For Americans who just heard about the election oh, this week, or are a little confused on socialism, 11 candidates in the first round of elections, and what “FN” or “centrist” means in a French context: I’m here to share my experience. (Note: this is a superficial overview and based on my own understanding; I invite you to learn more on your own from more reputable sources.) … More An American Rundown on the French Election
After 8 fairly sleepless hours on the plane, the cabin lights clicked on and I realized they were serving breakfast. It felt like I had barely blinked since the weird chicken in some sort of creamy sauce had been served, and suddenly an unidentifiable pastry was being placed before me. I checked the time on … More How to Live in Two Time Zones
A little over a year ago I was in a bar celebrating the French Rugby team’s qualification for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It was monumental. Rugby 7s had never before been an olympic sport, and the French team had never set foot in an olympic arena. On the evening that I celebrated France’s qualification for the games, I celebrated … More The Olympian from Afar
I walked in and immediately dropped my stuff by the nearest table, relieved to finally be able to be in my little safe haven, tucked away from the fickle Paris weather. “Tu vas bien ?” A familiar face asked. “Ouf, oui, mais j’ai trop faim,” I replied as I plopped myself down in a chair. … More How It Feels to Be at Home
I pass them every single day. I recognize them. The man in the metro who walks around with a small, dirty espresso cup after he plays the same, disjointed melody that might be Frank Sinatra, might be his own composition, on his clarinet. The heavy set woman with her hair covered who sits on a little … More The War on Pain
It’s raining again. The weather has become a popular topic of conversation these days. When I pass the cleaning man in my apartment building as I head out for a run, and he asks how I’m doing, I smile and tell him that I’m doing well, and himself? And he tells me he’s well too, happy … More A Sunless Summer in Paris
I ate my salad standing up, as I watched my steak gristle in the pan with the butter, onions, and mushrooms that I had tossed in. A TEDxtalk played on my phone next to me as I watched my sizzling meat, glancing over every now and then to see the charts that the speaker was … More Living in the Belly of the City of Lights
Someone knocked on the door. “Uh, Linet, someone’s at the door!” I called out, unsure if I should answer it. A face popped into view through the window next to the metal door, and Dorcas’ eyes peered in. Her short hair, cropped close to her head, bobbed as she nodded in greeting. Though I had only seen … More How Making Friends and Understanding Culture Are Directly Tied
Right now, I feel more myself than I have in a long time. Over the course of the past year, I have often found myself struggling with a sense of who I am in the context of different environments. I’ve been somewhat identified by my “background.” I’m Kate from Houston, Texas; Kate the American; Kate who is half … More A Cross Cultural Identity Crisis
12 months, 2 weeks, and 1 day ago, I moved to Paris. 2 weeks and 1 day ago, I moved back. Since arriving back in the United States and moving back to Nashville, there are a lot of things that have felt very different in ways that I sometimes find hard to articulate. Behind me, … More How “The Transition” Is Going
The Transition Artist 