Two weeks have already passed! It’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the small issues of the everyday life. July 2017 seems so far but I know deep inside that this will happen very quickly. Yet French school holidays (from October 19th to November 2nd) took me much of my time last week since my kids were at home.   But this week they are enrolled in Holiday Camps so I can pick up the thread of my activities. Current issues During the past two weeks, we have somehow conducted some tasks related to our scheduled departure: – Banking and financial issues On the occasion of our “Banking fees” issue…

(First Published October 24th 2016) You can’t have missed that this Thursday September 1st was back to school in France! Indeed, unless one has neither any kid herself nor among her relatives, turned off the TV and the radio and didn’t read the press, and avoided driving or walking close to schools (where all of a sudden there was lots of excitement again) she/he couldn’t escape this great event! And unlike the United States where back to school schedule depends on each State and spans almost the entire August, in France back to school is at the same time for everyone. Obviously with 4 kids from pre-pre-K (3 years old)…

(First Published August 5th 2016) There is a question some people still ask me (even after having spent almost 30 years in France) that makes me swing between resignation and irritation. This is when people ask me “where are you from?” Here is a story detailing some usual circumstances: I took my daughter to the appointment with a new pediatrician. And exactly one minute after we crossed the door, the second question she asked me was “where are you from?” Let’s be clear: I am French, living in France for many years but I have no problem with my origins. I spent most of my life in France (and all…

(First Published July 27th 2016) a LFL at Towson near Baltimore Do you know “Little Free Library” or LFL concept? These are small boxes which look like birdhouses where are stored self-service books, anywhere in the city. The first time I saw (several) LFL, it was in 2014 in Baltimore. You can pick up one or more books, take as much time as you want to read them and take them back (or not). The boxes have usually very creative design and each one is different. The idea is great and you can find more details on their website. These small libraries work mainly thanks to volunteers called “stewards”. They…

(First Published March 6th 2016) Picture from TV series “Recess” – Season 4, Episode 7 entitled “Recess is canceled” I have repeatedly here praised some American traits or the way of life in the US but it is not a total and naive admiration. There are especially two areas (in addition to the issue of firearms in the United States that still terrifies me so much) in which France has, in my opinion, some qualitative lead over the USA. One issue is about the system of car insurance and the resulting driver behavior in case of accident, and the other one is about the organization of school time. I have…