Mumsnetters in France, we have a new recruit

[Othersideofthechannel]

Teafortwo is new to mn and she is in Paris.

Come and say hello

[Othersideofthechannel]

Teafortwo, in answer to your questions on the other thread:

I have been here for 7 yrs (this time round)

My children are French on paper but DS insists he is French and English

It was a very practical, planned move 7 yrs ago (for career and family reasons) but an unplanned romantic thing when I fell in love with French DH 12 yrs ago.

How about you?

[ggglimpopo]

Yes, tell us all about yourself and we will decide if you can be in our clique how best we can welcome you.

I love Paris.

[Othersideofthechannel]

Oh I wish you hadn't crossed out the bit about clique. I have never been in a clique before.

[AuldAlliance]

Oooh! Are we a clique?! I've gone all funny at the idea of being in a MN clique. Off to hunt down other thread and see what questions are...

[Othersideofthechannel]

It's the one about why did you choose your mn nickname. I wish VoluptuaGoodshag would post there!

[AuldAlliance]

Thanks, I got distracted by DS and was building a cabane in the living room.

The questions weren't aimed at me, but I'll answer them anyhow.
I live in Provence, have been here for nearly 3 years, was in a DOM for 10 years before that.
The first move was a rash, youthful gesture, but worked out v well. The move here was carefully, rationally planned, and TBH is less successful. But I think we're staying put.

I did always think I might live in France, even in school.

DS isn't old enough to think he's any nationality, but he's v proud of speaking 2 languages.

Tell us about yourself, teafortwo...

[Othersideofthechannel]

Yes, teafortwo, you're either busy or being coy!

[ggglimpopo]

AA - I never did get your email

I have been here 8 years.

Came here post divorce and have remarried Frenchman.

Have lots of children.

Live in Bordeaux.

Like oysters, wine, skiing and the sea- so am staying put.

Where's our new victim recruit?

[AuldAlliance]

Will try and send another one tonight, ggg. Dunno what happened there.

Think we've scared teafortwo off (and she hasn't even met Anna yet....)

[teafortwo]

AAAAAAAAWWWW - I can't believe it, othersideofthechannel - there are loads of us on your side of the channel???!!!!???? - How fab is that???!!!!!???? Thanks for this thread I am a little overwhelmed, but in a good way!

Firstly - Sorry for my slow response - busy busy day!!!

And so this is me - I live in a tumble down appartment just outside of Paris (next to La Defense) with dd and dp. Dp has lived in France all his life but due to having a British Mum is legally British not French and like your partner, othersideofthechannel, insists he isn't French - although as far as I can see he is!!!!

It was a Eurostar romance lasting 4 yrs before I 'gave in' and moved over here.... but it was not really giving in as I got so much out of it... right now my life is the best it has ever been!

My dd is too young to feel either French or British but is just starting to say a few words in both languages! I am hoping she will just feel well in both cultures - actually in any culture... which so far she seems to...

So, so, so...until tomorrow - goodbye les petite anglaises - I am looking forward to hearing more from this so called clique of yours - perhaps we will chat more tomorrow evening, if you aren't too busy feeding your children snails, buying bagettes from your favourite bakery or frantically learning poetry for school the next day - he he he!!!

• bfn and stay in touch, auldallience, othersideofthechannel and ggglimpopo (who should definately visit the "why do you have that nickname?" thread!) thanks for your fun welcome!

[Othersideofthechannel]

Enfin!

Teafortwo, it's my son who insists he is French and English although he has French nationality.

My husband is French and happy with the idea.

[teafortwo]

Thanks for explaining - sorry I was reading too fast and too late into the night!

Have a nice day! I am off to work now. Bye!

[teafortwo]

Just a thought before I go - I am in the process of learning French and oh la la c'est dificile!!! - When I moved over here I had no French and I am slowly (more slowly than I thought I would) picking up the language. To make me feel better about all the jolly foriegner mistakes I am making - perhaps you could tell me your funniest stories about speaking and learning French - if you have any??? And I will think of one or two to tell you - if I have the courage to admit to such embarrassment!!! Also, more seriously any tips for developing further, in French - svp send my way!!!!

[Walkthedinosaur]

I'll tell you a couple of my funny setories about my crap French. When I got her I was very worried about DS1 at school, he became very isolated and wouldn't speak a word of English never mind French, so I went to speak to his teacher. I only had rusty o'level French (very rusty) so I looked up my words and went into speak to her and said Je suis enceinte when it should have been inquiete. For the life of me I couldn't understand why she was being all enthusiastic when I was wringing my hands with worry over my PFB - fortunately she spoke some English, enciente - pregnant inquiete - worried. Never made that mistake again.

