October 2, 2021

Hello family,

I hope you are all well! I’ve spent the last week and a half getting to know the Fort-de-France and Schoelcher areas of Martinique. 

In looking for housing, understanding the neighborhoods I’ll work in, and general exploration I’ve walked several miles a day and taken quite a few buses. Roads and areas are growing more familiar every day. I’m enjoying all the new flowers and plants I’m encountering (including many different sorts of palms). I took my first real swim in the Caribbean sea a couple of days ago and it was absolutely wonderful. 

A good chunk of my time centered around finding a place to live. And I’m happy to say I signed my lease this morning and I am safely in my new apartment! It’s a three bedroom apartment with a nice-size kitchen and a balcony/enclosed terrace area that serves as living room and dining room. The landlord renovated the place before our arrival so there’s all new appliances and furniture. It’s quite nice, especially the terrace area. Perhaps more importantly, it’s located in a great spot. I’m about a 20 minute walk from the middle school I will work at and a short bus ride (ten or fifteen minutes I believe) from the high school I will work at.  There’s plenty of bus lines that pass just by the apartment. More importantly still, it’s a 25 minute walk from the beaches of Schoelcher 🙂 I am living with two other people: another language assistant and a student beginning her Master’s in law at the nearby university. 

On Friday (yesterday) my work contract officially began! It will be a while yet until I’m standing in front of a class. Yesterday, I visited the high school I will work at. I signed some papers, met a lot of people, and met (at last) the teacher I will be working with. The teacher who I thought I’d be working with (and to whom I’d sent several emails with no response) is set to retire next year and is currently on sick leave (which explained the lack of communication). The teacher I will be working with was very welcoming and thrilled to have me there. I observed one of her classes and we chatted for a while after. On Monday I will visit the middle school I will work at for a similar day of signing papers and meeting people. I have been in long contact with the teacher I will work with there. So perhaps, I may do more on that day with her. I like both. teachers I will work with and they both seem enthusiastic about my arrival in Martinique — which feels great. 

I’ve met five or so other assistants so far. It’s a more diverse group than I was expecting. Quite a few people are older and are doing the program as part of a career shift. At least one is actually doing this year as his study abroad program. There are language assistants from all over the world (the languages include Spanish, English, and Portuguese). So I’m looking forward to meeting more of the group! And I’m happy to have a diverse and interesting group of people to get to know. 

People have been immensely kind to me. My airbnb hosts drove me around on my first day to show me my schools and their neighborhood. The teacher I will be working with at the high school took me and Rod (my flatmate and language assistant colleague) on a shopping trip so we could buy all the starting things for a new place. And even beyond these people who I have a real connection with, strangers have helped me locate bus stops, buy bus tickets, and give me directions. And they’ve helped me out fully, making sure I really knew what was going on, not just spitting off directions in five seconds. I’m excited to spend a year here getting to know the culture more, but so far the helpfulness and kindness level has been a wonderful beginning to learning about the culture. 
Despite the length of this email, that’s the short version of the last 10 days or so! I hope all has been well with you. 🙂

love,

Janet