Traveler – Teaching, Traveling, and Talking

Years ago, I had the chance to visit the City of Lights and fell in love. No, not with a man. I fell in love with the city of Paris. The culture. The food. The history. The art. This city had me amazed. I felt as if I had gone back in time. I loved eating Nutella Crepes. I saw the Mona Lisa. I went as far on top of the Eiffel Tower as they would let me. I shopped. I visited Notre Dame Cathedral. I dined in cafes and drank wine as I watched the people go by.

But I only had a little over 48 hours. If I could go back in time, I would have set more time for this city and country in general. France treated me well.

When I arrived in France, I took a tai to my hotel (which had a gorgeous view of the city and right across the street from The Louvre) and spent time checking in. By the time I had checked in and settled myself, I was left with an evening and two full days in the city. That night I wandered the streets, got my bearings, and figured out where I needed to go for my little 48 hour period.

So what should you visit if you only have 2 days in the magical city?

Eiffel Tower–this seems like a no brainer but what a sight to see. Most places in the city can see this monument for miles. I could see it from my hotel. I could see it in the air when I flew into Paris. I could see it from the street. So, what should you do when you visit it? Some words of advice: take the elevator if issues with walking or climbing, otherwise use the stairs. Since one of my traveling companions struggled, we took the elevator to the second floor and went up an additional floor to get a better view with less crowds (the higher you go, the less people you see). Yes, it does cost money (11-17 Euros), but it’s worth every penny. Stop in the first floor if possible to experience the see through floor! No worries, there are restrooms, but make sure you know the hours of operation to enter. During my time, the very top was under construction. However, I went as far to the top as allowed. Breathtaking. There are no other words. In the words of Jack Dawson, “I’m on top of the world!”

I could see the entire city, and that was the moment I truly fell in love with Paris, France. There were not enough words other than “I am returning one day.” Check here for more information: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/smartertravel/18-things-you-need-to-kno_b_9149368.html.
The Louvre–For you art or history fans, this is a must. I was determined to see the Mona Lisa. Gosh darn it, I wiggled and elbowed by way to the front of the crowd so I could see the iconic picture up close. Besides the Mona Lisa, I was able to go through floor after floor of historical and modern art. I had the chance to see Napoleon’s belongings and artifacts. One thing I highly recommend: Do a little planning beforehand. There are 380,000 objects and 35,000 works of art on display. There is no possible way to see everything. When I first arrived, I took a map and figured out which rooms I wanted to visit and which rooms would have to wait until another visit. I immediately circled what I wanted to see and the floor they were on display. I highly recommend seeing the following: The Winged Victory of Samothrace, The Venus de Milo, The Raft of Medusa, Hammurabi’s Code, The Lamassu, and of course, The Mona Lisa. While there, you will find some rooms empty while others are filled with hoards of people. Mapping out your time first hand will help with confusion, eliminating time waste, and making sure you visit some of the most famous art pieces in the world!

For more fun facts check this out: http://www.history.com/news/six-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-louvre?scrlybrkr=89e59a38
Notre Dame Cathedral–History, architecture, and religion. What a wonderful and beautiful sight. One thing I loved about this place of worship–it was free! While traveling, I found many churches charged a price to enter and look at the relics, art, or architecture. Notre Dame de Paris was one of the few places that welcomed visitors and even allowed pictures (no flash though!). On my second day in France, I had the chance to visit the Cathedral and learn more about it. It. Is. Crowded. Just a forewarning. However, I loved once I was inside. People were generally quiet. The area was cooler and more peaceful. It was nice to be in a less stressful environment. Outside everyone takes pictures, but inside is more reserved. When entering the church, men should take off their hats. Ladies–please wear something appropriate. This is not a time for midriff and breasts hanging out. While there, I wore shorts and a tank top and was not turned away. In Europe, it is more common for women to wear something that covers the shoulders and knees. Although I did not find this (and people were not turned away), men were asked to take off their hat as a sign of reverence. Remember, you are in a place or worship, so treat the area with respect. Yet don’t forget to take pictures and truly look at the phenomenal details.
Wander–take the beaten path for a few hours. Above are three places that will easily keep you occupied for 48 hours. However, I highly recommend spending one afternoon (or morning) shopping and wandering around the area. While I was near the Eiffel Tower, I saw a small farmer’s market across the area. Here I was able to talk to the locals and find some neat odds and ends. I bought scarves and other items to take home with me. I also had the time to wander up and down the streets and look at a few boutiques. I found one of my favorite dresses in a small boutique, and it always reminds me of Paris now. At one point, I remember being completely lost (even with a map) down the streets of shopping. Locals were kind enough to help me get back to my original area. I found cafes that served scrumptious food (see my previous blog post about eating abroad) and had time to relax a bit. My time in Paris was an absolute delight, because I was able to see non-touristy areas as well.

