de la Biere au Vin

4 More Weeks

Many of you know, most of you don’t, that we will be returning to the US next month. Of course, this brings cheers of joy and buckets of tears at the same time. We have had the most incredible year and ½ and I don’t think any of us would trade it for anything! I think this was one of the most important things we have done for our family and for our kids. This experience really showed us a lot, it showed them a lot. We learned, we grew, we explored, we struggled, we cried, we fought, we made up. This experience made us stronger, it made us more whole.

 

Collioure, France

 

Moving to a foreign country is challenging. The whole year I have felt like a child learning to speak and read again. When our kids entered French public school this year, I was just putting so much trust in the fact that they knew what they were doing! I simply could not put all the right French words together to get across my point most of the time. So we just signed the forms and sent them on their way. This is what the whole year has been like. Read, translate loosely, sign and trust! I know we will always look back on this time with smiles.

 

Pisa, Italy

 

During our time, we have been able to visit 6 countries and countless villages and cities that we would have never even known about without this opportunity. We will return to the US with a different view, a new perspective, a morphed view, if you will, of the things we love about the US and the things we learned to love about Europe. Each world can learn from the other. There is no perfect place, we just have to make that place (the place) our home.

Favorite Recent Moments:

 

Riomaggorie, Italy

Pisa, Italy

Manarola, Italy - storm over the Med

Cassis, France. We will miss this sea

Rocamadour, France

 

 

à bientôt

La Rentree de Poeme

I simply can't believe that it has been 3 months since I have written! That is not to say that nothing interesting has happened....on the contrary!

The girls have started in French Public School this year. The kids start the year off by learning and reciting a posie (poem). And I for 1 cannot believe the progress in French in only 4 weeks! Four weeks gives you this. Yes, she is pretty darn amazing.

 Here is Kyla's posie...

 

La rentrée de Poème

C’est un petit mot
Tout propre et tout beau
Qui ne veut ni école
Ni sac sur le dos.

Il préfère les flaques d’eau
Et les feuilles qui volent,
Il préfère les étoiles
Et les bateaux à voiles…

Pourtant les enfants l’aiment
Le petit Poème,

Alors, tout propre et tout beau,
Son sac sur le dos,
Il court sur les cahiers
Des petits écoliers

Christine FAYOLLE

a bit of sunshine

Lately we have all been hit with some really heavy news. Between the Colorado shootings and several other sets of really senselss and sad events, we have been hugging each other a bit closer each night. Joe and I needed something to cheer us up. What a better way to to do this than to go frolicking around the sunflower fields.

Yes, I think we felt a bit better after this. 

For those that do not know, my Uncle is undergoing treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Whatever your method of hopes and prayers, please send them their way. There is a chance he will need a bone marrow transplant. For information on how to get involved and become a donor, please visit http://marrow.org/Home.aspx

Wishing you happier days ahead!

{ce moment}

Inspired by SouleMama - {this moment} - A Friday ritual (when I can!). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Mountains.City.Sea

I have not had a chance to write about our trip with Joe's parents who came from Michigan for 2 weeks. In only 1 week we covered 3 countries and only put gas in the car once! It’s too much to write about in one post, but I will do my best.

1^st Stop: Andorra.

I am not sure how long I even have known about the existence of this micro-country, or rather principality, but it has some pretty amazing things to offer. First of all, it is a “tax haven” and therefore has a rather thriving tourism business. It is also nestled nicely in the Pyrenees and boasts some pretty good skiing…at least I am told. Our reason for making it to Andorra was so Joe and I could escape to the mountains while the Nana and Papa watched the kiddos. We have been dreaming about doing a Via Ferrata since before we moved and we were finally able to put one under our belt last week! It was breathtaking, tough, and pretty darn sustained. But, boy, did we love it!

 



 

And on to Barcelona!

After our one night stop in Andorra, it was off to Barcelona! It was only on Sunday morning when I woke up did I realize we would be going to Barcelona, SPAIN on the very day that the Euro 2012 Football Championship was happening that night – ITALY vs. SPAIN! Well, you can only imagine the excitement and enthusiasm in this city! Of course, by now you know that Spain won and this city literally exploded! Even Jackie (my Mother-in-Law) is now a converted soccer/foot fan!

