What do I want to do when I grow up?

Bonjour tout le monde!
I still have several blog posts remaining from my trip to France and Italy, but today I'm talking about, well, me.  As many of you know, I left my teaching job of 32 years in June, 2012.  Of course during the summer, when we are supposed to be off, nothing is different.  I went out to lunch with friends, stayed up and got up late, went to Tahoe with my husband.
Then the first day of school came around. I woke up in a panicked sweat, wondering what on earth was I going to do?  People always have ideas; be a substitute, teach online, tutor, give conversation classes.  That was OK, but I was still a little depressed.
I did apply to be a substitute, but still haven't heard from the company.  Same thing with the independent teacher hunter company.  But still, a girl has to earn a living, right?  I signed up with a tutoring company and I got a nibble!  Then another one!  Suddenly, I was working almost every weekday.  Then when the school year ended it all went back to nothing.
I went to France and Italy with friends on a tour that I organized.  We had so much fun, and I learned all about life on an adult tour (who knew?  It was awesome!).  And I am working as an independent proofreading contractor - I had no idea that grammar could be so much fun.
So...things are slowly looking up.  When school resumes, I should have my students back, and perhaps more.  I need to figure out how to continue being a proofreader (in English, by the way; French works, too) or translator; and if you need French lessons, I'm your gal!
I am so blessed to have wonderful friends and family.  My next post will not be so sentimental but hopefully equally interesting.

And just in case, I sign off
Jacki Williams-Jones
Executive Language Coach -specializing in French and English lessons, grammar and proofreading.
Spread the word!

14 July

Bonjour tout le monde!
Tomorrow is 14 July, France's national holiday.  Here in the States, we call it Bastille Day, but mention that to a French person, and you will get a blank stare, or perhaps a frown.  No matter.  Fêtons le 14 juillet!
In 2008, my husband and I were in Paris during that time.  I forced him to attend the parade which goes down the Champs-Elysées seemingly forever.  The roof tops of the buildings are all full of sharp shooters protecting the participants and the throngs of onlookers.
The groups of military school cadets that march in the parade are lined up on the sides of the Boulevard des Champs Elysées ready to join in the parade, and since we were about half way between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde (where the reviewing stand of the President and other dignitaries), we missed the first groups, including the Foreign Legionnaires...  Just before the parade, the President of the French Republic reviews all the troops while riding in an open jeep (hence, all the sharpshooters).
I loved the parade, all the people who were in the streets laughing and talking with the parade participants - who were almost all some sort of military - and walking around a Paris that was about half empty.  The fly over by the planes who left the contrails of blue, white and red was just like you see in all the videos, but it so much more impressive in real life.  Then, you get the other jets and helicopters - it's a parade in the air and on the ground!
In 2010, I spent 14 July in Lyon.  There might have been a parade, but I didn't see it.  However, there was the coolest street fair that went on for about a mile.  Three different stages with bands, people dancing to the music, places to buy all sorts of really really great food, and, of course, bars for the wine and beer.  I was with my bestest Stanford friends, Jan and Steve Blasberg; it was a memorable experience!  That evening ended with fireworks from the Basilica of Fourvière.
All really cool adventures - here are some photos!

Fireworks (feux d'artifice) in Lyon

with UN peace keeper before parade

cadets waiting to join parade

Still trying to figure what this is...

Fireworks in Paris, at the Trocadero across from the Eiffel Tower

Then President Sarkozy reviewing the troops

Going to Paris? A New App that Allows you to Re-discover Paris through Cinema | French Culture

This sounds like so much fun!  Wish that I had this app when I was in Paris a couple of weeks ago.  If you try it, let me know how it works for you!

A New App that Allows you to Re-discover Paris through Cinema | French Culture