Ahhh…so much to share!
I’m here in my bedroom and missing home, my family and Tony.
This is real.
The family is very nice. I think the boys really like me as they hang around me, tell me all sorts of stories and beg to sit by me at the dinner table.
Today, we went for a long walk in the countryside then came home and had an aperitif with Jean Do and Maelle – nice tradition!
The boys joined us and had juice in special cups and then we had a lighter meal of steamed broccoli with almond sauce.
And, they always have a cheese plate and baguette after dinner. Another nice tradition!
I’ve been reading The Art of Happiness and Seven Years in Tibet that Tony gave me and I’m feeling such a peace inside. I don’t know why!
Why am I feeling so connected to this?
Perhaps this year will give me the time and space to develop my spirituality more – something I have been desiring since I took that meditating course at University.
Tomorrow Maelle is going to take me to the school to meet with the principal and then to my own language class.
Gosh, when you actually live in a country they speak the language SO quickly. I am really finding it difficult speaking french and understanding people. I’m feeling so dumb! Plus it’s leading to so many miscommunications…
The other day, Maelle got really angry with me.
The boys were home with me, as kids don’t go to school on Wednesdays, and after lunch, Maelle came home. She asked one of the boys if they had had breakfast and he said no. She turned to me and asked why and I said that when I asked him he said, “Pas Encore” so I thought he didn’t want any thing else.
Turns out, “Pas Encore” also means “Not Yet!” How have I never known this??? I have only heard it used as “Not again”.
Then I was helping her with dishes and she saw an empty milk bottle and says, “Francois-Clement didn’t have his bottle?”
I replied, “Non”, wondering what she was talking about as this was the first I was hearing of any bottle giving.
She was fuming!
I said, “He has a bottle every morning?”
“Oui, une bouteille de lait chaud!” (A bottle of warm milk)
“Okay” (A 4 year old???? Who ever heard of giving a 4 year old a bottle!! I was to hold him in my arms and feed it to him. What???).
I became silent and wanted to pack my things and go home. I’m a professional who’s been married and through a recent divorce! I don’t need this!”
I went to my room and and read A LOT of my book “Seven Years in Tibet”. It makes me feel good inside so I calmed down and gained perspective.
The boys came to get me for dinner and I decided to be the bigger person and try to make conversation.
Slowly, everyone opened up and we had a nice time.
I think I will decorate my room and try to make it feel like ME. I will hang up my photos and pictures and add some candles. That should make me feel better.
I’m really looking forward to going to Language school tomorrow so I can meet people and learn words and phrases that I never knew existed!
Join me HERE when I meet not 1 but 2 friends and learn a lesson that I live by to this very day. (In fact it’s one of the main things I teach in The Art of Living Elegantly).
Have you ever moved or lived in a different country? Have you experienced similar language barrier issues? I’d love to hear about them in the comment section below!
With so much love,
