It's 48 hours from our flight home and we are reflecting on our time in Europe. This trip was far more enriching than I ever could have imagined. We travelled more and learned more than I expected, especially about art, medieval history, and the World Wars. We spent the most time as a family as I imagine we ever will. The kids played with each other more, likely more than they ever will again. Scott and I had time for real conversations.
On the down side, it rained more, I cleaned more, did more laundry, spent more time driving the kids to school, read more facebook, and washed more dishes than ever. Also, I ate and drank more, was fun at the time but lousy at the end when I have to step back on the scale in Richmond. The kids would say they had fewer playdates, no TV, and difficult toilets.
For the last two weeks we have been on a wonderful vacation from sabbatical. (My friend Colleen coined it "vacation squared") First we had a week in the countryside in SW France. We rented a lovely 19th century house in a very small village, with a pool. We walked to the bakery and market, and took day trips to castles, bastides, and the beach. My wonderful nephew Jake came with us, and conversed and tasted wine with the adults, and then played in the pool with the kids. His presence made it one of Scott's and my best vacations ever.
We dropped Jake off at Charles De Gaulle to fly home and then headed by Eurostar to south-east England to a medieval village, Sandwich. Despite being desperately close to Lille as the crow flies, the weather has been glorious. We took day trips to Canterbury and London by train, and saw a glorious garden today. We have rejoiced in thai, indian and fish and chips dinners. But already we are missing our french bakeries and cheese, and French prices. It's also taking us a little time to adjust to the fact we don't need to speak french to buy something, ask directions, or ask a boy in the park to play soccer.
Scott and I are so grateful to have had this opportunity at this point in the kids' lives. First, and I don't say this lightly, their legs were long enough and they had enough stamina to keep up with us as we walked many miles in a day, many, many times. The kids complained only when they had a real reason to do so. They appreciated art and history (not perfectly but better than I hoped). They adjusted to a stunningly different school, where an hour most days was spent learning chinese ...in french.
Scott and I reveled in the break from the ordinary rush of life. We had time to contemplate where we've been and where we're going, pay closer attention to politics and world events and enjoy being a family. As this wonderful adventure draws to a close, I encourage you to start planning that adventure you have been dreaming about.
Signing off from "Gronerts in France"
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| Pop-up playground on tthe wall of the Seine |
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| Cousins |
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Contemplating the next move. One of forty games at a castle in SW France.    Evidence that Scott and I were here together.  Spectacular garden in Sandwich  Doesn't this cosmos look like a cupcake wrapper?  |
Thank you for sharing your lovely post! I have enjoyed following your adventures. I hope we can catch up in person when you are back in the RVA.
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