Final Preparations!

The school told me that they've set a room aside for me in a newly built apartment in a town nearby and that I will be sharing the apartment with two other language assistants! I'm beginning to think I don't deserve these people. Sara and the school are being so polite, thoughtful and extremely sweet with me. What could I possibly do in return? I mean she is practically taking care of EVERYTHING I'm going to need, she's even going to be helping me out with transport! She has invited me to stay the weekend at her place and I was more than happy to accept. I'm taking a lamp and a gem stone jewel box to give her. She sent me a description of the apartment and here it is :

Your room is one of four bedrooms in a brand new, large and spacious apartment situated in the grounds of the Collège Maurice Vlamink in the town of Verneuil sur Avre. You will have your own separate bedroom with a bed, table and chairs, and space for your clothes in built-in wardrobes. There is a kitchen with a fridge, washing-machine for clothes, and an electric oven and hob (soon to arrive!). The telephone and Internet lines are due to be installed in the next couple of weeks.

There is a large shared lounge/dining area with a TV and sofas in as well as a table and chairs. There is one bathroom and one shower-room and a toilet. The building was completed in the summer. The headmaster of the Collège Vlaminck lives upstairs he is new to the school and is still unpacking his things.

I can now tell you that you will be sharing the flat with two other language assistants: one who will be working in the Spanish department in the nearby Lycée de Verneuil and one who will be working in the English deparments of both the Collège and the Lycée in Verneuil. So there will be three of you to keep each other company.

For the moment I am working on finding all the basic equipment necessary to make your stay in the new flat as comfortable as possible: bedclothes, bathtowels, kitchen equipment and utensils, pots and pans for cooking etc. This will all be ready for when you arrive. Obviously, as the flat is brand new, you'll need some time all together to decide how you want to organise things, decorate the place and make it more homey. I think we'll be looking at putting some shelving up for you as soon as possible, as well as curtain rails at the windows to give you all some privacy. Luckily, my husband is great with power tools!!! It's all very new but absolutely ten times better than what I had all those years ago when I arrived in France!

See that last paragraph! :) I'm thanking my stars for entrusting me to this sweet person. OOOOOH and I can't wait to have roommates!! I bet its going to be like FRIENDS. More than anything I can't wait to have my own room. No more  fighting for the sheets with UK. Phew.

I found a translator in Bourges who accepted to translate my birth certificate to French for 40 euros. (30 - Translation, 10 - Bank transfer charges). She asked me if she had to send it to India (envoi recommandé) or  to an address within France (envoi ordinaire) The envoi recommandé would have cost  me an additional 5 euros but Sara saved me that money by saying I could have it posted to her home address.

Finally shopped for clothes and mock packed my suitcases and got them weighed. I really have to filter more. :(

Bought some Amar Chitra Katha books for the kids.

Thanks to UK I have a pair of shiny shoes, a shiny pair of shoes I never would have bought on my own and I'm taking it to France. Found some clothes I can't wear here in India... taking them as well. All my documents scanned and printed out, tickets printed out... This is getting real. Leaving Chennai tomorrow at 6:50. Delhi... keep your chaat shops safe... here I come.