Home Sweet Home

Sadly, my time has come. A return to reality. Every time I'm in an airport it's either to embark on a new adventure, or to return to life as I know it. Was VERY lucky when I caught the metro/RER this morning since there wasn't any rush-hour craziness. Caught all my trains out to the airport - took me 75 minutes to get out. Had a couple scams going on the trains. These two moms, separate trains, both brought their kids along, put a little note on the seat opposite me. It was in French, so I had no idea what it said, but could deduce that they wanted money. Sadly you just have to ignore those people and not encourage them. On the train to the airport was a saxophone player who was good, but his first song was Tequila from PeeWee Herman's Playhouse - not a good opener, buddy! Got checked in real fast and then let the waiting begin. Seems like travel is a bunch of hurry-up-and-wait time.
Flight was NOT full at all - took the very last seat so no one was behind me and no one in front of me. Movies were lame: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants & Water Horse. Flight home was 9+ hrs, but since we left Paris early (miracle!), we had to do a u-turn once we hit Lake Michigan and stall until we got a landing time.
Then, so more hurry-up-and-wait time in Chicago after transfering terminals. Of course the Moline flight was delayed - had to de-ice the plane. Kind of an important thing to do, so I guess I can wait a few more minutos.
Boy is it cold back home! You know it's cold out when you can see your breath on the gangplank to the airplane.
But, yes, I am home safe & sound, luggage and everything. Car started right up - yeah! Didn't sleep on the big flight over - am semi-tired now, but should be since my body should think it's 5:50 a.m..... yikes!!
It was an amazing journey filled with such great places and sites, but more importantly it's the people who make your journey worthwhile. My presentation, from what I'm told, went extremely well and hopefully I've had a positive impact on another GL who will be able to impact their kids positively and share the world with them.
Thanks for all you prayers and comments on this whirlwind of a week....now it's back to reality... and a bunch of papers on my desk!!
Au revoir!!

Pere Lachaise

So, when you last heard from me, I was on my way out to Pere Lachaise, a cemetary with lots of famous people, like Marcel Marceau, Chopin, Pissarro, Rothschild, Seurat, Oscar Wilde and even Jim Morrison from the doors. It's not a cemetery like we know, it's a bunch of crypts built up - so ornate...quite impressive... yet a tad spooky. Didn't think it was wise that the single girl was wandering the cemetery alone on a cloudy day, especially after all the run-ins at the Eiffel Tower. Plus, this guy/kid popped up behind me as I was looking at the map and creeped me out. So, decided to make quick work. Would find just a couple "big namers" and then get out of dodge. I found Chopin on my way to Jim Morrison's. Had a little trouble finding his - there were a couple of creepy guys in the vicinity that kept appearing & reappearing. But, once I turned the corner and saw a couple of people a row or two back, and then saw a guard, I knew I had found it! Paid my respects, took a pic and was outta there. Did not pass go. Did not collect $200... although I saw a crypt for the Adams family, so had to take a pic of that! :)

I think the kids would like it - maybe I'll make a scavenger hunt activity with it...hmmm....

After a quick stop at the supermercado for dinner, walked in just in time for the 21-gun salute and President Obama's speech. It was ALL over the news, newspapers, magazines, etc... in Europe as well.

Free Day/Last full day

After 11 hours of sleep, I was ready to go this morning. I have a free day all to myself so I mapped out my plan of attack. Luckily I found another internet cafe so I could tell you about it. The stupid computer at the hotel has Facebook & Blogspot blocked - grrr....
Anywho! I metroed it down to the Louvre, walked over to the Musee D'Orsay and spent 2 hours in that museum. Was my first time there - liked it a lot and think the kids will like it when we go. Next, I walked all the way down to the Eiffel. You can pay to ride up all the way, or you can walk up to the 2nd floor and then you have to take the lift to the very top. I walked all 668 steps to the 2nd floor - my own version of Buns of Steel - and then took the lift up. It was FREEZING up there, but you could see all of Paris - quite beautiful.
Here's the latest scam they're running in the park by the Eiffel. Some innocent young teenagers bends over to pick something up and pretends like you've dropped it. It's a gold ring. Not quite sure why - maybe they think you'll reward them for returning it. On my way to the tower, I got hit TWICE with the scam. And then on my way out for lunch, again!! Unreal....
I'm hoping to hit Pere Lechaise - a very famous cemetary where many famous people are buried. I tried to go ride the Ferris Wheel again today, when I saw that there were no carriages on it. They weren't just cleaning it yesterday, they were dismantling it for the season...bummer!

