Francophile in the West

I took the GRE this weekend and I ROCKED IT!!! I did better than I thought I would. Whew! It is a huge relief to have that over with. I just have to wait for my writing scores to come in, but hopefully, I won't be taking that dang test again! All is continuing to look good as far as grad school goes. The goal is to start in the fall of 2013. My number one choice? The University of Denver's Korbel School of International Studies . Great program, awesome location, and the best funding package I've seen - my dream grad school! Annnnnnnnnd, today's the day I officially begin my journey towards obtaining a French long-stay work visa! I gathered all of the necessary starter documents together and will be sending them off in the mail today. Here's to hoping they arrive in France in good time and that it only takes one month (and not three) to receive my work contract!

Today, the best thing in the world to me was going for a run after work in Magnuson Park along Lake Washington in the Seattle sunshine and 70º heat and listening to this: Now, it's time to cook a delicious dinner. :)

                              

I had to do some work on campus yesterday morning, and I knew I was going to be in the Quad, so I brought my little camera! I walked around the Quad admiring the cherry blossoms for just a few minutes and snapped some photos: I'm going to miss the UW campus when I leave! Today was definitely one of those days when I felt that. It's been such a wonderful five years here in Seattle. The UW will always, always hold a very dear place in my heart. The rest of the day Saturday was just wonderful! Roomie K and I walked around Greenlake and bought frozen yogurt and ate it in the sun, and then we went to a study session/happy hour shenanigans with Roomie S and Todd! We were cracking each other up, it was great. :) And when Roomie K and I were walking around the lake, we saw turtles basking in the sun! So cute! It's another sunny day today; I best go enjoy it! :)

I got in! I got in! I'll be teaching middle or high school kiddos in the A cadémie de Nantes!! I won't know exactly which city they're putting me in until 2-3 months from now when I get my work contract all sorted out, but I cannot wait. I get to go back here!!!! : Place Royale, Nantes CAN'T WAIT!! The best part is, my imminent return to France/Europe is only 5 months away!! My parents and I will be leaving for Prague, CR and Cologne, Germany at the very end of August. Two weeks there, and then I'm on my way back 'home'! In the meantime, I'll have a week in Hawai'i with my sister in May (1 month away!), the end of the internship at the end of June (2 1/2 months away!), and a semi-lazy final summer in Seattle taking a class, hanging out with Kris, and doing all the bureaucratic stuff needed to spend 10 months abroad. Ahhhhhh! 2012 is the best year ever!!! If the world has to end this year, then at least I'm doing it in style. ;-) Bu