As I said in the last post, I've kept France and the French language at an arms distance. And therefore I also sometimes do elementary mistakes in French, especially when I switch between Norwegian and French. The other day, during my moms visit, a shop attendant actually mocked me and my language mistake in French by laughing out loud, IN MY FACE.
And it wasn't one of those friendly laughs that normally translates into "I appreciate your efforts" kind of laugh which I take with a smile and a laugh as well.
The mistake? Instead of asking about a wrist watch on display I used the word clock. Silly I know but I wonder if that cow can speak a word of English, Italian or Norwegian? And if that isn't the case, which is highly unlikely, I'll should have MOCKED her too!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Mock You!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
I do much of my Thinking
...alone in the car. Mind you, while driving. I'm not actually sitting in the garage...
I was returning from Nice airport after having dropped off my mum and while my thoughts were skidding from one thing to another I suddenly realised what the difference is between many of the expats in France and me or us as a family is.
While many of the expats in France came because of a fascination for this country, a dream of living here, learning the language etc. We didn't. We came here because of a job opportunity and not because France held a special something in our hearts. It was all suddenly so clear in my mind. I'm keeping France at an arms distance because I don't WANT to fall in love with this country, I don't bother to perfect my French because I don't want to live here for more than the strict necessary time. It's sounds silly as I write it... I should rather sieze the opportunity, right?
Somehow I've never put words to these feelings. But they've always been there as I recall us saying things like: I hate the fact that our son will be born here and will be a French citizen or Do you remember that pink house in Sestri, wouldn't it be great to live there? or When we move we'll just sell, move, buy... We've never let us believe or think that we would stay here for good!
Don't get me wrong, France is treating us well. We love our house (our Italo-Norwegian retreat when France is poking sticks into our wheels), we have an income, it's sunny and warm'ish all year round, the bread is the best, the croissants are to die for and for now there are no other alternatives for us out there. So I'm not complaining, it's just that since we decided to come here in 2006, I've also decided that it was not going to be FOREVER. Forever is a long time and the thought alone makes me want to pack my suitcases straight away.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Let me Introduce...
*** More to come later as I'm pirating someone's wifi connection by the hospital :) ***
Thursday, September 24, 2009
On getting a Femme de Ménage
Letting someone unknown into our house is not a pleasant thought, and leaving the house keys with said person is even worse. Both L and I are quite reserved and we like to maintain our privacy. But with the baby on his way and with family and friends, especially family, so far away we've decided to look for a Femme de Ménage. A cleaner, to help us out at least for the first months after the baby's arrival.Since we don't know anyone who could give us any references we've decided to go through an agency. This means that everything is declared, and at the same time we're a client instead of an employer. It also gives us (in theory at least) huge advantages, as we avoid insurance costs, rights to change cleaner if unhappy, to end the contract when we want, and having a point of reference and customer service center etc.
The most interesting part is the crédit d'impot. This means that you will pay one sum per hour (ex. 18 euros) throughout the year for the cleaning service. By the end of the year the agency gives you a declaration to send together with your income tax declaration, and you will be reimbursed 50% of the costs. This means that the actual cost per hour for a cleaner = 9 euros!! Just a little over SMIC (8 euro 64 cents I think) which you would have paid a privately hired person.
Add that to the other advantages of not hiring a person directly and you have a winner! I have taken a few RDV, appointments, with local agencies so we'll see if we find one we feel we can trust.
Anyone having experiences with hiring a cleaner? Are there any do's and don't's?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Help! We need Suggestions...
My pregnancy is drawing to a close. Just three more weeks, unless the little one decides he wants to come a little earlier, which the Doctor said that was very likely...
I have to say I've had a dream pregnancy, no nausea, no cravings (until the last weeks serious lust for sugar and consequent trips to McDo drive-in for McFlurrys ice cream with choco chip and caramel sauce) and no medical issues so far. The baby is bouncing and kicking and is getting closer to 4kg by the day. L and I are not small people and the baby will not be a small one either apparently.
At the last scan in August the doctor said: "Oh my, does he have a big head or what!!"
