Well what can I say, France has fascinated me since I was 12 years old. No I wasn’t spoilt enough to have visited France so young, but French class at school definitely caught more of my attention than maths or science.

Unlucky for me, a keen interest in French wasn’t going to be the only subject that would get me through my high school examinations, but it has definitely maintained some sanity in my current weekly rituals. I am currently still speaking French along with my fabulous tutor, Elisabeth Rosinel.

I absolutely love my lessons with Elisabeth. They are an hour and half of my week, sometimes longer because we get caught up in deep discussion, where I connect with another language. It takes me away from the every day and encourages me to reflect on my life, my passions and my visions but in a way that also challenges me.

Let’s face it, when trying to engage in a discussion, in a foreign language, there are always phrases and the use of slang that we do not understand. That is why I love it. I learn how to speak “everyday French” and the discussions are all related to mine and Elisabeth’s current life challenges.

When I travelled through France, I was able to completely immerse myself in the culture. I managed to walk each town and city I visited, finding small fascinating corners that i just had to capture.

I loved walking past old buildings, some busy with people and others boarded up with remnants of what was once there. I also loved the vibrancy of the buildings especially in the older parts of towns. Nice is one that really stands out in my memory…

Paris, the “city of love”, is not such a city of love when one has to live there. Unlike the beautiful and welcoming country towns of France, Paris can be a may hem if grumpy business people and annoying tourists. But I always managed to find peace during my days wandering around Paris. The galleries were always my first stop and while walking through the Museé D’Orsay I captured this beautiful view, Montmatre a gorgeous icon of Paris and it’s many facets.

It has been some time since I have had the pleasure of traveling to another country and exploring everything it has to offer. But when I do manage to travel, I find it is the most amazing source of inspiration and gives me the space to explore and develop new ideas and visions of my own.

For the time being, my French lessons are giving  me just that…

A Bientôt