As the school year draws to an end and the weather starts becoming warm and beautiful again, I’m realizing that my time until I’m in France is growing shorter and shorter. Though I am overly excited about this, the financial side of things has become a large source of nervousness and stress. In about a month, I will be losing about half my monthly income due to the fact that the school year is coming to an end. I am in the process, in the rare occasions that I do have time between my two jobs, to look for a good summer job. Thankfully, I’ll still have my second job and hopefully I’ll be able to get more hours there, but there’s no guarantee in that. Looking for a new second job is kind of stressful though. I really only need the job for the summer, and it has to be a job that I can do in the mornings since the majority of my hours at the used bookstore and brewery are in the afternoons/evenings. So, needless to say, I’m kind of stressing out about whether or not I’ll be able to find that second job. Hopefully though, I’ll stumble across something soon.

To help with my financial needs though, I’ve created a Go Fund Me campaign (located here: http://www.gofundme.com/tmj8n4). I know that this trip is for my personal experience and my professional career, but I would like to think that there are people out there that are willing to help a girl to pursue her dream. I honestly would try to do the same for someone I care about. Also, after much thought, I realized that it can’t really do much harm to do a fundraiser because if no one donates anything, at least I tried and at least I know where I’ll end, right where I am right now anyways. So, why not try? Also, it helps that my friends think it’s a good idea too. Creating a Go Fund Me campaign also helped to remember what other goals I’ll have in France besides teaching English, and one of the major one of those is to get involved with and to serve in the community. I’ve always loved helping others, and I think it would be especially rewarding and an amazing experience to do so in a culture that I don’t call my own. So, all that said, if you are reading this, I would be forever grateful if you donated to my campaign, even the smallest amount will be put to good use.

Now, onto other things that I’ve accomplished. I’ve managed to find and to purchase a decent computer that fits all of my needs and wants for under what I budgeted for it. I feel so relieved to have one huge thing crossed off my France list of things to do and to buy before I go. In fact, I’m typing on it right now, trying to still get a feel for how it runs. It’s super small and sleek, so it’s perfect for travel. Having a new computer will also help me keep in touch with family and friends back home as well as write lessons plans for when I’m teaching over there. So, that’s one last thing to do before I go.

Also, yesterday, I felt like such an adult! I applied for a credit card so that I won’t have trouble purchasing my plane and train tickets and so that I have something to fall back on just in case there’s an emergency. I’m really hoping that I get approved because it will give me a source of comfort while I’m over there. I have a good feeling about it though because according to the bank I have good credit from paying on my student loans! Who knew that paying student loans would be good for something? lols.

Facebook is such a great source of networking, which everyone already knows, but I’m especially grateful for it now. I have been able to connect to so many other assistants on Facebook. Doing this has allowed me to get to know other people and exchange ideas and thoughts on differently logistical things, like where to find the best and cheapest flights as well as who might be interested in rooming together once we get there. It’s also really cool getting to know new people who have similar interests as me.

Overall, I am moving forward in this whole process, and I am getting things done, even though I work so much that I question whether or not I’m getting things done even slightly. It will all be worth it in the end though, right?

Thanks for reading and until next time mes amis!

A plus!

P.S. I’m going to have to figure out how to make accents on a PC. The downsides from switching from a Macbook to a PC.