We are in the middle of the third trimester now and I think I’m starting to hit a wall. While the weeks approaching delivery seem to be flying by, I’m definitely starting to run low on energy and I can feel the hormones kicking up a notch or two. Everything (except my sweet husband—seriously, he’s a rock…
Tag: Expat
Alpine Adventures
It’s a busy week in Toulouse. Not only did the first Starbucks in the city open this morning (complete with people lined up well outside the door for hours to be the “first in”), it’s also a week marked by ongoing protests over changes to France’s labor laws. The reform under debate makes it easier…
On Castles and Chasms (or a Weekend-End Trip to South-Central France)
“Looks like you’ve made the American version,” said my oh-so-hilarious doctor at my 32-week scan. He’d just informed Matt and me our petite not-so-petite little girl was already weighing in at an estimated and whopping 5.7 pounds. Yep, our feisty, little, French-made bebé, who punched at the ultrasound wand while the doctor was trying to…
Parlez-Vous Française?
Oui, un peu. That was my typical response to someone asking if I speak French until this week. Now, day by day, I can feel myself turning into a French language master! This week I started an intensive French course at Alliance Française, a language school in the heart of the city. I was lucky…
And the Winner is…
Toulouse, France! We’re staying! After a very long, nearly two weeks of limbo, we finally got the word that we can stay here until after our baby is born (though not without some last minute talk of Germany or even Florida—but that’s another story). Though the prospect of Doha was exciting, the ability to stay…
Cologne and Back Again
Today marks seven days of living in limbo from when we were approached about making a last-minute move to Doha from France. On Tuesday, we thought we had the greenlight to go. The very next day, however, we learned of a health insurance challenge the company hadn’t anticipated, so now we’re back to wondering where…
29 Weeks and Limbo
I currently feel like I am stuck in a movie. One where the hero and heroine have faced and overcome some incredible, life-changing obstacles and are starting to walk off into their golden sunset when, suddenly, the storm clouds roll in and a dark villainous voice mocks them saying, “not so fast, my pretties, not…
Frankfurt’s Fab Five: Must-Do’s in “Mainhattan”
Today is our last full day in Frankfurt. We’ve only spent a couple of months here, but I find myself a bit sad to be leaving the city already. Tomorrow we head back to Toulouse where we thought we’d be waiting out the last couple months of my pregnancy. As is the story of our…
A Farewell to Frankfurt
This is a week of beginnings and endings. Today marks the start my third trimester (cue the “Jaws” theme song—she’s coming!). It’s also our last week in Frankfurt. In honor of these last 12ish weeks of pregnancy, I thought I’d share a fun meme I found on Pinterest. Who doesn’t like a little Napoleon Dynamite?…
Micronation, Macro-Fun: A Day in Luxembourg
One of the best things about living in Europe is the ability to visit so many cities and countries on our bucket list. We’ve even discovered some amazing places we didn’t know should be on our bucket list. Take Luxembourg for example. We knew it was a small country sandwiched between France, Belgium and Germany, but we had…
Eat, Drink, Move (Repeat) 