First.

So. Here we are again. There's almost a tangible relief in this new beginning. I'm only hoping that it stays with me as things are undoubtedly going to become more stressful.

Good morning, and welcome to this blog, dear Reader. I am twenty-one years of age, am not dead of stress (..yet), and yes, in accordance with the name of this journal, I am of the female type of human.

As a brief summary, I've created this journal as means of documenting the journey I mean to undertake in a month's time; some foolish idea popped into my head last night that it might be a good idea, if only for reference's sake.

The story is this: through the bitterly lengthy process of applying for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship during my last year at university, I was selected through rather roundabout means by the French Government to be une assistant de langue (a language assistant) teaching English to French citizens.

The entire thing has taken well over a year, through all the lovely paper work and after bouncing from committee to committee, but finally it's come down to the nitty gritty (and oh so alarmingly real details): Come October 1st of this year, I will be teaching 11 to 18 year olds (first through sixth form) at a very small lycée (pop. 1200) in the even smaller village of Romorantin-Lanthenay (pop. 19000), in the academy of Orleans-Tours, Centre, France.

Wow.

Not yet sure of the exact level of anonymity I'll be seeking while writing in this blog. I've already given you where I'll be come autumn, how old I am and that I'm a girl... but aside from that, I don't know how much else I want to disclose.

I feel, these days, that I don't know much of anything.

But until next time, and to keep things short, I leave you with a few pictures of my soon to be home away from home:, compliments of Pascal Fauchard: