tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68573556536661356712024-03-13T23:34:08.863+01:00Vive la Difference-Cultural DifferencesAn American living in France, married to a Frenchman and at the same time, sharing her life with that Frenchman who's married to his American living in Phoenix, AZ!Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-87288991954359855922010-05-12T14:59:00.002+02:002010-05-13T14:26:13.044+02:00Thoughts on our rentree en FranceTomorrow it will be a week that we have returned from the US to France. It is hard to say how it feels. I feel like I haven't started life here again. Unpacking, jet-lag, washing, cleaning, buying food...all the things that need to be done when one comes home. Oh, and then there was the issue of my car...didn't start, battery dead. The weather is cold, grey and rainyJeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-23919782388961379282010-05-02T15:31:00.000+02:002010-05-02T15:31:42.579+02:00Things I will Miss and Things I Won't...bien sur!Leaving this week for France and Guy and I are a bit sad. Our first experience together staying in the US for a long time in our new condo. As for me, (and I think "The Guyster" will concur) some of the things I will miss about leaving...
Good, real good Mexican food. I love the French for their food, but Mexican cuisine is one they don't really get
Going out for a filling, Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-13434014967381358722010-04-27T01:14:00.001+02:002010-04-27T20:48:57.093+02:00Our Anniversary at "Shady Dells" or The Modern Day version of "The Long, Long TrailerThose of you who remember Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz and their movie, "The Long, Long Trailer" will relate to our anniversary at The Shady Dell in Bisbee. It is a moment out of the 50's when supposedly life was easier. But I am not sure I believe that stuff of "live was easier when....". I like to live in the now, think out of the box, wow over innovation. Nonetheless, Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-10982826691989714102010-04-06T17:13:00.002+02:002010-04-27T20:51:09.339+02:00It's Been Three and Half Months in Phoenix...
Guy and I continue to discover Phoenix and some areas of Arizona. As this is the year we set everything up, bought a used car, purchased insurances and it was costly, we are keeping travel to a minimum. However, we have made new friends here that live close to us and with them we are taking an overnight trip to Bisbee, AZ and get this...staying overnight in a motel that is a bunch Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-25573687837564443532010-01-16T18:10:00.011+01:002010-04-27T20:50:15.356+02:00Reversing Cultures....Guy and I arrived in Phoenix, AZ on the 17th of December after about a 22 hour airport to airport experience. The good news was that we were upgraded to Business Class on our trip from Paris to LA. We were exhausted but happy to be in our new ChezBenoit! Friend, Cheryl picked us up at the Phoenix airport and we arrived at the condo where we found a lovely plant at the door for a welcome. It was aJeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-56013319094293124122009-10-17T18:05:00.007+02:002010-04-27T20:50:49.011+02:00Some quick thoughts on cultural difference...
Why do the Americans generally like to be ontime? The French, on the other hand, or the Latin culturals, in general, think nothing of being late.
Why do the French cashiers talk and carry on to their customers when the lines are getting longer and longer at the check-out? Mon Dieu!
Why do the French, or the European countries understand that it is a moral issue to provide Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-28551044799692017192009-10-03T15:20:00.004+02:002010-04-27T20:51:33.840+02:00A French Pastime or How I Dealt with a StrikeIn May, my work of teaching business English slows down to snail’s pace. Most of my students have finished their hours or are taking holidays. One time I thought this could be a great month to get caught up on things that I needed to do that could only be done in Paris. I also thought this might be a good time to see some exhibitions, lunch with some friends … and generally enjoy myself. What I Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-39503026389789415122009-10-03T14:14:00.013+02:002010-04-27T20:53:00.907+02:00Language Learning...Another View
Looking through the French windowI have always been a communicative person. When I lived in the US, I worked in advertising sales for 25 years. Now, suddenly after 52 years of life, I am settled in a country were everyone around me is speaking in a language that I don’t understand. I always loved eavesdropping on conversations. Now, I can’t understand a word.&Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-72114092182870446252009-10-02T12:53:00.007+02:002010-02-04T04:16:54.014+01:00J'ai besoin de comprendre!
It had been nearly two years since I had arrived in France. When I came here to live, it was to marry a wonderful French man that I had met through some friends in Santa Monica, California. His English was excellent, so getting to know one another and forming a relationship was not too difficult. Certainly there were and still are cultural differences, but that's the fun part.My French, at that Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-77170830629065639162009-09-30T22:16:00.012+02:002010-04-27T01:21:27.737+02:00Driving...The French VersionOnce while taking a writing course, I was asked to write about something that I hated. It was a difficult assignment for me because “Hate” is a strong word. Categorically I can say that I don’t “hate” many things. I hate birds…well, maybe fear them, is a better description. Fear of birds is my particular neurosis and so by extension; I guess you might say I hate them. Anyway, I did find Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857355653666135671.post-38765830429879012842009-09-29T13:50:00.007+02:002010-04-28T02:35:06.149+02:00HOW I GOT HERE!It has been almost 9 years since I moved to France. On the days I walk the streets of Paris, I still can’t believe that I live so close to this wondrous city. I had been a Francophile for so many years and now I am here. I live about 35 minutes north of Paris via the RER train in a small village.
So how did I get here exactly? To answer that I will have to give you more background. I grew Jeralynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02148303206602072523noreply@blogger.com0