Adjusting

Today marks our first week of living in France. Travelling around was a blast so there were mixed emotions about arriving at our apartment. Sad to be done travelling, happy to be in one place, sad to realize that we weren’t going home after the trip was over. The first few days were an adjustment, I’m really happy N was here with me. Now that we are unpacked and are meeting people things are settling down.

Obviously, I miss friends and family. And things from home like (cold) milk, screens on windows, my Corolla, the quick laundry cycle being shorter than 2 hours, and Starbucks. Yes, I know the coffee is good here but I’m not quite ready for coffee this strong. The French cafe employees are not quite as accommodating as Canadian ones when you try to tell them their business and customize your drink. You are going to drink what you get. But there are Starbucks in Paris...!

Our town is pretty but also pretty small. Luckily, we have a lot of farms and greenhouses around us so I can get fresh produce easily to cook with. While buying an artichoke in the produce store down the street, I asked for tips and everyone in the store had something to say about preferred cooking methods, good accompaniments etc. We also have a bakery. That’s a no-brainer. Although I have yet to try it out because the owners were on holidays (welcome to France in August) and they’ve just re-opened. It is also the ideal size to go running around, since I have yet to break the 8km mark.

Fontainebleau is nearby and we’ve gone in several times. School starts next week for N and there is quite a bit happening for partners as well. I’m looking forward to getting a bit busier and meeting some new people.

This week we visited Barbizon (pictured above), home of the Barbizon school of painting where Millet and Constable lived and painted their famous works. There are tile mosaics of their paintings around the town and the whole effect is lovely. We went to Versailles, which is magnificent and incredibly crowded. I’m looking into more day trips and weekend getaways...I think Champagne is next.

I’m driving! Not well and not yet alone, but it’s a start. N has proven to be a patient teacher and I am trying to be a better student (it has been said that teachers made the worst ones). There is a random mall a few kilometres away. I drove there today. So things are looking up!