most successful integrations, mine
probably started with the cake I
made to thank my neighbour the
Maire, his wife then wanted the
recipe! By now, on first name terms,
she confided she'd bought some
'special jam' from 'Une Anglaise' at a
Christmas market but that it didn't
taste so good on her croissant
on Christmas morning - she had
bought mincemeat by mistake... I
now bake them mince pies each
year!
Invitations to dine were
accepted graciously and I later
discovered that they thought the
English can't cook! Their fascination
with traditional English fare, such
as roasts served with a wide variety
of vegetables was only superseded
by their interest in steamed
puddings. They were perplexed by
mint jelly "why confiture (jam) with
gigot (lamb) ?" but became instant
converts. And when it comes
to Christmas meals, I've almost
scorched the dining room ceiling
flaming the pudding several times
while they take photographs on
their phones.
Social 'mores' are different
too - an apéro is precisely that
- your neighbours will come for
an hour (always arriving late; it's
France) and depart after an hour
- no lingering around waiting for
supper!
Seasonal celebrations differ
too. Lisa recalls when she and
her family were invited to French
friends who'd managed to obtain
some Christmas crackers. "Each
person pulled both ends of
their own cracker - they now
know sharing is all part of the
celebration!"
Any initial reservations about a
'foreigner' moving to France seem
to disappear very quickly. When
firewood is delivered, neighbours
arrive to give 'un coup de main'.
French friends consider anyone
LEGGETT IMMOBILIER - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN TRUST 25
deciding to move here for good to
have been 'Brexited' and consider it
a very wise decision!
Lisa says "when you're invited
to a French family to join in their
meals you'll know you have been
accepted. We're blessed with our
neighbours who've truly become
good friends, it's made a world of
difference to our life here!"