Totally Frenched Out

From the blogger formerly known as Samdebretagne

Thursday, September 16, 2010

In all the moving hubbub, I completely forgot about my Franciversary! Seven (long) years ago, I very naively gave up my career, family & friends and moved to France. I admit there were a few times when I thought "If only I could go back and tell pre-France Ksam to not do it, to not go". But no regrets baby.

It's been a long ride, with probably more downs than ups, but it's made me who I am today. And I'm happy to say that after all of this time, I feel like I'm moving forward again. I finally have what I had when I left the US at the ripe old age of 23 - a good job, a good man, a decent apartment and good friends. That was always one of the most frustrating things to me about having moved to France - it was such a huge step back for me, both personally and professionally. And granted, this is not where I thought I'd be at 30, but I'm okay with the directions things are heading.

But most of all, I'm glad I stuck it out. I'm glad I decided to stay. I'm glad I took the time to discover myself again and I'm glad I didn't just rush into another relationship. And to C's credit, he, unlike all the others, knew how to be patient. He took his time and didn't force things (even though part of me fought it all the way, as I'm sure a few dear friends can attest to!). But ever so slowly, I found myself opening up to him. And now here we are living together. In an apartment that is just all kinds of awesome.

So yeah. Seven years later, I'm not anywhere near where I started, but that's okay. I guess it's like they say - it's about the journey, not the destination, right?

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14 Comments:

Blogger Jennifer said...

Congratulations!

September 16, 2010 at 10:34 AM  
Blogger Sarah said...

Nice to hear you're doing so well, Sam. Congrats on sticking it out!

September 16, 2010 at 12:04 PM  
Blogger Anon said...

A lesson in perseverance!

Happy seven years.

Linda

September 16, 2010 at 2:01 PM  
Blogger Oneika said...

Fantastic! Congrats!

September 16, 2010 at 3:16 PM  
Blogger Leah said...

Happy 7th Franciversary to you!

September 16, 2010 at 7:35 PM  
Blogger Animesh said...

Congratulations!

September 16, 2010 at 11:10 PM  
Blogger wcs said...

"...all the others."
Ahem.

And happy Franciversary!

September 17, 2010 at 8:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats! I think I have you beat by a year, I arrived summer 2002, so that means 8 years now... I am waiting for 10 years to celebrate!

September 17, 2010 at 2:10 PM  
Blogger au soleil levant said...

Happy Franciversary! Congratulations on sticking it out through the tough times and arriving at where you are today - living in Paris, employed, in a great apartment, with a wonderful guy. Champagne is in order!

September 17, 2010 at 8:39 PM  
Blogger Samantha Vérant said...

Seven years! Seven, my lucky number. Félicitations!

September 18, 2010 at 10:30 AM  
Blogger A (Parisian) Seattleite back in Seattle said...

It's been 7 years for me too. Some days I can't believe I've been here that long. Time flies...

September 20, 2010 at 8:41 PM  
Blogger Michele said...

Congrats on 7 years in France! It's only been 3 for me and I can't imagine how you've done it!

September 21, 2010 at 12:33 AM  
Blogger One Sparkly Life said...

Congrats on not only reaching the milestone but having learnt the lessons on the jounrey along the way. These are what have allowed you to becoem the awesome person you are today.

Hope you celerbated with fitting amounts of champagne.

September 24, 2010 at 9:24 AM  
Blogger Sedulia said...

Hello Sam,
Wow! I hadn't been back for a while, since I moved to the States for three years and just got totally back into being American. Now I'm about to go back to Paris, and it looks as if you have been through a lot that I've missed. I'm trying to figure it out from the blogposts, but it's not always easy!
Anyway, wishing you all the best, and I'm glad you're in Paris.

September 28, 2010 at 7:49 PM  

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