Thoughts from places

(title stolen shamelessly from John Green)

Every time I try to write a blog entry, I always feel like I need to make it some big, moving, completely recapitulative project, but then I just wind up listing things in my life that are going well. I think that's okay, too.

So, for anyone who knows me, I generally multi-task EVERYTHING. The other reason why it takes me so long to write blog entries is because I start one, but then I have a million other things going on in other windows, and I get lost in them for awhile. Right now, I've got pandora, youtube, my bank account, and my Excel spreadsheet of my budget until I leave.

I think this multi-tasking is also a pretty good representation of how I deal with things in my life, too. Namely, I have so many things going on that some of those things might not be super pleasant things, but with all of the Things, there are bound to be good things, too! Right now, I just found out that France finally reimbursed me for my bloodwork in January, and although it's a bit less than I thought it would be, it's currently taking my bank account out of the negative numbers, for which I'm grateful.

We're getting down to the wire in terms of finishing up this year, and although I update my French budget nearly daily, counting down the euros until I'm gone, it still hasn't quite set in that I'll be leaving France in a month and a half. I've actually already had my last class with some of my students, since they're leaving for their internships soon, but I didn't even say a proper goodbye, promising that I would try to see them before I officially leave (my contract ends in April, but I'll be sticking around until May 16th).

I think it's also the same philosophy that I had the first time around when I was leaving France, reinforced by my frisbee team in Paris: "On se dit pas "adieu"; c'est "à plus tard"!"

We won't say goodbye; just see you later! That's definitely been my outlook on things for awhile now. With all the places life has taken me so far, I won't let myself believe that this will be the last time I'll be seeing these places, these people. I always need to believe that I'll be back because it would be too heart-breaking otherwise... which is why I know that I've got to make it back one day!

In other random good news (since I'm checking out my other windows), looks like I'll be getting some money to help me along with my rent while I'm finishing out my year here! I'm either super lucky or things just really do always work out for the best.

I skipped frisbee to watch American series dubbed in French with my host family.

With less than two weeks left in Paris, I find myself in the gut-wrenching predicament of wanting to/NEEDING to do so many things before leaving the country, and yet cannot compel myself to do ANYTHING when under such pressure.

So as per usual, I guess I'll resort to making a whole nice list so I can better evaluate what I have to do and by when.

Attractions:
- Maison de Victor Hugo
- Musée de Rodin
- Musée de l'art moderne
- Monter la Tour Eiffel ?

Homework:
- Study for art final
- Write draft for benevolat paper
- Study for theatre final
- Study for atelier plume final
- Write Parisian memories
- Finish end-of-the-year song
- Find someone to sing it

Things to do:
- Haircut
- NafNaf
- Pack
- Close bank account
- Make recipe book for host mom
- Pay for frisbee maillots

Those are all reasonable things to do. If I bring myself to do half of those things by the end of this week, I'll be in good shape.

I still can't believe that I'll be leaving Europe for awhile. I can definitely picture myself living here for good. Not in Paris, but somewhere in Europe. I've found through my travels around France that I love other parts of France a lot more than I liked Paris. I can't wait to come back and explore.

I'm also pretty bummed about not having a summer job. I hope that something works out. Being a real live grownup with taxes and insurance and a real job hasn't really sunken in yet. I'm glad I have a year left of college to figure it out.

I might try to write a whole nice resume of my feelings and everything before I leave, but for the moment, I have to get to sleep so that I can wake up in the morning. I have a language assessment in the morning to see if I've really learned any French during my year here. On va croiser les doigts !