Paris in a day!!

So, Sunday was our official 'tour day, and boy, was it a dousy!!! We saw the Arc de Triumphe, Champs Ellyses, Eiffel tour, Notre Dame, Napoleon's burial place, Ponte Neuf, Sacre Coure, Monmarte, the Tullieres, and then headed out to Versailles. After dinner we went on a Batome Mouche - boat ride on the Seine at night with all of paris lit up, we finally got back around 11.

Paris is finally growing on me. It's such a beautiful city - a little chilly - should have brought gloves!!! And currently it's downpouring - ugh!!! which is nothing compared to home!!

struck out a bit today - musee de o'rsay was out of tickets by the time i got there & the giant ferris wheel was being cleaned.... guess what i'm doing manana!?!?

PARIS!!!!!!!!

Whew - finally made it... and what an adventure it's been, even just trying to get here. Got a blizzard, basically, the night before I left. Was unsure if flight would go on time, so decided to rent an ACT II limo/van and just drive to Chicago. Roads were okay, but there was one spot that, within a 2 mile span, 5 semis were jack-knifed. Luckily made it - no problema, off to Paris I go. My American flight was real empty so got a whole row to myself. Caught a cab to the hotel - was over $50 - yikes. Hotel is very nice, just not in center city. In Europe you either have a nicer hotel, just far out of town or you have great location, just not all the extras. Was too early to check in, so I met up with some EF staff, Lindsey & Matt and find out the other experienced Group Leader missed our Chicago flight and would be in later.
Once everyone got in, we had our staff meeting. There are 2 of us experienced GL's: me & Bob. He's amazing. If ya'll think I'm a world traveler, this guy beats me hands down, so that should tell you lots. He's the nicest, humblest guy I know. There are 4 EF staff here: Lindsey, Matt (who knows my future bro-in-law....small world), Rachel & Milena. We all bond together great , and along with our guide/tour director, Antonio, we have dinner with the other buses.
This is what they call Paris Orientation. They bring over GL's who are planning trips and have never taken students on a tour. Our whole bus are those who aren't traveling until 2010 - early planners.
All the newbies arrived on Friday with their scattered arrival times. I get to be meet & greet with Bob in the lobby. We go to the Louvre once they are all there and got to see Mona Lisa, the Nike/Winged Goddess, Venus de Milo...and much more. Had some free time to shop, grab lunch & wander.
Saturday was our 'convention day' when I had to do my presentation. Was very nervous because Bob is the man at these conventions and since this was my first one, I was very intimidated. I held my own, did my presentation through the eyes of my kids and gave them tips on how to stay organized on tour. It went well - lots of positive feedback. No time for questions, but that's already been going on all tour. Have constantly been bombarded with question almost non stop, but love every minute of it cuz if it helps them have a successful tour and give those kids a trip of a lifetime, then it'll have been all worth it!!!

36 hours and counting....

Well, Cedric & I will be off again soon. This time we're heading to Paris, the city of lights, for a week! I was given this amazing opportunity through EF, the student travel company I use. They are having an orientation for new Group Leaders and asked me to come along as one of the "experienced GL's" and give a presentation about what life is like with kids on tour. Of course, I jumped at this opportunity!! Paris? For a week?? Yeah!! It's been about 5 yrs since I was last there. So, the next 36 hours will find me finishing up my lesson plans, finishing packing, finishing laundry, and finishing up my presentation. It's days like this that I had a "normal" job that I could just leave, stop everything where it is, and just pick it up when I return. Sadly, teaching is not like that. There's lots of ducks to put in a row before I can go, but it'll all be worth it when I get there. Just pray for some great weather, cuz it's not looking too hot. Am going through Chicago, so am going to try & get on an earlier flight out of Moline so that I don't miss the jumbo 767 to Paris on Wednesday. Oh, the joys of travel in January. Again, it'll all be worth it! :)