language learning applies to all ages. Yes I am a giant nerd but I have been able to apply this to my masters and this has given me a whole second set of tools to use in the classroom. We have great things happening in 2015 so I'm excited and grateful to be apart of this team!

We are a team of 10 teachers now but our main three are on the right: Sean, who is all about the professionals, myself and Stefany, the owner and creator of Firstep, also known as the boss lady! Great team to be apart of :)

With my job came this whole new sense of my life in Bordeaux. The pieces have finally really come together and it is as if I am truly building my life here. With that, I decided to adopt a kitten in June...Gatsby. It's been so nice to come home and have this little french furball ;) What is hilarious is that if I say something to him in english, he completely ignores me! So yes I am an english teacher and native speaker and yet my cat speaks french haha. Isn't he cute??

Oh how I love this city :) that's all for now

:)

Inspiration

I am fully aware that it has been a while since I last updated this...I'm not even going to give excuses :) so what's new? 

My mom came to see me at the end of January :) She was here for about 10 days and we had a great trip! Of course it included a weekend getaway to Paris! We loved it...even though it was cold and rainy. Once back in Bordeaux, we toured the city as much as we could but it rained non stop so it was hard to see everything. But we hard an art project and some decorating to do :) I know have tons of color in my adorable studio and I love it! Mom also got to spend two evenings with my French "family." I am very lucky to have them here and I know it puts my parents at ease knowing I'm not alone! 

We have had an extremely rainy winter and although I love the rain, it is amazing how depressing it can get when it doesn't stop for 2 months straight! But no, I'm not complaining...I get to have all 4 seasons and its awesome! 

Second semester only has 5 weeks left and it has been busy! My classes have been more demanding and have required more work than the first semester and I have had my thesis to worry about. On that note, I have chosen my subject matter and it has been approved! I'm not going to reveal all the details yet but I will be going back to American Literature: redefining gender in Hemingway's In Our Time and Farewell to Arms. Many thanks go to Jaime <3 for helping me brainstorm...just like we did during our undergrad :)

Anyways, spring is arriving in this beautiful town of mine! Finally!! My southern-californian self has needed the sun more than I think I was willing to admit. Plus its getting warmer! I've been taking as much of my work outside as possible but unfortunately, I get too distracted to actually work. What can I say, people watching and simply enjoying the sun is way better that homework ;) Plus, I'm a thinker so I get lost in my own thoughts, my own projects, and personal writings. I can sit for hours just thinking and reflecting about anything and everything. Getting lost in your own head is powerful. It lets you see things you normally wouldn't see because you block out the whole world and yet you are so aware of it. I often find myself choosing what I want to see or hear but when I just sit, I observe everything. Whether its culture or language or even mannerisms, I can't help it, I take it in. It's as if I can then see two sides of myself as reflections into the world I find myself in. It is simply amazing and constantly inspires me to discover everything I can. I love my life here and I can't wait to see what this season has for me :) 

So who will be next to visit?!?! 

2013 in a nutshell

I know I haven't updated in a while so here we go!

So, I've just finished my first semester of graduate school...go me! I wouldn't say that it has been any harder nor easier than I thought. My class load isn't bad and I mostly enjoy the subject matter. Biggest change has been getting used to the French university system (because it is completely backwards and no one ever knows what is going on) as well as a few professors who openly do not like Americans. Nice right? oh well. People are entitled to their own opinions. Grades are not completely available until the spring but I think I did well. Next semester will be even better!

Bordeaux: COLD. But, always beautiful. I am still loving living here and I am glad I chose to be here. The Christmas lights on the Cours Mirabeau in Aix were stunning but I have to admit that I am loving walking around Bordeaux by night just to stare at the light displays. It is absolutely stunning.

Coming here has been a great decision. I'm learning some tough lessons but loving every moment. It was a dream...that is now a reality and I love it! My Dad has already been to visit and my Mom will be here in about a month! Then, the whole fambam will come in July. I can't wait to continue to share the life I am building here in France with my family. I am extremely for all of the support they have given me. I have found it is harder to be gone this time around but they are always right there when I need them. I love you guys! I am also extremely lucky to have my "french family" who makes sure I don't start to miss my fambam too much. They are amazing!

