Our Town

I found a site with a little photo slideshow of our town. Click on the link below to view the images, then click on the yellow button below the picture to view a short slideshow of our town of Billom.

http://www.destination-photos.com/index.php?choix=Billom&way=

Ethnic Bazaar

It's 3:55 AM and I am up blogging. I woke up at 2:47 AM and haven't been able to go back to sleep. What's on my mind? A bilingual, multi-ethnic baby "coffee"! Ever heard of that? Me either, but I am all about new challenges and I am supposed to know about cross-cultural communication by now, right? Uh, yeah...I am just not sure how proficient I am at it currently.

I have three close American friends who would like to host a baby "shower" for me. I am so excited, because I love parties like that! How much fun to get to see all my friends in one place at one time! But here's the catch, all of my friends here don't speak the same language or even come from one or even two different cultures and the "baby shower" tradition doesn't exist in the French culture in which we all live. I read a blog about it that said that the main problems with this concept in the French mentality are that celebrating the birth of the baby before it is born is bizarre to them as they are more superstitious than American parents and the traditional "just girls" type of shower is strange as well since they prefer more mixed gatherings.

No problem, you say, just explain to your friends that this is an American tradition, and that they will love it. That is the easy answer if one is fluent in French already and there aren't cross-cultural communication issues. I decided that I would like to have a "coffee" in lieu of a "shower" as I have already been showered with so much from my friends that have older children and I still have lots of baby girl things from SA. I just want to have a get-together where everyone can have a chance to meet each other and I can see all my friends at one time before CG arrives when I will need to turn my focus to her rather than focusing on building friendships-(one of my main focuses since moving here).

This afternoon, I called a French friend to verify her address for the invitation and explained that some friends would be having a "coffee" for me and that I wanted to invite her. I could tell that she was a little clueless. I am hoping that I will see her at church again on Sunday (along with 6 other French ladies) so I can explain better in person, and that the French version of the invitation that I worked on with the help of my beloved bilingual and most helpful friend, F, will communicate better than I can explain it. Later, I talked with my friend from Singapore who, although fluent in English and familiar with the American "baby shower", thought that it was an event for the entire family. I am hoping that the names on the invitations take care of this misunderstanding so that my poor hostesses won't be overrun by husbands and children along with my lady guests. We picked a Saturday afternoon in the hopes that we could have an event with "just the girls". This is an infrequent occurrence for us young moms, but I feel that it is often much needed. When I am not chasing around my toddler I feel better able to connect with friends- guess that's because it's actually possible to maintain eye contact, carry on a conversation, etc- and everyone enjoys a break from "mommy duty" now and then, don't you think?

I am hoping that the non-American Anglophones (English, Australian, and Nigerian) will "get" the whole "before the birth baby celebration" concept without too much explanation or confusion. Mostly, I just want everyone to be comfortable and to feel that they are an important part of my and CG's life. It would be great if everyone were able to understand and communicate with each other, but knowing that won't be entirely possible, I am hoping for the best!

Mommy 201

I should be stripping wallpaper. I have been putting it off and resting - and shopping for SA as she has grown out of everything quite suddenly. However, with just 6 weeks to go until Catherine Grace arrives, I am trying to focus on taking care of everything that we need for her too. We went stroller shopping today. It will take 6-8 weeks for a stroller to come in if we don't want to just take the lovely orange color that is available in the store. Bummer. D and I were laughing over a cup of tea earlier that one can't just walk into the store and just buy something. Even when we bought a used car off the lot, it took a couple of weeks to get it ready. I have no idea why. Apparently it is at least a month if you buy a new one.

Ok, so I have been in Mommy 101 for 2 years, and now I am graduating to Mommy 201. Help!? I have been wondering how I am going to have enough hands for 2 children. I suppose that this is a common concern whenever the second child arrives, but I would love to get some advice from those of you seasoned mothers before my day comes. My toddler does not like to be confined to her stroller, but this is the only way to ensure that she is not out of control in stores. Obviously this is a matter for prayer and discipline (and believe you me, I am working on it) but for now, that is the reality. Hand holding only works for about 5 minutes. Falling on the floor is another trick for having us carry her which I physically cannot do for much longer. We tried a harness/ leash contraption once that was ok for the airport as I felt like a cruel parent not to allow her out of the stroller or carseat during 19 hours of travel and I physically couldn't carry her with all of our hand lugggages and the cat, but it is not an everyday solution. I have received mixed reviews about the toddler steps that are available for trailing a stroller. What do y'all think of those? The saleslady today basically talked me out of buying one, because she pointed out that SA would probably not stay on the step/ seat. This was not encouraging.


What do I do at the grocery store when I have to get a buggy and take a newbornand a toddler and buy groceries? I know that the baby carriers are great, but what if the baby is asleep and the poor thing needs to rest in her carseat? One store has those really cute little carts for little kids to push, but I can just imagine mine crashing into the wineracks with it!

Then there is the diaper bag dilemma. I am not a light packer and I have not been able to part with my purse and exchange it for a diaper bag so far. I carry my purse and SA's diaper bag almost everywhere. It is a pain, especially since I am always chasing her and having to open and close doors (not many automatics around here). So I know adding another child as well as another bag is really a dumb idea as I am not an octopus. How does one keep up with all of the diapers, wipes, pull ups, sippy cups, antibacterial gel and wipes (for public toilets while we are potty training), snacks, and other mommy paraphernalia? I can picture myself now with my purse over my shoulder, a large diaper bag backpack, a baby strapped on my front, pushing SA in a stroller. That is crazy! How do you people do it? You mothers of more than one child? I just realized today that the pediatrician's office which is 30 minutes from my house with no public parking lot has about 5 steps before one reaches the elevator. This country is by NO MEANS handicap accessible, so you can imagine how it is for mothers with strollers! I already feel like I don't have enough hands for everything and everybody, but I want to keep walking to the market on Monday mornings in my town and buying fresh produce and bread... I don't know how to transport my purchases and my 2 children home. This American is having a hard time living the French life!


I do enjoy the differences of the French life vs the American life- sometimes. But sometimes I just miss the convenient lifestyle of America oh, so much! The restaurants that serve at whatever time you are ready to eat, take out food for those nights when I am exhausted, automatic doors, smooth surfaces for strollers, Starbucks drive-thrus, frappuccinos, people that bag your groceries, stores that are open whenever you want to shop.....Uh, oh, it's 6:15, I have to get to the grocery before it closes at 7:30!