job hunting

Since arriving in France back in September, I have been job hunting hardcore! I haven't kept a tally but would guess that I have sent somewhere around 40-50 resumes off to different places. Most of these jobs have been in one of two fields. 1. Childcare/nanny/glorified English babysitter 2. English teacher (both for children or adults). It amazes me how so many places do not even bother to respond to the information you submit and how slow the process is. However, as a result of all of my efforts I have had about a dozen interviews.
While nothing has been my "dream job" (I guess I shouldn't expect anyone to pay me to blog, sight-see, and take pictures of my adventures!) there have been things that I think would be a good starting point for work in France. In addition to the categories above here are some occupations that have been considered:

Mummy street performer near Chateau Versailles

Gardeners at Luxembourg Gardens

Drummer outside of Notre Dame

Tour Guide in front of Sacre Coeur

Trolley driver in Montmartre

Unfortunately I don't think I could stand still long enough to pull off the mummy gig. While I enjoy gardening, I think that this is more of a seasonal job and standing around with a hose watering things all day may be a bit boring. I also don't think my musical talent is strong enough that anyone would be throwing money at me (I doubt the french horn skills from high school are still accessible). That leaves the tour guide and trolley driver. I think I have definitely improved my tour guide skills with the 2 sets of guests we have had so far in France, but somehow I don't think the "professional" tour guide has to review maps and written description of sights as much as I require. Trolley driving is still in the running! Who wouldn't want to do that? It would be like driving around on a golf cart or four wheeler all day and I have got some skills in that department!
However, it seems that my trolley driving is taking a back seat to the job offer I received today. I brought the contract home (since it is all in French) for James to help me review and will meet again tomorrow to finalize it. I am happy to announce that I will be teaching English to Business Professionals in Paris! It's totally as glamorous as trolley driving, right?!

Little signs of Hope

So I have been going on quite a few interviews in the past weeks. I will update more on that in a post in the coming days (hopefully with good news). This last week as I was on my way to an interview I had 2 things happen to me that felt significant and maybe like a "sign" that something good was going to happen today.

As many people know, residents of Paris are fond of their dogs and are allowed to take them places that wouldn't be allowed in many places in the US. On the train from Chartres to Paris last week a passenger got on and had her dog with her (the first and only time I have seen a dog on the train so far). The dog quickly became a friend of all of those around him.  I sat there a bit surprised at the resemblance that the dog had to my 4-legged Hope (who is in doggie heaven). So I of course had to snap a picture of this little guy.

I then arrived at the Montparnasse station and jumped on the metro to go to my interview. I sat down and quickly notice that there was another 4-legged friend in the subway car with us. He was a guide dog for his owner who was blind. As I sat there I was finding it a bit too crazy that he looked very much like Jax (my 4-legged "nephew" who is also in doggie heaven).

I find it a bit too coincidental that on my way to this interview last week I crossed paths with not 1 but 2 look-a-likes of our family. I couldn't help but smile and feel a bit of comfort knowing that I received a little message that day that I had some of my "friends" with me as I faced yet another interview.

Thanks Hope and Jax! Hope you (or your look-a-like cousins enjoy Paris)!

Hope in one of her many diva outfits! Let's hope I was a "rockstar" in that interview!