I leave for France in a week!! And in keeping with the French style of doing things, about five days ago they finally decided to tell me the exact location of my school! It is not in Bourg-en-Bresse, as they had told me it might be, but is actually in the (very) small town of Jassans-Riottier, 30 km north of Lyon. However, they suggested that I live in Lyon proper, which I'm extremely excited about! I visited the city quite a bit while I was studying in Grenoble, and I love it- it's beautiful, fun, cultural- and it has a mini version of the Eiffel Tower! All good reasons to come visit me!

I will be teaching English to primary school kids (ages 6-11) for 9 months. My contract runs from Oct. 1st to June 3oth, and since the French are so fond of vacations I have at least 5 weeks of paid vacation througout the year. Oh, and I'm only working 12 hours a week! They pay us enough each month to live on (or so they say) but having that much free time plus access to the French healthcare system makes it more than worth it in my book! Since I just found out where I'm going to be, I don't have housing yet and will have to find it once I get there. But I just heard from a teacher at my school who might be able to help me out, as well as the assistante who worked there last year, so I'm feeling a lot better about the whole process. I also have quite a few friends of friends who live in Lyon, not to mention the other assistants, so I'm not too worried about being stranded, friendless and homeless! I'm planning on couchsurfing for the first week or so, and have arranged to stay with a woman and her kids in Bourg-en-Bresse when I go there for my orientation meeting on Oct. 2nd.
My next post will most likely be a few days after I arrive there and get settled (or as settled as I can be without housing)...