At the time, the decision to uproot the family and embark on a new life in a different country was a no brainer. Sometimes naiveté can be a good thing.
How does one prepare for a new life in a foreign land? How does one prepare his or her family for a new life in a foreign land? The decision to move to France from our cushy home in the Boulder bubble was/is, an opportunity for our kids to really expand their view of the world and the people that inhabit it. I know the experience they will take from this journey will be an experience that will change their life in a profound way, even if they may not see the benefits for years to come.
I am reminded on a daily basis of the challenges my children face as the new kids on the block. In addition to being the new kids, they must also cope with not having a means of fully communicating their thoughts to their peers. I am also greatly proud of their development and willingness to adapt to their new environment. They are meeting their challenges head on and are doing so in their own way.
I don't think anything could have prepared us for our first 24-48 hours in France. Sure we have been to France on several occasions, but this was different. We arrived in France on one way tickets to a gray and rainy back drop (cold and wet by Southern France's standards for July). Our temporary home a "rustic" gite in the country (near Lavaur) and was full of aromas, none of which the human nose has ever encountered previously. Poor lighting, overcast skies, smells from the underworld, and the invasion of flies if you leave the door open for just a moment. Was this what our new life was to become?
Thankfully, no. After a few nights in the "rustic" gite, our senses finally awoke and led us to the Ibis Hotel in Lavaur. This would become our new home for next several weeks while we continued to search for a more permanent home, no easy task when you know little of the area you just moved to. As if the challenges of finding a new home wasn't hard enough, we also had to find a new car to help us find the new home. And because we don't speak the language and we are new to the freakin' continent, let's place another hurdle in your way...the pace at which the French move.
"Yes, your car is ready but you will have to wait a couple of weeks to pick it up."
"If it is ready, why do we need to wait?"
"Because François is on holiday (of course)."
"Who is François, and what does he have to with this car?"
"He releases all lease vehicles."
Yes, businesses stop doing business during the holiday season here in France, which typically runs from July-August (but at times feels like it runs from January - December). It is moments like these I am reminded of the Frank Sinatra song, "My way." Interestingly enough this song has its roots in France based on the french song "Comme d'habitude."
Now that we have a car and a house, I can look back on these experiences with a smile. We are different. Not better or worse. Just different. That is the reason we moved here in the first place. To show our children that there are many different things in the world. Open your senses to these differences and embrace them. Learn from them.
Living as an expat,
J-Rod
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