3 weeks ago today David and his mother brought me to the train station in Freiburg. As I got onto the train and looked at his puppy eyes, I swallowed hard and sat down. The train pulled away and I cried. I had what David likes to call my "five minutes." And then I stopped. I watched a TV show on my laptop and composed myself. I knew that for the sake of my mental health, I couldn't dwell on the fact that I was leaving.
12 hours later when my plane from Frankfurt landed in Charlotte, my sister was there to greet me. Despite the fact that Meghan and I are as different as night and day, I couldn't love her more. Mom picked us up at the curb and got all misty eyed. Despite being in a completely different city yet again, I was with my girls. I was home.
The Marriot hotel was more than nice, and the service was amazing. There was Starbuck's coffee in the lobby every morning, and treats out for us in the afternoon. The beds were big and comfy. I'd never slept better.
Orientation for work the next morning was a blur. I was terribly jet-lagged and didn't have a thing to wear. Naturally, the pictures for our ID badges were taken that day. Thankfully, the orientation didn't last too long and Meghan and mom and I were able to get a few things done that day.
Dad arrived later that afternoon. As always, he was a true sport and did whatever he could to help me. He couldn't have been more kind and supportive. He is the type of guy that is very easygoing, and often won't just come out and say what he actually wants to do. When mom suggested that she, Meghan, and I go shopping and dad stay behind, he was thrilled. He went to the bar and did his own thing while Meghan and Mom made suggestions for my room that I kept rejecting. Things hadn't changed much between us.
Those first few days were hardly a vacation for my family and me. We had to move me in to my townhouse, which was not an easy task. Thankfully everyone naturally took their posts. Dad built my bed and desk, Meghan organized my bathroom and closet, Mom cleaned pots and pans as well as the kitchen, and I went through my things to decide what to keep and then cleaned.
On Sunday morning at 5:30am my family woke up to leave. I said goodbye and went back to sleep for a few hours. Then, I checked out of the Marriot and went to my new home. My DVD collection was my best friend that day. Again, for the sake of my mental health I realized that dwelling on my family leaving and that my boyfriend was thousands of miles away would not help the situation. So, I sat back, relaxed, and watched Growing Pains.
Lateral entry training for teachers was quite entertaining. The woman running it was hilarious, and I told her on our lunch break one day that she should've been a comedian. "Well I was one, actually," she replied.
This week I entered my classroom for the first time. It was filled with things from my former German teacher, whose position I'm taking over. It somehow felt so right as I filled the room with my things, while leaving some of hers. Despite the fact that, at 18, I vowed I would never teach, I ended up back here.
The World Languages Department feels like home to me. In our little lounge, faculty sit and converse in the various languages that we teach here. It's the international environment that I'm so used to recreated right here in Charlotte, NC. In our hall there is a sign that says, "Monolingualism is curable." :) I love it.
The other teachers in the department are more than kind. They all want to help and see me be successful. It seems like a family. Most people aren't aware of it, but teachers have to buy most of their own supplies that they use in the classroom. And yet the teachers are so generous with what they do have, even if they had to buy it with their own hard-earned money.
I've always wanted to do something that involved helping people, using German, and working with German. And to think it took me so long to make the connection that I needed to become a German teacher?
With love from Charlotte,
Molly
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