Top Ten

Photo of the Eiffel Tower taken from our balcony on the day we moved back to the U.S.

Photo of the Eiffel Tower taken from our balcony on the day we moved back to the U.S.  Even Paris looks a little sad 🙁

Top Ten Things I Will Miss About Paris:

  1. The food (where do I begin? daily fresh baguettes, cheese, wine, escargots, pâtes…)
  2. The slower pace (i.e. long lunches, walking everywhere, no rushing)
  3. The challenge of daily living (true!): learning the language, understanding the culture, and other obstacles were actually invigorating and instrumental in personal growth
  4. The kindness of the French people
  5. The cheap and delicious wine
  6. The easy and accessible public transportation
  7. The international culture/diversity
  8. The expat community
  9. The arts and culture– surrounded by museums and monuments
  10. The beauty around every corner (as evidenced by the architecture)
  11. The light
  12. The Eiffel Tower
  13. My cozy and beautiful (rental) apartment
  14. Oh wait… I said it would be a Top Ten list. I could go on….

 

Top Ten Things I Am Enjoying About Being Back in the U.S.:

  1. My pets, friends and family!
    The kids are thrilled to reunite with Sophie!

    The kids are thrilled to reunite with Sophie!

    Our cat, Kiki

    Our cat, Kiki

  2. Customer Service.  It’s good to see it still exists. I had forgotten.
  3. Saran Wrap. TOTALLY better in the U.S.
  4. Air Conditioning
  5. Going back to work
    My view from the Edge set on WCCB-TV. Happiness :)

    My view from the Edge set on WCCB-TV. Happiness 🙂

  6. Krispy Kreme (a rare treat. but still)
  7. Wow– everything is easier here! (except doctors’ offices. Seriously, a 20 page form each time you visit?!! ugh)
  8. Barnes and Noble
    One of my happy places :)

    One of my happy places 🙂

  9. Living in a house with children vs. living in an apartment with children
    A backyard! Baseball!

    A backyard! Baseball!

    Fun with cousins

    Fun with cousins

    IMG_1110

    GO OUTSIDE, KIDS! I haven’t said that in a while!

  10. The movies. Complete with legit popcorn and cup holders. The French don’t eat in theaters (or sporting events). Which is probably why…. fill in the blank… they are skinnier than we are.

 

Top Ten Reverse-Culture Shock Moments (so far):

  1. The air conditioning. It is freezing me out. The kids and I are always shivering, everywhere we go. Can’t get used to it!
  2. The food is so… UGH. What used to taste great to me now seems bland at best, pollution at its worst.IMG_7234
  3. The noise. My ears are bombarded by television, radio, XM, conversation. And because it’s all in English, I hear everything.
  4. My house. It’s too big. The colors are too bright. And we have too much stuff.
    My makeup drawer. This is all the stuff I did NOT take to Paris. Which means I haven't used it (or missed it) in a year.

    My makeup drawer. This is all the stuff I did NOT take to Paris. Which means I haven’t used it (or missed it) in a year.

  5. Driving everywhere. It sucks. As I loaded school supplies into my SUV, I actually wished I had my little push-caddy and was walking home from the store. My husband says his SUV feels like a tank.
    Kate in Scott's "tank"

    Kate in Scott’s “tank”

    The first time I got behind the wheel in 13 months. I took a photo in case it was our last.

    The first time I got behind the wheel in 13 months. I took a photo in case it was our last.

  6. Television. I have my beloved 500 channels back, and sadly, disappointingly, there’s nothing to watch.  (except WCCB of course 😉
  7. Strangely, I am surprised to see so many people in workout clothes/loungewear. I can’t wait to unpack mine.
  8. Dang, people actually do their hair here. I knew that reprieve wouldn’t last.
  9. In a city with a zillion mega-grocery stores, I’m still looking for good bread…
  10. Everything seems so cheap here (compared to Paris). I went out to eat with my kids and the bill was $16. I called the waitress over and told her she’d made a mistake, and left the kids’ meals off the bill. Nope, all three meals were there. This same meal in Paris would have been easily 50 euros (more than $60).

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