Spring is here. Translation: TOURIST SEASON!

Unless you've been living in a cave (you can come out now) or possibly in a winter-generation machine (why??), you've noticed the warm weather creeping back into our daily lives. So as you dream of seeing Paris in springtime, the Parisians start the mass exodus of their city to go visit 'Provence.' Provence (with the accent on the vence) is where EVERYONE who doesn't live in Paris is from. My particular corner of 'provence' is well liked for its sandy beaches, big surf waves, sprawling forests, and relatively quaint cities. The apartments in my building, as well as the streets, the stores and the beaches, are filling up with vacationers . Everything is starting to cost more, too: the ice cream parlor, the grocery store, the gas station, etc all inflate their prices to make our affluent visitors feel right at home.

At school, the kids are getting anxious for summer and who can blame them? They live in a region that was made for summer fun. I must find a way to convert their unharnessed energy into constructive participation in English class!!!

The arrival of spring is also a reminder that my teaching contract is almost up. This means I have to start looking for next year's visa solution, which I'm hoping will not be too difficult to find. Maybe the public schools will be able to do something for me, or perhaps one of the various private language schools? OR, maybe the family I babysit for will be able to convince the French authorities I deserve the right to live and work on their land. We'll see.

As I look across the port, I see the street teeming with bicycles, pedestrians, dogs, roller bladers -- you name it! It's starting to make me ask myself what I'm doing inside.

Off I go to take full advantage of this blessed spring!