In this advent season, our second one living in our French village, the girls have been growing more excited as Christmas approaches. At 8 and 5 they are very aware now of the signs to look for.
Ruby had been asking about the snowman that’s in the road, so when we were walking home after school I knew there would be some excited girls when they saw him lit up en route.
As we approached the local bar with its lighted up Christmas tree their excitement seemed to reach a crescendo. It was the 6th December, the feast of Saint Nicholas and there he was passing out bon bons to the children. They were all invited inside for a hot chocolate and petite pastries for their goûter.
The man who runs the bar was very kind and, knowing I was English and recognizing my bemused expression, made sure I knew that we were welcome to come in and share.
That evening was the yearly Telethon were the village collects for disabled children. We left the house in the cold to go to the village hall. Traditional French dancing was held there which the girls loved. There were women dressed in the costumes of La Manche too.
All this is in contrast to what has been happening in the UK. The election has been raging, but I’ve only been half aware of it as our lives are here.
This is despite the stakes being high for us. Nevertheless the reality is that we are no longer immersed in that world, even as we are on the periphery of this.
When I woke up to the election result it was with some trepidation. Inevitable really. Yet unlike much of Twitter I don’t see the vote as evidence of a society descending into rabid, right wing xenophobia. Rather one faced with a self evident difficult choice, following on from years of watching the political establishment engage in repeated maneuverings, whilst blaming the electorate for their failures.
I’m obviously not a fan of Brexit. I’m disappointed and concerned with the result and sympathise very much with those who voted to remain in their belief that European ties formalised within the EU are a barrier against division.
I did after all vote with my feet post Brexit by moving with my family to France.
Yet even from that point of view I found the parties stances unclear, in terms of Labour, with all the leaders seeming to have serious personality flaws.
What the election process has made clear for me is that I must make a focus this year of integrating into this society more. To stop allowing the language barrier to deter me, which at times it does, and make myself reach out and engage in this community.
I’ve said many times that I can function well in French and many French people have commented on my proficiency, however learning the language is hard and tiring. I’m afraid that I’ve avoided situations at times because of this.
We’ve made friends though and I hope to deepen those friendships and develop more. I’m coming up with a plan how to do this and I’ll share that with you soon.
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