.......Ex-expat

We are back in N.C.  New house almost unpacked.  Kids in school.  Dogs free to roam around a fenced yard.  Easy-peasy, right?

Back in Paris, I thought "going home - things will be familiar and therefore easy".  I mean we returned to where we had left, sort of.  Granted it was a new house one city over from the previous house, but only a 10 minute drive to the 'old stomping grounds'.  And joys of joys, everyone speaks my language.

The first hurdle came when we enrolled the kids in school.  I thought that we would go with the traditional calendar option for middle school.  I mean, the kids were now used to a traditional calendar from the British School and the year round option meant that there would be 3 weeks every 9 weeks that they would be out and if I was working again (more on that later) that would require YMCA membership again.  Well as it turned out, our 'base school' was the year round school and the traditional calendar school was 'capped' and not accepting any more students.  What....?  It used to be everyone wanted the year round option and they were hard as hell to get into.  Perhaps it is because it is middle school and the kids are more likely to have older siblings in high school (which has no year round options) parents were jumping on the traditional option calendar to have both kids on the same schedule.

But actually I think we lucked into the better option.  The kids were already bored sitting around the new house while I unpacked and tried to organize, so this enabled them start on a track that had only started one week previous.  Not too much 'catch up' thank goodness.  The school is relatively new and clean with great sports field and beautiful auditorium.  I have since driven past the other traditional calendar middle school and it looks like a scary fortress.  It is on a busy road, so it's surrounded by a crumbling brick wall.  I think that coming from where we were, a big, beautiful campus on the Seine, the kids would have been thinking "what the heck is this - juvie?".

Unfortunatly (or maybe fortunately), we have already met the teaching team.  Max is having some transition problems and was falling behind in math and language arts.  As he is known to do sometimes, when presented with a challenge he perceives as "too hard", he had determined that he couldn't do it, so therefore gave up.  Kudos to the teaching team for arranging a meeting at the first sign of a problem.  Our last experience here with public school, we didn't know there was a problem until we left and got copies of the kids' records.  So again, that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling about the school choice.

I think both kids feel like they have maybe taken a 'step back' in the maturity level they were experiencing in the British School.  I mean they were changing BUILDINGS across CAMPUS, not just across the hallway as they do here.  They were on a campus in Paris with grades 6 - 12 and felt like 'big kids'.  They had 1 1/2 hours for lunch and got to 'burn off steam' by playing some football (soccer) or catching up with their friends they didn't have classes with.  They were expected to make their own choices and manage THEIR time.  There was a sense of trust from the staff that they could do it......and probably 90% of the time, the kids did.

Samantha and second cousin Brady
at his 3rd Birthday party

As for the studies, I don't think the kids are coming in at a disadvantage (expect for American History...they are whizzes at British History, though!).  The disadvantage here is that since class size is larger than at the British School, studies can't be 'tailored' to fit the kid within the classroom. However, another thing I am extremely pleased with in our new school choice,  is that they have built in a time that can be used as additional study time if necessary.  Much like the BSP, there is an 'elective' you can opt out of and receive additional help during that time.

So now with school underway, we have started Max back in indoor soccer and Samantha has rejoined TaeKwon Do.  Slowly I see a new pattern emerging for daily life, although we have yet to 'track out'.  I'm sure that for the first track out, the novelty of three weeks school-free will be enough to counter the boredom, but after that, I think some day camps may be in our future.  But for now we'll just take it one day at time.

There has been some more reverse culture shock moments and my first solo-parenting in the new house with Patrick's first trip back to Paris and Barcelona, but more on that later.  Time to try to convince two pre-teens to get up ( A Herculean task some mornings!) and start another day - back in the U.S.A.

..the good, the bad, and the ugly

The Good:
We finally received a confirmation that we will be returning to the States this summer.  I write that with a tiny bit of trepidation as for the past 4 months we have been 'ping-pong'ing back and forth between do we stay or do we go.  But Patrick is certain that this time the decision "will stick".  The kids will get to finish their school year (Grade 6) and be ready to enter the lovely (yeah, right!) middle school years back in the States.  It is good news, but also kind of sad to think this adventure will be over.  That we have walked our last Christmas Marche, viewed our last magical holiday windows at the swanky stores, experienced our last Paris Fall.....  It just makes us more determined to take in everything with a renewed passion in the time remaining.

