Paulette's Adventures Abroad

JOURNAL ENTRY – Sunday, April 15, 2018 – Argenton-sur-Creuse, France Am just starting to feel the ex-pat downslide that I expected 3-4 months in, but which is hitting me now almost 6 months after coming to France.   Seems to be a combination of loneliness, depression, and frustration with the French way of life/systems, and overall malaise.     Everything’s starting to look and feel the same; the pixie dust in my eyes has been washed out; I’m no longer seeing “la vie en rose” (life “through rose-colored glasses”). I wish I had a partner; I miss the lifelong partner I did have, with whom I indeed once traveled around France. I miss having a partner who could help and share some of the burdens and responsibilities – and the discoveries and beauty. And yet, I do value my independence…. I have to keep reminding myself that this has all along been (supposed to be) an ADVENTURE, not a “life sentence”!   I didn’t feel “done” at the end of my time in the Limousin...

 Today is Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, and it is, indeed, for me a "rebirth".Today marks the end of the first stage (five months) of my new life in France.  I move into the house I am renting in Argenton-sur-Creuse (Centre region, Indre department) in two days.  It is also the last day of the visit of the third friend I have hosted (not counting brother and sister-in-law over Thanksgiving), and their visits have truly provided a validation I wasn't expecting. Part of my "plan" to come here, was to introduce friends (and what little family I still have) to a new region and a new way of life, even as I was exploring and doing it myself.  It seems to have worked out quite well. I want to be sure visitors re-think their impression (if they had one) of France; it's NOT Paris (though I certainly love that city!).  It is all the countryside and villages, towns and cities outside of Paris.  It's the (pre-)history and topography and landsca...