Life in France

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Life in France

Oh, trust me...I'm "done" with Jehovah's Witnesses in far less time than that.

I was talking about the actual Halls...they do something called 'quick-build'.

(but I expect that you're making a joke)

[chriscollado]

Re: Life in France

Oh, trust me...I'm "done" with Jehovah's Witnesses in far less time than that.

If you are brave enough all you have to do is answer the door naked wearing only a surgical glove and yell "I'm a squid." Then try to give them a hug.

No I haven't tried it myself

[damontucker]

Re: Life in France

With all due respect to the french people....

I'm glad Italy won the world cup just because of the blatant head butt
that your french captain did to the italian player.

I like Lasagna better than escargot anyhow

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Life in France

I didn't see the game, because we don't have a TV. But my boys, Keoni, 15 and Keala Kai 13, did. They came back telling me all about the poor sportsmanship behavior of that headbutting guy. It's too bad, because that's all he is ever going to be remembered for.

I prefer lasagna over escargot, too. But foie gras and confit are pretty good.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Life in France

digging up this thread....

why did you move to France? How long have you been there?

(imagines munching on blueberries, waiting to learn more about Susie's World)

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Life in France

I've been here for over twenty years. It has it's good points, this place, but the winters are hard, and gray. I named the kids local names as a concession to my homesickness...Keoni, Keala Kai, Leilani, and Kalani, they range in ages from 8 to 15.

'Okay in France'? Hmmm...I feel like a fish out of water, or a square peg in a round hole. I'll NEVER figure these people out!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Life in France

is your dh French? How did you two meet, and how did he manage to take you to the opposite side of the world?

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Life in France

And what do the french locals think comprises your ethnic makeup?

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Life in France

is your dh French? How did you two meet, and how did he manage to take you to the opposite side of the world?

It was hormones...I was in love. My Mom tried to tell me, but did I listen?!

We met in London, where I was living at the time. Then I got handicapped in a car accident and he came to vist me after I went back to Hawaii to try to get better (Thank you Dr. Walinski and a pain-management team in Hilo)....and then I visited France twice, before packing up the dog and the cat (who'd come with me from London and had gone through quarantine), and came over here.

Yeah, he's French...that's why I get so much humbug, I'm the foreigner. I never knew this kind of discrimination existed. But that's another story.

So now I live in this funny little French country town. Have a look www.rogerhallett.com put your mouse on the picture and it goes round and round...if you go too fast, you get dizzy, so watch out!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Life in France

are you discriminated against for being from Hawaii? For being a US citizen? Is it because who your inlaws are? Or because you don't look like them?

Mahalo for indulging my questions. I am sorry for being so niele, but I am genuinely curious.

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Life in France

are you discriminated against for being from Hawaii? For being a US citizen? Is it because who your inlaws are? Or because you don't look like them?

Mahalo for indulging my questions. I am sorry for being so niele, but I am genuinely curious.

No, I'm Haole, I look just like everyone else here. Well...except I go barefoot.

This is just a really small, closed town. First cousins still marry each other, and there are only about thirty big names in the phonebook...for a town of about 5000, with another 3000 in the outlying villages, that's inbreeding, if you ask me.

The town has made it's money and it's history with salt. It's in the earth and in the water. Man has been here since before the Bronze Age, at least, according to the finds. We are well known for the hot salt-water 'cures', and have a thermal station with a big pool and hydrotherapy clinic. Even dogs and racehorses come for the 'cure'.

The salt rights are owned by certain members of the town. These rights can only be passed from father to first-born, legitimate, son, as long as the child has been born locally. There are about 800 'salt-partners', who split up the $$$ made from the 'curists' and the thermal station in what's called the 'Annual Sauce'. Don't you just love the French language?!

For many, many years, the locals have guarded against anyone trying to 'steal' their salt-rights, to the point of many of the marriages being 'marriage-blancs'...no-sex marriages of convenience, often between a very old and a very young partner. Many of the big houses in town are actually two separate dwellings, joined by one communal door...making life bearable for the partners in these matches, I imagine.

The local custom was for the young men of the town to meet the trains carrying the 'curists', and embark upon a holiday romance during their stay, and then send the 'cured' one merrily along their way, when the time was up. Newcomers to the town still have to suffer the advances of these historical Lotharios' decendants. It can be quite funny to watch the people in this town.

For me, this town represents France, for I really don't know any other place. I moved here after my divorce because I found housing to be cheap to buy, and it was far away enough from my ex to feel somewhat 'free'. Fair enough...he did try to warn me, and tell me that, as a foreign, female, single parent, a small French town could be a rough place. There's apparently a well known French writer (Victor Hugo, maybe?) that writes of just these kinds of places, and life within them. I was naive, I guess. Or stupid.

Bush hasn't helped. I often get flack because of him. But that's another post.

[damontucker]

Re: Life in France

Susie -

From what you have posted on HT today... I don't know how to feel?

1. Shocked... ie; "Divorce is hard to get here..." something to that effect...
2. Amazed....ie; at how many kids you have, I know how hard it is just to raise one...... (more power to you)
3. Bewildered...ie; "the history of the place your from" (sounded like hobbitville...and then I watched the video and i was like... omg! it is)
4. I feel guilt... "for a lot the initial crapola I gave to you when you first signed up to HT spouting stuff about how we need to prepare for the worst...
5. Proud... A local girl that has remained strong over there in France.
6. Honored.... that I've been able to keep you off my ignore list since initially putting you on it.... we all have lessons to learn....
7. Glad - that you have stuck with HT and changed your ways around here and chilled.

With that susie.... from your honesty in your posts today... I myself shed a tear...

You saying the true words from your heart means more than any of all of the posts you have said before....

I think you are a strong lady susie... and I'm sorry for posting stuff about you before I knew what was going on.... your first few posts to HT had me ready to build my own "safe house" built under the lava somewhere...

Manoa

P.S. and for those that didn't read her posts today...please do and don't jump all over me before you read them.

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Life in France

Awwww.....Manoa! Dass SO sweet. I'm glad that you changed your ways, too. Kiss?

(You mean you DIDN'T build yourself a shelter and fill it with preps?!! Oh, NO! I want you for LIVE though the pandemic!)(do um now den)

your friend, susie

[SusieMisajon]

Re: Life in France

And what do the french locals think comprises your ethnic makeup?

They think I'm English, from England. I'm known as 'L'Anglaise'. Many of them have no idea where Hawaii is, or that it belongs to America.

My nutcase neighbor in front of me does know, though...she says that when the extreme right wing Sarkhozy gets elected, that I'll be kicked out, cause I speak 'disco english' to the kids and to the dog. Sheesh!

(I kinda scared, but)(these people have had practice putting foreigners into camps)

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: Life in France

Wow.

How are your children regarded in that town? Is your xh around enough to be in their lives? Do you have a support network around you? Friends there?