The Bad:
While we are 80% sure that we will be returning to North Carolina, there is still the possibility that we could end up in Boston or Chicago.  I know, not really bad, but the indecision is getting a little old.  There is also the challenge of once we get our "assignment", where to live.  We have decided that if we do return to N.C. we would like to buy in another area and keep the house on Askham a rental.  But what school?  We have heard good things about Park Creek Middle and Davis Drive, but feel really out of loop with what's going on and if we do go to a 'new' State, where do we start knowing nothing about the area.  The kids have had such a great educational experience here and we want to try to keep this new found enjoyment of school going.

The Ugly:
Alas, that would be me right now.  In the middle of November I developed a severe case of psoriasis on my scalp.  Since I knew we would be returning to the States in December, I decided to wait and see a doctor when we got home.  I really didn't want to experience the French medical system.  So once we arrived in N.C. I went to the dermatologist and they did labs and confirmed it was psoriasis but that I had also tested positive for a Staph infection.  Joy of joys!  So antibiotics and topical treatments in hand we finished Christmas in N.C. and headed for Florida.  Things were beginning to get better, but 3 pills shy of finishing the antibiotics, I developed some side effects that caused the doctor to tell me to stop taking the pills.  I continued with the topical regime  but it wasn't getting better and about a week after returning to Paris, started to get worse.  I decided to put on my 'big girl panties' and go see a doctor here.  I elected to go to the American Hospital so at least I could be relatively sure I could understand what was being said to me.  The experience was fine (may blog longer about it in another post) and was given new medications.  One week in and I can see a difference already.  Unfortunately, I have lost a lot of hair throughout this, but the French doctor had no doubts it would grow back and even prescribed vitamins that encourage hair growth.  Another bad thing about returning is that this medicine is working really well and, wouldn't you know it, is not available in the U.S.  So if this is the regime I need to kick this, I won't be able to get it once we return.

As I was leaving the doctor he said that psoriasis can be brought on by stress.  He said (in his best accented English) "You are stressed, no?".  Oh buddy, if only you knew!

A Paris Memory:  We did get to see the Eiffel in the snow!

Six Word Wednesday

Wishing it was still last Wednesday......

....the holidays approach

 The paper chain counting down the days is getting shorter....  Patrick has returned home from Istanbul ending his usual trip right before the holidays..... The kids are increasingly harder to wake up for school with each dark, cold morning...... I am feeling guilty (and giddy! *singing* "I don't have to walk the dogs!") about kenneling the dogs for almost 3 weeks.....

Cold mornings = hard to wake-up kids

Polar Bear Plunge 2011

Down to 10 DAYS!  Flying out on the morning of the 18th and hitting N.C. about 5:30 p.m. thanks to the time difference.  After a quick tour of all the things missed in N.C. (as best we can in a week!) we will head to Florida on Christmas day and stay until the New Year for the annual fondue New Year's Eve dinner and the Polar Bear Plunge with the Budds and Omi.

 Getting ready for New Year's Eve Fondue
2011

We have been trying to get in the spirt by checking out the Christmas Markets around Paris.  The lights are up along the roadways in each little suburb making the evening and early mornings sparkly.  Some of the yummy things we have seen.....

Chocolate covered pears

Macarons and chocolates

Yep even BIO macarons
(although I think ALL macarons are gluten free.....)

These are filled with the softest marshmallow
with flavors like After Eight Mint and White Chocolate with Strawberry

And it's just not sweet treats, but some yummy savory things too.

Wood smoked salmon 

Sausages and peppers
(they suspend a large metal 'plate' over open fire
and grill 'em up)

Okay, so one of these pizzas is "Thon"which is tuna
......so maybe not so yummy to all tastebuds

We even had our first snow.  It was only about an inch, but it was a pretty scene and helped bring on the holiday spirt a little more.

From my living room window

Kids trying to catch snowflakes

We have a few more Christmas markets to check out here and pick up those last "parisian" presents.  The dogs have to be delivered to the kennel on the 17th and then vacation can start.  Needless to say, we are all ready to board the plane and return to the States; to take a break from work (Patrick), school (Max and Samantha) and walking those dogs (me!).  

(as always, click on a picture for a larger view)

RANDOM STUFF

Nothing says "Christmas"  like renting a Ferrari
for 70 Euro for 15 minutes

Happy Christmas, pigeons!
Chowing on spilled churros

Stretch Hummer cruising
the Champs Elysees

Lost in translation
This booth was selling hermit crabs.
INNOCUOUS. 1: producing no injury : harmless. 2: not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility.
I hope not!  They're freaking hermit crabs!
Last two items - what??

