The Expats: Imagining Another Life @LucyBurdette

 LUCY BURDETTE: You've heard that John and I were in France for 10 days at the end of May. In Paris, we had the amazing opportunity to meet American, English, and Australian people who have moved from their home countries to France. This fascinates me! After I tell you about some of them, I would love to hear whether you would have either the urge or the nerve to move somewhere unfamiliar.

First, we had a glass of wine with a group of people who follow Heather Stimmler’s Secrets of Paris blog and newsletter. Heather is an American who moved to Paris in the 1990s. She started giving tours and now has a paying blog with exactly as the name says, secrets of Paris: places to go, how to get into a popular museum, meetups for those interested in socializing. At our table were two couples who have sold everything in the US and now rent apartments in Paris. We were interested to hear about their experience with medical care (good!), Learning the language (so hard!), making French friends (not easy.) One of the men is a musician who spends a lot of time playing with others and also listening to music so he’s met people that way. Another of the women knits and has joined knitting groups. John interviewed one of the men from our cocktail group and I know you will enjoy reading that article. 

We also took a tour with an English man who moved to Paris with his wife in the 90s. He’s built a business giving tours and doing podcasts through his website, the Earful Tower. His introduction into the world of Parisian people came through playing basketball. 

The real Emily in Paris, whom you’ve heard me speak of, came to Paris from London (she is Australian by birth) and then met and married a Parisian man. They now live in Paris with their two small children and his daughter from a previous marriage. She says her in to Parisian life is through her kids and also other expats in the city. She feels she will never be accepted totally as a French person. 

The Real Emily in Paris

Jane Bertch, who we've featured twice on the blog here, is also an American who first moved to London, and then to Paris in the banking world. She got the idea to found la cuisine Paris, and has written a memoir about the transition called the French Ingredient. She seems so comfortable in her new life! You can also read the cookbooks and newsletters of Dorie Greenspan and David Lebovitz, Americans who have mostly transplanted themselves to Paris and feel very much at home, while at the same time are aware of not being French.

Lucy with Dorie and Jane

My takeaways from meeting these folks? A big move like this is really hard! It’s important to love the city that you are joining and be patient with yourself. Parisians are not famous for easily accepting people. The truth is, much as I love that city, and would love to know it more thoroughly, I have a deep tap root that connects me to the US. Along with friends and relatives that I would miss dearly. Plus a husband who wouldn’t go. So alas, I can’t see myself joining the ex-pats. I will have to do this through my fiction.

What about you, Reds? Can you see yourself moving to another country? If you’re tempted, where would it be and what draws you there?

Lucy’s in a Pastry Coma

LUCY BURDETTE: Wednesday you heard about our wonderful trip to Paris, and today I’ll wrap up with food. (Because I’m dreaming about writing a novel involving a Parisian pastry chef, I had to do my research.) There are a ton of glamorous French chefs on Instagram, looking dreamy and slightly grizzled, as they produce amazing things. Here’s one of them, Cedric Grolet. One of his shops was near our apartment—we didn’t eat there because there was usually too much of a line. That’s what 7.3 million followers on Instagram will do for you!

We set up two special events with special people who showed us food highlights that we might not ever have found on our own. The first, Frank Barron, a.k.a. cake boy Paris, I found on Instagram. He has just come out with a gorgeous cookbook called Sweet Paris. He also gives tours of chocolate or pastry shops—we chose pastry! 

Our last stop--considering how I could possibly consume one more gorgeous treat.

Our second special event was a market tour and lunch with the Real Emily in Paris. She met us at the market and led us promptly to the café next door to the bakery La Maison d'Isabelle to have café creme and the best croissants any of us had ever eaten. This bake shop was the 2018 winner of best croissant in Paris. Once a bakery has won, the French government makes them wait five years to enter the competition again. I'd say watch out in 2023!

My pal Yvonne with Emily

Then we strolled through the market and picked our lunch out, white asparagus (in season and very popular,) green beans, salad, a baguette, cheese, wine, and an amazing duck confit which I had never tasted. We put that all together back at her apartment, and also started the preparations for raspberry soufflé. I will share that recipe another day after I’ve made it at home.

Carol and Lucy

NB. I went back to La Maison d'Isabelle later in the week to have one of their coffee flavored eclairs. So what if it will cost me a month’s worth of extra gym sessions, it was worth every bite. 

What food memories have come from your trips, near or far?