tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post7777591245211574237..comments2023-07-23T07:30:09.817-05:00Comments on Texas Sarah: StagnantSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078386635713721679noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-53496001113356473412008-10-09T08:11:00.000-05:002008-10-09T08:11:00.000-05:00Thanks for the advice and recommendations (yet aga...Thanks for the advice and recommendations (yet again!), Mathieu. I'm keeping my focus on French for at least the next 4 months, so we'll see how much I've progressed by January! <BR/><BR/>astrorainfall, thanks for that inspiration. I'm ahead and somehow managing to convince myself that I need a little time for adjustment. :)Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06078386635713721679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-36067716798989829202008-10-09T03:16:00.000-05:002008-10-09T03:16:00.000-05:00You are going through what I went through when I f...You are going through what I went through when I first moved to Japan. It's tough, especially when you are such an active person, but you will find your niche. <BR/><BR/>I used to crave for a regular office job, but because I need to be mobile to move with my globe-trotting other half, I turned to blogging professionally and e-commerce so I'm my own boss now. <BR/><BR/>What I'm saying is — don't feel down in the dumps. You just need time to grow in your new home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-18074087528178717132008-10-07T14:33:00.000-05:002008-10-07T14:33:00.000-05:00All I have to say is you know where I live and you...All I have to say is you know where I live and you can come kick it old school any time. All I have here is Arte and crafts (haha, GET IT?) but it's better than feeling worthless, sad, homesick, etc...<BR/><BR/>Oh, and you have ma number too. I wont make you say it in French.Evolutionary Revolutionaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877366882448198007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-24049201634450822622008-10-07T11:28:00.000-05:002008-10-07T11:28:00.000-05:00Kick addition to my previous comments: if you want...Kick addition to my previous comments: if you want to try the Assimil book, the one you should look for is called "New French with Ease" I think. You can get it from a Virgin or a FNAC, or any good book store probably.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-78846436978112012302008-10-07T11:24:00.000-05:002008-10-07T11:24:00.000-05:00Hi Sarah.I also think mastering the French languag...Hi Sarah.<BR/><BR/>I also think mastering the French language is the key. I don't know if you saw my comments on Juliet's blog a week ago or so, but I definitely recommend you to buy a good book for that, especially since you appear to have some spare time right now. With half an hour a day of theory, and the rest of the day for practicing, no doubt you'll progress quickly. :)<BR/><BR/>I haven't tried any French book for English speakers obviously, but there's a very good collection of language books in France called "Assimil"(http://www.assimil.com/). I already tried a couple of them (including one for a language radically different than French), and I was pleasantly surprised both times. Their books come with or without an additional audio CD, but I don't think you need that anymore, plus it's really more expensive with it (like 60 € instead of 20 €).<BR/><BR/>Surprisingly, the only really difficult part with starting learning a language from a book, from my experience, is commitment. You really HAVE to do one lesson per day, and it's so easy to skip one (laziness, lack of time, ...).<BR/><BR/>I hope that helps. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-49486272186300581462008-10-07T04:04:00.000-05:002008-10-07T04:04:00.000-05:00Kyliemac - You're hysterical, and would totally ma...Kyliemac - You're hysterical, and would totally make an awesome magician! <BR/><BR/>TBF - Thanks for the advice! I do plan on filing a return (zeros and all), but I'm not looking forward to the process. I guess I should get a head-start in reading up on tax laws and requirements before June rolls around.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06078386635713721679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-61245823856752822172008-10-07T03:59:00.000-05:002008-10-07T03:59:00.000-05:00I highly advise you to file a U.S. tax return even...I highly advise you to file a U.S. tax return even though you didn't have any income. It'll help you avoid any problems when re-entering the U.S. It'll be easy - just fill in the zeros. Also...<BR/>You are required to file a form to the I.R.S. by June 30th of every year disclosing any/all foreign bank accounts you have (individually or jointly). Although it hasn't been enforced, the fine for not disclosing this is $100,000.<BR/>Better safe than sorry.The Big Finnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399330438126032649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-41429791614861553442008-10-07T03:52:00.000-05:002008-10-07T03:52:00.000-05:00i had to laugh to myself when i saw your comment a...i had to laugh to myself when i saw your comment about wanting to be everything (a teacher, a designer, a CEO, and ambassador, a surgeon, a butcher, baker, and candlestick maker...) and somehow never growing out of that phase... (preaching to the choir!! although for me it was dolphin trainer, magician, etc...) i still don't know what i want to be when i "grow up" either. <BR/><BR/> like ksam said, it's a really good thing you are in these classes. in a way, learning french IS your full-time job right now, on your way to bigger and better things! (and when you DO figure out what you want to be when you grow up - let me know. i'm open to some new ideas!) :DKathyMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15557837102539253373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-54859853012541582302008-10-07T03:32:00.000-05:002008-10-07T03:32:00.000-05:00Thanks, ksam! I keep telling myself that the Fren...Thanks, ksam! I keep telling myself that the French classes will change everything - I'm looking forward to that!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06078386635713721679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-16316029651846740042008-10-07T02:55:00.000-05:002008-10-07T02:55:00.000-05:00My dear, I think you are already doing a good thin...My dear, I think you are already doing a good thing by signing up for the Sorbonne French classes. As we all know, speaking French well is the key to finding a decent job here, so that's one of the most important things you can do at this point to help yourself move forward!Ksamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991667611234163617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-90673873125689060672008-10-07T02:19:00.000-05:002008-10-07T02:19:00.000-05:00candy - You should definitely not be offended abou...candy - You should definitely not be offended about the "housewife" thing. A stay-at-home mom is nothing like a stay-at-home wife. And, even before you had kids, we all know you weren't at home twiddling your thumbs about what to do with your life. Let's be honest, the difference between me and you is that you have an idea about doing something and do it - you don't analyze it and it's impact to your life until it's dead, which is, unfortunately what I'm really great at doing. Love you!<BR/><BR/>mum - You're the cutest mom in the world!! I totally thought about painting (do you still have those awful paintings from years back in the garage?), but instead I'm going to get inspired by the fabric district in Paris to do something else creative. Love you!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06078386635713721679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-41900360362968832262008-10-06T21:55:00.000-05:002008-10-06T21:55:00.000-05:00Debbie, I mean Sarah, in the words of Charlotte (t...Debbie, I mean Sarah, in the words of Charlotte (the only spider I like): "Chin Up" because you are T-e-r-r-i-f-i-c! Before you know it, you will be a fluently, well-spoken French speaker. <BR/><BR/>Paint, Volunteer (even if you French is limited, for now). You live in a beautiful country and city. Write your experiences one word at a time.<BR/><BR/>Love, MumJosephinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16592512514957128355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1503729408884755809.post-28710988320619483702008-10-06T19:18:00.000-05:002008-10-06T19:18:00.000-05:00hmmmm....maybe you should rethink your shopping tr...hmmmm....maybe you should rethink your shopping trip then? he, he, he, just kidding....don't get CRAZY or anything!<BR/><BR/>Not sure if I should be offended or not about the "doomed to be a stay at home wife" comment. :) J/k, i know that's just not your thing. You'll find your way soon though. I would just enjoy your stagnat-ness for now. It won't last long, I am sure.Candy @ Mommypaloozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00472046818295100973noreply@blogger.com