Diaspora Life
Everyday experiences of living abroad, culture shock, community, raising children, identity.
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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…
