Ahh, internet access.  Only 56 days into the 10-15 days that Orange promises it will take, here I am online.

The purpose of this blog is twofold.  First, it is an easy way for me to give updates from the Old Country.  I realize that those who are looking for updates probably more interested in what's new with Tristram than with me.  If you want to be added to our Flicker account for all the pictures, ask me and I'll do it.  For now, here's a new picture and a new accomplishment:  He said his first word on Sunday night!  It was "rabbit."  I suspect he will be wanting one for a pet when he's old enough to ask.  

Second, it is a way for me to keep sane.  Having finished the Ph.D. and having no work visa, I find myself on a sort of mandatory vacation.  That's great, except it turns out I am really bad at doing nothing.  I've already taken up sewing, and am almost done with Tristram's costume (he's going to be a parrot).  But still, I find myself getting pretty stir-crazy around here.  The full-time childcare stint is both the most rewarding, exciting and the most thankless, boring thing I could be doing with my time.  Hopefully the Intertron will help with the second set of adjectives.

The big question for us is, when do we come back?  (We'll deal with where we come back to later on.)  The options are:  the end of June, when Jonathan's teaching responsibilities for the year are over; the end of August, when our lease is up on the apartment and Jonathan's university paychecks stop coming; and a year after one of those, if he decides to re-up for another year.  I'll be going through a list of reasons to stay and reasons to go, which will often be trivial, but I'll start with the big ones:

I want to stay because this is our big chance to spend some time in another country, travel in Europe, and get Tristram immersed in another language as he's learning to talk.  Who knows when we can make an extended trip to Europe again, or give our kid such great language enrichment experience?  

I want to leave because we really can't afford it here.  The year-round paycheck for university teaching is a nice change from the States, but it means that we get a pittance each month.  Right now our income is less than our rent.  Jonathan's teaching nine classes, but he won't get paid the overtime till the end of the year and it'll be taxed at a much, much higher rate.  And I legally can't work in France, since I don't have a work visa.  To get one I'd have first to get an employer to sponsor me for one, then to go back to California and restart the entire visa application process.

So, you are probably thinking, she wants to stay but she has to go.  Ahh, but wait for the next installment.