London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down...
I had an amazing time in London this past weekend. In fact, too good of a time. Thanks to my bestest English/Irish galpal Claire for making that happen! Went clubbing/pubbing, took in live (Irish hehehe) music, and saw more of London. The city and its diversity is growing on me though the insane cost of living is one for the birds. $8 just to go 12 stations down? NO THANK YOU!!!
Committing myself to learning more French for the Peace Corps has been a bitch and a half. I just can't get the pronunciation for "tu" and other words with the French "u" in them downpat. Maybe my tongue isn't wired for French. Hence, why I love Spanish as a foreign language so much more! Apart from that, we won't even really learn French in Madagascar because the language training focus will be in Malagasy. I'm all about learning new languages (French, what?) but am kinda sad it won't be a more "useful" one past my PC service. Unless Madagascar rises up and assumes world domination with their madd vanilla crops lol.
It appears that my PC service will definitely get me into just about anywhere I apply to for grad school, especially since I want to do a Masters in TEFL/TESL/Applied Linguistics. I'm sure it'll help with my Spanish Masters as well. I'm glad we got placement as TEFL teachers on a number of levels. For one, we just received an e-mail from volunteers currently serving that says that most education volunteers end up in URBAN areas. URBAN = Likelihood of somewhat regular internet access is through the roof! Also we should at least get electricity for a few hours each day. HOORAY! Apparently some peeps even have laptops there. WOOHOO! So hopefully I won't totally disappear off the face of the Earth.
As a bonus, I think I may apply for that Masters degree program in Applied Linguistics through the Univ. of Mass. - Boston that I've been looking at for a while now. It would coincide perfectly with when my PC service ended and the school year began. The cost is super minimal... Will probably cost me just about $15K when it's all said and done (it's a distance course, thank goodness!). As an added deluxe bonus, if I am in school after the PC, my one-year of noncompetitive eligibility for government jobs doesn't start ticking until after I'm done. Hey, the government can be crazy but no one can argue with how easy/well-paid/benefit-chocked-full the work can be. Believe me, I know from my sister's gravy train gubmint job she had a few years ago lol. Oh and another good thing is that I can still work abroad and do this program. Not bad at all!
So, things are looking up but it's still kinda depressing to know I am leaving Germany/Deutschland for a long time this coming Sunday. I overnight in Berlin on Saturday and have an early flight on Sunday morning to Frankfurt and then back to EG for 3 weeks. I am definitely looking forward to finishing my time there but sad to leave all the friends I have made. I guess I will have to keep in touch via e-mail but I know that will be interrupted for a bit with the start of PC service. I am looking forward to heading back to the States and partying with all my favorite US-ians! Will be nice to relax, get some good home cooking, and see my family before I go. May 8th, here I come! Though, the smallish amount of packing I have to do before leaving Germany is not making me happy. Nor is the money to pay for shipping this stuff back to the States. I'm also NOT loving the emotionally draining times I'm experiencing in one aspect of my life right now. Nuh-uh. Not a happy camper! I just hope I can get through this unscathed.
Okay, I must go practice more of my French. Je ne parle pas francais!
Discuss amongst yourselves...
Committing myself to learning more French for the Peace Corps has been a bitch and a half. I just can't get the pronunciation for "tu" and other words with the French "u" in them downpat. Maybe my tongue isn't wired for French. Hence, why I love Spanish as a foreign language so much more! Apart from that, we won't even really learn French in Madagascar because the language training focus will be in Malagasy. I'm all about learning new languages (French, what?) but am kinda sad it won't be a more "useful" one past my PC service. Unless Madagascar rises up and assumes world domination with their madd vanilla crops lol.
It appears that my PC service will definitely get me into just about anywhere I apply to for grad school, especially since I want to do a Masters in TEFL/TESL/Applied Linguistics. I'm sure it'll help with my Spanish Masters as well. I'm glad we got placement as TEFL teachers on a number of levels. For one, we just received an e-mail from volunteers currently serving that says that most education volunteers end up in URBAN areas. URBAN = Likelihood of somewhat regular internet access is through the roof! Also we should at least get electricity for a few hours each day. HOORAY! Apparently some peeps even have laptops there. WOOHOO! So hopefully I won't totally disappear off the face of the Earth.
As a bonus, I think I may apply for that Masters degree program in Applied Linguistics through the Univ. of Mass. - Boston that I've been looking at for a while now. It would coincide perfectly with when my PC service ended and the school year began. The cost is super minimal... Will probably cost me just about $15K when it's all said and done (it's a distance course, thank goodness!). As an added deluxe bonus, if I am in school after the PC, my one-year of noncompetitive eligibility for government jobs doesn't start ticking until after I'm done. Hey, the government can be crazy but no one can argue with how easy/well-paid/benefit-chocked-full the work can be. Believe me, I know from my sister's gravy train gubmint job she had a few years ago lol. Oh and another good thing is that I can still work abroad and do this program. Not bad at all!
So, things are looking up but it's still kinda depressing to know I am leaving Germany/Deutschland for a long time this coming Sunday. I overnight in Berlin on Saturday and have an early flight on Sunday morning to Frankfurt and then back to EG for 3 weeks. I am definitely looking forward to finishing my time there but sad to leave all the friends I have made. I guess I will have to keep in touch via e-mail but I know that will be interrupted for a bit with the start of PC service. I am looking forward to heading back to the States and partying with all my favorite US-ians! Will be nice to relax, get some good home cooking, and see my family before I go. May 8th, here I come! Though, the smallish amount of packing I have to do before leaving Germany is not making me happy. Nor is the money to pay for shipping this stuff back to the States. I'm also NOT loving the emotionally draining times I'm experiencing in one aspect of my life right now. Nuh-uh. Not a happy camper! I just hope I can get through this unscathed.
Okay, I must go practice more of my French. Je ne parle pas francais!
Discuss amongst yourselves...