Expat Reading: Julia Child’s My Life in France
japra | Jan 08, 2010 | Comments 19
Along our memory lane. Houston, Texas.
I started Julia Child’s My Life and France on the plane ride home and have been enjoying it very much. If you’re an expat (or dream of becoming one) and if you have a great love of food, I do recommend this book. I’m only about half way through, but here are my favourite quotes so far:
Paul and I were intent on meeting French people, but that was not as easy as one might think. For one thing, Paris was crawling with Americans, most of them young, and they liked to cling together in great expat flocks.
You forget how much you rely on something as simple as a phone until you don’t have one. After we’d moved into 81, we had placed an order for a phone, and waited. First a man came by to see if we lived where we said we did. Then two men visited to make a ‘study’ of our situation. Then another man appeared to find out if we really wanted a phone. The process was very French, and made me laugh, especially when I thought of how quickly such a transaction would have taken place in the States.
August in Paris was known as la morte-saison, ‘the dead season,’ because everybody who could possibly vacate did so as quickly as possible. A great emptying out of the city took place, as hordes migrated toward the mountains and coasts, with attendant traffic jams and accidents.
Indeed, shopping for food in Paris was a life-changing experience for me.
In mid-December, a little snow flurry sugared the cobblestones and Paul and I were struck by the almost total lack of holiday commercialism in the streets. Occasionally you’d see a man dragging a fir tree across the Place de la Concorde, a sprig of holly over a doorway, or kids lined up in front of a department store watching the animated figures. But in comparison with the crass Christmas ballyhoo in Washington or Los Angeles, Paris was wonderfully calm and picturesque.
And this one I can really relate to, especially after this last trip back to Texas…
The longer I was in France, the stronger and more estatic my feelings for it became. I missed my family, of course, and things like certain cosmetics or really good coffee. But the U.S. seemed like an increasingly distant and dreamlike place.
Well, I would replace “really good coffee” with “really good Tex-Mex”–haha! But yes, at least for me, the States seems like “an increasingly distant and dreamlike place”. I need to think about this some more.
Filed Under: Blog • Expat Life • Featured
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
I love the first two quotes in blue. It reminds me of Peter Mayle’s books. My mom lent me her copy of My Life in France but I couldn’t get past the first or second chapter. I’m such a brat about non-fiction. You can be my Cliff Notes. Then when my mom asks me about it I’ll have some great lines for her!
Julia, I think I really find this book fascinating because I can it and go “uh-huh, uh-huh, I get it”. Relatively speaking, not much has changed in 60+ years! ;-)
Woohw,so it’s not just me who feels like that once in a while. And how do you feel about Holland? It might be too early to ask you that question, but you as well have been moving quite a lot…Some things here really, really freak me out and other things I could never live without anymore. You know? Occasionally it slips through my mind that living your life at one place seems easier, BUT…but….this is fun as well.
Anyway….looooong comment here…Uh, to answer your question about cycling in holland through the snow. There was not ONE single snowflake when we were there (4 days). On Satu(r)day we left and all of a sudden snow was falling from the sky. Do you think it might mean something??? Don’t answer. Fijne dag verder, kusjes, Carmie.
Carmie, I love it here in the Netherlands. It has always felt very comfortable in Den Haag and the people are very nice. I agree that living in one place IS easier but while we’re still young-ish, I’m willing to try new places :-)
Not ONE snowflake? Did you get rain at least?!!
(Sorry, again it’s me…shame shame) I thought it was you who had difficulties spelling Saturday, but that was Jane from Spain. If you find other spelling mistakes in my comment(s), please do forgive me, but bear in mind: I’m Dutch…still busy learning Italian, writing here in English -lol-
I am amazed how many languages Europeans can speak fluently. I’m so envious! I know English (obviously) but can only dabble in French, Spanish and now a sprinkle of Dutch.
I tell you, I fell in love with all things cooking about 3 years ago and now I cannot imagine what I did with my time before! Mostly my heart is in baking, but let me tell you, I will be purchasing The Art of French Cooking in the next couple of weeks and trying out some recipes. I love Julia Child!!
Lucylucia, I’m thinking about picking that up too. Let me know how you like it!
It sounds like an interesting book! Something puzzled me, though: “really good coffee”? :o) It depends on what each of us thinks “Good coffee” is, right? I’m sure many in France or Italy would flatly refuse to have something like Starbuck’s coffee because it’s not “good”! Lol!
Cheers!
I was wondering about that too, Aledys! The only thing I could think of is that they were living in Paris in the 40s just after the war… Maybe there wasn’t a lot of “good” coffee to be had? Hmmm. Personally, I like the coffee over here better than most served in the States. How’s the coffee in Argentina? I bet it’s good there. Nice and strong?
By the way, JaPRA – I left you a little “present” in my latest blog entry :o) (very sorry I wrote this here, delete it if you want, after you’ve read it).
Cool! Thanks for answering my question, Aledys. Chimichurri is very popular in Houston, anyway. Interestingly, Chimichurri here in the Netherlands is completely different. I wonder if there are different versions?
Oh, thank you for this reminder. I would LOVE that book. And what better time to read it, than the slow days of winter.
AND you’re going to Paris soon, Chris! You can drool now and report back later ;-)
thanks for the excerpts, sounds really good. It also sounds like you’ve ‘crossed over’ to the other side of the pond. So 3 years is all it takes…hmm. I have a friend that moved to the States about 3 years ago…I wonder how she feels about it now.
Christine, you should ask her! I always imagined that life in the US and life in Canada were similar, but now I’m not so sure…
It’s on my to read list. Glad I found your blog and website. I am enjoying your photography and look forward to reading more.
Welcome, Cynthia! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to say hello :-)
This actually sounds fantastic, I’m going to get a copy! I could use some inspiration in enjoying expat life again.