I was involved in a lot of community building activities at Virginia Tech. I can't tell you how many community dinners I went to merely for good conversation. So while I knew it would take time, I kind of expected the same to happen (to a degree) here in France.
I've been realizing over this past week or so of good byes that I found a community here in France, it just wasn't quite what I expected. (Finding things different than expectations-that seems to be a theme on blog posts of late here!) The good byes really started last week in La Rochelle, where we had a wrap up meeting for the primary assistants. It was after the meeting though, when a bunch of us were sitting having a drink on the port, that I realized these girls, despite not living in the same town as me, had become a part of my community this year. I was truly interested in knowing what everyone was planning on doing after this assistantship. And then a Tunisian friend who one night in November cooked me, Izzie and Stef a fantastic meal from his home country just happened to drive by, so he stopped to talk with us for a few minutes. It was a nice way to kind of come full circle.
A similar sentiment continued throughout this weekend. Saturday evening and Sunday we had girls from throughout the region here in Royan. I loved it! But I was most content yesterday just sitting on the beach talking with people. We didn't all live in the same town throughout the year, but due to different invitations I accepted or mere random events I had met all these girls, and we ended up spending a sunny afternoon on the beach together here at the end.
Today was my last day at Ecole Lucien Robin in Saint Palais sur Mer. There wasn't really a lot of fanfare about me leaving, some of the teachers didn't even know it was my last day. But the few teachers that I have gotten to know a little made sure their students knew I was leaving and that they said good bye to me. There isn't a lot better than a whole class of seven year olds lining up to give you hugs and kisses. And Guy the friendly CM2 sailor teacher who drove me to school every Monday morning has offered me somewhere to stay if I get back to the area. It may be just be necessary to come back! (In July, under hot boiling sun with no chance of rain.)
I've been realizing over this past week or so of good byes that I found a community here in France, it just wasn't quite what I expected. (Finding things different than expectations-that seems to be a theme on blog posts of late here!) The good byes really started last week in La Rochelle, where we had a wrap up meeting for the primary assistants. It was after the meeting though, when a bunch of us were sitting having a drink on the port, that I realized these girls, despite not living in the same town as me, had become a part of my community this year. I was truly interested in knowing what everyone was planning on doing after this assistantship. And then a Tunisian friend who one night in November cooked me, Izzie and Stef a fantastic meal from his home country just happened to drive by, so he stopped to talk with us for a few minutes. It was a nice way to kind of come full circle.
A similar sentiment continued throughout this weekend. Saturday evening and Sunday we had girls from throughout the region here in Royan. I loved it! But I was most content yesterday just sitting on the beach talking with people. We didn't all live in the same town throughout the year, but due to different invitations I accepted or mere random events I had met all these girls, and we ended up spending a sunny afternoon on the beach together here at the end.
Today was my last day at Ecole Lucien Robin in Saint Palais sur Mer. There wasn't really a lot of fanfare about me leaving, some of the teachers didn't even know it was my last day. But the few teachers that I have gotten to know a little made sure their students knew I was leaving and that they said good bye to me. There isn't a lot better than a whole class of seven year olds lining up to give you hugs and kisses. And Guy the friendly CM2 sailor teacher who drove me to school every Monday morning has offered me somewhere to stay if I get back to the area. It may be just be necessary to come back! (In July, under hot boiling sun with no chance of rain.)