April 20, 2011

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good-bye...

Prom is over.... You know what that means????
Rampant "Senioritis"... Oh! and Graduation is just around the corner...

Scary, I know... Not only because I just realized that I only have about 15 classes (yep 30 school days) left to cram in the rest of my curriculum...(Just kidding) But mainly because I can't believe it is almost time to once again say goodbye to another fabulous class...

So just for fun I thought I'd share with you an example of what a graduation gift looks like...Mme Jones style.., 


Part 1. The Note and Deep Thoughts....

"One last piece of "un-requested" wisdom... Just for kicks"

As you leave the nest, you will often be on your own to make very important decisions. So I just thought I’d take one last opportunity to share some wisdom that was left to me by my elders and some that I discovered (sometimes painfully) on my own. 
To do so, I will share with you some of my favorite quotes from a French classic: “The Little Prince” (Yes I know... it is way over used... but seriously.. we all enjoyed it so much.... "Snake in the grass" anyone???)

  1. Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always explaining things to them.  Just because you are older, does not mean that you have all the answers. You will make mistakes; the interesting part is how you react to them, and what actions you take to make it right. Growing old, and growing up are 2 very different concepts.

  1.  Here is my secret. It is very simple: one sees well only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes. As long as you stay true to whom you really are (your values, your faith, your beliefs etc.), things will always be fine. Follow what your heart tells you, and remember that “Not all that shines is gold.” A little of exploration here and there is very healthy and will keep you on the right track.

  1. Well, I must endure the presence of two or three caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.You do not always get what you want, you do not always meet good people, but the most important thing is that to reach a goal that means something to you, you might have to put up with a little thing or two, and who knows you might discover a lot in the process. Keep your eyes open, keep on trucking... There usually is a pretty cool light at the end of the tunnel

Part 2. The Gift... Yes I actually buy these things for all my graduating seniors...

Finally I wanted to share with you a few essentials for life after Mom and Dad (and out of their house)

  1. Band Aids: Cuts and bruises will still happen, now you are in charge.
  2. Lint remover: Presentation is everything. Most people judge a person in the first 10 minutes of meeting them.
  3. Tissues: Did you really think, everything was going to be fun and games? Your crying days are not over and it is OK.
  4. Phone Card: I don't care if  this is the era of cell phones... U can always use a prepaid phone card to call home.. or check in with your favorite soon to be, former French teacher
  5. Ramen Noodles: They are the key to every great meal on a budget. Breakfast, snack, dinner; cold, hot warmed up, re-heated you name it. You’ll eat plenty of them for about 4 years, and then won’t be able to look at them for another 10. Trust me.
  6. Laundry Detergent: Grow –up, you can do your own laundry now.
  7. Clothes basket: Who am I kidding? Of course you’ll be bringing laundry back on the week-end. (And here is the best secret: your mom will be praying for Laundry visits)
Good luck and make sure to keep me posted on you progress.... Because even though you are now transitioning from "one of my students" to "one of my former students"... the important thing is... you are "one of mine"... Always and Forever...

April 2, 2011

Where The Heart Is....

It all started with a former student's Facebook Status :


"If you want to know where your heart is look where your mind goes when it wanders."
~Henri-Frédéric Amiel~



For some reason this quote really hit me square in the face as I was lazily browsing through my Facebook feed this morning ... Because my heart has been aching, and my mind has definitely been wandering....


It is no secret that I have been somewhat "homesick" recently. And although I have been living and enjoying (let me make it clear, I like the US) life here States side, my heart still long for my native land, and very much so at the moment. Blame it on the fact that it's been nearly 4 years since I got to truly spend time with family and friends over there and won't be able to afford a trip back any time soon. Blame it on the fact that Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media Venues have re-connected me with my "former life" and "former friends" (do true friends actually ever stop being your friend?), or the fact that these venues have brought into my life new friends (see my last post on "Don't talk to Strangers") whom I like to call my "European Connections." Or blame it on the fact that my newly acquired duties as assistant soccer coach for our High School Girls Team, have brought back to me a certain joy (long forgotten or maybe ignored) and a flood of memories and experiences that I thought were part of my past, and would not matter in the future... 


