self un/re-covered

I often forget I'm a part writer until it starts to smell like winter and I'm drinking hot chocolate in the middle of the night—maybe it's only then that the shivering thoughts are made warm to wander?

I haven't updated in the past few weeks, and, as usual, that's not only because I've forgotten to or because I can't find the time to write. It's because my mind is working through some things. 

In summary, I've learned:

At the core, I am a nonjudgemental, spiritual, hard-working person—an embracer of chance, an inhabiter the current, full moment, and a listener to people, to music, to the universe for instructions. I love automatically and can find many reasons why I'm meant to meet this person or the next. 

I think most importantly, I'm a happy, thankful person. 

It's easy to lose track of all of this and believe you're someone else.
But, for some reason, I'm really able to affirm the truth of this version of myself when I'm here. Even though I'm homesick, and I miss my friends and family, my living situation and noisy upstairs neighbors are not idyllic, and I'm still confused about what steps to take next, and my brain is aching to learn the language and not always knowing how or feeling encouraged to, and I still want to find life, the universe, love, and everything...who I am is still instinctual and it's not being buried under changes in time and of the times.

Maybe it's as simple as being relocated and not being able to take anything else with you?

I love teaching. I come away from each Friday at the collège unbelievably ecstatic, giggly, and glowing, despite any challenges the week may have presented. 

The past two weeks I've been on vacation. Spent a weekend in Paris with the other assistants, and got to see my friend in Paris, Arzhel, which was really great, and he's coming here next weekend! :] It's nice to conceptualize geography in terms of which friends live where, but also sad to feel like you can't be a part of everywhere at once. Paris also made me miss city life and i'm thinking of my friends in NYC and hoping the city is on the recovery.

 This past week I've been really sick and am finally starting to feel better. Nonetheless, back to school tomorrow!

here are some pictures from paris: