I’ve heard of people going back home after living abroad for a while and feeling self-conscious, out of place. As if they can no longer relate to the people from their hometown. It’s isolating, I imagine, to feel disconnected from … Continue reading
you’ll learn it when you get here
You Have to Make Your Life
Having to stand up for myself in a country where I’m trying to establish the rest of my life has been no easy feat. A thin layer of perspiration has formed and now permanently coats my face simply because I’m … Continue reading
American Social Norms in France and Why They Don’t Always Translate
As children, we aren’t always taught that what is considered polite to you isn’t necessarily what is polite to another. As an American (especially one from the Midwest), I was raised with a distinct fear of being seen as rude, so … Continue reading
Why Everything Closes in France in August
If you’ve ever tried to do anything administrative in France during the month of August, you’ve probably hit a wall — or a closed door. Or maybe a handwritten note taped to a window that reads, “fermeture annuelle, réouverture le … Continue reading
Living in France Changed my Relationship with Time
To be honest, I never really thought much about my relationship with time. Until I moved to France and realized just how differently they approach it in terms of, well, almost everything. Things that have become normalized in the US, … Continue reading