....a life in flux

Well we still don't know what's happening.  Do we stay or do we go ~ only time will tell and it's SO frustrating.  It seems that there is some debate as to whether the company will pay for a local (within Paris/suburbs) move or would rather buck up 3X the amount to send us back to the U.S.  We are supposed to have a definite answer by the time we leave for Christmas....we will see......

With all that is going on, I have not been very good at blogging, but it has been said that "a picture is worth a thousand words" so instead of trying to think of witty things to say and delaying a blog post even further, I have decided to post some pictures of our recent ventures.

Early October and time to celebrate
Max and Samantha's 12 birthday

American burgers and foo-foo smoothies!

October was VERY rainy
It did make everything really green though 

France really doesn't do much for Halloween, but we were happy to find pumpkins at a wonderful farm, Ferme de Gally, about a 25 minute ride from our house.

Samantha's pumpkin

Max's pumpkin

Lots of good choices

Nothing says Halloween like fluffy chickens (?)

Pete and Robin came for a visit at the end of October.  We had a great time visiting museums and took a road trip to Orleans to see where Joan of Arc started her campaign.

Musee des Arts et Metiers
Part of the museum is housed in an old church

Musee des Arts et Metiers

Yet another Lady Liberty in France

We waited until November to have the kids' birthday party.  There was a new facility opening close (20/25 minute drive) to the house that looked like it would be great for both kids (SpeedPark) and we are all for "killing two birds......".  Both kids had 7 guests each for a whopping total of 16 kids running around!  Everybody played laser tag, bowled and did the go-carts!  We had to split the karting into two runs, first the girls and then the boys.  Patrick and I have both decided NEITHER kid will be allowed to drive EVER!

The boys carting
(this is a very trusting employee....or crazy...standing on
the wall as the boys speed around the corner)

Girls cheering the boys on

Sam none too happy with that attempt

Max and some buds checking the scores
(Max is still the tallest.....)

As close as I could get the two of  them for a picture that day!

I also took a couple of cooking classes - one on making baguettes and one on traditional French breakfast pastries.  I do have to say that I now have a better understanding as to why a baguette costs about .50 cents and a croissant costs 3 times as much.  Those buggers take a lot of work!

So now we are on the countdown to the return to the U.S.A. and Christmas.  The paper chain has been made and Advent calendars started (we used them to count down the days until we leave because we won't be here to use them the traditional way).

It looks soooo long!
Can't wait to get back

The Christmas markets have sprung up around town and the weather is definitely colder......

Christmas Market on the Champs Elysees

So all in all, things are going good.  We are all excited to return to the U.S. for Christmas and the kids are ready for a break from school and homework.  So now the hard part.....waiting to go.....and finding out our fate regarding our stay (hopefully) before we fly.

...fromage is serious here in Paris

Six word Wednesday

Just one of the cheese isles

(Seriously, this isle is just cheese in various forms and kinds!  Then there's an area near the butcher with the really pricey (and usually smelly) stuff!)

......I will never understand traffic here

Six word Wednesday

Clearly the "little man" is red

Cross any where, even in traffic

We don't need no stinking crosswalk!

Blindly trusting the cars will stop. 

....sometimes the city is just ugly

Six word Wednesday....

A cold, rainy day in Paris

Even pretty places have bad days!

.....the home stretch?

So I have kinda neglected this blog.  While we did have great places to stay, thanks to AirBNB with internet connections and everything, I just couldn't bring myself to sit down at the end of the day and blog.  Germany and Austria were great and we had a fantastic time.   Good food, better beer and perfect weather.

Morgan says
"Are we home yet?"

We had two weeks left before school started once we got back, so we decided to do some local things and spend some days just relaxing.

Einstein on the way home, exhausted from her
stay at the kennel

We reconnected with friends we have made through the school last year.  They have had us to their house for dinners and an Easter Egg hunt and I have always felt bad that we couldn't return to the favor and have them over to our apartment because 4 people and 2 dogs pretty much fill the place already!  So when V suggested dinner, I said if she would provide the place, I would provide the food.  Since it was close to Labor Day, I decided to make classic American cheeseburgers on the grill and some macaroni salad.  I am happy to say it was a success.

After dinner, we planned to meet the next day at Parc Asterix, a huge theme park with rides and characters (like Disney, but on a Six Flags size/budget).  Asterix and his friend Obelix are characters based on a French comic.  The Asterix series is one of the most popular in the world, with the series being translated into over 100 languages, and it is popular in most European countries.  Patrick read them as a kid and introduced them to Max.  We had actually been as a family once already, but V, her husband Jack and daughter Silke had not been.  So my kids were excited to be able to "introduce" something to someone and not be "first-ies" as usual.

