it’s a surreal experience yet i feel unaffected being in france. i’ve felt a sense of belonging since being here. and the kindness and generosity of strangers have all been so warming. i’ve never realized how powerful and intimate the word “bonjour” can be until i was transplanted in southern france. i haven’t started to feel homesick until only a few days ago when i saw christmas lights out in the city of Pau for the first time. i realized i miss my mom and the all too familiar feeling of christmas in america.
what i’ve been desiring is to experience sacredness in my daily life here in France. to me, what is sacred is slowly and carefully eating le russe from the local Artigarrède pâtisserie, the regional dessert found only in this region of southern france … eating the local sheep’s cheese, fromage de brebis ossau-iraty, with a spoonful of Basque confiture cerise noir… or the ever polite response to thank you with “Avec plaisir.” i feel loved. and the generosity and kindness here will be forever engraved in my memory.
written December 2014
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