Living abroad

[nikki1920]

I lived in (West) Germany for three years. The Germans LOVED black folks, they certainly took to me as a 5 year old child. My family and I went to Paris three weeks before we left in '85, and again, we got the same treatment. All I remember is riding the Metro and there being a lot of people who wanted to touch my hair. I've found that if you make an effort to speak their language they are quick to help you out, usually in English.

Girl, enjoy this chance to live abroad!!! Your French will come back to you in a heartbeat. I went to Spain in HS, and I can write my butt off en espanol, but speaking it took a minute to click. A minute = about two days. As you are constantly bombarded with French, it all comes back. You will be fine!!!

Just remember to check in with GC and send us lots and lots of pictures.

Bring me back a French man, too, please! :P

[lovelyivy84]

Girl if I find some nice, handsome Frenchman I am KEEPING him.

The best thing about having locs is that I have no hair worries- I have maintained my locs on my own from day one, so I can go anywhere in the world and be set.

RefinedDiva- Thanks for the link! I think you sould definitely go for it as well. I know that living abroad is something that anyone who is blessed to HAVE the opportunity to do should experience, it's just scary!

Originally Posted by nikki1920

I lived in (West) Germany for three years. The Germans LOVED black folks, they certainly took to me as a 5 year old child. My family and I went to Paris three weeks before we left in '85, and again, we got the same treatment. All I remember is riding the Metro and there being a lot of people who wanted to touch my hair. I've found that if you make an effort to speak their language they are quick to help you out, usually in English.

Girl, enjoy this chance to live abroad!!! Your French will come back to you in a heartbeat. I went to Spain in HS, and I can write my butt off en espanol, but speaking it took a minute to click. A minute = about two days. As you are constantly bombarded with French, it all comes back. You will be fine!!!

Just remember to check in with GC and send us lots and lots of pictures.

Bring me back a French man, too, please! :P

[AKA_Monet]

You will LOVE Paris, then. What helped me is that I said, I cannot speak French in "Francaise", then I said: Je parle Anglais... And they appreciated that more than me struggling and butchering their language... Then after a week, Parisiens started asking me in French about directions, I was shock!!!

Also, when some folks find out you are from Etais Unis, their interested is peaked. When I said I was California, they were more excited--don't know why?

And a close childhood friend moved there and lives there for years. She's fluent in 3-5 different languages. Anyhow she said it takes 2-3 months for you to express yourself in French. But overall getting around, buying food and reading signs, if you have been quizzed and did well on your infinitifs, then you should be fine within a week or so.

The other thing is when you want a salad with all tomatoes, etc. ask for "Salade compose' (can't do the accent on this computer)"... LOL. Didn't figure that one out for awhile.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by lovelyivy84

Girl if I find some nice, handsome Frenchman I am KEEPING him.

The best thing about having locs is that I have no hair worries- I have maintained my locs on my own from day one, so I can go anywhere in the world and be set.

LOL! You would be set, too. The Frenchmen loooooooove the black women. I never saw so many white male/black female pairings. All age combinations, everything. The black men in Paris are faw-ine as well.

I was in Paris last year, and yeah--you can definitely use Visa anywhere. Even American Express, too, since it's a major city. There are HSBC and Citibank ATMS around town as well.

This is such a cool experience. I would give anything to be back in Paris again.