To have a look at the world, at people’s daily round — no matter what anyone says, it’s like a living book, a second education.
-Nikolai Gogol, "Dead Souls"

I'm not sure if anyone out there is still reading, but I came across this quote last week and thought it would give the perfect sense of closure to this blog.

I was looking back at some of my -many, many- pictures today and I realized that as much as I complained about being placed in a tiny French city and about the challenges of keeping busy in such a boring town, I loved my experience. I'm glad I did it and I don't have any regrets.

I just received a letter from one of my students today asking me how I was doing, if I had returned home safely, and if I could read French (duh). My mom saw the letter and said "wow, you must've really made an impression on those kids. Doesn't it make you sad that you won't see them again?" And it actually did make me sad, some of the kids were awesome and I wish I could go back and see them next year, kind of watch them grow up. I won't only miss the kids, I'll miss my whole existence in Laval. It was, if nothing else, a relatively stress-free nine months and an amazingly rewarding experience.

Onwards and upwards!