DOES travel and living overseas broaden the mind? I hope so as in just over a week I will be heading back to France on a permanent basis.
It is nearly four years since I packed up the car and headed out of the small Dordogne village of Loubejac, but I don’t think I ever really left the place behind as This French Life took up more and more of my time.
But now that the Eurotunnel crossing is booked, and some temporary accommodation is secure whilst I look for a long term let in the area around Loubejac, I’ve been thinking about why people look to head out for a new adventure.
I’ve always thought that a good number of Brits have a yearning to explore foreign lands, maybe its a case of harking back to the days of Empire, but the opportunity to explore new cultures seems to burn strongly in our North American cousins as well.
Many people from the US and Canada seem to enjoy living life the French way; some do so on extended holidays, or from reading over some of the blogs I follow with the intention to make a success of a move – lock, stock and barrel.
On a personal level I want to use many of the new digital tools that are now available to bring a real taste of France to people through This French Life, be that recordings of dialects and songs, video of special events and festivals, or just photographs of landscapes viewed from afar.
Because if there is one thing I’ve picked up on from reading the writing of others it is that whilst life in France can be full of frustrations and isn’t all about glasses of wine and cheese courses, seeing the simplest of things through the eyes of an outsider can inspire and bring a sense of contentment.
So for the next couple of weeks updates to the site may be a little hit and miss (I’m always open to a guest post or two) but I hope that soon enough I will be able to share with you some of the views of my new French life, as well as point you to the experiences of many others.
Comments
17 responses to “Making plans for a new French life”
Very exciting Craig! Good luck with your move. I can’t wait to read all about your new adventures.
Hi Loulou, many thanks for your message and as long as the French internet pipes don’t block up I’m hoping for some entertaining times 😉
All the best, Craig
That’s good to hear Craig, you’ll be almost ‘just down the road from us’. If you want to record me speaking I have a French dialect that can only be described as unique…
Welcome back to La Belle France! You write in such a compelling way that I look forward to reading more on This French Life once you are settled.
Bon courage
Bravo, and welcome back!
Good luck with the move. Looking forward to seeing you back on the site very soon.
Hi all, many thanks for your messages and looking forward to starting some new features on the site, as well as some good weather 😉
All the best, Craig
Bonne Chance Craig!
I’m sure France will warmly welcome you with a glass of wine.
Problem is Guillaume – I’ll just have more questions to pester you with 😉
All the best, Craig
Good luck with the move, Craig. I didn’t know you were planning a country-switch.
W
Best of luck with the move Craig, Loubejac is just down the road. It would be great to meet up for a drink and a natter.
Congratulations! Now you can live my dream. Best of luck with the move; keep notes – all moves are normally quite eventful.
Hi all, many thanks for the best wishes, and we can definitely meet up Gerry. Not heading out as far as you though William 😉 And I hope I can help you Annelie in discovering some hidden corners of France.
All the best, Craig
Keep us ‘twittered’ won’t you ? Bonne Chance
Fabulous Craig! You’re in our neighborhood too (Excideuil) Hope to meet you – we’ll be there in August – right after having completed our ‘lock, stock & barrel’ move from California! Vive la France! ps: will contact you on FB
Hi Sally, you wont be able to keep me away from the land of Twitter, and best of luck Marie with your own move from California and I’ll see you on Facebook.
All the best, Craig
Best of luck for ‘the second coming’
Hi Patrick, many thanks for the best wishes 🙂
All the best, Craig