Years later.

I just recently found this blog again. I had completely forgotten about it. I laughed, got chills, cried, cringed and felt so lucky to have had these experiences while reading through this again. It's crazy how much you forget. I can remember the highlights of both my times in Korea and France, but all the little details, and names of places, things and people were gone. I'm so thankful that I recorded more. So much time has passed. After returning to Canada I worked for a year for my stepdad in his office. I was definitely NOT built for that type of work. It was clear that it was time for me to return to school. I applied to a multitude of schools and in the end picked teacher's college at Nipissing University in North Bay. It was a much better experience than I expected. I liked the program, my class and the profs. I loved my school placements and learned a decent amount. I decided on Junior/Intermediate stream with FSL as my teachable. I was going to put my French to use. I had my second placement at a wonderful French Immersion school in Markham. I volunteered there after my placement was finished. One day, as I came in to the school the principal asked to see me. He let me know that he'd love to have me work at his school, but since I only had the core French designation he could only hire me for an LTO. A school in the neighbourhood needed a French and Visual Arts teacher for a part-time contract. The principal was one of his best friends and he referred me. I put my resume and cover letter together on the Friday night and within an hour I had an interview for the next Tuesday. The principals interviewing me were great, So kind, helpful and really wanted to help me say what needed to be said. By the end of the week I got the job! As it turned out that position had been posted for months and no one had applied since it was French and art and only part time. (I guess those who had one subject, but not the other or wanted full-time.) I saw it as God guiding me directly to the open door. The position was made just for me. The school was incredible. The staff, the students, the location. I was so blessed. It felt like a family. There is really something magical about Wismer. I still miss it. After the 3rd year a new school was being built and 150 students were relocated to it. That equalled a surplus of 10 teachers. The start from the bottom of the senority list and count up 10 and we all have to either interview at different schools of our choosing or get placed at a school of the board's choosing. Most prefer to have the choice. I interviewed at the new school. Figured, they'll need a French teacher and I know most of the students. Also the school is named after a group of 7 artist, so they might as well have an art's specialist! Sure enough, it worked. The principal liked the idea of getting 2 for the price of one. I managed to get some intermediate art and a bit of primary too. It was cool to be at a school from the beginning, but man, it was a lot of work. Fewer staff members to do the same amount of "extras". It's grown and changed a lot in the past 3.5 years. I can't believe that I've worked at FVPS longer than Wismer. I'm so thankful for all that I learned at Wismer. I still see a lot of the staff on the regular. Some of them are still close friends and once a Wolverine, always a wolverine, as they say. But I'm grateful to be at FVPS. It's cool to be challenged and to no longer be a mentee, but a mentor. To push my boundaries and no longer be the newbie. Looking back at what teaching was like in Korea and France makes me miss it in some ways. It's the total opposite here. I didn't realize how much freedom I actually had there. Here it seems like everything is all about a timeline and due dates getting what you need to finish from the curriculum in time for the report cards, etc. I do love having the mix of art, French and Kindergarten prep though. It keeps me sane. How has it been 8 years since I left France? I often talk about that time like it was recent. It feels like it wasn't long ago at all. I love telling the students stories and what it's like in Europe. I want to spark their interest and maybe a desire to travel there and to experience a Francophone spot in hopes that they'll get just how important and valuable it can be for them to have this language. I really need to get back there.