In the past few days, I've been pondering the following two options for my near-future, post-France life:

1. Should I move back to Ann Arbor near my sister and bro-in-law, get a job/internship for a year (all the while gaining residency to the state of Michigan so I'd have the option of eventually going to UofM for grad school for much less mulah), ( Read more... )

Buh.   I lost a private student yesterday.  He'd only come three times before dropping, but I can't help but let it make me feel a little more like a flop at this teacher thing.  or at least like I'm conning my other, faithful students.  "Flop" might be too strong a word, though-- more like an intruder, doing a poor job at pretending I know exactly ( Read more... )

Being a Christian, I've always liked my full name, meaning respectively, "holy one" "valiant warrior."  Kind of empowering as a name, don't you think?

Well, upon some deeper investigation into the names,

"Holly is often associated with the Druids, an ancient religious sect in England that centered much of their religious beliefs around nature, ( Read more... )

On the night of November 23rd at 8 pm, in a little provincial mountain town, the American tradition of Thanksgiving was celebrated ( Read more... )

Until I figure out how to synchronize my journals (suggestions, anyone?), here's the link to my alternate universe:
http://www.ballofdirt.com/journeys/13451.html

I actually have a different "travel" journal where it's easier to post pictures, so you can see them at:  http://www.ballofdirt.com/members/76127.html    (no password necessary--just scroll down and click on "France:the Re-visit")

I might switch to that one for the duration of my stay here, but we'll see. 

(I actually have free wireless internet here because of a very nice principal whose apartment I'm temporarily staying above.  So in light of that, sorry I haven't updated sooner!  After emails I just don't have the energy.)

In brief, I'm alive and well, and in France again after a two year hiatus!  My trip went incredibly smoothly--I got into a car ( Read more... )

France is suddenly not a shadow on the horizon. It's practically sitting in my lap ( Read more... )

My time here working at the apartment community is drawing to a close... It figures my last day here is a Sunday, and I'm working alone.  Kind of nice actually... I have a chance to reflect a little.

I've had SUCH a good time with everyone here.... it's a dumb summer job and the management is shady and I wouldn't work here longer because of that, ( Read more... )

To my lovely "leftover" friends in Holland:  I'm arriving in H-town Monday night (8-28), where I'll be until Wednesday morning.

I'd love to see you!  Let me know if you'll be around sometime in there!