Well, the time since I last wrote has been filled with a whirlwind of visits, vacations, and several existential crises. Most of you have probably forgotten that I even have a blog, some of you may miss it (blood relations), but all of you should really be glad that I haven't kept you up to date. In the span of 8 weeks, Lauren and I have gone from moving to South America, to China, to South Korea, to the US, to New Zealand, to India.... and the delicious thing is, we actually believed we had decided For Sure each time. I'll refer you to Lauren's blog so you can hear about her plans from her: www.interestinglyno.blogspot.com (also a useful link since she updates her blog much more frequently than I do and usually adds more pictures!)

So, briefly, here are my plans for the coming year (I still think and write in terms of academic years, so don't be confused :) Originally my contract in France was supposed to be over at the end of April, but my schools asked me to stay for another month to help the students prepare for their oral exams. I'll be leaving France for the US in the beginning of June. Summer plans include: US roadtrip to see friend Allison in Seattle complete with national parks stops and books on tape; numerous weekend trips to Holland to see friends, mentors, professors; some time Up North (for my non-Michiganian followers, that means in the northern part of Michigan, usually in a cabin/cottage on some lake); camping trip with my sis; summer camp with my mom (as volunteers. haha, gotcha!); loads of family time and maybe taking the GRE. I'll be heading back to Europe sometime in August to start a job as an au pair

in Switzerland!

I'll be living in charming Luzern

surrounded by the Swiss Alps

(but unfortunately not by the SWS:ALPS)

The family I'm working for is paying for me to take intensive German classes

(This is how excited I am about that. Also - less obviously perhaps - the picture was taken in Germany)

and they want me to speak only French with their children!

(Look how qualified I am!)

So, there's the whirl-wind tour. I am looking forward to seeing many of you this summer and catching-up/filling-in in more detail.

Also, I'm hoping to put up pictures (and anecdotes) from mine and Lauren's recent vacation to Poland soon! But for now, it's getting way past my adult bedtime (10:30-11pm) and I have to teach class for a whole entire hour tomorrow morning, so I had better get my rest ;)

Bisous to all!