 

The next day we discovered the St Joseph Market in Barcelona. If you are going to Barcelona, I cannot say enough that you need to go in here! The displays of food and the prices were not to be missed! Cherries for 1.99 euro/kilo! Hot meals, smoothies, fruit, candies, veggies, nuts…you name it! Delicious!

 

So far, Barcelona is our favorite big city. Of course, we have not been to too many…yet. But, perhaps it’s the Spanish culture, the influence of Gaudi, that amazing fruit market, and the extremely late lunches and dinners that make you feel relaxed and amongst something. It’s a really amazing city and only our second time there. But, we will most certainly be back!

And onward to Collioure, France:

We next made it up the coast to a truly magically beach village in the South of France on the Mediterranean. I wrote about coming here when we first moved, and we have been dying to get back ever since then. There are truly no words to describe this place.

It is a bit like being stuck back 50 years ago the way the town looks, the people act, the shows are put on, and the tower bell chimes. Then you have the beach and the Med. Each day, we woke up and went to the beach.

Joe and Jackie sure seemed to love it here and we all found ourselves truly relaxing. Joe Sr particularly loved the European beaches, and by that you all know what I mean (no photos here!).

The girls loved the sea and Kyla has become quite the little fish, swimming and snorkeling day in and day out. There is no reason for us not to come here more often, except that now the schools are out and the tourists have truly come in mass! But, it is only 2.5 hours from us and truly is a different world.

We are sure lucky to have this week off. I need more weeks like this! The next few months will be completely insane for work as I have my huge conference the 1^st week of October to prepare for. But, will be taking some time to head up to the hills and the beach between now and then, so stay tuned!

 

Nana and Papa, come back soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stage 14

Checking another item off our list....to watch a mountain climb in the Tour de France! What a day! To give a quick recap of the days events:

The stage was Stage 14 - Limoux to Foix. Foix is a beautiful village somewhat in the 'foothills' of the Pyrenees. We considered going to watch the finish, but decided to go watch a climb instead. So we looked and looked at the route and the map. At one point we had 3 maps and the computer we were looking at in our living room. They all served well each purpose! We then decided on the 8% (on average 8% however, 18% at the top!) grade, category 1 climb up the Mur de Peguere.

We arrived just before noon. The riders were starting in Limoux at 12H30, so this gave us plenty of time. However, when we arrived (as expected) there were hoards of people looking for their perfect viewing spot! We parked in the street, grabbed our stuff and began the hike up the very small mountain road. The excitement of the crowd kept Kyla and Mira going and we found our spot.

Since the roads are closed to cars, this gives regular bikers and chance to ride "Le Tour". For the next few hours, biker after biker came up the hill and we cheered each one on.

What followed was the show we knew nothing about....the Caravan! This was an hour long marketing parade where we scored oodles of free swag! Kyla just loved this part of the festivities! And people everywhere in the world dive for free stuff….it really does not matter what they are giving out!

 

Snap shots of the caravan of sponsors

 

 

Free swag!

 

The caravan completed and now the wait....

 

Can you feel the anticipation?

 

Around 4:30, the first riders began. The excitement was almost too much for anyone. You've seen it on TV, it was exactly this way! Spaniards, Aussies, Frenchmen (and women), Swiss...all cheering for their team, their favorite, or just everyone! 

And a short video to give you an idea of what it was like... (sorry for my screaming in the background!)

  

The grand depart back down the hill...

The Tour comes closer to Toulouse on Friday (Stage 18) and I think we go to watch the start of the race there. 

What a day! Best of luck, boys!

Our view for the day!

 

 

 

 

{ce moment}

Inspired by SouleMama and LittleCoffeeBeans - {this moment} - A Friday ritual (when I can!). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Alps

The Alps…

Another work trip to Geneva means that the family can come! The beauty of this trip was many things. For starters, my parents were here from the US and joined us on our trip.

Second, we stayed in Chamonix, France. All I can say is….Oh.how.amazing! This place makes your jaw drop at every single turn and coming from Colorado, that is surely saying something. We stayed in town, in an apartment where the views were 360 degrees around us.

