You may be thinking I am french?

I feel a bit lost sometimes, either not recognising my personal roots anymore, or feeling enriched by my new world-wide ones.

I told you I grew up in France. You may be thinking I am french. Yes, I am, but my blood is in fact 3/4 German and 1/4 French, if we stop at the first generation…

But forget about the blood. I am wandering the world since 18 years now, so I am a bit far away from the french daily life since then. I don’t know what does it mean raising a child there; I don’t know anymore how much cost the medical insurance and how much we need to pay extra for care and medication; I don’t know anymore the cost of a coffee in town; and I am also lost regarding the released of french movies or daily political concerns.

During these 18 years I lived in 3 countries where I have invested a bit of myself, by speaking the language, understanding the way of living from neighborough customs to administrative needs. Three countries of adoption, four with the US. Four countries where cultural differences are almost at the extremes; where the food, daily rhythms, priorities, clothes, habits, religions, traditions, politics and work culture also differ extremely. And I tried to embrace these differences and adapt to the people’s rhythm and practices. Not easy… But I think that we as a family have tried to be part of it, learning and adapting our behavior constantly, as good European immigrants… I forgot to mention that part of the close family was Spanish!

But aren’t we all part of the same world anyway? With the same moon?

• 

•