Vista users cannot see the pictures on my blog that I post using the older operating system. I have no idea why, but if you are reading this and you think to yourself "well duh.. it's obviously _________", please let me know how to fill in the blank!
3 days
11 September 2009
07 September 2009
A Very American Labor Day Weekend
One week from today, should all travel arrangements go as planned, I will be boarding a plane in Washington DC... destination PARIS.
This weekend was, on my part, quintessentially American, and in an effort to avoid packing I am going to write ALL about it.
On Saturday my brothers and I went to the opening UofM football game against Western Michigan. It was a blast. UofM killed Western 31-7, the weather was gorgeous (as always on that first football Saturday), and we took a lot of fantastic pictures thanks to that 10x zoom on my camera. Next weekend I'm taking Ryan to the Notre Dame game at the Big House! Go Blue!
On Sunday we traveled to Lansing for Connor's belated b-day dinner. (I'm not sure if that is a uniquely American activity, so I apologize for the lack of consistency in my blog). ANYWAYS... I then drove to Grand Haven to attend Ryan's going away party with his family and ate a lot of delicious peanut butter brownies (certainly unavailable in France).
Though I'd have to say that the most American meal consumed this weekend was my 4:30 dinner on this fine Monday afternoon. Well first I wandered into the kitchen and began munching on Ruffles potato chips before scooping myself an extra large bowl of mint-oreo cookie ice cream (yes, it does exist). Of course, I felt somewhat unfulfilled after this sugar rush so I microzapped a single serving frozen pizza which I consumed with a side dish of Wendy's french fries and Heinz tomato ketchup. To top it all off, I washed my meal down with a nice cold Coca-Cola straight from the can.
Delish!
01 September 2009
Pre-Departure: Bureaucracy at its finest
It still may be a bit premature to frequently update a blog for a trip for which I have not yet left, but as long as I have some free time (and believe me, I have PLENTY), I might as well keep updating about trip preparation.
I have finally had my first encounter with French bureaucracy:
The next step in trip preparation is to contact my corespondent at the school at which I will be teaching. Preferably this should happen via e-mail. Problem? I have no idea how to find contact information for my school or for a specific person at said school for that matter. With some help from Ryan, I emailed the académie of Versailles to ask for a contact person. Four days later a woman emails me the snail mail address for some sort of administration building in my region. Really? I have two weeks until departure and I am supposed to send a letter in the mail to ask for the new contact information for my actual coorespondent?
I love it!
Okay, so it's not the craziest thing in the world (though it would be extremely simple to fix this confusion by creating a directory of contact information--including email addresses-- or by providing contact information on the assistant's contract, but c'est la vie... right?), but it's precicely the type of issue I have been warned about, and I'm excited to recall more of these adventures once I actually arrive in the country.
13 days!
I have finally had my first encounter with French bureaucracy:
The next step in trip preparation is to contact my corespondent at the school at which I will be teaching. Preferably this should happen via e-mail. Problem? I have no idea how to find contact information for my school or for a specific person at said school for that matter. With some help from Ryan, I emailed the académie of Versailles to ask for a contact person. Four days later a woman emails me the snail mail address for some sort of administration building in my region. Really? I have two weeks until departure and I am supposed to send a letter in the mail to ask for the new contact information for my actual coorespondent?
I love it!
Okay, so it's not the craziest thing in the world (though it would be extremely simple to fix this confusion by creating a directory of contact information--including email addresses-- or by providing contact information on the assistant's contract, but c'est la vie... right?), but it's precicely the type of issue I have been warned about, and I'm excited to recall more of these adventures once I actually arrive in the country.
13 days!
07 August 2009
Some links on Berlin travel.
I love reading the New York Times' travel blogs. Here's one on Berlin! Also, Ryan posted this link on my wall about a pool ship (you'll have to see the picture) near where we are staying.
I recently went to Texas to visit my cousins, and now I'm home and it's August! Next weekend Ryan and I will go to Chicago to apply for our visas at the French Consulate and I will spend some time in Grand Haven. Hopefully I will see some good friends!
I recently went to Texas to visit my cousins, and now I'm home and it's August! Next weekend Ryan and I will go to Chicago to apply for our visas at the French Consulate and I will spend some time in Grand Haven. Hopefully I will see some good friends!
25 July 2009
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