Here we go again...

So another year post graduation begins...and this time you can find me far away from China (sniffle sniffle)...in PARIS, FRANCE!!! (weeeeeee!)
I am here doing a 9 month stay in Paris, teaching as an assistant in 2 ecoles primaires (elementary schools...my kids are around 8-11 years old).
While I thought some things were disorganized in China last year...France confirmed that ANYWHERE (even if they think they create bureaucracy) can be disorganized and a little crazy!
Finding an apartment in the beautiful "city of lights" proved to be a seriously difficult feat! After not speaking French for a year (and still at times lapsing back into Chinese when speaking French) I dove back in and immediately started calling EVERY landlord posting an available apartment in our budget (which is REALLY small thank you French gov't). It was hard, stressful...and i really don't want to relive it through this blog...so suffice to say, I had a real life experience this time...and in the end succeeded in getting a pretty nice place in the 18eme (Montmatre AKA the area where Amelie takes place). Sacre Coeur is literally in our back yard pretty much...and it is a super cute area! The apartment is a 2 room place with a bathroom. I am sharing it with a girl named Susan (also an assistant and from Boston). As she is married and her husband is coming to visit, i graciously gave her the bedroom and am in the process of making myself a little nook in the "sejour" AKA living room/kitchen. It's not so bad actually....i like not living alone and this is the only way I could afford that. Also, above us in almost an identical apartment live 2 other assistants who I LOVE named's Eiren and Stephanie. So it's going to be a fun year I think!

And now what you've all been waiting for...PICTURES!

Nuit Blanche...a night where Paris stays up LATE/all night....metro runs late, museums are open late, and there are lots of shows and things to see. We headed over to the Tuleries and took in the sights. It was really beautiful...lots of torches and lights!!

ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!! not only was it Nuit Blanche...but the French Rugby team pulled off an amazing victory over the All Blacks (New Zealand maybe...??) and people were going CRAZY!

My New place (so far, we are still putting things together...it's only our second night!! 22 Rue Feutrier, Paris 75018!!!