French schools and jobs

This morning I met up with one of my friends from France. It was so lovely to see her again and catch up! She worked at the school where I worked and told me that she and another staff member lost their jobs. They had to (for the first time) re-sit an interview with the headmaster if they wanted to continue working for the school. They didn't 'pass' so their contracts were not renewed but from what she told me it was more of a case of favouritism than anything else. After 4 years there she doesn't know to do with herself and is furiously looking for work... I can't imagine what that would be like. I mean, you see the kids grow up and you become their friend and then 'poof'. It's so sad.

I have to say that I was lucky because the headmaster was always nice to me. But my friend reckons that that was because I wasn't a 'real' staff member there, it's like I was just there for fun, with a bit of teaching on the side. I was there mainly for the cultural experience and she knew it so there was no reason to give me a hard time or anything...

Meanwhile, SO much has happened with other staff members at the school where I taught.

Examples...

Someone is going to retire soon
Someone quit her job and is now a full-time translator
Someone applied to teach French in the US (not sure if she succeeded or not)
Someone who was a temporary teacher passed the hard Capes exam so they can now get a permanent post either at the same school or one a bit further away
Someone quit and moved to Lyon
Someone quit and is going to be a stay-at-home dad
Someone is getting posted to another school to be closer to home
Someone is an alcoholic and got a big talking to by the headmaster!
People (teachers) who have been having relationships with each other have broken up!
My friend and someone else got fired

etc etc...

OMG it's like a soap opera!

So much for a job in the education sector being secure! It seems like it's soooo hard to get and KEEP a job in France!

And today is the very last day of school before the big vacances scolaires d'été. If I ever go back I won't know anyone except the headmaster and the people in admin!

My other friend is moving to Lyon this weekend and starting work as a lectrice after the summer vacation.

And to think that about a year ago I was gearing up to come to France. I was writing to the previous assistant and going to the French embassy in Sydney to get my visa sorted. I can't believe how much has happened in my life since one year ago.