Parlez-vous anglais?

The biggest obstacle I think C and I need to get through is the fact that, in France, people seem to speak a LOT of French. I mean, a LOT.. It's everywhere. On the flip side, we speak next to NO French. this could possess a problem.

I seem to like to resolve my problems with video games. So , I bought this little nintendo DS game called MY FRENCH COACH. Its just a series of games that teach you French vocabulary. I was very happy to find out that, after my initial test on the game, I was able to go right to lesson 10.... which they say is the vocabulary equivalent of a pre-schooler. Normally this would insult me, like when my wii fit called me 'fat' a few days ago... But I was actually pretty proud! For one, I have talked to plenty of American pre-schoolers, and I usually can get some idea of what they are talking about. I realize that "Me hungry" might loose some charm coming from the mouth of a 31 year old.. but at least I wont starve.

Courtney chimes in

Things are starting to feel real with this moving to France thing. It hit home when my brother and new sister in law came to visit this weekend and we were talking about the holidays, we look forward to Thanksgiving EVERY year and talk about it starting the day AFTER thanksgiving discussing what we are going to do the next year. The sad little face on Sue after she realized we won't be there this year was hard to swallow. That is right, we arent going to be at that or Christmas :( What made this easier to grasp was the sheer wonder of what Ty and I will actually be doing in PROVENCE this year for the holidays. How bad ass is that? I am a big holiday person and will pretty much go to any extent to see my family at these times, which always means me traveling, standing in crowded airport lines, etc. So it will be interesting to be doing our own thing this year. I dont doubt we will be a little sad come holidays this year, but it comes with the territory. Maybe my family or Ty's will come to Provence for Christmas. That would be awesome! I will have that week off anyways so it would be a great time to show people around. I am scouring my french books this evening, learning about all of the documentation, etc. we will need to get our visa. I have to get a special medical exam that has to be signed off on by an OMI dr, (seriously what the hell is that?) and we have to register for a card right when we get to France for residency and if you don't do it right when you get there, you can get a fine. These frenchies don't mess around. I am still nervous about Ty since he doesn't have a job and his visa situation.  I hope that he will not have a problem. Everyone says we should get married now so it will be easier. There might be a day in city hall in our future. You never know. I am extremely excited about what our life is going to look like in 6 months. I can't wait for us to be settled and know our way around a bit. I am not looking forward to mass paperwork and moving. Borrrring! Ty and I have 3 weeks left of work, its hard to believe I will be leaving ILM again!!!! Feels like I never left and that its been awhile. Its bittersweet and so strange to leave with a real sense of not knowing what we have in store for us. I think its going to be such an amazing experience and we are totally pumped on it and for the time being, a little terrified. 

We are moving to Provence!

Yesterday we made what, up until this point, is the biggest decision of our lives!

My fiancee Courtney was offered a wonderful job opportunity in the South of France. After several interviews, discussions between each other, pro's and con's lists, and a few "why not"s, we decided that she should accept this position, and we should pack up our California lives, and move to Provence!

A lot of people might read something like this and think "How is this even something you would have to THINK about?? GO!! GO!!" Well, there are several obstacles we have had to think about before making this commitment!

The first one was that, as of this moment, I have no job lined up in France. This is a scary prospect! Courtney and I work in the same industry, so ideally, I will end up working with her.. But this is not set yet.

Also, we own a house here in California.. We need to find a renter.. And being a landlord is not something I have ever found to be an appealing idea..

a big issue also is that neither of us speak French (yet). We have spent a lot of time in Paris, and I pick it up pretty quickly once I am there, but I certainly dont know enough to have a conversation! All of my conversations are a combination of 2 or 3 french words, english words I say and try to make them sound french, and mime.

And finally.. we have to move in 2 months! That is not a lot of time to tie up all our loose ends, rent our house, get Visa's, and find a place to live in Provence!

Aside from these types of issues, we are both very excited (and nervous), From the limited research of the area we have done, we are thinking as of now that we would like to live in the town of Marseille. It is a very large, very old French city. In fact, it is also very historic, as it is the first port city founded in France! There are fortresses, old trading posts, even cave paintings located in the city!!

Its going to be a rush to get all of our "California lives" tied up, but we really think it'll be worth it! This is going to be such a fantastic life experience!