Moving Abroad in 2020: Part II
For all of us, 2020 has not been short of confusion, loss, and fear. This year has also been full of courage, resilience, and patience. In January 2020, I had all intention and drive to be where I am right now, starting my post-graduate career in France. However, even though I am here now, by March I was locked into an entirely different plan for myself and my life. If I told you I seriously knew how I got here during a world health crisis where international travel is extremely restricted for American citizens, the status of education is changing drastically for children, and the whole world is adapting to a new way of life and engagement, I’d be lying. With that said, I am here. Living and working in France in 2021 so, how did I do it?
When I received an email in early July from Erin Glaser with my acceptance into the TAPIF assistantship, I was stunned. I had not heard from them since March, and because of this I had already accepted another teaching position with an organization called Teach For America in Baltimore, Maryland. By the time I heard of my acceptance I was in my second to last week of virtual training for my position, I was set to sign an apartment lease in Baltimore that week, and I was planning to drive from Portland to Baltimore in less than a month. Hearing of my acceptance, I was overwhelmed with emotions. In front of me was a brand-new plan that I was excited for, but not passionate about and my original plan which I thought was a lost dream. Well, I decided that I would be able to have my cake and eat it too.
Through TAPIF I would have an opportunity to teach English as a second language in a foreign country, and gain experience that would be transferrable in the Baltimore classrooms upon my return. After explaining my situation to TFA staff members which included the fact that I still had not found a school to teach in, I was granted a deferment. This news meant that I could spend the 2020-21 school year living and teaching in Europe and return the following year teaching in Baltimore! This was a delight to me as I stayed true to my TFA commitment, and true to myself and my dreams.
Although I was now committed to France, France wasn’t ready for me. As an American during the Covid-19 pandemic, I was banned. Travel restrictions did not permit Americans to enter France, but I was assured by the program that French officials would make special permission for teaching assistants like myself. With a contract start date of October 1st I had less than three months to apply for a visa, look for plane tickets, find international housing, and re-up on my French skills as well as stay COVID free as I needed to provide a negative test before I boarded my plane. So, I spent the rest of July and most of August, waiting for France officials to waive the travel-ban for teaching assistants. Finally, at the very end of August, American teaching assistants got word that we were exempt from the travel restrictions! It was official, I was moving to France!
