Comments on: Two Years in France

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:58:23 +0000

We will be moving to southwest England for 2 years in July. We’ll be about 2.5 hours from London. Our 3 daughters will be attending British schools. In fact, my husband and I are going over there next week to find a place to rent and look at schools. So curious about how you and your children adjusted to the school system. It seems so different than school here in the US–especially for teens. Any advice? :)
–Nicole

By: Esther

Esther — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:16:09 +0000

Just found your blog – LOVE IT!! Especially the Living with Kids sections… I’ve been searching but did you do a Living with Kids yourself? I would absolutely LOVE to see more pictures of the beautiful house you are living in. I re-watched the House Hunters episode but it’s not the same as seeing how you made it your home and settled everyone in. :-)

By: Susaninfrance

Susaninfrance — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:24:34 +0000

I’m moving back to france, where my kids were born and I spent over a decade, this summer with my kids after spending 7 years stateside. I”m fluent but my french husband will stay in the states for 8 months! I’m so nervous about the educational system and looking at a catholic school vs public.

I”m very interested in the social connections you’ve made. That was harder for me when I was there than I’d have thought, though I did certainly make friends–it took much longer than here in the usa where you can be BFFs after meeting once (half-kidding).
Also, health care—do you have it in the french system or are you having to pay for it? I have french nationality but will not be working in france nor will my husband for the first time….
best of luck and enjoy this remaining time. i’ve always found i feel completely at home neither place after living a large part of my life outside the usa. you might even find you want to return to france! It took me a year to adjust to the usa after my time abroad! xoxo

By: Candalyn

Candalyn — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:56:31 +0000

I have also read Bringing up Bebe and French Kids Eat Everything… I would love to hear your take on the French food culture, as it applies to raising kids. How have the kids liked eating at school? How many of their practices have you brought into your home? My little girl is nearly ready to start solids and I am spending a LOT of time thinking about the food culture I want for our family– so I am curious!

By: teresa

teresa — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:02:06 +0000

That picture kills me…love =)
How can anywhere else you live compare?
What an adventure.
Happy Day

By: Vera

Vera — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:06:27 +0000

Yes, these are very good topics! :)

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:50:09 +0000

I would love to hear more about French fashion! Something like how you would dress for each season.

By: Rebecca S.

Rebecca S. — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:13:57 +0000

Yes, I would love more posts about France too! More about the language and how that worked–I am proficient, but my husband knows no French at all. How did language affect your marriage? Did it place more pressure on one partner?

By: françois

françois — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:28:45 +0000

Some mosquée are build in France and many catholic church was closed or transformed in house, café etc…
But even in Islam cult the régular practice is minority.
sorry for my bad english

By: Valerie

Valerie — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:10:09 +0000

I think one of the only real public displays of religious history/practice, specifically Catholic, is French holidays. Many of public holidays remain based on the Christian calendar. I would say the other more publicly debated religion topic is the growth of Islam in France. Immigration polices (or lack thereof) in the late 70’s, early 80’s and the higher birthrate among immigrants is beginning to result in a material shift in numbers of people who practice a religion not typically recognized as being Christian.

By: Béa

Béa — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:36:03 +0000

Times flies! This reminds me of sthg I make sure to always bring back from France and keep advising everyone to get : Urgo’s super thick Anti-Choc band-aids. Got to think about these few days ago when I used one on my foot. … not too much info, it’s just that they are the only one for me to do the job in shoes (aside from the compeed type of band-aids).
PS: I hope I’m not quoting to many brands here… just stating that they’re only thick ones to pass my quality control!!

PPS : are you celebrating Mardi-Gras today? savouring beignets?

By: françois

françois — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:33:14 +0000

Pour moi c”est la principale différence entre la France et les USA.
La pratique des religions et la croyance sont très basse (entre 15 et 30%). Les Mormons n”ont jamais réussi à percer malgré les milliers de jeunes missionnaires.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:13:57 +0000

I would love an all-France for a while!

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:45:22 +0000

Wow! I love all the questions and topics you’re interested in. I’ve got to figure out how I can address all of these without making the blog all France all the time. : )

By: Maria Baker

Maria Baker — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:14:57 +0000

By the way, where are you headed next? Did I miss that? My kids are in an all French school here in Canada even though we are an English household. Two official languages here and speaking both is a definite advantage in life here.

By: Maria Baker

Maria Baker — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:13:27 +0000

I’m curious about the visas and such too. We lived in Germany for two years (2010-2012) but it was through the military so we didn’t have to do all the visa stuff. My husband and I talk a lot about going back to Europe on our own terms (no threats of deployments, etc) but always get bogged down with all the details.

By: chrissy

chrissy — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:33:10 +0000

ah
we are also moving back this fall after spending 2 years in london. it is very bittersweet and i am doing the same thing you are doing…savouring it all. are you worried about repatriation? i am thinking it may be a little depressing to go back to “normal”. how are you and your lovely family approaching this?

we also chose the non-american school route and chose to put our 3 children into the also in the british system (my oldest is 16 and in a international IB programme school). there is not the major language challenge that yours faced, but there are many educational, cultural (and even language!) differences. i think the experience has taught them each a lot about themselves, whether they know it now or not, and the amount of information they have absorbed both in school and in our travels is fabulous.

By: Jenny Lynn

Jenny Lynn — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 05:23:44 +0000

Has it really been 2 years? Wow, I can ‘t believe you will becoming back to the states in July. I really pray that buying your beautiful cottage will work out for you and your family. As I have followed you, it is very apparent how much you love it.

By: Stella

Stella — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:48:33 +0000

You’re leaving France?? So sad :( I’ll miss seeing photos and hearing about it… But I know the next phase of your lives will be just as fun and just as much of an adventure. I’m so curious where you will settle after leaving!

By: Christelle

Christelle — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:32:46 +0000

We live in Canada but I’m from France and we’re toying with the idea of going back for the kid’s education. They are perfectly bilingual so the language wouldn’t be a barrier. I’m just wondering how they would adjust to the French education system. Things have changed since I went to school myself…. I remember much much more discipline, apprendre par coeur, standardization of the education, lack of team work. I would be curious to hear your honest opinion on the subject. Enjoy your last 6 months…