Being here sure does make me miss Colorado. Not that I didn’t miss it before, but this really reinforced it! The mountains, the trails, the rivers, the GLACIERS! What an amazing place. For us to get here from Toulouse, it is a 6 hour drive. Not too bad and easily doable more often….if we choose to do so. However, now is not the tourist time and in a few short weeks, this place will be bustling with tourists from all over the world. The bars will be packed, restaurants impossible to get into and the rates higher. However, I am pretty sure we will come back soon.

Since I had to work in Geneva from Monday – Thursday, I did not get to enjoy the beauty that Chamonix has to offer much of the week. Geneva is an hour drive down the valley, so not too bad, but I was in the car a lot. The rest of the time was spent on the terrace with a nice cold beer. Yes, it could be worse and I am not complaining one bit! Friday and Saturday were truly had amazing days. We visited a small and absolutely gorgeous French village on Lake Geneva. Where the flowers were simply amazing! Apres...we took the train up to Montevar to view the Mer Glacier. While at the top, we decided to hike back down. A 5.5 km hike back into Chamonix Valley. My favorite thing in the world is watching Kyla in the mountains, she finds everything amazing and intriguing. Mira slept in the Ergo nearly the whole way down the mountain and Kyla never complained once. She just hopped, skipped, and twirled her way down the mountain. It was STEEP! We covered 900 m in 2 hours and topped it all off with a summer luge ride at the base on Mont Blanc.

Chamonix and Lake Geneva, we will be back…soon.

 

{ce moment}

Inspired by SouleMama - in her words {this moment (ce moment)} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  

congé de maternité

At the moment, we know no fewer than 8 people expecting new arrivals into their families! This includes new friends in France and dear friends in the US. There has been a lot of discussion here about maternity leave and I often get asked what is it like in the US? I get extremely depressed when I have to answer this question. For example, a colleague here at work is expecting her 2^nd child (a girl!) on 1 July. Her last day of work will be next week. It is basically mandatory for a French woman to take off the month (normally 6 weeks) before their child is born. When I tell them I was working in the office the day both my kids were born, they are astounded! How do you do that? How do you prepare for the baby to come? When I tell them that on both occasions I was back to work full-time within 16 weeks, they are then again floored. Then when I told them that I had to pay for this “leave” on my own, well, you can only imagine the reaction that came from them.

Pregnant with Kyla (08/2005)

The rules here are a bit complicated on maternity leave and a lot of it does depend on your employer, much like the US. However, no one takes less than 6 months! And 1-1.5 years is quite common. Granted some of that longer time may not be paid, but your job is held for you.

Mira 1 day old

I worked pretty hard as a federal employee to write to those in charge to get this modified. Not that my little letters mattered, but other people petitioned as well. Michelle Obama pushed for this too and at one point there was a bill on the floor that would have granted US Federal Employees 4 weeks of paid maternity leave. FOUR WEEKS! It is nothing, but it was a start. Was. This however, was dropped and I do not, at present, know its fate. I do know that part of the reason it was dropped was due to complaints from citizens that they “did not want to pay for someone else’s vacation”. Sickens me…really, really sickens me. There are no words to describe this kind of stupidity and I feel so sorry for people that feel this way. One day my kids will be looking after YOU, working in your bank, your vet, your doctors office or hospital, driving your bus, collecting your trash, or changing your diaper. I am very sad that there are people in the US and the world that feel this way.

Maternity Leave with Kyla

I wouldn’t change a thing about my 2 beautiful girls. But, perhaps, if I would have known better, we would have moved to France before we had them. Granted the salaries here are a bit lower, but when you look at the benefits (this is just one), I would say that it outweighs all else. Sensationalism about breastfeeding and asking ridiculous questions like 'Are we Mom enough?" are not the questions we should be asking. The media should be focused on the shocking horrors that really matter, such as affordable health care for families and paid family leave.

No, we are not expecting and have no plans to expand our family of four. I just hope that one day the US comes to realize that they could do more…much, much more!

Mira (1 week) Kyla (4 years) = LOVE!