Serial expats are not always charmed by yet another new country and another new culture. Many tomes are written about the strains and stresses of the expat life. so I will refrain from adding to it. I’ll just jubilate about my own experience of moving to another new country: France. I am in love. Yes, I know, it’s France, how can you not be? Apparently you can hate the place, because I hear and read foreigners complain to no end. To them I say, go home.
Village
I love the sounds of the villages: The church bells chiming the hour; the cooing of the doves; the “bonjours” in the street of people greeting each other; the loudspeakers announcing the arrival in the village square of the butchery on wheels, or the moving unisex hair salon, or other important news.
I love the open markets that come to towns and villages on certain days. The fabulous breads, cheeses, meats, fish!
Photo Mushrooms
You find lovely honey of all sorts from the fields and mountains just nearby, free range eggs, and now it is mushroom season again…
It’s probably very cliché, but I love old buildings, balconies, windows, doors.
Photo door
Photo wash basin
I love watching the children. They will sit nicely in a restaurant, eating a bowl of mussels. They will attend piano concerts with their parents and listen and not fuss (usually). Teenagers will politely greet you with a “bonjour” when they’re passing you in the street or square.
I love our morning walks through the vineyards, watching the sun rise and munching on the wild blackberries and figs, and picking more to take home.
I love the summer festivals everywhere: the food fests, the art shows, the wine tastings, the concerts in old castles. Every town and village far and wide bursts into activity with shows of all sorts, the centers of town being the stage. Food stalls, wine tasting stalls, and art displays line the streets. Tables are set up so you can sit down and eat and drink what you buy along the way.
Photo evestivale
Music and other performances create a wonderful ambiance. (I know what you are thinking: See how you like it in January.)
