TAPIF- I did it!

Today goes down in the books.

Most of the people in my life know enough about me to understand that my love for le français is a love that runs wide and deep. With that being said, you know I'd love to find a job where I would actually be able to use mon français. I graduated with my B.A. in French with a concentration in business from OU. That seems like forever ago now although it hasn't even been a full year. Life after graduation was a bit of a whirlwind. I boarded a plane to France where I worked as a teaching assistant and observed the differences between French/American school systems for the summer. I always knew that I was interested in becoming a teacher, but my summer experience sort of solidified my feelings...it was just a matter of working out the kinks. Finding out the who, where, how, etc. Although I loved the idea, it wasn't exactly a tangible possibility at the time.

After getting home, the excitement of my european jaunt quickly began to fade. I sort of had that moment of panic that I think most newly graduated college students are familiar with...that "uh oh. what now?" moment. I've been a pretty decent planner most of my life, so you can imagine how annoyed I feel to not know how to go about planning for a future that seems a bit hard to obtain. I stumbled through some years where most of my peers had a bit more solid footing...hence my stunted start to adulthood. Don't get me wrong, I've learned a ton...but it would be nice to be that person who has everything together and figured out.

Well, I'm not quite there yet but I feel like today's news could potentially be a huge step in the right direction. Talk about those precious seconds when you realize that your hopes and dreams could maybe, just maybe, be coming true. That was what my day was like.

I have been working full time trying to get some experience/get my foot in the door somewhere since the beginning of March. In a perfect world, I would love to be able to use my french at some point...whether it is teaching or something else. Like I said, I'd love to teach...but it seemed like I would need a lot of things to sort of line up in order for that to happen. In the meantime, it wasn't helping sitting around waiting for something to happen.

Back in January, I applied for the TAPIF program. This is a really amazing program sponsored by the French embassy/government that would allow me to work as a teaching assistant in France for the year. It would get me some teaching experience and help polish my french at the same time. They give you a stipend that covers your expenses, and you would get some time to travel around a bit. Sounds great, huh? I thought so too, so I applied...not really thinking too much of it. I knew I met the requirements, but figured it would be fairly competitive since most applicants have similar backgrounds. I didn't think I would get in, but I didn't necessarily think I wouldn't. 

So the past couple weeks, I have been a nervous wreck. I have been constantly thinking about getting the decision email from TAPIF. I think I really needed to be accepted because it would give me this feeling like everything I've stood my ground on and worked so hard for is paying off in it's own time. I definitely don't consider myself more worthy than any of the other applicants, but I was so needing some good news. Up until this point, most of the positions I've found using my french in the area were at call centers. That wasn't something I was too interested in.

I hadn't reached a point where I was giving up on possibly finding my way to that "dream" job, but I was certainly becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of accepting things as they are. After all, I am 26 (not old, people...but old enough to buck up) and was getting that feeling like I need to be headed towards a career. Time to put on those big girl pants. Well, folks...I got the best email of my life this morning.

I was at work and wasn't expecting to get it at all today. I thought Wednesday at the earliest. Plus, I've looked at their FB page and noticed that they usually post something the morning the letters are sent out. Just giving us a heads up and all. I had been checking the page every so often for updates and didn't see anything. Around 10:30 or so, I notice I have 2 emails. Expecting junk mail, I glance at it quickly to find this...

                                        

I was in shock...literally. I don't think I've ever been in a state similar to the state I was in today. I kept asking my friends at work to look at the email and tell me if it was real. Well, I guess it is, although it still hasn't sunk in. I wouldn't have admitted it to myself before, but I was slowly starting to prepare myself for a rejection letter. That's just been my luck lately.

I was placed in the Académie d'Amiens...which is the same region I was in last summer. I was also assigned to work with primary school students. I'm very pleased with the assignment. That's about all the info I know for now. I won't find out the specific city or schools I've been placed in for a while. The french love to make you wait, so I'll just have to get used to it I guess. ;)

So where does this leave me?!

I know that this opportunity is so incredible and it's not something that comes around twice. I also know that I don't want to get back from a year in France as a 27 year old just to sit for months without having any sort of life plan. I don't want to go through all of this just to be stuck in the same rut I finally just now got myself out of. So, I plan to make a meeting with someone to figure out what my options are for alternative (or regular) certification with this program in the picture. I think TAPIF would be very helpful for obvious reasons, but I need to hear that from someone before I can fully accept and believe the awesomeness of what I'm looking at. It all feels too good to be true so I need a dose of reality from another party. I need a plan for when I get back...so I can progress towards a career. I think talking to someone who knows exactly what they're talking about in that department is what I need. Although I could convince myself of it, I need someone else to validate what I think I know. So, I've almost fully committed to this whole living in France for the year idea...but the responsible/practical side of me needs to be absolutely sure that I won't be wasting time or utilizing my time in the wrong way if that makes sense...

Either way, I'm very happy, excited, shocked, proud proud proud, thankful, scared, etc. I can't believe the day I've had and that this is real life. I cried some happy tears over this one for sure.

This was a day that was definitely worth writing about. Just to have been accepted feels like such an accomplishment.

So, I could be getting on a plane to move to France within the next 5 months?? Seriously, life can throw a wicked curve ball.

Thanks for all the support, mes amis!