Another time, bumped into the mum and little friend of DS2 in the local supermarket. Normally the little friend wears glasses but he wasn't wearing them this particular day and I said oh he's not wearing his lumieres, bless her she understood what I meant and carried on talking as if I hadn't completely made a mess of it and explained why he wasn't wearing them. It was only as I walked away that I thought lumieres - lights, God how thick am I? I haven't made these mistakes again, but I am a bit more reticent about chatting unless I know what I'm saying because I just get so embarrassed.

I know I've done loads more but those two are the ones that stick in my mind.

[Walkthedinosaur]

Look at the typo's in my message - hard to believe I earn my living from typing transcripts accurately.

In my defence am typing fast as am supposed to be working.

[AuldAlliance]

Hi, teafortwo, glad you came back.
I'll go off in a huff if you call me anglaise, though!!

[Othersideofthechannel]

I am sure many people have made my mistake. I was talking about bread, and said I preferred 'du pain sans préservatifs'

Well, wouldn't anyone!

[teafortwo]

ha ha ha... good stories!!!

Thanks auldalliance, othersideofthechannel and walkthedinosaur. You have really given me and dp a good laugh.

ok so my first and biggest really bad mistake (to my knowledge) is this. I was on a bike ride with a group of adults and children. I had seen the French word for rabbit written down. Seeing a rabbit I used it as an opportunity to use this new word - "Regarde regarde" I almost sang to the children "lapin". They all started laughing hysterically!!! I was confused! One of the adults calmed himself enough to explain to me "Erm... teafortwo... in French i and n are not pronounced 'in' like in English but is a nasil sound close to the u in bus. He went on to tell me I had actually said something quite quite different!!!

So... walkthedinosaur - what is your story in terms of your family and being in France? It is lovely hearing all these nice stories about people living their lives between France and UK just like us!

[Othersideofthechannel]

teafortwo
How long have you been in France?
How old is your DD? Was she born here?

[farfaraway]

I am here too! Go shopping in the La Defense Quatre Temps pretty regularly. I am a bit further out on the RER line A but moving out abit further next month. Married to a spanish man and DC not really sure what they are nationality wise.

[Othersideofthechannel]

Bonjour, I like your name. I loved Shrek!

[castille]

Oooh goodie, maybe we can have our own chat thread like the German lot

Welcome Teafortwo

[teafortwo]

Hello Castille and farfaraway who irronically seems to be the closest Mumsnetter to me!!! He he he!!!

I go to the Quatre Temps every Monday to buy my comfort blanket Observer newspaper.

So, othersideofthechannel, I left my job and came over with a one way ticket April Fools day 2 yrs ago... Dd was born a month and a half later in a hospital overlooking the whole of Paris!

It was a Eurostar romance! Before then one of us used to catch the Eurostar Friday night and Sunday morning and most holidays too... I think between us dp and I financed the new trendy St Pancreas station!!!

So Castille and farfaraway - How did the two of you come about living in France, how long have you lived here and how are you finding it? Also any funny stories or serious advice about learning French?

[castille]

Morning

I met my H during my university year abroad and have been here on and off for the past 14 years

Have 3 children, all born here, aged 10, 8 and 22 months, all have dual nationality and are bilingual (well DS says "ow, bang tête" and "more pain", but the girls read, write and speak both just fine)

I find it alternately lovely (space, beaches, facilities, food...) and frustrating (pointless rules, high taxes and EDUCATION)

Good luck with learning the language!

[Walkthedinosaur]

Well the DC's and I are here all the time and poor old DH is left to work in London Monday to Friday and then commutes home on a weekend. We've been doing it for a couple of years and it's working out well. DH speaks not a word of French and I can't see him ever getting employment over here so we're going to have to carry on like this for some time yet (and it would appear he's too lazy to learn as I've often suggested he go to night classes).

Our house is a building site (I mean renovation project) and I can't see it being finished anytime soon, but I've learned to live with plasterboard and dust.

We made the move for the DC's really. They have such a lovely life here and a lot more freedom than they ever would have had in the UK. It's lovely to hear them chatting with their little friends in French and I think wow what a skill, I wish I could natter in French like that. I'm hoping they will take pity on me in years to come and act as my interpreter, although I understand quite a bit these days I have trouble saying things.

There is another very nice Mumsnetter who lives close to me as well, hopefully she'll pop on here and introduce herself soon.