Paradise Update

So it's been a while since my last update...

I've been here for almost 7 weeks and can tell you that Réunion has not disappointed. I'm thoroghly enjoying myself here and have adjusted pretty well. There's a few things I miss, like soft towels that were dried in a dryer (especially with dryer sheets or fabric softener- I now appreciate this so much more) and burritos.  There are a few things I have really come to appreciate like screens on my window and automatic cars and a few disappointments like the fact that the toilets spin in the same direction. But overall everything that exists in the States exists here, although it costs a lot more for some of the recognizable brands and I have all the first world comforts I've come to expect on a beautiful tropical island. The people are nice, the food is good, the geography is diverse (as well as the people), the weather is warm, the life is slow and relaxed. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so rather than making you read about how amazing it's here and all the things I've done here's a recap of the last 5 weeks in pictures.

The Grand Raid Start in St Pierre 10/23/14

Banana Trees!!

A Creole Lunch Feast 10/31/14

Bassin des Aigrettes

Dennis' Palm Tree Hat

The Savannah of Réunion, no Simba :(

Coeur du Boeuf (Beef Heart) Fruit- tastes like cheese cake!

The Rain Forest of Réunion- Foret du Bon Accueil

My new friend in St Paul

Paraglider in the Sunset of St Leu (View from our backyard!)

The countryside/mountains!

Le Volcan!!  Piton de la Fournaise 11/4/14 

Two summits in one day!!  Piton de la Fournaise and the older Crater Rivals/Chateau Fort

Someone couldn't make it all the way, so the helicopter arrived

Pahoehoe Flow

Bassin 18 & Manapany 11/11/14

Paratroopers opening up in front of us as we're driving down the highway!

A bientot! 

Alison

Intro to Reunion Island- First Video

Here's Dennis' first video of the trip.  To be continued...

Paradise Awaits

Heyo!

So 17 more days of classes, 26 days total til Slope Day, and only 47 days til graduation! My college career is almost at a close. I'm both extremely excited to finally get my degree after 4 years of hellacious engineering classes and extremely terrified to be leaving mother Cornell. I now have a solid plan for the immediate future, but there are so many question marks in the air. What will I do this summer? Will I still be in touch with college friends? Does Cornell just throw me into the wild the day I walk across Schoellkopf? TBD

As many of you now know I'm going to be an English teaching assistant on the French Island of La Réunion next academic year!!! I'll be doing a program similar to Teach for America except teaching for France (so Teach for France haha) called TAPIF- Teaching Assistant Program in France. Except I won't be in the métropole, instead tropical paradise. I'd say it's a good deal. I get paid a little more to be on a tropical island in the Indian ocean near Madagascar for a year than I would if I were just in plain old grandmother Europe.

I'm SOO EXCITED! It's hard to keep focus when paradise awaits (but don't worry Dad I'm still attending class). My little guidebook on Mauritius, Réunion, and Seychelles arrived last night, I've been reading it at every free moment. Trying to plan my awesome adventures in the cirques and waters around the island. I also got confirmation of my acceptance yesterday, SO IT'S OFFICIAL! I won't know my specific assignment (type of school, length, and school location) for at least a month, but fingers crossed it's good. Already I'm talking to current and to be assistants there and trying to figure out prime housing spots (ie. beach + good nightlife).

CANNOT WAIT! Will keep updates on my upcoming ad