Move over Mickie, Max likes Asterix!

Silke and Sam posing

The next day we had purchased tickets for Rock En Seine, a huge annual rock concert held in the Parc de Saint Cloud.  One of Max's favorite bands, Green Day, was playing as the closing band on the last night otherwise I try to avoid HUGE crowds of rowdy, drinking people at all costs!  Not my scene!  But actually, even though crowded, it was very well done.  There were three main stages set apart from one another so the crowd wasn't all pressing to get into one space all day.  We staked our place while the warm up bands were playing, so we got a good view on the side up a little hill away from the masses.  Also, the fact that we walked to and from the park (only about a 20 minute walk) and didn't have to deal with parking helped a lot.

Rockin' out at Rock En Seine

School started on September 4 with an introduction day and full classes starting on September 5.  This year we have moved to the Senior School which is a different campus for the kids.  It is very close to the Junior School, but older.  In fact the administrative building was once the home of some big railroad magnet.  It is located on the Seine with beautiful views.

Just sitting in my car, waiting on the kids

The kids now have to get used to changing classes and not having one primary teacher.  So far, they are doing well, aside from loosing multiple locker keys and learning that they don't have to carry EVERYTHING in their backpacks (Max continues to carry about 40 lbs of stuff back and forth every day!).  Another big thing this year is the school has issued iPads to the kids.  Every kids in the school has been issued their own iPad, even the Junior School kids.  The kids are thrilled but there are some parents who are not as pleased.  I am sure that there will be bumps in the road, but I am on board with this new plan.  The class schedule and planner apps are great and hopefully will get both of them in the habit of recording what they are responsible for and following up on it.

Walking the streets of Croissy
on our way to celebrate the carrot 

The following weekend we were invited to a BBQ before attending the Fete de Carrote (yep, the Carrot Festival) by another lady I met through helping with play last year.  We and 5 other families met at her house first for some food and beverages and to let the kids burn off some energy.  Then we walked to a central meeting place in Croissy to begin the parade to the park for the fireworks.  Someone passed out lanterns for the kids who were all enamored with the fact that they had real candles and fire!  The crowd started out with about 40 people and we picked up marchers at different points as we walked to the park.  At one point we were joined by 4 drummers who accompanied us.  

Sara's husband donned a
found carrot hat

Once we arrived at the park, we found a place to sit and enjoyed a fireworks show set to Rock and Roll from the 80's.  The kids ran wild and watched the fireworks and then we all paraded (just our small party this time!) back to Sara's to collect our cars.

It seems that Croissy has been known as the "Carrot Capital" since the 19th century so hence, they still have a festival the second weekend of September.  They claim that Croissy is the "ancestral home" of the carrot, but whether or not that's true, they throw a great party for it!

The next day we met up with a couple (husband works for Schneider) who had just settled here for the beginning of their assignment.

  They have older children (in college) so they are living in the heart of Paris and so far are still in the "romance" stage.  They do have an advantage we don't in that he speaks French and actually has some extended family in France.  We did have some laughs about the amount of paperwork that is required to do or buy anything here and the whole "personable bubble" everyone seem to have around themselves here (no smiling, no friendly nods, basically acting like they are the only ones on the street/metro/bus).  After lunch we walked around the corner to see the Statue of Liberty (Île aux Cygnes) near the Grenelle Bridge.  We were fortunate that day as a swing music band had just begun to play on the island.  We stood for awhile watching the dancers and enjoying some English language music.

The Seine around the
Île aux Cygnes

So as we settle into this school year, the question remains, will this be our last year?  We should know that answer by Christmas.  We have requested that if we are moving back, we would like to do it in the summer so the kids can start school back in America with the rest of their class.  Since Patrick recently received a promotion (Yeah Patrick!) there could be the opportunity for us to stay here a little longer, but we have requested that if that is the case, we need to be moved to a house closer to the school. The dogs need a yard and being that we are a one car family, it would be more convenient for those days when the kids have after school activities.  Our feeling is that the company won't want to take on the expense of moving us locally and more than likely will decide that if they are going to pay for something, they will send us back to the U.S.  That way they actually save more money because they won't be paying for the kids' schooling and our apartment any more!  

So for now, we just carry on and wait.  School is gearing up and even though we are "low men" on the totem pole on this campus, the kids are starting their after school activities and excited about this grown-up venture of class changing and electives!    And perhaps with them occupied with school, I can try to better about blogging.....  only time will tell.....

Samantha, Max and Silke
at Parc Asterix