The treasures we found in our new house!

A story about art, perception and love After months and months of house hunting, we finally found The One ! Everybody agrees it’s a great family place, gigantic garden, so much light.. All is perfect until you look up at the ceiling.. “too gross!” for the kids “incredibly vulgar” according to our neighbor “a masterpiece, you must keep it! you’ve got a real treasure!” begs … Continue reading The treasures we found in our new house!

esteleaMarch 13, 2023March 13, 20236 Comments

Culture shock, Europe bound, Expat, expatriation, France, impatriation

Et les enfants? ils doivent être contents d’être en France!

(Ou les defis de retour d’expatriation pour un ado..) A quel moment ai-je cligné des yeux et raté la transformation de “Miss Triple A” en pré-ado irrascible et tellement négative? Comment peut elle passer de vrais moments de maturite à d’autres où elle est tellement illogique, impulsive et si emotive? Moi qui pensais que notre impatriation en France serait facile pour elle, je tombe des … Continue reading Et les enfants? ils doivent être contents d’être en France!

esteleaNovember 3, 20215 Comments

challenges, covid, Culture shock, Europe bound, Expat, expatriation, Family, France, My 2 cents worth, parenthood, Uncategorized

“Et ce retour, ça se passe comment?”

20 ans en Asie, 3 en Afrique, et des poussières aux Etats Unis, peut encore parler de “retour” quand on a passé la moitié de sa vie “dehors”? Où est “la maison” pour une famille qui s’est créée en Inde avant de grandir au Sri Lanka, en Thaïlande, aux Philippines, au Vietnam, et pour laquelle “France” ne signifiait que “grandes vacances et cousinades”? Un départ … Continue reading “Et ce retour, ça se passe comment?”

esteleaSeptember 28, 202114 Comments

Europe bound, Family

Monday Window Challenge: Date in Paris

Would that seem like a good enough Christmas present for you? or which romantic city would you choose? (Thanks for helping in shortlisting our honeymoon options 😉 ) In Response to Monday Window Challenge Continue reading Monday Window Challenge: Date in Paris

esteleaDecember 12, 2016December 16, 201613 Comments

Culture shock, expatriation, Me, My 2 cents worth

I am French, laic, democrat and feminist. Yet I don’t understand the burkini ban

I am French therefore I love complaining. It is in my DNA. When I read about the French new combat on the infamous Burkini invading our beautiful beaches, I should have reacted strongly. Yet I still don’t understand the fuss. Why? I am a proud feminist, anti clerical and a born democrat. Still .. Blame it on 20 years away from home. On meeting people from … Continue reading I am French, laic, democrat and feminist. Yet I don’t understand the burkini ban

esteleaAugust 17, 2016September 6, 201627 Comments

Europe bound, Mundane Monday, Paris

Mundane Monday: Come rain ..

.. Or come shine, Paris is always a good idea! Holidays are over, we landed in Cebu last Friday. I am going through our pictures, and as the temperature here reaches 92F, I recall how Paris welcomed us, full spring swing, with its famous April showers (we actually call them March ones). I love the rain – with a bit of sun . Because you know it won’t … Continue reading Mundane Monday: Come rain ..

esteleaMay 2, 2016May 17, 201635 Comments

Europe bound, Family, Inspiration, Paris, Switzerland

Unplugged in France and Switzerland

We are traveling, hugging, kissing, eating, drinking, laughing,dancing,joking, exploring, discovering, sleeping, listening, admiring, contemplating, announcing, planning and sipping more champagne and espresso … Until we come back from our annual familial vacations in France and Switzerland, you won’t read much from me. In our “modern” world of instant gratifications and quick fixes, I have decided to play it like a rebel : I won’t update my blog before … Continue reading Unplugged in France and Switzerland

esteleaApril 13, 2016May 2, 201627 Comments

France, Paris

Pray for Paris

What a terrible news to wake up to. I am devastated, I know those streets so well, this little theatre, I feel for all the people who were there, for their loved ones. I connected to Facebook right away, thanks God my family is safe. I can’t read more news without crying, I can’t believe what has just happened. Again. Frontiers are closed, State of … Continue reading Pray for Paris

esteleaNovember 14, 2015November 23, 201535 Comments

Uncategorized

Guess who hit the headlines today? …

Originally posted on Blog:
Kids on the boat: no, it is not so hard to get used to island life. French Mum, humanitarian, restless explorer and doer on sabbatical in Cebu (Philippines): one Attila in each arm, I am exploring the “toddlers safe” corners of the region, while trying to keep some room for Me. After a decade of humanitarian assignments, Estelea decided to enjoy with… Continue reading Guess who hit the headlines today? …

esteleaSeptember 24, 2015October 1, 201516 Comments

photo101

Photo101: glass, squared (and set for the terrace!)

The challenge is to incorporate glass in today’s image: a window, a mirror, a wine glass, sunglasses, or something else. It doesn’t matter what form the glass takes. How about the must have accessory in the must visit capital? Summer calling! What do your favorite shades look like? dark and classy or the shiniest the best ?.. Continue reading Photo101: glass, squared (and set for the terrace!)

esteleaJune 30, 2015July 8, 201529 Comments