Follow Jennie and Ward, an American couple, as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime to France. They envisioned a family life full of peace and possibility, adventure and rich cultural experience. The way their journey has played out hasn’t gone as they expected. Once in France, Jennie registered for a year-long intensive French programme. This allowed her to overcome the language barrier and acclimate successfully to her new surroundings. Still, even after all that work, she referred to those first few months as “very lonely” and “scary.”
The enterprising couple purchased a neglected stone structure in the small village of Saint Séverin for around 100,000 euros, or just under $114,000. They put a big chunk of their savings into making it into apartments. They invested another 170,000 euros ($193,000) to renovate the venue. They planned to sell their business and vacation home in the U.S. to support their new life in France. To be clear, their decision was not based solely on this wish for a clean slate.
Ward provided a refreshing contrast to that perspective. He had only lived in the U.S. for three years before that move to France. He ended up having an easier time than Jennie at first in making connections to build community in their new home. Beyond simply missing her relatives, the ensuing language barrier compounded her sense of otherness and isolation.
“Because I didn’t speak French. And I think that’s very, very difficult to be in a foreign country and not speak the language. You don’t understand anything that’s going on.” – Jennie
Initially overwhelmed by her surroundings, Jennie stated, “I didn’t really understand the country at all,” emphasizing the challenges she faced. As Suzanne noted, cultural differences often emerged during simple daily activities, like meal etiquette or eating habits.
“I was like, ‘Whoa, we still have to sit at dinner? They haven’t done the cheese yet?’” – Jennie
Even with these obstacles, Jennings’s commitment to building relationships with French culture inspired her to sign up for language courses. She saw this as “a way to engage more and a pathway to connecting to French culture here.” Eventually, she learned to love how her Danish heritage complemented the French lifestyle.
After working through their early challenges, life for Jennie and Ward was just starting to settle down. Now they are enjoying the blessings of having more free time and being able to run their business, Chez Lolette, from anywhere. They welcomed their new community accordingly and have since established much richer ties to friendship.
“The friendships I found that I’ve made tend to be a lot deeper,” – Jennie
She noted how much deeper her relationships here, in France, were. In comparison, it seemed like her relationships in the US weren’t as meaningful. Ward echoed her sentiments about the pace of life in the U.S., stating:
“In the United States, things go very quickly.”
While the US is too hurried in his view, he loves the diverse pace of life within France.
“I love how beautiful and calm life here is and how much time there is for friendship and enjoying daily life,” – Jennie
As they were getting used to their new home, they decided to adopt a Jack Russell Terrier named Teddy. Their three-bedroom home in Saint Séverin, bought for 120,000 euros (about $136,000).
Now apparently as settled as a perhaps internally displaced person can be, Jennie and Ward aren’t planning on coming back to the U.S. anytime soon. Over half a decade into their journey, the couple can look back with both pride and perspective on the difficult path they’ve forged. These first fears have morphed into a solid confidence for Jennie. Today, she glides through her post-accident life, freely tapping into both the Gallic world around her and her own rich Jewish history.
“I had the dream of France … But the dream was not as easy as I thought at all,” – Jennie
