Packing Up

The last day of school went off without a hitch. The kids were great, they watched Ice Age (they were thrilled I let them watch a movie given I said that they would not and that we were doing work the day before!). They ate lunch outside, had an ice cream social inside where some peers played some music and then it was time to go. I would have liked it to be a bit more sentimental as last year in 8th grade, the kids had tears in their eyes and realized how good they had it. I supposed when they return and I am not back they may feel a tug at their hearts.

Yesterday was packing day for teachers. I was all packed up already so just put two boxes into my car and practiced French for the majority of the day. I was given Rosetta Stone many a year ago and did it for a while but then stopped. I have decided that if someone writes something down, I should be able to decipher the idea of it if not perfectly pretty closely. I am pretty good with just listening and not seeing what they are talking about as well, but that may change when I get there. I do lots of the repeating of what they say but I still feel very uncomfortable with speaking it.

I got some major moral support yesterday about this whole France trip thing. I was just feeling like I had no more energy to deal with it. A good New Jersey kick in the butt got me going again though. I am waiting to hear back from 1) a co-workers friend whose owns a farm in France 2) my cousin's friend whose family owns a farm in France 3) the farms. I did hear back from one on Tuesday night when I was in panic mode. They said that her husband was out of town but would contact me Saturday or Sunday...I am hoping.

The brighter side: if for some reason none of this works out with getting my visa, I can get my passport back and BOOM stay for three months anyways. I could always go country hopping, which would be nice and I would have a lot of support and people to stay with, but deep down that is not what I want.

Oh well, today the cable and internet are being turned off. I will be returning my school laptop and finish packing up. I am afraid that when the movers come and store my stuff for two weeks before we move into the new apartment in New Mexico, that I will not have what I need or something will go missing, or it will take more than two weeks. So, like an over planning OCD freak, I have packed all of the clothes that I think that I will need for France in a huge suitcase that includes a book and shoes. I will also be bringing on my road trip a carry-on size suitcase with material for the road trip and finally my guava, bamboo and orchid plants.

My sister will be taking the road trip with me and said she has a big suitcase too. My hopes, all suitcases in the trunk (please fit...), all plants in the back (please fit and don't spill out...) all humans in the front (...). I still do not know what time the movers will be here but my sister should be getting in from Philly around 10 so with train and taxi she should be here about 1030-1045.