December 27th

Today marks the self-appointed date I had set for myself to make my move to Paris. Due to unforeseen circumstances, my plans have been delayed.

In the meantime, I will continue my job search and revise my plans. I plan to use this extra time to continue learning French and to hopefully become TESOL certified so that I can teach English when I move.

I remain steadfast in my decision to move to Paris and I will keep you updated as my process moves along.....but for today, I am sad.

Until we meet again.

December 9th

In 2011, on December 9th, my Mom lost her almost years battle with cancer.

Today I deal with the loss of the most important person in my life.

The inscription at the bottom is taken from 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, and reads, "To Be Absent From The Body Is To Be Present With The Lord".

Happy Thanksgiving

Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it. - Ralph Marston

So now Plan-B?!

Since my last post so much has happened and unfortunately not in a good way.

The person I hired to hold things down so that I could work remotely from Paris quit in October. Also, my boss who said he would allow me to work remotely will be retiring in August 2014.

So, now because the person quit my plans had to be pushed back until I can find a suitable person and there is no guarantee the new boss will allow me to work remotely.

I am now working diligently  on Plan-B which will require me to find a permanent job in Paris so that I have the security for my family that I need. I've kicked up my job search plans and if I still have not found a suitable replacement for my current job by the time I'm needed then I will offer my services to work remotely.

So, that is Plan-B. I am hoping I can find a permanent job in Paris before the summer, if not I may still choose to move to Paris and look for work while I am there.

I heard a great quote today, I can't remember it exactly so I'll paraphrase: "If your dreams don't make your nervous, then you're not dreaming big enough!"

I will not let my dream go, I will move to Paris within the next calendar year.

Until later....my journey continues.

Ree

The Neverending Wait

I think I have officially entered the part of my plan to move that I dislike the most....the neverending wait.

At this point, I'm waiting for my university admissions to be finalized so that I can apply for my student visa.  In the meantime I am still searching for apartments and a job in Paris so that I can get the secure feeling I need.

My plan is still to make the move at the end of December/beginning of January and hopefully all will go well. The apartment hunt is going okay, I am sticking to my budget and that has created limitations; however, I will not be put in the position of committing to an apartment that I cannot afford and end up homeless in Paris or worse...living off Ramen noodles.

Changes occurring at work makes me determined to find a job in Paris before I go. I'm hoping I can get hired by a company (CDD) and be sponsored!

The worse part of this waiting part is that some days I question the rationale of my decision and debate if this is still something I want to do. Then something will happen (ex. a death) and my resolve will be renewed as I contemplate if not now, when will I really live my dream.

In reality the worse I expect to happen is that there will be a delay and I will not be able to leave when I planned, but I will move to Paris within the next year.

On a positive note, I have been invited to appear on House Hunters International to show my journey in my apartment hunt.

I'm currently hoping that some agent or agency who is interested in being on the show will contact me to help me with my search.

I'm waiting...as usual.

Muah 

A Dream Deferred is a Dream Denied...not me!

As I continue my wait, I thought I would share with you a poem by Langston Hughes.

A Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore - - and then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over - - like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

I will not be denied my dream of moving to Paris. Still playing the waiting game but more information soon to come.

Wait...wait....now wait some more!

Right now I'm in wait mode.

I applied for this GREAT job in Paris and the job closes on June 12th, so I'm waiting.

I'm waiting for my application process to the American Graduate School in Paris to wrap up.

To be honest, they're kinda waiting on me right now. I'm getting the final paperwork in to them...but I am waiting on the letters of recommendation that I have to send them.

And I am STILL waiting to hear back from Book Your Paris about the apartment. I don't know what's up with that.

If I get this job, that would bring so much joy to my life, so I don't want to jinx it.

I need everyone to put me on they're prayer list, cross they're fingers, toes, eyes...whatever works.

So, I wait.