Sara Version 2.0

Fall has always felt like a time of beginning to me. It seems that our school-time calendars become a part of who we are and how we imagine time, even when books and pencils are but distant memories.

Today I felt the beginning of the end of our precious time in Paris. Of course our “remaining time” is more than most people ever have the chance to enjoy—so this is all said in a wistful and grateful tone. Sometimes as I think back to past visitors, or some of the extraordinary everyday adventures we’ve enjoyed, I think, “surely this has all been a dream.”

Yesterday, I was walking through the Luxemberg Gardens enroute to meeting a friend for lunch when this notion struck me: I remember the first time I walked through these gardens in January and boy was I terrified!

It has been eight months since we arrived with four suitcases full of clothing and a whole trunk load full of hopes. As I look back, we could have packed a little lighter on the clothing and we might have even not hoped enough because this year has given us so much that it would take a cargo ships worth of containers to fit all the experiences and lessons.

I promise not to spend the next four months already reflecting on Paris, but I thought a glimpse of “Parisian Sara” after eight months of expat life seemed worth sharing.

I am still the same Hoosier-born, DC lovin’, Indigo Girls listening, polka dancing girl, but I’ve now added a bit of Paris to my geographical identity. I love black clothing as I’ve always have, but now I know you can actually make an entire wardrobe out of it.

I’ve rediscovered my appreciation for the bicycle after the Parisian Velib Bike rental program gave me another way to zoom around town. I’m really grateful that my dad thought “girls should know how to read maps too” when at least once a week as I find my way around town using my now tattered, multi-page Paris map.

I’ve rediscovered my love of a really good book now that the TV is a mostly useless tool (it's all in French) and its ok for me to stay up late just to read. I think I could be a bit of an internet addict and I’m convinced I’m a bread snob now that I’ve declared even French baguettes that happen to be more than four hours old not worth eating.

I’m still scared of some really smelly cheese, but can at least manage one bite. I still don’t like to see the heads on animals at the butcher, but I can get past it. I still wish I had the French gene that let me eat and be a size 2. I wish I could speak better French, but I’m still not good at doing my homework.

Gratefully, I’m reconvinced of how far a smile and a lot of humility will get you in any language. I’m also entirely convinced that Paris is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth and that Josh is the best Parisian tour guide I could ever imagine. (It goes without saying I think he is also the best husband I could imagine too!)

I think that there is always room for ice cream and always time for coffee with a friend. I think I dance better than most French people (which isn’t saying much for the French) and that wine at lunch is one of the most civilized practices I can imagine.

I believe I’ve learned really important lessons about hospitality and friendship—they are a gift to give and to receive and both have made a huge difference in my year. I’ve also realized I’ve underestimated my parents and brothers who really are better world travelers than I imagined. I’m grateful I still love spending time with them (and I think they would say the same). I also realize how much I love to shop and even window shop or “window lick” as its called in French, which I learned with Bobi—one of the best mother in laws I could possibly imagine (and not just because she loves to shop). I could even go as far to say I appreciate beauty in a new way, between the art and fashion and markets full of beautiful food and beautiful people.

I also have realized I am truly a coffee addict and a tea aficionado. I think cloth napkins dress up even the simplest of tables and small apartments can feel big enough if there is a lot of laughter, good company and people can be flexible about when they shower (since there is only hot water for a two short showers at a time). I believe any meal with champagne is a celebration and that flowers are an important part of a home.

There is more and I apologize if this post seems a little dreamy or even overly self-indulgent, but I took a moment to realize the Sara who arrived in France and the Sara who traipsed across town are the same person, but it would be more accurate to say I might be becoming “Sara Version 2.0”.

sPg