Parlez vous Francaise? Non. (Well, not yet)

When Richard and I were working through our pages and pages of pros/cons for buying a business in France, one of the big cons for me is that I do not speak French. Now, it is not just that I don’t speak the language, it is the fact that I am absolutely horrible at learning languages. Some people have the gift - they can pick up the sounds of a new language and flow easily from the sounds and structure of one language into the sounds and structure of another language. I do not have that gift. Point of fact : after two years of high school Spanish, the end result is that I can count to ten and ask, “Where is the bathroom?”

So, when your spouse, who is fluent in conversational French and has a true gift for learning languages, tells you that the course he is currently attending in France regarding the food and beverage laws is one of the most difficult things that he has ever done, you do what any rational person in my situation would do. You panic!

I suddenly envisioned myself living in France and never having another conversation with a living soul there. I was going to have to don a beret and mime to people. Maybe the people of the town would all think that Richard’s wife was unfortunately mute and throw euros in a tin cup on the bar for me out of pity. Yes, my panic was at epic levels!

Luckily, in the midst of this horrible state of panic that I was in, I was also texting with one of my closest friends, Paula. Paula and I have worked on numerous cases together, we have helped keep each other going through numerous deadlines, through trials, and through travels all over the U.S. and Europe. Through our many hours of working together we also became work sisters. We have laughed together. We have cried together. And most importantly we have always pushed each other on - reminding each other of not only of how much we’ve already accomplished and but also of how much we are still capable of accomplishing. And Paula reminded me last night that I can do this!

I knew that Richard and I making this adventure work was going to take our village - our network of family and friends who care about us and are taking this journey along with us. Last night was the first time I really needed that village. So, this morning I am back to myself again. I put on my amour - a bracelet that says “Dream. Believe. Achieve” - and I am ready to take on learning French again! Parlez vous Francaise? Oui!