Your phrase "moving there ... had loosened my roots" made such an impression on me. Being a multi-country expat for the past 20 years I always referred to myself as "rootless", but your writing made me rethink that. Maybe my roots had been loosened, not broken, all those years ago and I'm carrying them with me - at least in part. 🙂🙏🏼
Thanks for sharing that Monica, I’m glad it resonated with you! I feel like I’ve been lucky to at least have nutrient-gathering roots in every place I live, and yes, the original roots of home still with me. Where has felt the most like home for you?
My current location in Barcelona feels the most like home, more than several places in the US and Germany where I had lived before. But even more like home feels the suburb I moved to 2 years ago, where the nature is lush, the trees are centuries-old, the hills are close and almost touching the sea, where there is *so much sky!* unlike in the big city.
Sounds beautiful! I like Grenoble and am finding lots to interest me, though I miss the gentleness of the English countryside and the more wild wilderness of the American West (kind of contradictory haha). It hasn’t been very long yet, though!
It occurred to me you might enjoy a book by a charming couple, Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, entitled 'The Bonjour Effect'. They are a bilingual Canadian couple who successfully and effectively make sense, to the English speaking world, of the francophone world.
Published by Duckworth, UK, in 2017. (ISBN 9780715652190). Here is a link to the blurb page:
Bravo, chère Anne! Un beau voyage qui commence dans la verdure, les montagnes, la nature.. et la poésie!! Contente que tu sois bel et bien arrivée à Grenoble.
Your phrase "moving there ... had loosened my roots" made such an impression on me. Being a multi-country expat for the past 20 years I always referred to myself as "rootless", but your writing made me rethink that. Maybe my roots had been loosened, not broken, all those years ago and I'm carrying them with me - at least in part. 🙂🙏🏼
Thanks for sharing that Monica, I’m glad it resonated with you! I feel like I’ve been lucky to at least have nutrient-gathering roots in every place I live, and yes, the original roots of home still with me. Where has felt the most like home for you?
My current location in Barcelona feels the most like home, more than several places in the US and Germany where I had lived before. But even more like home feels the suburb I moved to 2 years ago, where the nature is lush, the trees are centuries-old, the hills are close and almost touching the sea, where there is *so much sky!* unlike in the big city.
How do you like Grenoble?
Sounds beautiful! I like Grenoble and am finding lots to interest me, though I miss the gentleness of the English countryside and the more wild wilderness of the American West (kind of contradictory haha). It hasn’t been very long yet, though!
Contradictions make total sense. Also, the natural landscape of the American West is something to miss, for sure!
I mean I can’t really complain being in the Alps! But the differences are interesting
Wonderful beginning! Thanks, Anne.
I’m happy to be here. Lovely title and post today. I’ll look back at others later!
Thanks Diane, welcome!
Thank you!
Wow, I so look forward to watch a beautiful French lips journey unfold! ☺️
Excellent, glad to have you along!
I like your comment about dépaysement.. a good concept to work with!
Anne,
It occurred to me you might enjoy a book by a charming couple, Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau, entitled 'The Bonjour Effect'. They are a bilingual Canadian couple who successfully and effectively make sense, to the English speaking world, of the francophone world.
Published by Duckworth, UK, in 2017. (ISBN 9780715652190). Here is a link to the blurb page:
https://www.duckworthbooks.co.uk/book/the-bonjour-effect/
Bon Courage.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Bravo, chère Anne! Un beau voyage qui commence dans la verdure, les montagnes, la nature.. et la poésie!! Contente que tu sois bel et bien arrivée à Grenoble.
Merci beaucoup Joy !