Diaspora Life
Everyday experiences of living abroad, culture shock, community, raising children, identity.
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Three Days in the Beaufortain: Mountains, a Campervan and the Joy of Going Back.
There are mountains that demand to be conquered, and there are mountains that invite you to belong. The Beaufortain belongs to the second category. Nestled in Savoie in the northern French Alps, within sight of the Mont Blanc massif and close to the Vanoise, the Beaufortain remains surprisingly discreet beside some of its more famous Alpine neighbours. Perhaps that is part of its charm. It doesn’t rely on fame to leave an impression. It seduces slowly. This is a landscape shaped as much by people as by nature. Generations of farmers, shepherds, cheesemakers and mountain communities have left their mark here. Tarine and Abondance cows graze on high pastures. And…
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A Magical Weekend in the Vercors: Hiking, Bivouacking and a Super Guide
“Mountains became my compass when I no longer knew where home was”- Lemeria. Some trips stay with you because of the destination. Others stay with you because of the journey. My first multi-day hike in the Vercors will always belong to the second category. We left on a Friday and returned on Sunday, carrying our lives on our backs for three days: a tent, sleeping bags, food, water and everything we thought we might need. And I had one considerable advantage. As a Kenyan still learning the language of the French mountains, I had my super guide. Where Is the Vercors? For readers outside France, the Vercors Massif lies in…
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When the Mountains Listen: A Solo Hike to Col de la Bâthie in the French Alps
Some hikes are about reaching the top. Others are about finding enough silence to hear yourself again. There are moments in life when you do not necessarily need answers. You simply need space. Space away from conversations, expectations, decisions and the constant noise of everyday life. Space to walk, breathe and allow your thoughts to arrive in their own time. For me, that space is increasingly found in the mountains. And living in Savoie, in the French Alps, means I am surrounded by an extraordinary number of them. This time, my feet took me into the Beaufortain massif in southeastern France, for a solo hike from Le Planay to the…
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Understanding the French School System as a parent in the diaspora.
When you move to a new country with children, school quickly becomes one of the most important parts of daily life. It shapes routines, friendships, and how children begin to feel that they belong in a new place.
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Renting a House in France: Expectations vs Reality
When we first started looking for a place to live in France, I assumed the process would be fairly straightforward. You find a home you like, speak with the owner, agree on the rent, and move in.
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Being African in a French Countryside: Curiosity, Kindness, and the Unexpected Moments.
When we first moved to the French countryside, one of the things I noticed almost immediately was how visible we were, how visible i was. In a large city, it is easy to disappear into the rhythm of everyday life. People are busy, streets are crowded, and no one pays much attention to who is walking past them you become invincible. In the countryside, things are different. People notice. They notice when someone new arrives. They notice the car parked outside a house that used to be empty. They notice new children walking to school. And sometimes, they notice that the new family looks different from everyone else. You begin…
