So here it goes. My first blog. I'm hoping to use this blog as a way to share with you about my musings, adventures, and of course, all the food I get to enjoy while I will be living in FRANCE for the next 7 months!
So pour yourself a glass of wine and let me start by telling you how this journey all came about:
Ever since I was little, I have been enamored with travel and other cultures. After my freshman year at Auburn, I got to study abroad to Italy, France, England, and Scotland. Let me just say, my fervor for travel only increased. I was addicted. Then I got the fabulous opportunity to study abroad in Paris for a month the following July. I knew from then on that I must get back to France. Not only was I in love with the culture, but the food, the lifestyle, the language, the history - everything. When my French professor suggested I apply to be an English Teaching Assistant in France, I thought, why not. I am young, unattached, and when else in my life would I be so free. With my professors, family, and friends' wonderful support, I applied both to the French program as well as the Fulbright program this past October. For the next 7 months, I took part in a long waiting game, just waiting to hear anything from the French. Finally, one day in late May on my way to work, I got the email. I was accepted to the program! I was so happy I started crying! It was such a huge wave of relief! My dream became a reality. Not only was I going to be a French Teaching Assistant, I was also a Fulbright Scholar for Auburn! My life was surreal.
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| The school - Lycee Hyacinthe Friant |
God is definitely smiling down on me and man oh man did He teach me a thing about being patient.
Honestly, what could be more perfect?! I will get to help teach English at a culinary focused school and even get to take some classes there myself! I am so lucky and get to live on campus in a private apartment with my own kitchen and bathroom, whew such a relief!
The town of Poligny is absolutely gorgeous, honestly like right out of a movie. It's a rural village surrounded by vineyards and mountains in the Franche-Comte region (which produces over 200,000 rounds of my favorite cheese a year and known for their Jura Mountain wines). Even have a house of Comte cheese to visit - yes I will be going there. ps, y'all should try Comte cheese - it's divine.
Poligny is very close to Geneva and Lyon - about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from each. Lyon is the gourmet food capital of France, let's just say I'm going to be on a whole other level of foodie heaven.
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| Main church in Poligny |
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| Poligny, France. Can't wait to stroll around here! |
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Click here to see an awesome 360 tour of Poligny, worth it!
Back to the teaching part of my program... I will be an assistant to English teachers at the school. I will be sharing things about American culture, holidays, food, restaurants, basically anything about America. My students will be 14 to 23 year olds - keep in mind that I will be turning 23 the end of September and I look young for my age haha I sure do hope they like me! I work 12 hours a week and have 5 weeks of paid vacation! Pretty cool huh? Let's just say I plan to do a LOT of traveling around Europe! Please give me any suggestions of places to visit - I'd love that!
So in about a month, I will be saying au revoir not only to my family and all my wonderful friends, but also to American food, lifestyle, and culture. I am nervous but thrilled beyond words. I know that this journey I am about to embark upon will be a wonderfully life changing opportunity.
I promise all my posts won't be this long, probably will be mostly pictures of food and European discoveries!
Til' next time :)
