The Professional Student
Too old to partake in "la Rentrée" but joining in spirit anyway
Bonjour, c’est Véro.
The professional student is alive and well.
The professional student. That’s what my family used to call me.
I suspect that once I graduated from high school and announced I wanted to be an English major my parents worried I’d be studying for a very long time. It didn’t help that in Junior year most students spent one year abroad to improve their English language skills.
Most of my friends headed to the UK then to work as teaching assistants. I was more focused on the United States after a memorable first visit in the summer of 1981 (a high school graduation gift from my family.) That August I spent several weeks living with an American family in Greensboro, NC with quick jaunts en famille (with my penpal’s family) to New York City and Washington DC.
A wide-eyed French girl, I was 18 and I was hooked.
By 1984 I had won a full scholarship with the Georgia Rotary Club. I knew no one at the Rotary Club but made it happen anyway. (There’s another good story there.)
The scholarship enabled me to study for a year at a small private college in Atlanta, GA (Oglethorpe University,) while my friends were in the UK. Life was never the same. For months I spent as much time making lifelong friendships as I did researching the history of the southern states (I blame my meeting with Scarlett O’ Hara as a young teenager in France for this.)
To my parents’ relief I did graduate in Paris a few years later.
A M.A. in English (Major: American Studies) in hand I was ready to take on the teaching world. Things didn’t quite work out that way. I took a few chemins de traverse (side roads.) Yet I eventually returned to teaching as an adult educator and later as a tour guide.
Like my brother once pointed out I picked these two careers because they are the perfect excuse to indulge in my favorite pastime, being a professional student.
He could be on to something. People say I am lucky to be paid to travel. I think I am even luckier to be paid to learn.
Too old to partake in “la Rentrée”
On Monday this week French school children and many students went back to the classroom. So did their teachers.
There’s an elementary school across the street. I realized mid-day I had missed hearing the little music signaling the end of la récré(ation) (recess) and the sound of kids’ laughter on the playground.
Nostalgia. The professional student has not forgotten her years at la Communale (public school) and this special time of year.
Over a decade ago I paid a tribute to the French public education system in a story inspired by an unusual museum discovered in Carcassonne, southern France. Research took me down a rabbit hole and led to intriguing discoveries as I typed away at my desk.
No listicles. No bullet points: These were the years of fun writing and meaningful connections in the blogging world. Good news: We have Substack now.
But I digress.
Embracing the spirit of “la Rentrée”
In Tours my adopted city for the last few years I’ve already developed a lengthy list of favorite addresses some of which I share on occasion with the France with Vero community.
One such address was featured recently in my YouTube series, French and Entrepreneur.
The boutique is le Bazar de Cosette. Annie, the friendly owner, is a talented treasure hunter and restorer of vintage items and furniture. Let’s just say that if I still lived in my former suburban American château in the Seattle area I would be surrounded with many of Annie’s special finds.
As it turns out 67 square meters (roughly 720 square feet for those among you stubbornly resisting the metric system) doesn’t allow for big purchases. En fait (in fact) I can’t forget I had to sort through 23 years worth of stuff for several months so I could relocate back to France with just 8 boxes in 2019.
Three days ago as I walked past Annie’s shop window I spotted a clever display featuring la Rentrée (Back-to-school.) There was an old wooden desk generations of students had worked - or fallen asleep - on, a bench once a favorite hangout spot on a playground, textbooks and a small blackboard on an easel.
I smiled.
Then I saw it, and my school girl’s heart jumped: le cartable bleu (the blue schoolbag.)
Way before generic, anonymous backpacks took France by storm French students would carry un cartable either by hand or on their back. I loved mine. If I was lucky I got a new one every couple of years before the start of the new school year.
Annie’s find caught my eye for two reasons: The bag’s color is a favorite (I like it so much my living-room wall features it.) Even better: the cute characters painted in the front were des canes. Female ducks.
If you’ve been here for a while you’ve met France with Vero’s official mascot. Move over Olympic Phryges! Meet Jeanne-la-Cane, my favorite travel companion.
Jeanne is famous les amis (well, at least in this community.) Together we’ve been on many adventures.
Serendipitous. I used to love that word when I first heard it but it took me forever to be able to pronounce it. I just love the way it rolls off my tongue. Serendipitous.
This special encounter was meant to be.
Le cartable bleu was small (barely 28cmx20cm, or 11inx8in) yet it had potential. Forget Chanel, Vuitton or Eastpak: With the addition of a strap (which I already had) it would make the perfect handbag.
Annie and I chatted for a while. She was happy le cartable bleu was going to a good home. Inside the leather flap the previous (young) owners had written their names in black ink “Laetitia” and “Patricia.”
I promised myself to handwrite “Véro” there too.
The last step: Ma cordonnière (cobbler) punched two holes on the sides of le cartable and tied on the pretty strap completing the look. Christmas in September!
Getting a new handbag? 25 Euros.
Being able to evoke once again the spirit of la Rentrée?
Priceless.
Véro
One last word if I may.
Touring season is winding down. I am about to switch hats and start teaching again through the fall and winter.
Heading to France soon?
Don’t be a Joey!
I have the perfect program for you. Join “French for the Traveler” in October.
Treat yourself to 4 fun, informative sessions and all the survival expressions and cultural tips you will need to interact successfully with the French on your next trip.
Perfect for beginners. 8 spots available.
Check out details here and reach out. Registration wraps up by September 27.
Not interested? Help me get the word out. Merci beaucoup.
Ah...memories! I'm with you...I must be a professional student as well and you're my favorite teacher! Looking forward to more on the story of the Rotary Club one day. Bonne la rentrée !
YOU are priceless and the blue bag is precious. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Your writing is fun to read and I can tell that it’s a joy and creative outlet for you. Merci beaucoup!