A few weeks later, it was Spring Break and the French delegation arrived, and although the week's activities were amazing, inside I was fairly certain that I would not have the chance to work with them on the partnership while in France the next year, because I still hadn't received approval from the district. (I think I forgot to mention that Nathalie got my name from Chantal, and that her school is about 30 minutes from Amiens). Still, I enjoyed all of the activities associated with the signing, and was excited about this new educational opportunity for the teachers and students of Oklahoma.
At last, Fate stepped in. Dr. Converse, the Executive Director of Student Performance for my learning community at school, arrived at the final luncheon after the signing. She said, "I have your form." I knew exactly which form she meant, but my heart was rather empty, since it was three weeks overdue. I put it under my chair and enjoyed my lunch seated by the Lieutenant Governor and Mr. Decoster. After lunch, I went to the airport and wished farewell to our new friends. Then, since I was operating on about three hours' sleep, I went home to nap. Upon listening to my answering machine, however, I was revived. Christa from Fulbright in D.C. called. She said they were reviewing my application and wondered if I had the Administrative Approval Form. Destiny! I immediately called her back to tell her that we'd just signed the MOU that was the topic of my application essay, I'd just seen the Deputy Minister of Education off at the airport, and I'd just received the form three hours ago. Christa asked if I'd fax it tomorrow, and I said, "I'll fax it right now!" I couldn't believe that everything was falling into place. At last.
I think I managed to sleep for a bit before meeting Chantal, Linda & Desa for dinner in Bricktown. It must have been a sight, because when I found their table, I began jumping up and down and telling my story at top speed. Chantal, who seems to know everyone, had dinner several weeks later with Mr. de Boubée, the head of Fulbright in Paris, where he told her that they matched Nathalie & me without knowing that we were in contact with each other or that we even wanted to be matched. Destiny again!
Finally, I received my official notification from the U.S. Department of State. The FedEx package came to my room during class, and I tried to hide my excitement as I opened the envelope. I couldn't tell anyone until the paperwork accepting the match was signed by my district officials. Understandably, I was nervous about this, since it had been a challenge to get the initial form signed. I immediately e-mailed Nathalie, who replied that she was so excited that she couldn't even type. I felt the same way!
Keeping this news a secret from my students was really difficult, and I was relieved when - once I was certain I'd receive board approval - I could finally tell them. They had mixed
reactions, but I received a couple of e-mails later from sweet kids saying that they were excited for me and that they understood why I wanted to go. That really meant a lot to me. Thanks, Abbie & Trey! :) And as a parting gift, graduating seniors Jillian & Andrew presented me with a basket full of goodies for my English classroom in France: an OU clock, an "Uncle Sam" hat, an 
American Flag, and some red, white & blue garland. The culminating event was a surprise Oui heart J-Rob Fan Club party, organized by French V, that included T-shirts and ice cream!The past two months are a blur, but include a trip to Houston to apply for my visa and a trip to Little Rock, AR, for a regional Fulbright meeting. The visa application process has changed since I was a student in France 15 years ago. Back then, I just mailed the paperwork and my passport, and it was returned to me. Each consulate has different requirements, but the one in Houston requires that visa applicants apply in person. When I turned over my paperwork, I was told that they'd have it for me in a few minutes. That was before they realized that I was a Fulbright teacher, and they were unsure how to proceed. They called Paris and were waiting on a fax with instructions, and assured me I'd have it by the end of the week (still waiting on that...).
I have been so impressed with the level of enthusiasm in France about our exchange. I've received e-mails from Philip & Véronique, promising to show me around and offering their help, e-mails from Maryse Hyatte and Jean-Louis Mutte, welcoming me to their Franco-American Club, as well as a message from the club's treasurer who has offered all sorts of assistance, from picking me up at the train station to opening a bank account to buying a car. And I haven't even met him yet! Chantal promises they have "6 million extra hours of work" for me, and the outgoing school principal, M. Féret, has assured me that he'll do all he can to help me, even if he'll be at a new school 55km away. Knowing that they are all excited that I'll soon be joining them in France, and that I can call upon any one of them should I need help, makes the idea of leaving home for a year much easier.
Nathalie and I have been exchanging e-mails several times a week, trying to prepare each other for life in our respective schools and homes. I've been busy getting my house ready for her - fresh paint in the kitchen and the bathroom, a garage sale to get rid of excess junk (though you can't tell that I got rid of anything - I have too much stuff!!), cleaning out closets... All this work, and I don't think it will ever be ready for me to be gone a whole year! Now that my departure is just a month away, sleep is a bit more evasive, and I just can't decide which project to tackle each day. Still, I know that everything will get done (and if it doesn't, it won't be the end of the world).
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