Across the Loom

I've had a contemplative week. I was a touch homesick and am processing some cultural challenges. I also voted in the Canadian Federal election and I have exciting musical plans for September!

I've had a good week. I hit another milestone, planted my balcony garden, hosted my first apéro, watched a beautiful yet confusing parade and more. And we had sun!

This week was more productive as I accomplished some of the tasks on my to-do list. And I went on an excursion with a group of seniors! Here is this week's blog.

I've had a fairly quiet week. I enjoyed time with friends here and in Canada and I successfully avoided nearly all the tasks on my to do list. This week's blog is light on text but I've included a song that soothes when I'm overwhelmed and pictures to show that spring is emerging in the south of France.

I've been thinking a lot about what it means to settle in France. One friend recently commented that many people who make cross-cultural moves hit a wall at the 6-10 month mark. Other friends said that it can take a full 7 years to feel like you belong in a new country. In today's blog, I look at the cross-cultural cycle of adjustment. I also share an empowering moment of clarity, list some of the things that brought me joy this week and celebrate International Women's Day with a song.

I work on the blog through the week, do a final check on Saturday morning, then post it. Seeing the fear, anxiety and anger expressed by many of my friends on social media this morning gave me pause. I had a good week - an extravagent week - and I don't want to appear tone deaf. But I also hear from many people that reading the blog is part of their Saturday morning routine and I think routines are important. So I've decided to post, in part because the purpose of the blog is to document my life in France, but also in the hope that the photos bring a moment of beauty into your life.

I found it very hard to write a post this week. I'm still in the process of moving (spreading it out over a month is not ideal!) so I'm tired and off-kilter. I'm also anxious, like so many others, because of the goings-on in the world. And I didn't get out of town like I have many other weeks, nor did I take out my camera. I almost gave up on writing it - I figured it was okay to skip a week - but decided that, more than just having a desire to meet my commitment of a weekly blog, I simply needed to write. It's not my best post - it's a bit rambling and out of focus like the photo at the top - but I'm posting it as perfectly imperfect.

When I started to write the blog earlier this week, it was going to be meaningful and heartfelt. Then I spent the last few days trying to manage a sciatica flare-up and just couldn't get to it. Instead, I'll show you a few photos from my new home.

As I slowly move my belongings to my new apartment - I'm taking my time and easing into it - I find myself craving familiarity. I'm also a bit homesick so, in this week's blog, I'm stepping away from France to share photos of and music from Canada.

I'm halfway through my first year here! My week was defined by administrative tasks and socializing. I also spent an afternoon in Narbonne taking photos, checking out the architecture and exploring the city's Roman history.

I almost didn't post a blog this week. I was distracted and didn't take my weekly trip out of town, so I didn't think I had any engaging photos. I also didn't think I had anything to say. Then the week progressed with some exciting news!

I reached a significant milestone this week! In today's blog, I share my achievements, one of my favourite pieces of music and some photos from an afternoon spent in Mèze, a small town on the Étang de Thau.

Greetings! This week, I change up the structure of the blog a little bit. And I talk about beauty and curiosity, missing Toronto and dreams. I recommend a Youtube clip, share a song that is relevant to this chaotic world, share a few photos and more. Thank you for being here!

I've been trying to find a way to sum up the year in a way that is concise but also conveys its significance. I'm not sure it's possible, but here are a few words, a couple of songs and some photos from Morocco where I've been since just before Christmas. A year to cherish As … Continue reading 2024: A year to cherish

In words reminiscent of the great Charlie Brown: Christmastime is here, happiness and cheer. It's been a busy time and I look forward to escaping for a bit. More on that below. I've added a translation button to the blog! It should be hovering in the bottom left corner of the page and you can … Continue reading Week 20

As I settle in, it gets harder to find things to write about. My practical challenges are pretty mundane these days. The entry phone for my apartment isn't working but it hasn't had much of an impact on me. My admin tasks are complete for now, and I'm getting the hang of when to turn … Continue reading Week 19

It's been a quiet week - a bit of socializing, some sniffling through a head cold and a lot of solitude. I'm choosing not to share all the deep thoughts that come with this kind of week - some of them still need processing and some are simply of the navel-gazing variety. As a result, … Continue reading Week 18

I feel like I'm getting into a nice rhythm these days. Here's how my week went. Challenges I attended the Photo Club again this week. I joined the club to improve my French but now realize how lazy I've become as a photographer. I'm challenged to improve my technical skills. My photos are good but, … Continue reading Week 17

Quiet time leads to introspection. I've had more of a thinking week than a doing week, so bear with me as I share some thoughts. It also just occurred to me that Lessons would be a better word to use as a heading than Learnings. It seems obvious, but I've had a few other things … Continue reading Week 16

I've had a wonderful week away. I didn't go far - just to the Midi-Pyrénées for a few days. It would have taken 2.5 hours to drive from Pézenas if I'd had a car. Big IF. There's a recurring challenge there. Let me get the Learnings and Challenges out of the way before I lean … Continue reading Week 15