Dispatch from limbo
Here's what we've been up to while waiting for things to happen.
Today is May 1st, or May Day, which seems like as good a time as any to start a blog. La fête du travail, or Labor Day in English, is a national holiday in France. So everyone has the day off and even though I technically have every day off while I wait for my visa to come through to be able to work, I thought I’d mark the day by doing something out of the ordinary and start this blog.
But how is May 1st traditionally celebrated in France? By doing what the French do best- demonstrations. (It often seems like the French national sport is going on strike or organizing protests. Although several French people have told me that actually their favorite thing to do is complain…). The May Day parades/demonstrations are to show the importance of the worker in French society.
I think the video below sums up the holiday rather well.
May 1st aside, the real reason for this blog is to keep in touch with people back home. We’d love to hear about anything everything you have to share. Feel free to reach out by email, Whatsapp, text, or phone and let us know what’s happening with you too. We still have our American numbers in addition to our French ones so it doesn’t cost any extra to talk to us.
Some highlights of the past 5 months:
Paul’s daughters, Kyona and Danelle, spent Christmas with us and our 4 cats in our 750 square foot apartment in Montpellier. Kyona is working on her Masters in Genetic Counseling in Siena, Italy and Danelle is working on her Masters in Political Science in Brussels, Belgium. Neither of those places is especially close to Montpellier so it was extra special to have the girls visit. Danelle in particular enjoyed soaking up the sunshine that is so sorely lacking in Brussels. Kyona stayed on for about 10 days; I really enjoyed exploring the city with her.
Paul, Kyona, and I went on a long road trip to pick up some of Kyona’s stuff from our storage at the port in Marseille where our container is. I have to say, I haven’t missed our stuff at all and don’t look forward to finding room for it in our future home.
Incidentally, on the way to Marseille we encountered blocked highways due to the farmers’ protests that were going on throughout France and Europe. The French always refer to these protestors as les agriculteurs en colère or “angry farmers”. It’s like a fixed phrase. Never just “farmers” but “angry farmers”. They have reasons to feel that way but it was hard to keep that in mind as we crawled along alternate routes off the highway, adding about 3.5 hours to our drive.
The video below has a good summary of what these protests were all about.
The first impression of Italy coming from Marseilles is tunnels. Then tunnels, and more tunnels. Apparently, the Italians still tap into their Roman roots when it comes to complicated and impressive construction.
We continued for another 9 hours or so to Siena where Kyona lives. I highly recommend putting this little medieval town on your list of places to visit if you’re ever in Tuscany. Get ready for hills, cobblestones, and intriguing little alleys. It’s a short drive to the rolling hills of Tuscany.
For my birthday weekend, we took a 3-hour train ride to Barcelona. I felt like the moment the train crossed the border you could sense a difference between the French and Spanish cultures. The conversation got more lively and people were more tactile, touching each other and displaying affection. In France, we don’t often see anyone other than teenagers/college students even holding hands. Barcelona is so alive at night. The stereotype of the Spanish eating dinner late is true. There was so much to do even on a Sunday night. Everything would be closed in Montpellier.
Other than those trips, we mostly spend weekends exploring within an hour of Montpellier. There’s so much to see: the Mediterranean beaches, flamingos in the “etangs” (slightly inland fresh, flat water that stretches to the sea), charming villages, roman ruins, and beautiful hiking spots.
Photo album of some of our adventures
Up to now, while Paul is working I’ve spent my time:
- Fretting: It can get stressful dealing with the amount of uncertainty we face and figuring out how to do things here. My French is good but some days not as good as others. Various worries taking up space in my head have been our “short term” rental seeming tenuous for a bit, sick cats (they still don’t freaking get along), figuring out Paul’s contract, still waiting for my visa, and facing finding a job where people are paid about a third of what we’re paid in the US. And the hardest water that we’ve ever experienced! I’m embarrassed by how disgusting my hair is.
-Exploring: A few walks on the beach (we’re about 15 minutes to the Meditteranean) and in green spaces around town with a friend and her dog, a solo trip out to Lac du Salago, and wandering the little alleys in city center. I never get tired of any of that.
- Being social: I miss friends and family like crazy but luckily there is a decent-sized expat community here. It takes time to meet and befriend French people who tend to be more reserved than Americans. So I’ve been grateful for the expat meet ups and have made a few friends. My biggest compliment to friends here is to tell them that I’d be friends with them in the US, instead of just being friends with them here due to the convenience and relative lack of choice in companions.
- Communicating with realtors, and visiting houses. BUT, this part is about to change because we have actually found a house and our offer has been accepted!
If you were a fan of the 1970s and/or the color brown, have we got a house for you! The house is about 1,900 square ft which is considered huge for 2 people here. It has a big yard full of trees (and weeds for the moment). One truly awesome thing is that the house is a 15-minute walk from a beautiful little lake. And, on the practical side of things, it’s a 10-minute walk from the free tram that goes into town. The name of the town/suburb the house is in is called “Le Crès”. It’s pronounced like “cress” like the end of “watercress”.
Tempted to visit? We’re so very happy to have somewhere to welcome friends and family. We’ll have a spare room and a foldout somewhere and are eager to create a tailor-made trip for whatever you’re interested in here in Montpellier and the surrounding area.
I’ll write again in a few weeks with the latest and greatest from us.
À bientôt (see you soon)
Kathleen
Go Czop! I enjoyed reading this post. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah!!! You got a house! How exciting!
You know, the whole things about bitching and protesting everything is not solely the affairs of the French people. Belgians also do that quite well I'm told! LOL
I'm glad you guys are slowly settling in.