Two by two

Two countries

I spent half of this week back in England. My Grandma’s funeral was held on Thursday and after deliberating over what to do, I decided I would go back and join my family, because classes didn’t start this week and although it was going to be tough, God assured me that I could go in His strength, not my own. I’m really glad I went. I had support from my family and was able to give support too. I learnt more about my Grandma’s life and it was great to remember her character and the many things she had done for her family and others in her lifetime, often during difficult times. She has blessed people the most through prayer and baking J I had the privilege of reading my Great-Gran’s testimony when I was at home too. I never knew her but it was inspiring to read her story of God at work throughout her life.

Two semesters

My timetable is a bit crazy (everyone who hears about it agrees). This first semester I’ll be teaching 19 hours per week, and in the second semester only 4. This creates a big imbalance, meaning a lot of work this semester, and twiddling thumbs next semester (though I hope to find things to do so that that won’t be the case). It’s the same for Martin who’s doing the same job as me. ‘Why?’ I hear you say. The students we’re teaching study two languages and business. The way it works is that they study more of English (compulsory) in the first semester and more of their other language in the second semester. And the teachers can’t do much about it, so all the other English teachers have a heavy timetable this semester too.

Two churches

I’ve been to two churches in Rennes and they’ve both been nice and welcoming and have potential for being my new church. I’m just going to wait and see what to do and maybe visit one or two more. Apparently Rennes has a good number of churches. The one I went to today was big and had a very nice building of its own (not that common for evangelical churches here). The man who preached spoke for what felt like an hour (I think it might have been too), and that’s too much all in French for a tired Fiona (I had a bit of a long journey back yesterday with a delayed flight)! But he was a visiting speaker and apparently it’s not always like that.

Two years on...

I got an email from an American girl who is preparing to leave home to go to Lille at the end of September to be a language assistant in the schools I worked in. She wanted some advice about what to bring and the post. I hope my response was useful. The schools haven’t had a language assistant for a year as their application to have an assistant for 2010-11 got lost in the post so it was tough luck as there weren’t enough to go round! I got slightly jealous thinking about her treading my paths, spending time with teachers and pupils I got along with well, but I remind myself things move on and I’ve got new paths to tread!

Classes start tomorrow, I’m nervous but actually glad they’re going to start after waiting so long!

Fiona x