I cannot believe we are nearing the end of 2013!!! And what a year it has been! I graduated from college, got into graduate school, and moved to a foreign country. Crazy right? What is even more insane is that it all happened in a year. It has flown by! For the first time ever, I will not be with my family for the holiday season. It isn't easy and it is safe to say that I will spend Christmas 2014 in San Diego. But, being on my own has taught me a few things and it has made me more grateful for what I have. So, what am I most thankful for this year?

1) my family: I love and miss you guys so much! I wouldn't be able to be here without their support. Plus my Mom does put together great care packages ;) they help keep my "America" cravings at bay :) I really cannot wait to share my second home with them! Bordeaux vacation 2014...it will be a  good one! :)

2) my friends: it is not easy to be away from you guys! Long distance friendships take a ton of work and I am so thankful to have a handful of friends that are as close if not even closer, than ever. With Skype, iMessage and FaceTime, it is as if you guys are here with me! Special thanks to my best friends (you know who you are!) and our ridiculous FaceTime sessions and text messages. I love and miss you all!

3) this opportunity: how lucky am I? I have this amazing opportunity to live in France. I have two homes...one here and one of course, in dear old San Diego! AMAZING! not to mention I get to further my education...double win! After my year in Aix, I thought I had learned a lot about myself and who I am. Now, I am continuing to grow even more. I think my greatest influence this time around, has been myself. Only I can control what I want to accomplish. All I have to do is put my mind to it and its mine! Look out 2014...I'm going to accomplish big things 

:)

"It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done."

lessons from an abroad alumni

During my senior year at Cal State San Marcos, I had the opportunity to work with CEA as an Alumni Ambassador. During this time, I connected with other abroad alum who shared the same passion for studies internationally. There were two questions we were always encouraged to reflect on. The first was, "what is the greatest lesson you learned from being abroad?" Until now, I thought my answer to that question defined my experience. What was that answer? In short, I said that study abroad changed me. It changed who I am and how I embrace the world. Now, the second question was, "how can you use what you learned from abroad here, at home?" Again, until now, my answer was sufficient. It was, to share my passion with my peers. But here is the catch, I am now fully realizing what this means. At my school, not many students had gone with CEA, especially not in their France programs. The french program is relatively small on my alumni campus and many people didn't realize a minor in the language was even possible. CEA helped me take it one step further and I am now among the first from CSUSM to hold a Bachelor of Arts in French Language.

Now you are wondering what this has to do with my sudden realization of "what I learned from abroad and how I applied it." Here's the thing...during that year, I was everywhere. I was the President of the French Club, Holy Crêpe, and I worked with CEA to get the word out on campus. Due to my time spent with both programs, it only made sense that I combined them. Now, the number of new students in the French program has increased and the wait lists for our French classes are longer than they ever were before. This sounds like I am taking credit for this, I am not. I give all that credit to CEA especially to CEA:Aix-en-Provence and the Alumni Ambassadors team. The team in Aix gave me all the tools I needed to succeed and grow in a place that was once so foreign and now I call it home. Then you have the Alumni relations group who helped ease the transition back to the States and got us thinking about what this all means. I have spoken to so many people about my experience that I have helped them go after their dream. Many of my friends have even taken up a new language and are planning their own trips abroad because they want to experience its magic. Some have even named me as their motivating factor. Yes, we as individuals have to make the most out of what gets put in front of us but, what is more important are the people who help guide us. After a push from a friend at CSUSM, and the team at CEA, I am honored to help people go after their dreams abroad. It has opened so many doors with so many new opportunities for me that I can only hope it will always do so. The beauty is finding these opportunities as they have fallen into my lap. International education gave that to me :)

<3

So, what is my new answer to "my greatest lesson from abroad?" Simple. Never look back. Go for it. If you love something, don't be afraid of it no matter how hard it may be. Just look at me, I am living my dream. Before I left Aix in June 2012, I swore I would be back after graduation. And well, here I am. I live in Bordeaux, France and I am following my heart and living my dreams. 

