In the life of any expatriate, there is this special relationship with the “mother country” as we call it in France. Some have decided to turn their back to their country of origin, criticizing it everytime they can with a bit of dishonesty. Some others, on the contrary have forgotten all the bad parts of their original country, haven’t always decided their country of expatriation and are projecting an innocent, perfect nostalgic image of their home country. Everything would be better there and all the problems we face here are the fault of our new inadequate new country.
So, to avoid this kind of unrealistic relationship with our country of origin, France, we’re going back there at least 2-3 times a year. So that we don’t lose the bond with our family and friends also. Traditionally, we went back to France this summer, playing the perfect August tourist to enjoy the long summer evenings, barbecues, “pétanque” games, energetic baths in the (cold) Atlantic and even a small boat trip on the Seine river in Paris.
And not to feel a bit frustrated to have done “nothing”, because seeing places we know already doesn’t count, we made a détour by North Italy (Bologna and Florence), so that we can stuff ourselves with some perfect pasta, italian delicatessen and classic architecture.

So when we came back to India, filled with Europe and calm, we were ready to continue to try to make a niche for ourselves in this fascinating and irritating, energizing and exhausting country that is India.