February in France

Bonjour à tous! The spring semester is off to a good start. I am still enjoying my classes and students, and I am really enjoying my extra time! Last semester, I taught 15 hours of classes in a week, but this semester, I only have 10. With my extra time, I have taken advantage of more of the social aspects of Angers. I have been seeing more movies, going out more with my neighbors and students, and attending more cultural events such as concerts. I’m really trying to soak up as much of the culture as I can before my return!

These past two weeks have been pretty relaxed. Unfortunately, I was sick with the stomach bug and confined myself to my room for two days, but I got over that fairly quickly. The school weeks have been going by so fast – I can’t believe we’re already in our fourth week!

We actually have a vacation coming up at the end of February. I’m taking that time to visit my college roommate, Bekah, in Italy. She is working as a Resident Assistant at the new Meredith College study abroad site in Sansepolcro, Italy – a small town in the Tuscany region. We are meeting up in Florence for the weekend, and then we’re heading together to Sansepolcro. I am not sure what we’ll be doing during the week, but I am so excited just to see her and play “catch up.” A lot has happened in the past few months! I’ll be ending my Italian vacation in Milan visiting a friend whom I met through Bekah. Her name is Amber, and she is doing Christian mission work in Milan for two years. I cannot wait to see them! Seeing people from home definitely helps with the homesickness.

Luckily, I haven’t had too much trouble with homesickness over my trip, but in the past few weeks, Virginia Beach and Raleigh have gotten quite a bit of snow. I have had the opportunity to webcam with my family and friends there, and I was so jealous that I wasn’t there to cave-dwell and play in the snow with them. I hope all of you that have been affected (or continue to be affected!) by the snow stay warm and safe; I know people do some dangerous things when weather conditions are bad. The weather has been cold here, but we haven’t had any snow. Catherine is predicting that all the snow that has hit Washington D.C. is heading our way, but we’ll see…

To combat the homesickness, I have tried to fill up my free-time with activities. I mentioned some of the things I have been doing above, and I have also taken up a tutee. Catherine’s hairdresser has a son who is studying English. She was looking for someone to come and speak with him in English for an hour a week, and I gladly offered my services! It’s been a great way to get to know another family as well as earning a little extra pocket money.

That’s really all that I have for now! I hope you all are well back in the U.S., and please be safe with all the crazy weather! I miss you lots, and you’re in my prayers. A la prochaine, mes amis!