Despite my previous post, I am excited to go back to school. The French call this time of year La Rentrée, the re-entry. Families and employees return from their summer vacations (The French get five weeks of vacation in addition to numerous federal holidays!), kids go back to school, and the regular rhythm of daily life ("métro, boulot, dodo") resumes. For me, back-to-school really is the beginning of the year. It's a fresh start that makes me motivated and optimistic.

Here are the top ten things I'm looking forward to enjoying this fall:

Cooler weather: After a hot, dry summer, I'm eager to don cashmere sweaters and to snuggle under my down comforter.
Autumn in Wisconsin: The yellow maples and birches, red sumac, and purple ash trees; the frosty lawns and pumpkins; orchards laden with Macintosh, Courtland, and Honey Crisp apples
The iPhone 5: Rumor has it that Apple will announce the next generation iPhone on September 12 and that it will be available on September 19. I'm positively giddy with anticipation! After a modest upgrade to the iPhone 4s, I hope that this newest version will be significant, both inside and out.
My new role as the Pewaukee High School Tech Coach: Although I will still be teaching six French classes this year, I am very excited to support my colleagues' individual technology goals, to work together to leverage technology as a valuable tool in maximizing student achievement.
Fall fashions: One of the harbingers of autumn is the arrival of the voluminous fall fashion magazines. I am currently enjoying 2,860 glossy pages filled with outfits, accessories, shoes, and handbags in the colors and fabrics I love the most: Vogue (916), Vanity Fair (358), Marie Claire (382), Harper's Bazaar (552), and InStyle (652)!
Fires in the fireplace: cozy weekend mornings with a steaming cup of café au lait or evenings with a nice glass of red wine
Football: Cheering for the Pewaukee Pirates on Friday nights and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoons
Planning and preparing for another trip to France: Sharing the beauty, history, and culture of Paris, Provence, and La Côte d'Azur with a group of very excited students.
School supplies: As tech-savvy as I am, I still love new notebooks, post-its, pens, and markers.
Hot apple cidar and Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte