July third- my 9 year anniversary abroad. A day I like to stop and reflect on the past year and look forward to the next.
A year ago today, I was living in Guatemala, counting down the days to my wedding. Yesterday, I sat in a car dealership office in France, signing paperwork with my husband to buy a car to commute to my new teaching job that starts the end of August. A lot has changed in a year.
This year was full of joy. Marriage is good. It's really good. I think especially after 2+ years of long distance I really appreciate the little things- meals together every day, lazy Saturday afternoons, chatting while we both do chores in the kitchen. I find it deeply satisfying to share life with each other.
This year was rewarding as far as language growth goes. I've gone from deer-in-the-headlights stage (French person: (how it sounds to me) "sgsodjfkjadjsaoijgsjglk" Me (in my head) "how many words was that? Do I have to respond? Was that a question, or were they maybe just commenting on the weather? Oh no, they're still looking at me. Maybe try the smile and nod trick) to buying vegetables at the market stage ("one kilo of tomatoes and a green lettuce please. Thank you") to writing my first essay in French (a one page piece on the pros and cons of television that probably sounds like it was written by a middle-schooler, but hey, that's better than a 3 year old, which is where I was a few months ago). I'm amazed at how far I've come in one year.
This year wasn't without its frustrations though. What looked, on paper, like a simple, straight forward process for me to get residency here turned into a 6 month long paperwork marathon with piles of documents needed from the US, Romania and France. While that's done now, more paperwork still looms ahead of me since even simple things like opening a bank account are less straight forward when you're an American living in France.
I'm looking forward to the next year. I'll be working at a bilingual school teaching second and third grade come September. While both of us working from home (and me only working part time) was a really nice way to start married life together, it's also isolating in a new place where I don't know anyone. So, I'm excited to have coworkers and routines and frequent authentic chances to use French. Hopefully my French improves even faster when I use it to talk to coworkers daily, and try to understand children who are too excited about something to remember to speak English. I'm also excited about the possibilities that having a car opens up. There are so many beautiful places it's hard to reach without a car.
I'm also a little nervous about next year- going back into the classroom full time after leaving it behind 8 years ago leaves me with a lot of mixed feelings. I love teaching, and children. But I also loved being involved at a level beyond the classroom, at having leadership opportunities with adults, and a broader range of influence, and I'm sad to leave that behind, at least for now. I also remember how exhausting teaching can be, and wonder how having a full time job will change the rhythms that Cristian and I have gotten used to in our life together.
I imagine next July 3rd will find me still in France, finishing up my first year of teaching at a new school, nearly fluent in French, and with all my paperwork wrapped up. But I also have a feeling there might be surprises in store that I have no way of imagining now.
