Change is good.

Last week I said, "À la prochaine!" Well, it's la prochaine. Since being home and back at work, I've had more thoughts about things I want to say on here. If this is any indication of how this blog will continue, I guess I'll keep updating it. But really, I can't say now. I can just say I have some thoughts I want to share.

First of all, things have changed here. When looking at the big picture, nothing has changed. People are the same, places are the same, home is the same. It seems that nothing in the house was touched while I was gone. Suddenly, though, my mom has these new things that she does. For example, she drinks tea every morning now instead of coffee. For the first 24 years of my life she drank coffee every morning. And now suddenly I leave for a year and she switches to tea? Weird! And she has a new way of organizing the dishes in the dishwasher, which is still taking some getting used to. I've also been instructed to leave the door to the crawl space under our stairs open from now on. And, dare I say, there has been mention of getting rid of the pool. DO NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS!!! She did not say we are doing that. It's just that the heater hasn't been working properly lately, so we were discussing our options, and for the first time in my life I actually was faced with the reality that some day that pool will be gone. THAT will be a sad day.

Three days down at work (Target). Things have changed, but so much has stayed the same. I remember being in my room in Lure thinking about my Target job, imagining myself thousands of miles away folding clothes and answering phones at Target. It was so far away and so far from reality that it seemed like I'd never be doing that again. Today I found myself doing just that, though. Folding clothes and answering phones. And as I was folding shirts, I imagined myself back in my room in Lure, sitting on my bed, thinking about this moment. It is so foreign and far from reality now, except only two weeks ago it WAS reality. And I found myself doing exactly what it was that only weeks/months earlier I was thinking about and that was so far away and unreal. It's just weird. I traveled to so many places and lived so far away, did so many things and met so many people. But no matter where the world takes me, somehow I always end up right back at Target doing the same old thing... folding clothes and answering phones. Everything (mostly) came back to me like I was never gone. Barely had to ask any questions. Just knew what I was doing. And to think that the last time I did those things, I hadn't experienced everything I have this year. Last time I scanned a gift card, I had never set foot in a French high school classroom. It's weird that after all that time away, it just felt so normal still. And there were so many familiar faces. Of course there are people there I don't know, but for the most part, I know people, and people know me (which was not always the case when coming back from college each year). It's a good feeling. And as I walked out of work on my first day back, I was just happy. I know, weird. Happy to be back at work, work that at times gets so annoying. But it's a good feeling to know it's always going to feel like home for me. (Hey, come on. I've worked there since 10th grade. As long as I've known high school, I've known working at Target.)

I will say, though, that I'm sad we have new computers. Well, actually I'm thrilled. I suspect they work much better than the old ones from like, 1920.  But when it's the last time I'm going to do something, I like to know it. I don't like surprises when they involve change. And so to be surprised with new computers made me a bit sad because I never mentally said goodbye to the old ones. Stupid. I know. But that's how I feel.

What's with the new pop bottle sizes? Did I see a 1.5 liter bottle of pop the other day? And Sun Drop? When did that become popular? Juice bottles are different now, too. These changes don't make me sad like some others (which I'm over anyway). And since when are flashing yellow left-turn arrows used on stoplights?

Oh, and I've seen so much Swiss Gear stuff at work... luggage, shoes... other travel supplies. I'll never look at it the same again. I can say firsthand I understand why that stuff is such high quality and expensive. Everything in Switzerland is high quality and expensive. So now when I see those little Swiss flags on all those bags and shoes, I'll remember how proud the Swiss actually are of that flag. I might get that exciting feeling of "yay, Switzerland!" in my mind. Then I remember I'm only at Target. Shucks.

Yesterday I wore this one par of shoes to work because I wasn't expecting to be walking around all day. Well, turns out I would be walking around all day, and I nearly got blisters worse that those I got walking around all day in Europe. I thought I wore those shoes out after my first month in Lure, but I was wrong. They're still going strong!

Okay, what I am about to do might be too deep for some people to read. You might think it's pathetic and dumb that I'm doing it. But I've been thinking a lot about how much I've learned and changed over the last nine months, and most of that learning and changing is thanks to other people. I have this new thing where whenever I leave a museum, I must be able to tell myself three things I learned, or I can't leave. If I can't do it, it wasn't worth going. So I'm about to thank people publically to show myself how many great people I met and how much I've changed. Because I want to. I doubt half these people will ever read this, but you never know. And it makes me feel good to know that someone, even if it's not them, will (maybe?) read this. My last night in Lure that I posted on here, I was way too exhausted to do this, and I surely would have left people out. So, in no paticular order, allow me to say a little something to all who helped make this whole thing so fabulous. So without further ado, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to...

...Fabienne for being like a mom, for helping me with everything paper-related, especially all my Orange stuff, and for picking me up on day 1. And also Philippe for being hilarious and having me over a week after I arrived. And thanks for having adorable kids that made me smile. :)

...the rest of the English teachers, Françoise, Guy, Christine, Caroline, and Emilie, for being so helpful, "forcing" me to plan some lessons I wasn't too thrilled about, having awesome students (and agreeing with me on the not-so-awesome ones), making me feel the way I did (whether good or bad) about my lessons afterward, and teaching me so much about French schooling. Especially to Fabienne, Guy, and Emilie for being so willing to help with my bank fiasco. And to Valérie, the Spanish teacher who was always friendlier than anyone I know and who always made me feel like a part of the staff.

...Kaitlin for saving my life on multiple occasions, for walking to LeClerc with me when it was too far for your liking, for playing with me just for fun, for encouraging me when I seriously needed it, for making me well aware of the "-ag" words in the English language (no for real, it's cool!), for taking some spare food and other stuff off my hands for me before I left Lure, for helping me realize some of the most simple (and some of the most important) things in life, for listening to every thought that went through my mind, and for loving me and being someone for me to love when everyone else I love was far away.