So, Paris in 48 hours. Not enough time, but it is doable! I loved my time in Paris, and I would return in a heart beat.

“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” – Thomas Jefferson.

xoxo

Your Wanderer

Last year at this time, I found myself neck deep in work–completing the Ohio residency program, planning a large wedding, and finishing my masters program…all while also working full time. As I reminisce this chapter of my life, I truly wonder now how I survived. I had to take every day one step at a time. I could get ahead in planning with teaching, but my nights were filled with making phone calls to the wedding coordinator and writing paper after paper for graduate school.

Here I am. A teacher. A student. All at the same time.

So how does one work full time, attend graduate school with max hours allowed, and have a life on top of that? What are the best and worst things about graduate school? Are there ways to make it easier?

Let me break down the five most basic questions everyone in this position (or pondering this torture) will encounter at some point. These are things I wish people would have helped me when I earned my degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

How do I pick a graduate school and major that fits me? Ask yourself:
- Do I even want/need to go to school? Yes. Read on. No. Read one of my other posts. 😉
- What am I good at? What aspect of my undergraduate degree do I want to expand
- What do I want to improve?
- Online or Campus? Let me recommend online as long as you can work basic computer programs. Best. Decision. Ever. I loved working in my PJ’s at home on my own time.
- What can I afford? In the good ol’ U.S. of A. we sadly have to pay most of our schooling bill. It’s a sacrifice, but that’s the road to success. When picking a graduate school, I looked at schools that had my major, provided online options, and would not dig me deeper in a debt ditch or contemplate paying student loans or eating.
- Find what works for you. Figure out what you want. If you’re spending this money and time for another degree, it needs to meet your needs and wants.
What is the workload like?
- Depends on your degree and work ethic. Generally…it’s a lot. Plain and simple.
- Can you type quickly or know shortcuts to search for key words to insert in a paper? Can you use Google? Sounds silly, but you’d be surprised. Everything depends on your skills, work ethic, and time management. For example, reading the entire text book in three days may not be likely (especially if you value your life). However, I recommend using an online textbook. Why? Ctrl + F baby. Looking for a specific word or need information for a research paper. Ctrl + F. It allows you to find what you need quickly and cut down on some time searching through hundreds of pages. That’s graduate school. Yes, you learn, but you have to find ways to eliminate times of waste as well.
- Word smarter not harder.
Is it possible for those with a family?
- Is It possible? Absolutely. Single mothers do it. Parents do it. Older individuals do it. Young people with zero money in their pocket do it.
- Sure, you’ll be busy. You’ll need to set a specific amount of time each night (or day) to work on school work. You may need your spouse to take care of the kids for an hour each night. Maybe it ends up being video game time for the kiddos for that hour or two. You’ll be exhausted, don’t misunderstand me, but it is possible.
What should I expect that no one will tell me upfront?
- In my situation, the thing NO ONE told me about was the amount of group projects. Oh….I LOATHE group projects! As I stated before, I earned my degree in Curriculum and Instruction which involved educators from around the country. It shocked me how many teachers were lazy. I felt like I was dealing with my students. I found myself begging individuals to do some of the group work (as the workload was enormous since it was supposed to be split), and teachers would either not respond at all, put the work load on other individuals, or do 1/4 of the work, while I was left with the other 3/4. What a pain in the behind. Furthermore, I found that professors–you know, the people who are teachers to the teachers, were giving those who did nothing the same grade as those who did all the work. Sure, I told my professors what happened. Yes, I explained the situations in the group evaluations. Didn’t matter. I only had ONE professor that graded us fairly. You know…the way we are supposed to grade our own students. So what’s the point of this rant? There are things you will absolutely encounter and no one mentions–people are incompetent. It doesn’t matter which department, which professor or peer…it happens. The financial aid office “loses” your payment or scholarship aid. The professor punches in the grades wrong and confuses your 96% for a 69%. The dean stops reading your emails when you explain you’re not paying the university to edit and fix their technology issues on a daily basis. Not like any of that has happened to me… Hang in there folks, the end is worth it. I promise.
Is it worth it?
- In the end (and for those of us who have to pay), yes. Within my first 15 graduate credits, I received a pay bump. By the end of my masters degree, I was given a more significant pay bump. Although it may not seem huge right now, in a few years I will be making close to 10k more than those with an undergraduate degree. Additionally, I will be making more every year as I get closer to that time where the pay gap is larger. What about more than just the price? Let’s talk about the fact that I did actually learn things essential to my career. It helped me become a better teacher. I learned new methods, technological tools, strategies, research, etc. I came out of it more educated about my field. Even with my frustrating time pursuing my graduate degree, I am so happy to have my degree.