Settling in...

My wife and I have arrived in time for the 2012 French Presidential elections.





It's fascinating to watch politics, safely removed from having any influence on the outcome. Yet, there are a few things we see and can't help commenting on.

For instance, we live in what I've read is one of the most conservative places in Paris, in the 16th. I've learned that it was in the 16th that the aristocracy first settled, perhaps along the road that lead to Versailles during the time the court was situated not in Paris. So it was with some surprise that political posters around the 16th were "re-worked", but only certain images. The images of Marine le Pen and Nicholas Sarkozy, while being the most conservative, appear to be dis-liked.





Over the past two nights we've watched the 8pm Paris news. Two nights ago we listened to Francois Holland explain his position on various topics. Then, last night, Nicholas Sarkozy had his turn. During the interview I was struck by the differences in body language of the interviewers between the two nights.

When questioning M. Holland, the interviewers appeared relaxed and nearly "conversational". When speaking with M. Sarkozy, the interviewers appeared to be "screwed down" tightly and seemed to be almost confrontational. We came away feeling that President "Bling" stands a snow-ball's chance in hades of winning on Sunday, if these two people from the French press are any indication of national sentimental trends.






We've also heard from ex-pats who live in Europe that many people are hopeful that M. Holland will win and that folks have had enough of M. Sarkozy's "globalization" policies. M. Holland made it quite clear that there is no room for, what I interpreted as, Chinese and other "outsider" economic influence on France, and that the financial relationship with the rest of the EU needed to change.

The conservative policies of Spain are driving that country down the same roads Greece is traveling. That is, cut social programs, put large numbers of people out of work, then cut more when the tax revenues drop like a rock. The end result will be the Spanish conservatives will be able to say "... see, we told you social policies helping the average citizen were not sustainable..."





Perhaps we'll see how M. Holland's open policies of supporting French citizenry and increasing taxes on the top 1% will work. Such a set of policies would stand in stark contrast to the standard conservative "I have mine, and the rest of you can go to hell now" attitudes toward taxation and their role in driving nations into the poorhouse.

So... what's the view like again???

Being in our current apartment is quite entertaining. All we have to do is look out our front window and have some pretty interesting things to see. Life simply unfolds in the most amazing ways.

It was so great that I had to make a short video the very night we arrived. Being more than a little blurry-eyed was rather challenging. Yet, the little video worked out well.



Full HD link here.

On the second night I had to re-video la tour. I didn't realize that it "twizzled" on the hour when it was lit up. The word "twizzle" really works in this case. I feel it adequately explains the content of this work.




Full HD link here.

Arrived!

We made it. Landed and passed through customs and immigration in Iceland (true story) where we received our passport stamp valid for the OFII. Then, flew on into CDG.

We're more than a little screwed up from the jet lag. Still, we should be OK in a few days.

No turning back...

Well, we're part way to France, even as I type this. The first leg of the journey is behind us and we await the next.

It was strange leaving our old home in the US. A few tears, but no regrets. It's likely too early for that, what with all the excitement and anticipation of what we'll be doing to get through Charles de Gaul airport and on into our new apartment.

Then there are the concerns for how we will converse with our landlords. They speak no English and our French is only in it's second full year of learning.

Still, this is a tremendous time to be out and about.





The thing that strikes me most are the travelers. They are all our age or older. I guess I'd better get used to it. I'm one of them.

What an adventure this is! The entire experience has come down to this. There are few words for these kinds of emotions.

The next post will be from France.

... whee....

It has been just a few days over five months since I've been laid off from a computer high technology company that has the bright idea of shipping jobs and intellectual property(IP) to China. It doesn't matter that 60 years of IP development is being handed over to a developing nation capable of using this very same technology against the US. What matters is that the CEO and his "free cash flow" henchmen get very very rich in the process.






In these five months my wife and I have arranged our affairs, made connections into Europe, sold our home, sold or given away most of our belongings, and are about to board a one way aircraft into another life.

Our life now fits into 5 pieces of 29inch luggage.

It sometimes feels like a rather risky adventure.

We listened to speakers at the local Alliance Française who live in France. All of them maintain two or more homes. One home in the US and at least one home in Europe. It must be nice to be able to live wherever you want and still have access to memories and things where you grew up.

We have no such luxury.





We don't have those kinds of resources.

No, it's taken everything we have to get to this place. This is why our move feels much riskier than the moves folks at AF talk of and experience.

There is much to be running away from. The US is not the country of my youth nor of any consistent citizen supporting ideology. While I worked I could only dream of leaving this place, even if only temporarily on holiday.





Now that I no longer work and after having carefully managed what few resources we have, I feel it's time to live One Last Dream before I'm planted in the ground for the Long Sleep.

Fortunately, it feels like there is a lot to be running to.

We very much look forward to exploring a new city, a new country, a new continent. There are deep histories, interesting peoples, and articulated ideals about life and living worth delving into.





This isn't about living the "Ooo La La" life. That's too bourgeois for us. Besides, we can't afford bourgeois-ness. No, it's about experiencing everything we can in a place where experiences, thoughts, and feelings are not issued pre-packaged for our protection. It's about breathing the air of philosophies and alternatives. It's about being. It's about awareness. It's about sharing. It's about art. It's about life. It's about living.

So long, America. Hello Paris!!!

We land in the 16th arrondisement on 11 April, 2012.

Moving Day

As our departure date approaches, and the insanity of packing and slimming the small pile of things we own ever further toward nothing, comes some rather interesting news.






My wife has felt for a long time that she has French blood running through her veins. Somewhere deep inside she's felt a connection with the country we're headed to. Alas, there has been no proof nor hint at this possibility.

Her daughter called her recently with a story to tell.

She'd made a pot of de-caf coffee late one recent evening only to realize far too late that it was actually fully-leaded and not de-caf.






Unable to sleep, she went out onto the internet to do a bit of research into her family's history. Following through her mother's and grandmother's line, she learned that the Ekley of Montana and Virginia line descended thru the Giffords of Devon, England. The Giffords, in turn, came from, well, how could we not guess?, Normandy.

Looking at the predecessors of the Giffords, it appears there is a link through that line all the way back to 742 and Charlemagne.

If this is true, then my wife may very well be "going home", back to live in France.

Who would've guessed?

... reading into natural events...

When my wife and I were in Paris in the Fall 2010 and as we were coming to the end of our visit we watched as a stunning rainbow formed over Pont Marie. We laughed and said that Paris was bidding us a fond adieu.





A year and a half later, as we are preparing to leave the US to live in Paris, it seems the city we live in is bidding us a fond adieu, too.

My wife had started the home fires just as the sun started to rise. She dropped the shades in her art room and came to get me out of bed. I HAD to see this, she said.

It was quite the sight. Here was an enormous double rainbow, set against the early morning rain-filled sky.





We took the event as a sign that things were well in motion and that would would be successful in making the jump to Europe.

My father and I have been talking about how humans build stories that explain the world to ourselves, and that stories, descriptions, musing, really have no basis in reality. Events simply occur. Humans are left to interpret, discuss, and provide judgement and meaning.

Building stories of the world around us helps humans feel comfortable with what's happening to us.

I like the stories that Paris and then our US city were saying "good bye". Indeed, it helps me feel settled and happy about the fantastic decisions we are making. Even as I realize my stories are based on nothing but what I'm thinking or feeling.

Strange, isn't it?