...Mario for sharing my frustration with Orange, for spending hours with me at McDonald's when we didn't yet have wifi, for opening my eyes to a lot of things about American culture that I didn't know or realize before, for giving me a huge new perspective on languages and language learning, driving me places, the trips, especially to Berlin (which was, by the way, probably my favorite place I visited), spending Thanksgiving with me, for the four euros when I needed to do my laundry, for listening to my complaining about so many things, and for sharing an opinion with me on so many things. And to his parents for having me over more than once and for the meals. And to his friends Thomas, Simon, Sofiane, and Sandra, for being huge parts of some really memorable experiences for me and for making life feel a little more normal (hanging out with locals versus foreigners) while in Europe. Although a short trip to a Christmas market for you might seem like nothing big, it's a big deal for this girl from Minnesota, and when I remember these small trips I'll always remember you each as a part of them. All five of you are SERIOUSLY very impressively good at English, and I can't even tell you how much that taught me about language! And that's super valuable to me as a language teacher. And especially to Simon and Sofiane... I had so much fun with you both. Thanks for the lodging and for the hilariously fun discussions. I needed that (moreso the discussion than the lodging... but hey, I needed lodging, too). For making me feel more at home than I had felt in months. Simon, thanks for showing me places I probably would never have known to visit and for giving meaning to some important life lessons. I think I know more Germans than I do French people. Imagine that.

...Corinne for being so freaking positive all the time (maybe you don't see it in yourself, but I do), for hanging out so much and making me feel like some things in life just don't deserve my stress and worry, for the raclette and for that amazing dessert you made chez moi that one night, and for honestly caring about me. I'll see you again en Suisse, I just know it.

...Chris for teaching me (probably without realizing it) so much about the English language and for making me feel like part of a friendly community! I swear, I saw you everywhere. Your witty comments and positive attitude always made coming over to the apartment entertaining. Oh, and thanks for the video, too. I'll be sure to play it on day 1 of teaching every year. :)

...Sal for helping me prepare to leave, for spending Christmas and New Year's with me, for putting up with all the snow, slush, rain, and freezing cold, for not getting mad when I got in a huge fight with Paris, for going on the Buzz Lightyear ride more than once, and for still being my friend after spending so much time together. And for finally showing me how pigs fly. And to Sal's Françoise (and husband...?) for the conversation and the books, Jackie (and... lady friend...) for the ready-to-use house over the new year, Laurence for hosting us and getting me one step closer to overcoming my fear/dislike of dogs (although it may never happen), and to Suzanna for the lodging and wonderful entertainment.

...Jessica, Eryn, and Ariel for sharing the most-needed vacation from our new lives in France with me, and for helping me erase my dislike for Lyon from my mind. I love that place now.

...Rachel for letting me stay with you the night of my concert!

...Sam for answering all my questions you could!

...Beth for helping me realize that plans change, and even with a plan D, you might still end up going with plan Z. For being with me to explore quite possibly the most attractive city in France, and for giving me the perfect excuse to go to French-speaking Switzerland.

...Anna for making me feel young again! (Okay, I know, I'm not that old.) For helping me make the best of a bad day (and knowing how to do so in the future), and for the Christmas card!

...Ann, Jan, Nick, and Sophie for letting me live in your space for a week, and Bas for coming over and riding the bus to Leiden with me! Especially to Ann, thanks for the great conversations, for sharing every thought and opinion I have, taking me places, and for all the GOOD food. You rock! You helped me look at language learning, acquisition, and use in new and valuable ways. (See you soon??!!)

...Françoise and Jean-Louis for the dinners, the concert, the movie, and the great home.

...Tony and Gina for getting married in Italy and bringing our families together! If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have seen sooooo many of the places I did after I finished working. Thanks to everyone else in my fam who was there: Mod, Heather, Dawn, Mark, Cathy, Debbie, Andy, and Miriah for the fun trips, great food, and (especially Andy) bringing me back to my childhood! I learned quite a bit about how valuable family is, and being with you, even though in Europe, made me feel right at home. And to Chris and Scott for being hilarious, and everyone in Gina's fmaily for being equally hilarious! You all made the week SO fun.

...the people (still don't know who or why) who had us over to the art expo and the holiday presentation thing. I mean, what else can I say? Just thanks for having us!

...Pamela for helping me make the decision to go to France. I can't believe I was considering not going, and your adivce was seriously taken to heart. You might not even remember what you said to me, but I do, and I can partly thank you for my having met all these people listed above.

I think that's everyone. Doesn't look like a whole lot, but those are the people who had the biggest impact on my time abraod. Worth mentioning also, though, are some of the admins at school, like Monsieur Radzikowski, Madame Grandmougin, Madame Courbet, Martine, and the lady I paid for my rent. (Hah, I don't know her name.) The bank people, especially the woman who dealt with my huge issue, Florence, the police officer who helped me file my report, the crabby woman at Match, the post office man with great humor, and the wonderful owner of Luthra!

I think that'll do it! Before I left the United States, my goals in going abraod were to 1) learn more about what school is like in France, and 2) go to Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. I did them all. I'm so sad that the year is over, but I am so pleased with how much I've gained. Even though at times I was bored, sad, or lonely, the whole experience is worth it because of everything I got out of it at the end. I can move back home and change the boredom, sadness, and lonliness, but there's no taking back every person I've met, every experience I've had, and everything I've learned. I'm a changed person. And it feels so good.