Monday, August 28, 2006

Back in the Saddle

I made it through the first day of the English camp. Usually I love and adore the kids, but today felt a little like work during some parts. You can't win 'em all, I know. I've been feeling down lately...nothing too serious but a general lack of feeling good. One thing I did finally admit to myself is that I Hate This Climate. If there is anything that will drive me from France, or at least the Ile-de-France area, it will be the weather. Seriously, since returning from vacation I have scarcely seen the sky and/or sun, and I don't think I can stand it very much longer. How do the natives cope? Are they just used to it? What do they do? This makes me more homesick than ever for the rolling hills and blue, blue skies of Virginia.

I am very much into the process of trying to enjoy the moment. It is taking some effort, but I am determined to suppress the whiner who is, as we all know, buried deep down inside of me. The excitement of France has faded and the worries of "Will I ever have a career/house with a yard/friends here?" have started surfacing more often than I would like. I'm trying to push those aside and just enjoy my marriage and friends. I also need to force myself to get out and join a club or sign up for random lessons in order to socialize and learn some new thing. I don't want to stagnate but I don't think I've moved forward personally since I started working all the crazy hours. I will get up off of my sorry butt and do something or start something, and I will just have to suck up the cost. Any ideas? I'm willing to listen. This weekend I have a friend visiting and I think it will be great for me...she's an enthusiastic person by nature and it will be fun discovering the area with her.

My teaching blog may come out of dormancy soon, so if you have any ideas or advice, please send it my way!

6 comments:

Unknown said...

OH my god! I think I have posted that post about a hundred times. I feel that way about 90 percent of my time here. I just don't know how people adapt to living in a new country, especially one with this climate. Good luck finding something. I am always looking and tend to do the museum thing way more than I care to admit.

Anonymous said...

Well, sure hope the sun comes out soon. I remember feeling the same way when I moved to the Blue Ridge Mts, but now everything seems to come up roses. Just get busy and do whatever. Try a new line of work maybe that would help. I really have no good advice except this too will pass. Just keep that pretty head up and go for it.

Ksam said...

If it makes you feel any better, I think we've ALL posted that post about a hundred times. *S* I'm going through my own little period of bad weather blues mixed with am I ever going to get a job/make some friends, etc. I'm really grateful that I found this blogging community - knowing that these feelings are normal helps out a lot!

Betty Carlson said...

You are still a VERY NEW expat, says the woman who just woke up and realized she has lived in France for 16 years.

You have good ideas. Join clubs, take classes, make fun times happen.

I have to say, though, that THE key to my integration in France was having children. Just for the record.

angela said...

http://www.angloinfo.com
If you don't already know this site you may find it helpful.
The ideal, of course, is to find your friends among the French but that may take a while and in the meantime it is nice to be able to communicate in your own tongue.

Pardon My French said...

Thanks for all the positive comments! I appreciated hearing from all of you -- it's nice not to feel so alone.