Followed by a: "A well propotioned baby indeed".
My face had turned white at the first sentence and the only thought in my head was: "That BIG HEAD needs to come out of me! Heeeeeeeeeeeelp!!!"
Oh, and I'm still stuck at that thought.
Then midwife tried to convince me that having a big baby is easier than having a small one during a natural delivery. Her arguments sounds logical but she didn't manage to convince me. Not even a wee little bit. Statistically a smooth pregnancy is also an indication for how smooth the delivery will be, according to my doctor. Hmmm, lets hope so!
Our lives will change and I hope it will all be for the better. And I'm sure any doubts I'm having at the moment have been felt by mamas all over the world... so I have to take one day at the time and just make sure that at least the logistics are in place to eliminate any unnecessary stress once we're returning from the hospital.
Now over to the real issue: We need help! Or at least some suggestions for names... Nine months have almost passed and we have eliminated some names but finding boys names are so difficult! The problem we have encountered, as so many of you have known I'm sure, is that it must sound well the the respective countries (Norway and Italy), and should be also easy to pronounce in France for when he goes to the kindergarden.
In Norway the legisation gives you 6 months after the birth to declare the baby name, allowing you time to get to know the baby. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing... what would you call your kid in the meantime?? Anyway, in France you have 3 DAYS! This means we need to find out soon what his name will be as I can go into labour any given moment from now...
Any ideas for names? Any tips on finding the perfect one?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Looking Back on the Summer Holiday
Our holiday to Norway and Italy was great! And as usual we tried to squeeze in as much as possible in the time available. I will not give you lots of boring details but rather post some photos to look at which more or less sums up the main events.
After a few days at home we, together with my friend H, drove down to Stavanger to meet up with A & O who have just bought a house and refurbished the interior all by THEMSELVES. We were so impressed. In the afternoon we went to the Oil museum, since Stavanger is the capital of the Norwegian black oily fortune. It was very interesting and fun (No I really mean it A! :)
The following day it cleared up and we played some croquet (Not to brag but I WON!! :)) followed by the very Norwegian traditional waffles, marmelade and coffee. Our hosts spoiled us with the most delicious things to eat and drink...
****
Once back in Bergen we just repacked the car and dove to the family holiday home north of Bergen. This beautiful, and partly 200 year old wooden house, is carrying the image and soul of my dad. It was the place he loved the most I think, and he loved spending time doing small repairs, putting out crab-pots and fishing. During Christmas 2008, a year after he left us, we spent a few days out there. It was peaceful and quiet but emphasized the terrible void he has left behind. But at that time we also noted that we needed to carry on the works my dad had planned, which was to repaint the boathouse before the wood became to deteriorated by the salty northern winds. And that we decided to do this summer.
We spent one happy week with my mum out on the island. I just love this place. It is so peaceful there and you cannot do anything but relax because there is absolutely nothing else to do there. You are cut off from the mainland by a ferry, surrounded by nature and a (sometimes) hostile northern sea. And between painting and a few cool showers we also had time to go fishing a little bit. Both L. and I look like we are covered in fish blood but it is actually paint stains covering our clothes. L. got lucky and caught a cod while I got a haddock, which were later prepared by my expert mum for dinner. Fresher fish than that is not possible to get!
Below you see a panorama taken from the ferry, us fishing and then the finished boathouse:
Monday, September 14, 2009
SFR
Can I just say that I have a very strong dislike for every Service Clients any phone company is offering? Especially the one offered by our current provider SFR... Arrrgh. Don't ever trust them to take notice of what you have actually said and written in your "recorded and signed for" letter canceling your contract. And by all means DO NOT believe they will send any further information to the correct address... It would be foolish to actually tell your leaving client where to return the equipment, right?!
And lastly, do not expect an apology from them admitting that they actually did a mistake!!
I have a I hate the French day.
... and not that I think they will be any better but I will now proceed to change phone and internet provider! I had two contracts with SFR, I cancelled one and now I will cancel the other one too. That's not going teach them anything but I will feel better, much better!
