Chillaxin' Sunday

In regards to my previous post, I was indeed overly excited. I got my CAF letter stating I do only get 40E a month. But I fought the disappointment and realized hey, it's still 40E, it may not be the 80E I'd thought but heck, I'll take it!!! That will more or less be a savings fund for ticket home/wedding dress/Jess' wedding ring. Oh well. :)

Last night was quite nice. Laura, Mike & I got together and made dinner at Laura's place, followed by a galette de rois (Mike was the roi), wine and conversation. Similar to my last time in France, it is so nice to have a kind of instant support network. Like, we're all in this together, we have to be there to support each other. I've heard of other assistants in bigger areas (with presumably, more assistants) who never get together. I see my fellow assistants at least once a week, usually more. I think I'd go insane if I didn't.

Today won't be too exciting. I have a couple of lesson plans to finish up, that's about it. Probably more research for vacation plans, all the paperwork we need for the wedding, general randomness. Speaking of the wedding...

I have a meeting with the chef de service at the mairie's office on Thursday. This will be the make-or-break deal here: I am asking for an exception to the rule stating that BOTH people must be present when bringing in the completed application. Obviously, Jess is not flying to France just to walk 100 yards with me to the mayor's office. It's a catch-22 here: I'm afraid they'll say, "You don't have all the paperwork, so no," whereas Jess & I are thinking, "We're not going through the hassle and money to get all these documents translated until we have the green light." I hope it works. Please send your best thoughts towards Troyes!!!

My honey is so great. I've been saying for about a year now how much I want a Smart car once they come out in the US. Well, it's 2008, and the wait list is long. Jess signed me/us up ($99 refundable deposit) so we could, in theory, have a Smart by 2009. I was ecstatic (and obviously, very spoiled), but my dreams kinda crumbled when I realized Smarts only come in manual transmissions. Um... I touched a stick shift once in my life, 11 years ago, and failed miserably. Not so sure if I want a stick shift... oh Smart, why can't you be more American, just this once?!

I just sent out another update email, which I try not to overdo but at the same time, I love doing it b/c it guarantees I'll get lots of emails from friends & family :) Like I said in the email, my time here is about halfway through. I'm planning to leave in early May (assuming Jess & I can get married here-- otherwise I may try to swing an earlier departure). Now all the end-of-program things are starting to become realities: cancelling my phone/internet, electricity, lease, CAF, bank account. Bah... I can stall another few months on those things I guess. I seriously don't know where I'd be without the assistants in France forums-- they've saved my ass more than once!

OK, best get back to... whatever it is I should be getting back to :)