Premières

Since arriving in France, I've had a lot of firsts. Not to sound arrogant, but it felt fitting to write the title in French since I am in France, I love the language and it's a huge part of my life here. If you didn't already know, it means "firsts"... 

Today is my first full day as an au pair and I am already exhausted. I love France so far and everyone I have met has been wonderful but it is very tiring mentally. Even though I have traveled quite a lot on my own and feel quite comfortable with it, living in a different language is difficult. I have felt like an idiot more times than I can count already. Like when I walked into a restaurant in Paris and was greeted by the host in French and I stared blankly back because I knew he had asked a question but he talked so fast I couldn’t understand what it was and under pressure I couldn’t even think of a response. Fortunately he was kind and patient as I struggled my way through being seated, ordering, and paying completely in French and, actually, I walked out of the restaurant feeling pretty good because it was my first interaction in France entirely in French and I had managed to make myself understood and to understand him. The first few days have been incredibly challenging and while understanding and speaking is getting easier, it still requires my complete concentration to carry on a simple conversation.

My view from the restaurant where I enjoyed
a delicious meal and the sense of accomplishment
from my first exchange entirely in French

Language is not the only struggle. For some reason, I find it especially difficult to navigate here. Normally, I feel like I am pretty good at finding my way around but here there are so many small winding roads and everything looks the same to me and I feel like I am constantly getting lost. I can usually wander my way around a city and succeed in getting where I want to go but in Paris I could walk for miles in the wrong direction before realizing it. Maybe it’s because it’s such an old city that it doesn’t have a clear plan like most of the cities I’ve visited or maybe because it’s in a foreign language I have to go through an extra step in my head, but whatever it is, I’ve found myself lost more than a few times over the past several days. Fortunately, I have local connections and they have helped me enormously!

So many winding paths and narrow passageways!

All that aside, France is great. Paris is hands-down the most beautiful city I have ever seen and I think I could spend days wandering around its lovely streets. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a ton of time there when I arrived since I got in on Thursday morning and took the train to Lorient on Saturday afternoon, but I managed to see the Eiffel Tower (from the bottom), Notre Dame and the Louvre (from the outside), the Palais Royal (Royal Palace), and the jardin des Tuileries (a huge garden near the palace), et les invalides (the old military hospital). I met my penpal, Paul, of about six years for the first time and he took the time to show me the city and help me navigate on my first day in the country. He and his girlfriend kindly let me stay in their apartment outside of Paris and helped me feel at home in a foreign country and made my first few days in France much easier and even more enjoyable! 

On the Seine

Le jardin de tuileries 

Le jardin de tuileries 

Les victoires

Le Louvre

The courtyard of Palais Royal

Palais Royal

Notre Dame

Les invalides 

I am quickly learning that many of the French stereotypes are true, but not all of them. I have yet to meet a French person – even a Parisian – who struck me as rude or snobby. Maybe it’s because I always try to speak in French and they take pity on me, even if I butcher it or fail to make sense, but everyone has been friendly and helpful and seems genuinely kind.  They do, however, like their bread. And, yes, by bread I mean French baguettes (although there are many other varieties of bread and bread-like products to be had). They do buy it fresh from the boulangerie (bakery) and eat it with at least every meal. It really is good but I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much bread in my life.  I think 90% of my diet since arriving here has been bread, cheese, and some form of chocolate…. Wine is also a big deal here, which is okay by me. I tried vin chaud for the first time, which I think is originally German and known as Glühwein, and it is delicious. It’s hot red wine with cinnamon and orange and is somewhat similar to mulled cider. I also had raclette for the first time. It’s hard to explain but it’s sort of like and open oven that sits on the table and you put in mini pans with cheese, let the cheese melt and bubble, and then pour it over potatoes, meat, etc. and it’s quite good. They are also lots of baked goods particular to France and each region has its own. Bretagne (the region I’m in) is known for its crêpes (among other things) and they have both salty and sweet. In fact, we will be having the savory ones for supper tonight!

I'm staying in a town called Ploemeur and the family I’m living and working with is great and have made me feel very welcome. We have a lot in common – we both like the outdoors, outdoor sports, and traveling to name a few – and I think I will fit in well here. The house is about a 10 minute walk from the beach and there are some beautiful trails nearby that I can’t wait to explore. The area is beautiful with lots of forests and farms and really old, lovely buildings and stone-paved roads. Although most of the buildings are from the 50s since much of the area was demolished by World War II, there are still a few ancient houses and the area still has an old, rustic feel and an inherent beauty. I guess it’s to be expected since it is January, but the weather is not that great at the moment. It’s warmer than New England this time of year with averages around 50°F but lately it has been excessively windy with frequent heavy rains and occasional hail. Nevertheless, I’m excited to see what the next months hold and to get to know this family, this place, and the locals here!

The coast a short drive from where I'm living

L'église (the church) in the center of Ploemeur

Ploemeur

To France

Well, I am going to France. I honestly didn't let myself believe it was actually happening until I got my visa from the consulate two days ago but now I am sitting at the airport waiting to board a flight to Reykjavík and then to Paris.

My view

This trip has been the most difficult one to arrange and also the one that I've been most hesitant about. There was never any doubt in my mind that I would go to France someday and I most certainly wanted to go but, after two years out of college, I feel like I don't fit into that "just out of college and figuring out the next thing" bracket anymore. New Zealand and Australia just kind of happened, almost accidentally. It was logistically fairly easy to get there (apply for a visa online, buy a ticket, then do whatever the heck you want when you get there), but I had to make France happen and I almost feel guilty about it. Shouldn't I be getting a masters degree or a permanent 9-5 job? Shouldn't I be renting an apartment and buying a car? It doesn't matter that I don't really want most of these things, it's what I should be doing, right?  No, I don't truly think that's what I should be doing and even though many of my friends and family are very supportive and encouraging (thank you!), some aren't and the classic image of American success is a good, stable job, a nice house, a car and a family, which is basically entirely the opposite of my life. So even though I would choose the life of traveler every time, I definitely feel the pressure, especially when I'm home.


But I believe that God has a plan and what's meant to happen will happen. There are plenty of reasons why this could have not happened. I had to find a way to get a job, which I decided was to be an au pair. Then I had to find a family and it took months to find the right one. Next we had to make up a contract and come up with all the necessary paperwork. Every document had to be the original so this involved a lot of mailing things back and forth for signatures, etc. with only a little over a month to get everything done. Then I had to make an appointment with the consulate in New York City (and they are often fully booked months in advance) and actually go to New York and apply for the visa, leave my passport there and go back and get my passport two weeks later, which was a bit of a fiasco in itself. Yet, somehow, it all worked out and I am on my way to France.

Walking around NY before getting my passport

I'll be spending a few days in Paris and before taking the train north and west to a small town called Ploemeur where I will be living with a family, helping out with the kids, and helping them learn English as they help me learn French. It's been about 8 months since I've traveled internationally and, although I've had some amazing adventures and great times in the US I'm excited to experience a new place and a different culture once again. I know it's going to be challenging; I'm going to have learn to communicate in a new language (my French is passable but speaking and understanding is still hard work!) and get used to living with a different family and in an unfamiliar place once again. But, of course, I travel because I love new and unfamiliar things!