Par
Marie Aillerie
Published on
Going from the hustle and bustle of a classroom to the calm of the Morbihan countryside: the professional shift may seem unexpected. Yet, Maria Servel chose this route.
First an English teacher for a year then German teacher Over the next ten years, this German woman retrained to work on her husband’s dairy farm, based in a place called Guerlogoden in Kergrist (Morbihan).
 I wanted to go to Sweden…
Before standing in front of a classroom, Maria Servel was in the place of her students. Originally from a village in the north-east of Germany, near the Baltic Sea, the young woman, who experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall, wanted voyager after obtaining his baccalaureate. “ It’s quite common in my country to take a sabbatical year after graduation, and just before studies. ”
The young woman knew she wanted to head into the social. “My first choice was Sweden, but I couldn’t find a project that suited me. My English was good, so I told myself that I could improve my French too…” confides Maria. Headed to Maine-et-Loire, where she carried out a 10-month European voluntary service in an Esat (establishment and work support service), until July 2006.
Languages as a common thread
In the same establishment Samuel, who would become her future husband, also worked. “ We did the same thing at the shelter. At the end of my contract, I decided to stay in France, with him. »
The young woman did not want to miss out on her studies, so she began a degree in English at the University of Angersand, in parallel, a degree in German  with the aim of teaching it. ”
In 2009, Maria moved further away from Germany by moving to Ille-et-Vilaine, with Samuel. “ I continued my master’s studies at Rennes 2 in Irish Studies, which I was particularly passionate about. ”
Since Samuel came from a farming family, the couple wanted to settle down and take over a farm. Finally, it’s on the family farmin Kergrist, that they put down their luggage at the end of 2010. “Samuel’s father was retiring. He remained helping on the farm until he left. »
Replacements then tenure
Maria finished her dissertation remotely, and began as a replacement at Saint-Anges College, Pontivy in 2012, “as an English teacher.” The following year, she switched to German full-time, and gave her courses in different establishments.  Like at Saint-Ivy or at Jeanne-d’Arc college in Rohan. It was a very tiring time, I spent a lot of time on the road. »
After passing her Cafep (Certificate of aptitude for teaching private education) between 2013 and 2014, she ultimately only taught at the Jeanne d’Arc/Saint-Ivy high school in Pontivy from 2014. “ In 2015, a colleague was retiring, so I was given tenure…
Covid: an upheaval
Life goes on. In the meantime, Maria becomes maman of three children, born in 2010, 2013 and 2016.
But in 2020, the Covid hits hard, and the professor finds herself teaching behind a screen. “It didn’t. We were lucky to live this period in a wonderful setting, where we both, Samuel and I, continued to work. But with the children to manage, it wasn’t easy,” Maria recalls.
So, when the doors of educational establishments reopened, “I started to feel ask questions. Especially since, during this period, I helped Samuel on the farm, which I really enjoyed.”
 It’s not always easy to understand young people…
So, in 2022, Maria renounces the Cafepand resigns. “I really enjoyed my job as a teacher, even if it’s not always easy to understand young people or help them. German is a somewhat relegated subject and therefore very free. »
A logical continuation for her, who knew that this moment was coming. “ I’m from the first generation who doesn’t do the same job all their lives. I always told myself that I wasn’t going to teach until I was 60. That was the end of a cycle for me. »
From teacher to farmer
The ex-teacher didn’t have to rack her brains for too long to find a new activity. “We wanted to work together with Samuel and financially it was possible. I wanted to do something concrete and be close to nature. I learned to know cows and I found meaning in them…” confides Maria, who enrolled at the CFPPA du Gros-Chêne to follow a ten-month training course. She officially begins work on the farm in 2025.
A somewhat special farm
On the Guerlogoden farm, farmers operate a grassland system with grouped calving in spring.  Our production is based on the seasons. Our cows give birth in the spring, and then milk production begins. From winter onwards, milking stops and they all rest for about two months…
With almost a year of hindsight, Maria does not regret this reconversion.  I had done my time. Teaching is a particular profession, psychologically demanding. I feel freer in what I do today, surrounded by my cows and the countryside,” smiles the professional.
Personalize your news by adding your favorite cities and media with My News.
