Yes, I’m in and even unpacked!

Béziers, France

22 June 2024

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m sorry for keeping you in suspense, I’ve been a little busy the past few weeks. I became an apartment owner in Béziers’ centre ville on June 13. I was so excited.

I couldn’t help myself and I began moving in immediately. Construction zones and cats are not a great mix, so I was anxious to introduce Manny and Moe to the apartment. They made themselves at home without delay.

On the 15th I moved my boxes from Jan and Lisa’s. The unpacking took most of a week. I am so tired of washing dishes, but I washed and put away my kitchen stuff so not only is it accessible it’s ready to be used. It sure is nice to have my own dishes, cutlery, cups, glasses and cookware. It took me a minute to figure out the oven, and I haven’t really used it yet, but it sure is nice to have one. The stove works and I’ve cooked a couple of simple meals.

It’s going to take some time to get used to living on a pedestrian street and to having a ceiling that causes people to stop and stare, particularly in the evening when the lights are on.

Below is a completely unrelated picture of Moe, acting like he is lord of the manor as he watches me type. I just couldn't resist sharing.

A year ago, I really couldn’t have imagined I would be here in this place. I can’t believe it’s been six months since I arrived in France. I know a few more words. I can get around by bus and train. I have a new network of friends. I’m getting into the health system. I’m getting acclimated to shopping and the different things that are or are not available here.

I can’t really describe what it’s like, it’s a lifestyle change for sure but it’s about experiencing life in another culture. There is so much to learn, experience, explore, and discover. Sometimes it’s simple things like learning how to recycle or what kind of insurance I need. And it’s not simply a matter of translating French into English, sometimes it’s just not possible to translate an experience or custom.

If you think those contracts that you get with technology or software are difficult to understand and impossible to read, try that in a foreign language. I wonder what hidden evil I’ve agreed to in the pages of fine print when it is written in English, now I really don’t have a clue what I’m agreeing to in all the mountains of legalize that come with so much of life these days.

The fun parts of experiencing the culture really do make it worth the effort.  The food and wine aren’t the only parts of the culture that are fun to explore. Yesterday was the Fête de la Musique. On the longest day of the year, when summer is just beginning, France celebrates music in a big way. There is music everywhere you turn. During the afternoon I was treated to a live performance in the street outside my apartment. In the evening there were performances throughout the center of Béziers, and as I understand from reading about it on the Minister of Culture’s website, throughout France.  There was every style you could imagine, classical choral music at the Cathedral, jazz and pop at the town hall, a wind ensemble in the park, Gypsy Kings on the Allées, just to mention a few of the many performances scattered about.

The weather was perfect, 70 degrees at 10 pm, my kind of weather for sure. And at 10 pm, throughout the entire summer, the musical fountain plays amidst a colorful display of lights. Adding to the fun of it all, it is a small village, and I can’t help but run into friends.

This above picture is the luminaria display in front ot the fountain. Check out Instagram for a snippet of the musical fountain.

I’m super excited to have Brad Case visiting in the coming week. He will be the first guest to stay in my new home. Yikes, I should go now and find some sheets for the guest bed!

I hope you are all enjoying summer!

Bonne Journée !