Getting back in the saddle...

So, the let-lag for myself and the kids lasted about 4 days.  Unfortunately right after we normalized our sleeping schedules, I get hit with a nasty case of bronchitis.  Ugh...the last weeks have been absolutely miserable!  Not leaving the house on more than a handful of occasions and feeling horrible haven't made the transition back easy at all.

It's really sad but I felt like I had lost all of my French when I arrived home after just 2 weeks in the states.  I remember quickly dodging the mail woman when I saw her coming on her bike because I was convinced I wouldn't even be able to utter a decent greeting.  I kind of had to suck it up though and have had more conversations with French doctors in the past 2 weeks with anyone else.  I guess when you are desperate to feel better, your language skills improve dramatically.

Truthfully, there was a point when I was starting to lose sight of our the future of our life here in France.  There were days that I couldn't imagine ever feeling better and taking care of two sick kids had me totally consumed.  Two and half weeks later and things are finally improving.  Being in a better physical state has helped to put me back on track.  Big things are happening this week and next!  I just got the notice in the mail that I can FINALLY pick up my "titre de sejour" (sort of the equivalent of a green card).  This is HUGE since we've been waiting on this for a while now.  It solidifies my legal status and removes me from a sort of immigration "purgatory".

Next week I also spend an afternoon in Paris at a breastfeeding workshop.  Its nothing huge but it marks my journey to begin my own private practice as a Lactation Consultant here in France.  The woman who runs these workshops is a Lactation Consultant in Paris and I am hoping to slowly acquire enough information to be able to set up a similar practice in Strasbourg.  This is all incredibly exciting for me and I am hopeful that with such a lofty goal, this will keep me optimistic about the future.  Much more about this to come...

A French Homecoming

Despite my original desire to try and post at least once while back in the States over the holidays things got a little too busy.  Anyway, we have arrived safely back home in France after a 9-day trip home to Cleveland as well as a short stop in Boston.  The kids did fairly well with the flight and fingers (and toes!) crossed that the jetlag won't last too long.

Although we were only gone for two weeks it seems like forever ago!  Since we left here the day after Christmas there were still new toys laying around that Audrey didn't really remember opening.  We quickly gathered a bunch up and shuttled them into the garage to be able to bring them out throughout the year.

I have to admit that while in the US, it was as if we had never left.  Of course being here for just 6 months, there isn't a huge amount of change to be expected.  But it was nice to be feel so comfortable at home in Cleveland as well as while visiting friends back on Boston.  We celebrated a belated Christmas with all the family in Ohio where Audrey and Thomas were able to goof around with their cousins and meet the newest family addition, little Vera. 

We stopped for 5 days in Boston where we were able to visit friends and see the old neighborhood. During our stay we celebrated the birthdays of BOTH kiddos (makes it easy since they were born just a day apart!)

The only downside? - getting our carry on bag snatched as we arrived in Boston.  Unfortunately it contained some valuable belongings including my wallet as well as all of our passports.  We were luckily able to scramble to assemble enough evidence to prove our identities and got new ones reissued the afternoon before leaving.  We still have a bit of work to do to in replacing many of the items but I am happy to say that we tried our hardest to not let this bring us down in the last days of the trip.

So...how did it feel being back?  I have to say there was a big part of me that wanted to stay there.  Perhaps it's because my transition to life in France is in its very early stages and that seeing good friends and family made me wish we were still there.  I also found myself enjoying the  faster pace of life of our old Boston neighborhood and as compared to the town where we are currently living here in France.  Nevertheless, I realized that there are a number of trade-offs as we now have access to excellent (and affordable) schools and childcare options as well as being well located for travel within Europe.  Not only that but the opportunity to be able to immerse the kids (and myself!) in a new language and culture is one that I am very thankful for. Its sort of that "grass is always greener" mentality I suppose.  So, for the moment I am content with the choice that we have made knowing that you can never have everything you want.

I have to say that there is something incredibly satisfying about coming home after a long trip. Now that I think about it, this is our first real homecoming here in France.  Here's to many more visits and many safe returns home.