A few weeks ago, when I first moved here, I met a Japanese woman who lives in the same village, about ten minutes away. We've been exchanging emails and yesterday we met for the first time. As she's Japanese, I brought some homemade gyozas to share with her and her two young sons. Having moved to France 7 years ago to start a new life with her French husband, she had gone through the same adjustment period as I was going through now. She offered her perspective on expat life, acclimating to a new country, language, and customs. She said it took a while to fully adjust and there were definitely moving pains but eventually you grow less homesick and more in love with your new country. I had a great time at her house and hope to see her and the boys again soon.
On another note France's nationwide celebration to music, La Fête de la Musique, starts this weekend and lasts until the first week of August. To learn more about the Fete's activities in our town, R and I walked down to the local Tourism office. I wanted stationary and R wanted today's paper, so we stopped at La Presse, a bookstore. I didn't find any stationary, but R bought a great comic book about our town and found a picture of me in the regional paper! There I am, posing with the members of the shooting club from last Sunday—the caption under the picture reads: Members of the local shooting club. Not even close to being true, but I'm famous now.
R and I are snacking on some sausages we bought at Les Halles in Dijon—and then we'll do some shopping at the local Home Depot (the house is a work-in-progress). Following that, we'll attend a local fete tonight in town. And tomorrow, we'll head to la fête in Geneva after my driving lesson. Lots of activities for the kids—wish my nephews were here right now. I miss the little guys like crazy.
Congrats on making the paper! I'm glad you found a friend there... it always helps to have someone that's been in a similar situation.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you so distant to the club members in the pic? :) hehe...
ReplyDeletePati - it is nice to have a friend who's been in the same shoes. Actually, tomorrow we're going on a field trip..she's taking me to an Asian market about 35 minutes away. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteShu Dan - I noticed that too! When I was taking the pic, it didn't seem I was so far away :) On Sunday, R and I went on a tour at a local chateau (castle) where the local nobility used to live. Someone photographed us. I think we might be in the paper again!