So... I don't really know how to describe this big One Year mark. I've survived. That's definitely an understatement, though. I think it'd be a stretch to say I've flourished, too. I've held my own, I guess. I've done fairly well. It's been amazing to discover France and all that it has to offer, or at least all a person can see on monthly weekend getaways. I'm proud to say I almost don't need a French translator anymore. (Yay! My husband's almost off the hook!) That being said, friendly conversations laced with French slang and word games at a natural speed are still a bit too much for me. There's always room for improvement.
Looking back, I realize that it's pretty strange to go to a brand new place and situation and watch what happens to your sense of self and identity. If a person is generally defined by what she does every day, her job and volunteer activities, by who she surrounds herself with, her friends and family, and by the way she interacts with people... what happens when she leaves her job and extracurriculars behind, there's only one person who knows her as anything other than someone's wife (the husband himself), and she can barely communicate with most strangers because she doesn't speak the language?
I guess there's nothing to do other than adapt. Learn the language. Do one's best to meet people. And I guess you try to keep doing the same things that make you feel like you. Try to strike the balance of holding onto the things that are familiar and dear, and trying all the things a new place has to offer you.
So, maybe one way to handle this one year mark isn't to gab about it or analyze it, but simply to share what the year has looked like. Here are a few of my favorite little moments since moving to France. And here's to another great year.
My first day here and our first picnic on the Champs de Mars.
Our first weekend away in Lille - the first new city I visited in France.
Our first visitors!
The first French chateau I saw (aside from Versailles) Chambord!
An exposition of bears in front of the Eiffel Tower last fall. Each country got to design its own bear!
Our wine-tasting trip in Burgundy with Dr. Dan.
Our trip to Ireland! That's something that was on my Bucket List.
Baking Christmas cookies with Cleme and Robbie. It's a Magnarelli Family tradition that I was really happy to share with the Terriens. :)
My first trip to the Alps. Snowshoeing with Paul in this calmest of places.
Our trip to Brussels for Valentine's weekend... another new country for me!
Our trip to Frankfurt to visit friends and see another very cool country... and man was it cold!
Our honeymoon in Turkey. What an amazing trip. Also, I love that vacation beard.
Mom and Dad's visit!! Here in Mont St. Michel.
Bastille Day!!
Again!
Weekend in Dieppe to just relax and celebrate our first anniversary.
Our little courtyard in the summer looking its best.
Biking around the Loire River Valley for 4 days. So awesome! I can't wait to do it again next year!
Paul looking proud as we reached our final destination.
My first trip up the Eiffel Tower. Thanks, Easy Pass perks. :)
Gorgeous sunset on the island of Brehat in Brittany.
Long weekend in the South of France. This is the Mediterranean Coast East of Marseille.
And that's it for one year. On to the next!