Whatever the reasons.... I am "homesick"...


I miss Belgium... I miss the streets, the architecture, the public transports (on strike every other week but still...) 
I miss French Fries with mayonnaise (yes that's how it's done) at 2 o'clock in the morning...
I dream of a bottle of Jupiler while watching Standard de Liège play football (and yes, it IS football, and not soccer... you use your feet, and use a ball... get it? LOL)
I miss the silly political arguments between Flemish and Walloons, and how we all seem to forget that there is a third group involved in this discussion (Yes, my "germanophones" friends, I do remember you...)
I miss my friends, the ones that have known me for more than 30 years, the ones to whom I don't have to explain my twisted sense of humor, the ones who understand the excitement created in me when I find un "pain au chocolat" or how I still giggle when I quote an old French movie ("le fil vert sur le boutton vert...".)
I miss coffee..( No offense Starbucks, I still love you and always will, but in truth, there are times where I wish you could make something like this)


Funny how things that did not really matter to me in my twenties seem to really matter today...


It didn't matter then that my newly acquired American friends had trouble pronouncing my name . "Mireille" is not an easy "word" to pronounce for English speakers; I did not want to make them uncomfortable with endless corrections in pronunciation... This would only lead to uneasy feelings or lost moments... So I became "Mimi", and even used humor to justify it... I used to say that this transformation from "Mireille Lachi" (maiden name) to "Mimi Jones" (Married name), was finally providing me with a justification for a potential "multiple personality disorder." And as I immersed myself in American culture, watching movies (some of them really bad), and listening to music, so I could join the conversations and understand the quotes and references made around me, I slowly forgot about Mireille, moving forward with my "new" life.


Until recently... When I had some sort of an epiphany...


Maybe it was the cancer thing.. (Yes I am fine and doing well right now thanks)...
Maybe it was my "rebirth" as an educator (see my post "Who are you calling a sheep?")...
Maybe it's just a mid-life crisis (which seems to be the easy explanation that most people would embrace)... Apparently it is not a very popular thing to say out loud that "being a mother is not the greatest achievement of my life. It is in my top 3, but I refuse to be solely defined as a wife and a mother anymore.")That comment was really not well received at Bunco Night. Even though, when one on one, most ladies confided that they had similar feelings; I found out that it is not acceptable to say it out loud in society. My bad. Won't do that again... Or did I just do it again??? LOL 


I don't know.
I have no idea why, but all I can say is that my mind wanders. It seems to be searching high and low for "Mireille." 


As my self examination progressed, I was left to wonder.... Who is this guy??? This Henri-Frédéric Amiel???? Sounds French... and I have never even heard of him... I had to find out... So right away... I decided to research...  Funny story actually, I am now so used to reaching to my PLN  before even asking Google, that it' s what I did... Sent a couple of messages to my European connections (who in this case "failed" me... LOL.. I had to use Google after all)... 
What did I find you may ask???
Well the guy was a Swiss philosopher in the 19th century... Nothing Special you may say... Plenty of them right? Except that this guy left us with some true gems of wisdom... That I really feel should be more recognized and reflected upon... I guarantee you I will be reflecting on some of them, and I can only hope you'll join me in this "exchange of ideas"


Here are a few of the quotes that really resonated with me...


"Learn to limit yourself, to content yourself with some definite thing, and some definite work; dare to be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not and to believe in your own individuality."


"A man without passion is only a latent force, only a possibility, like a stone waiting for the blow from the iron to give forth sparks."


"I find myself regarding existence as though from beyond the tomb, from another world; all is strange to me; I am, as it were, outside my own body and individuality; I am depersonalized, detached, cut adrift. Is this madness?"


"The highest function of the teacher consists not so much in imparting knowledge as in stimulating the pupil in its love and pursuit. To know how to suggest is the art of teaching."


"The man who insists on seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides."


Happy Reflecting!!!!!!!