Happy October!

I cannot believe that it is October already!!! I have been back in France for a month and I am in full swing of normal activities. 

School...Last week was my first full week of classes and like normal, I have a ton to do. I only have 10 hours of class a week but that means I have at least 20-30 hours of work to do outside of class. But I'm used to not sleeping so why change things now? ;) In general classes are great! I am known as the "American" which I find hilarious because at CSUSM I was the "Frenchie." As for the classes themselves, I have four taught in English with a hint of French mixed in and the other is in French. I've found a few big differences between the US and French education systems: 1) the facilities are crap! To all of you who complain about Academic hall at CSUSM...you have nothing on me! trust me! I'm paying practically nothing for my degree here so I guess the saying "you get what you pay for" is very true. 2) you either have an exposé or an exam at the end of the semester and that is it! In three of my classes, I have exposés over the next three weeks and then just reading to do! I know I will have one oral exam at the end of January and for my last class, I have no idea because the prof hasn't even began the class! and that leads me to number 3) profs apparently do things as they want. If they don't want to hold class for two weeks, they don't! It's ridiculous! I am liking it though...it's fun to be back in my academic element as I iron out the details of my "what's next"

It is incredible that I have been able to do all of this. There are plenty of challenges and things I still need to figure out but I'm getting there! My French is back and its improving rapidly once more and I LOVE that...the frenchie is in her element :)

Time to get to work! Bises de Bordeaux!

:)

Courage

This past week has been slower than last week. Nevertheless, it has been great! I have been able to wander the city on my own and get to find my way. I love it! Living in a city is so different....everything moves all the time! Yes Aix-en-Provence was a city but it is a much smaller city. Anyways...I'm about 10 minutes from the center of town and its perfect. I still get some quiet ;) I love it all! All of my classes begin in the next two weeks so I am looking forward to having that quiet to study!

Moving on...what have I learned during my wanders in the city? 

1) if you have to be up early for any reason, go sit down by the river; just across from Place de la Bourse. It is quiet and you get to watch the city wake up. Plus the architecture is beautiful to stare at. Let your mind wander and take it all in.

2) bikes...I need to remember that they are everywhere and that I am in their way haha

3) look for the unexpected: yes I am fully aware that this is an oxymoron. Things that are unexpected are that way for a reason but that shouldn't stop you for looking for them. What I mean is, look for a moment you can enjoy or find the time to disappear from the world and stick to yourself. That sounds completely introverted but it is worth it. Like I've said before, it is how you learn something about yourself. Plus, something can always happen that will completely change your day around :)

4) what would I do without technology? I mean really, what did we do before iphones? that is a sad question to ask because I fully remember the time before iphones but being here, I don't know what I would do if I couldn't communicate with my people. Snail mail still makes receiving mail fun but I love being able to text and FaceTime my CA people when I can. Don't worry, I will meet France people too! That is what school is for ;)

5) COURAGE. Ever since I decided to move back to France, I've been told how courageous I am to do so. I am beginning to understand why. I said before that leaving this time was harder and I still think it was. But I am beginning to realize is that the courage everyone says I have, doesn't come from me alone. Of course I have to believe in myself otherwise this whole thing...well, we aren't going to discuss that because it won't ever happen :) All of you, especially my family and my friends give me the courage to do this. You all are there...via Facebook, Skype, iMessage, and FaceTime or whatever to give me the support when I need it. Just being able to talk to you all makes a huge difference. Without that, I wouldn't have this courage. I may be across an ocean and living in another country but I feel as if my family and those who I am lucky to have as friends, are right next to me. For that, I love and thank you all.

If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.
John Irving

<3

promised photos

As promised...here are a few pictures of my place and my city! More to follow soon!