Something’s better than nothing
I can’t believe I’m leaving next month.
Everything is moving so quick. Just the other day it seemed like 5 months again to go and now…. it’s a few weeks left. Today I made my visa appointment at l’Ambassade de France in St. Lucia even though I still haven’t received my contract.
Pourquoi?
Because after many people who had panic attacks in the Facebook group about time drawing near to their visa appointment and not hearing anything about or from their school, some kind-hearted soul told us to email assistants@ac-lille.fr and as such I received a soft copy of my arrete de nomination *which is better than nothing* . So make sure to find out the email address of your academie. Now I suggest this only if it’s a dire situation like some of us were in, i.e. a few days before August (before schools close in France). The average response time was 2 days and ben ca alors ! was I relieved when they replied.
For the visa appointment we have to fill out 2 forms, get passport size photos with specific requirements and of course your passport – and a copy of it-. So I was placed at two schools, far apart from each other, in two small towns- so small that when I asked two of my friends who’ve been in Lille for a few years, they had no clue where they were. I got placed in Estaires and in Nieppe, however due to having to travel to Roubaix very frequently I will be looking for a place in the city (every assistant’s dream right) which makes travelling time to each location an average of 30 minutes.
In case you’re looking for lodging in France, there are a good few sites but I know one of the popular ones are http://www.leboncoin.fr . I suggest looking for something below 400 euros since you still have to eat and survive in France.
I must admit besides the initial worry of being away from home for so long, I’m also worried about having to teach at a college and at a lycee since I’m very very short (or vertically challenged), so if I ever have to assert myself for some reason or the other, it may not work very well… I’m looking forward to this experience nevertheless, trying to spend as much time with family and friends and hoping for the best.
“The limits of your language are the limits of your world”
http://crazydutchfoodie.blogspot.com/2014/02/foodie-destination-lille.html Here’s a blog about awesome food in Lille