Stick to the Schedule

Here's how things will hopefully look:
August 10: Visit consulate in Chicago for visa
September 1: Move back to Chicago and spend some time with "the fam"
September 9: Leave from OHare
September 10: Arrive in Paris and take the train for Strasbourg
September 17/18: Leave Strasbourg and arrive in Toulouse
September 19-22: Stay at the "young workers" hostel in Tarbes while apartment shopping
September 23-26: Munich for Oktoberfest
September 27-30: Get settled into apartment in Tarbes
October 1: First day in the elementary school(s)!!!!!

I will be doing a lot of travel to/from Germany, Spain, England, and Italy to visit sights, sounds, and friends. I intend to buy a 12-25 card which, for 50 euro, will save me 40% on all my French railway purchases for an entire year. I also intend to get a Eurail pass for my more expensive trips: for $350.00 I can travel for 6 days in 3 countries... meaning that a trip which would normally cost about $110, will only run me about $60.
I am getting in contact with a few really nice girls who will also be living in the surrounding areas of Toulouse, one of whom will be in Toulouse proper (I will be spending weekends with her for fun in the city!), and another of whom will be in Tarbes (for the second time around, meaning she'll be able to coach me when I get a bit lost).
Its all very exciting!
I still have a few hurdles to bypass however: visa and job paperwork, saving and penny-pinching to make all I need for start-up costs, and packing a year into two suitcases! Oh! What to do with all my teaching and authentic materials!?!?

From the Bureau of the Bureaucracy

Its visa time! And here's what I need to provide to the embassy when I go to my visa appointment:

6. Requirements

Original passport or travel document (+ ONE COPY of the identity pages) valid for at least six months. Make sure your passport has blank pages left to affix the visa.
One application form filled out completely and signed by the applicant (please
read carefully the explanation).
Two ID pictures : one glued/stapled onto the application form + one left loose. All
photographs must be recent, in color on a plain white background, of full front view, taken facing the camera. No side or angled view are acceptable. Chin to top of hair should measure about 1"

The work contract duly stamped by the French authorities :
For "assistants de langue vivante" : Your "Arrêté de nomination" stamped by the French Ministry of Labor (Direction Départementale du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle - D.D.T.E.F.P.)
(original + 1 photocopy).
For "lecteurs de langue étrangère" :
either a work agreement from French Office of immigration and integration (OFII). For more information contact the University in France that will host you or the OFII. This document is usually sent directly by the OFII to the consulate. or a "protocole
d’accueil" for scientist, to be provided by the university (original + 1 photocopy).
In both cases, make sure you get these documents before coming to the Consulate.

A self-addressed prepaid EXPRESS MAIL envelope from the US POST OFFICE ONLY - NO FEDEX / UPS / AIRBORNE EXPRESS accepted.Please do NOT stick the mailing label on the envelope and fill out as follows :
FROM:
CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE205N. Michigan Ave, Suite 3700CHICAGO,
IL 60601
TO:
Your full nameYour address

Its complicated, but i'll get there! I'm making my appointment for August 10th, and while in Chicago I'm sure my mom and I will be doing some shopping and lunching on the magnificent mile!

One-way Ticket

So, I am still unable to purchase round-trip flights as the return window would be outside the 330 day limit... so I'm going with the one-way! As it turns out now, Perrine (my friend in Alsace) may not be able to take the entire week off to come to Ste Cécile to vacation with me, so I'm meeting her in Strasbourg instead. NOW, the problem is that I could not get a discounted ticket to Strasbourg directly. So, Paris it is!

Chicago, IL, United States (ORD) to Paris, France (CDG) Wed, Sep 09
Total Price:
$351.70

Base
ticket price:
$ 196.65
Trip Protection:
$28.95
Taxes and
fees:
$120.10
Service fees:
$6.00
Total for
ticket:
$351.70

First/Middle Name of
Traveler:
Victoria K
Last/Family Name of
Traveler:
Pike

Ticket Price = $ 196.65 + $120.10 taxes and fees + $6.00
service fee

DEPART
United AirlinesFlight: 0608
Wednesday September 09Depart:
OHare International, Chicago, IL, US (ORD) 10:00amArrive: Ronald Reagan
National, Airport, Washington, DC, US (DCA) 12:41pm
United AirlinesFlight:
0914
Wednesday September 09Depart: Dulles Intl, Washington, DC, US (IAD)
5:29pmArrive: Ch. De Gaulle, Paris, FR (CDG) 6:55am

My one-way flight itinerary! I'd say that $350 is most certainly not bad, as far as a ticket from chicago to Paris, and I'll look into the return trip in a few months. United allows me two suitcases, each weighing-in at only 50lbs, I'll really have to pack smart, and think about sending myself a few things before I leave.
I plan on purchasing a train ticket from the SNCF website to get me from Paris to Strasbourg. I could travel from Gare Est to Strasbourg for 22euro at 10h30 or 12h30. The TGV will get me there in just over 2 hours when Perrine will pick me up from the train station. The question: Is three and a half hours enough time between flight arrival and train departure? Should I leave on the later train... in case the D.C. flight is delayed by more than a couple hours?

Commencement to Commencement

Hey all!
I've decided to start up my blog today as a way to share information with my upcoming teaching position in France with you! I just got the news that I will be located in Tarbes, France... seems to be about 90 miles outside (southwest) of Toulouse. Seems like I'm very close to a Pyrenees national park, maybe I'll get some camping and hiking in while I'm away this year.
My contract begins October 1st, 2009 and ends June 30th, 2010. I'm very excited!
The other assistants in my town are from Spain, Mexico, Ireland, and Chile, as well as another American girl who had this same post in Tarbes last year... she's my main Q&A girl right now.
I'm very happy to be so near the border of Spain, it will be great to travel, and now I know that there are another three assistants who be able to help me communicate when I do.
I can't wait to find out more!
~V
http://maps.google.com/maps?gbv=2&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*&q=tarbes%2C%20France&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il
Commencement to Commencement
Graduation to Beginning