tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post4010698058278823830..comments2024-03-23T00:40:43.258+01:00Comments on Michele's life en franglais: What's nextMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-47439973315962419302013-03-27T03:29:54.440+01:002013-03-27T03:29:54.440+01:00Karin, thanks for the well wishes and I'm so s...Karin, thanks for the well wishes and I'm so sorry to hear about all the things going on in your life. You are so brave and courageous to confront all of these issues head on and to talk about them so openly. I really hope that things go well for you in the future and that you are able to reestablish yourself happily in Denver. I'm sure the job situation will work out, even if looking for a job these days is an extremely stressful, trying and exhausting task.<br /><br />I'm hoping things will go well for us in Bordeaux. I lived in another city in France before meeting Lionel, as a student, and there were definitely things I loved and things I hated about it as well. But I'm looking forward to trying life in Bordeaux and hoping that we will be happy there. I'm just dreading the economic situation in France and the job hunt, but, though it rarely seems like it, I must be an eternal optimist because I can't help but think that something will work out. <br /><br />At this point I'm just trying to get past these last few months in the US, as horrible as that is to say. I just sometimes feel like it's such a hurdle to get over and I hate the feeling of just sitting around and waiting for the next step to come, knowing that nothing else is going to happen here. It's a very strange feeling and I find it really frustrating because for the moment there is nothing I can really do to move forward, I just have to wait and wait and wait.<br /><br />Well, I look forward to reading more about your life in Denver and I wish you the best of luck!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-71730749729214037712013-03-22T03:50:02.805+01:002013-03-22T03:50:02.805+01:00I'm SO glad you tried, Michele! :-)
Wow, it h...I'm SO glad you tried, Michele! :-)<br /><br />Wow, it has been fun reading all these back posts and from my perspective, too, of being back in the US, suddenly, and under such awful circumstances for me, personally.<br /><br />I'm freaking out because I am *stuck* here -- my recent post on AAP explains a lot -- and now I have no one to go back to in France, anyway. It's been heartbreaking. But it is really good to read these posts and find common ground in the things that we appreciate about the US and France, both.<br /><br />Who knows. Maybe someday I will wind up back in France on my own. :-)<br /><br />I confess in many ways I am like Lionel concerning the job stuff, and I am AMERICAN for crying out loud! It's just NOT the bees knees here, not at all. It has transformed a lot since I was last on the job market, which is a while back now.<br /><br />But, I also have some excellent reasons for being here as well, and if there is one thing I have learned, if a person cannot bloom in some way where he or she is planted, then it is not the place that is the problem. It's something we need to find in ourselves to be happy no matter where we are. BUT, I agree that if we have the power to choose the place that makes us happiest, then we need to DO IT! I am so glad you are going back!<br /><br />I have been to Bordeaux, oh and HEY!! I have a friend there! Her name is Amy Reverdy -- just thought of her. She and her husband moved there last year from Paris (she'd lived in Paris for several years, too). Her husband is French and she is American, and I adore her. Okay, so are you on Facebook? I have my page linked up to my new blog, I think. If we are not already connected there, please find me. I am one of Amber's connections. I will put you in touch with Amy, whom I really love. She is funny, too. I think you would get a kick out of her.<br /><br />Anyway, Bordeaux is hella different than Paris, and I think based on what I have read here about what you DO like about France and DON'T like about the US, but also the things you don't like in France, you are going to be just fine. (I agreed with the person -- forgot who it is now -- who said that a lot of the "Don't Likes" about France are actually Paris-related. I AGREE. My best friend, who has lived in Antibes for over 16 years, really loves it, and having visited her, I do, too. She has had so few of the problems that come with Paris living, and a lot of the things you don't like definitely are due to that big city, IMO.)<br /><br />So. Very nice to get caught up, Michele. I hope that I can "tune in" more frequently to what is going on. Things since this past May have been just pretty awful in so many ways, I was not really reading many blogs. But I have very much enjoyed re-visiting your life and it feels like getting all caught up with someone I know. :-)<br /><br />Be well & good luck with the next couple months of tying up all the US ends of life!<br /><br />xx<br />Karin<br />Karin B (Looking for Ballast)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03592528618484082434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-19351542293847739222013-02-07T00:14:48.598+01:002013-02-07T00:14:48.598+01:00I definitely agree with you when you say that Fran...I definitely agree with you when you say that France is more of a "coconut country" vs. the US which is very superficially friendly. I don't know if it's because I've gotten used to the French way or what, but in the end I guess I kind of prefer the "coconut country" because at least you know where you stand. But oh well, soon I will be back in France and I imagine that I will appreciate some of the French "quirks" more for my time back in the US. And at least I will feel a little more comfortable around people than I do now!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-19505721133841826352013-02-06T20:43:24.747+01:002013-02-06T20:43:24.747+01:00I can relate to you so much! I have also moved aro...I can relate to you so much! I have also moved around quite a bit and found at first that I related better with people who had also experienced living abroad. You're right, time is key and settles everything. I moved to the UK when I was a teenager and had a really bad middle/high-school experience. I used to be quite chatty but could barely open my mouth by the end and the smallest social interaction made me shake. I finished high school in France and loved it but decided to return to the UK for university. I've had it hard but gradually I'm more and more used to my environment and due to personal circumstances (similar to yours in fact) I am likely to stay here. I think you are a very brave woman and I am sure that little by little you will come to really like France. Rude people exist EVERYWHERE and I have finally come across a fair share of very rude American people. France is more of a 'coconut country' rather than the superficial American friendliness that rarely leads to long lasting friendships. Of course it depends upon the person, I may be just generalizing (although there's a bit of truth in every stereotype). Take care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-76379368219870932402012-12-26T00:01:11.821+01:002012-12-26T00:01:11.821+01:00Thanks Ksam and Crystal! I know that it's real...Thanks Ksam and Crystal! I know that it's really a good thing that we tried and that now we know, but I still have a hard time not feeling a little embarrassed when I tell people that we are moving back. Regardless I'm happy with our decision and looking very forward to the move back to France. But it's hard not to feel a bit foollish. Especially when even the people working at the French consulate in Chicago couldn't believe that we would move back so quickly! But in the end I know that it doesn't matter what others think, what matters is what is best for us and I'm sure this is really the right decision. More details on the move and preparations for the move will be coming as we go through the process!Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17460908569554684989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-23753138141112701212012-12-17T14:45:03.371+01:002012-12-17T14:45:03.371+01:00I really don't think you should look at this a...I really don't think you should look at this as failure. You had no idea when you left France for the US that you would end up not liking it as much as you thought, and when you did, you made a logical and rational decision to go back to France. That's all! People move around all the time, and I think it's a bit of trial and error before we figure out what and where is best for us. All the best in your moving prep and be sure to keep us posted!Crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136483568967161966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2852622575677869620.post-19876716496670667792012-12-17T09:08:29.762+01:002012-12-17T09:08:29.762+01:00All I have to say is good for you for trying. You ...All I have to say is good for you for trying. You have it a shot, it didn't work out, but at least now you know, and you won't have to spend the rest of your life in France wondering "Is the grass really greener on the other side?"Ksamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991667611234163617noreply@blogger.com