Yes, the inexplicable need for Ranch Dressing!!! I don't understand why people like that at all! That absolutely made me laugh aloud! I lived 12 years in Germany and would move back in a heartbeat, but my parents immigrated from there, I spoke German fluently and I have family and friends there, so it was a more gentle immigration for me. I felt I was moving home. But to leave everything and just start again takes a particular strength and not everyone is ready for that. Or for the realization that you are now the immigrant that other countries don't necessarily want.
The comment about students flocking to Starbucks gave me flashbacks to my time abroad in Cannes with you... I remember my peers getting Shake Shack and McDonald's for every other meal, patronizing only Irish pubs, and spending more time watching Disney+ than leaving campus. It must be tedious for you to watch that play out every semester.
I just finished reading a series of short stories by Maylis de Kerangal, translated from French. The central story about a woman who moves from France to the US to follow her husband for his studies really gets at the heart of how everything is different, or at least feels different and quite alienating, right down to the sound of her husband's voice. Highly recommended collection of stories: https://bookshop.org/p/books/canoes-maylis-de-kerangal/21078827?ean=9781953861962
Just discovered that you have a Substack Jean! I was your house and cat sitter one summer in college in 2014 and it was because of you that I learned I could claim Italian citizenship and live anywhere in Europe. Long story short, I moved to Sweden, and now speak Swedish, Italian and English. I’d love to catch up if you are interested!
Hi Lucy! I haven't forgotten my best ever cat sitter, don't worry.
Yes, I know you've been living in Sweden - I think I saw it on Facebook at some point. I'm glad you claimed your Italian citizenship before they made it recently more difficult. And good for you for being trilingual!
I'd love to catch up. I'll be in Lyon for most of the summer so we will be in the same time zone if you want to do a zoom or a phone call. Just let me know.
Super useful post! I agree with all of it (albeit I have a lot less overseas experience).
Yes, the inexplicable need for Ranch Dressing!!! I don't understand why people like that at all! That absolutely made me laugh aloud! I lived 12 years in Germany and would move back in a heartbeat, but my parents immigrated from there, I spoke German fluently and I have family and friends there, so it was a more gentle immigration for me. I felt I was moving home. But to leave everything and just start again takes a particular strength and not everyone is ready for that. Or for the realization that you are now the immigrant that other countries don't necessarily want.
The comment about students flocking to Starbucks gave me flashbacks to my time abroad in Cannes with you... I remember my peers getting Shake Shack and McDonald's for every other meal, patronizing only Irish pubs, and spending more time watching Disney+ than leaving campus. It must be tedious for you to watch that play out every semester.
I just finished reading a series of short stories by Maylis de Kerangal, translated from French. The central story about a woman who moves from France to the US to follow her husband for his studies really gets at the heart of how everything is different, or at least feels different and quite alienating, right down to the sound of her husband's voice. Highly recommended collection of stories: https://bookshop.org/p/books/canoes-maylis-de-kerangal/21078827?ean=9781953861962
Just discovered that you have a Substack Jean! I was your house and cat sitter one summer in college in 2014 and it was because of you that I learned I could claim Italian citizenship and live anywhere in Europe. Long story short, I moved to Sweden, and now speak Swedish, Italian and English. I’d love to catch up if you are interested!
Hi Lucy! I haven't forgotten my best ever cat sitter, don't worry.
Yes, I know you've been living in Sweden - I think I saw it on Facebook at some point. I'm glad you claimed your Italian citizenship before they made it recently more difficult. And good for you for being trilingual!
I'd love to catch up. I'll be in Lyon for most of the summer so we will be in the same time zone if you want to do a zoom or a phone call. Just let me know.