living on the shore of storks

I'm back!

SOoooo sorry that I've been such a slacker, but if you know me at all... or even if you only read this blog, you'll note that I have a habit of not posting when life gets too repetitive or boring, then I pretty much just avoid posting. bad habit, I know, but to be fair, my life does have some stories to tell, even if there are some bare spots every once in a while. right? haha.

here's a mini-update - I have lots that I would love to update, but most of it involves paper-writing... except THIS...

Here's what happened:

I had just written a 20pp paper* the day before, and was beginning to write my FINAL 20pp of the year (WHEW!) a few days ago, when I received an email from the university where I'll be teaching this school year & learned that there was a problem... OF COURSE.

The application for university housing I sent in April had not been received. & they were just now telling me in mid-July**. (surprised? not if you know me. or read this blog.)

Not only had my application not been accepted, but the residence I was applying for required a guarantor & that had not been mentioned in the many conversation I'd been having over the previous 8mos.

I quickly replied and asked what previous lectrices visiting from U of SC had done - or if they just chose not to live on campus - and learned that this was a new situation because the apt I was requesting was a new bldg and hadn't been built the last time a U of SC student was here...

so I re-turned in my applications (scan to PDF this time) and waited.

the following day (yesterday), I got another email from my contact at the French Uni and she had done some research.

The last lectrice to live on-campus had stayed in another bldg, one with apts specifically for visiting professors, and one that did not require a guarantor...

and THEN I learned just how awesome this little 'hiccup' in my plans really is!!!

View Larger Map

YES! This is a GoogleEarth snapshot of my residence in France! WHEW! I received the confirmation in writing by email today. All is well again in Stephland :)

And since we all know how much I love listing things:

• all of the little bldgs in the centre of this photo is the residence complex.
• the larger bldg in the top of of the photo (surrounded by the parking lot) is an hypermarché (kind of like a superWalmart)
• right under the 'e' in Charles is a tram station that takes me to both campus and centre ville (city centre)
• a sports field in the bottom left corner***
• that dark green line down the right side is a river...

and information on the actual apartment (with comparison to my original plan):

• 270 sqft / 25 sqm -- compared to 165 sqft / 16 sqm
• 3 rooms (bedroom, living/kitchen/dining, bathroom) --- compared to one room for all
• halfway**** between both campus & centre ville --- compared to right on campus
• 2 twin beds (the apt was originally planned for couples, I'm told?) --- only one in the first place... vistors welcome! :)

I cannot believe how much of a blessing this is! God is great. As usual. :)

I am also beginning to think that I might be getting a little excited over this new adventure!!! Will try and be more diligent in my updates...

xoxo

PS:

the title of this post comes from the street name of the complex - well, it's english translation...

*just realized I started talking about writing almost immediately after I said I had other things to talk about...

**I had been asking about it for a couple weeks, but couldn't really do anything until the aforementioned essays were complete

*** like I'll ever use it... but it may be nice for watching cute French soccer players, right?

****it's a 20min walk to both