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We Are the World
Lire en français. Yesterday morning, I woke up early, got myself ready, and went off to my last French class ever. It was the culmination of five semesters of studying French — as Moses once put it —...
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The Top Ten Things I’ve Learned While Living in France
A few days ago, I wrote about the second anniversary of my departure for France. I described how my life had changed as a result — about what I had left behind and what I had discovered here. Since...
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Every Beginning is Only a Sequel
That’s what 130 pounds of luggage looks like. © 2012 Samuel Michael Bell, all rights reserved Two years ago today, I left the United States with 130 pounds of stuff packed into 3 bags and a one-way...
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Tomorrow is September 11, but this blogpost won’t focus on the tragedy of that day 10 years ago that will forever mark me and those who witnessed or were personally touched by the events and their...
View ArticleTo Be Born Somewhere
Photo: © 2011 Michel Denis Pouradier, all rights reserved Following on my blog post yesterday about my visit to the prefecture in Bobigny, I wanted to share a slideshow of photos taken during that...
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Feeling insulted, bad burgers, and good ice cream: a Parisian Fourth of July
You might have been wondering what became of me after my first Fourth of July in Paris since 1989, since I didn’t post anything the next day. I promise I wasn’t hungover, but I was sick. Somehow I came...
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A Bitter-sweet Exile
A friend recently posted an article on Facebook about former Manhattanites living in my former hometown of Washington, D.C. Manhattanites exiled to Washington search for fellow sufferers is a humorous...
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The Fabulous Destiny of …
© 2008, Ryan James Four years ago today, I left the US with a one-way ticket on Air France flight 039, 130 pounds of luggage in tow, a student visa in my passport, a heart full of love, and a head...
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Afterword
Just before the end of last year, I wrote what was supposed to be “the last chapter” of je parle américain as you know it, because I planned to transform the blog into something entirely new. As it...
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We Are the World
Lire en français. Yesterday morning, I woke up early, got myself ready, and went off to my last French class ever. It was the culmination of five semesters of studying French — as Moses once put it —...
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The Anatomy of a Visa Renewal
I took some of my Facebook friends by surprise yesterday morning when I posted that I was back at the prefecture. “Why are you there AGAIN?!“ was one very legitimate reaction. After all, wasn’t I just...
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The Fabulous Destiny of …
© 2008, Ryan James Four years ago today, I left the US with a one-way ticket on Air France flight 039, 130 pounds of luggage in tow, a student visa in my passport, a heart full of love, and a head...
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Closing the Loop
I did it again. I let weeks and weeks go by without writing anything for the blog. I’m sorry about that. I’ve had some news to share with you, but I’ve been (1) busy with the new job, (2) chronically...
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If you can’t say anything nice …
Hey everybody! Guess what? I have my new family visa residency permit! I picked it up this morning at the sub-prefecture in Saint-Denis — the little satellite office of the main prefecture in Bobigny....
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Dénoue-ment
You’ve probably seen yesterday’s post about my fifteenth visit to the prefecture. It was one of my most widely read posts in a while. If you’re not friends with me on Facebook, though, you’re probably...
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Fifteenth time’s the charm!
Tomorrow, I’m heading back to the Prefecture. I’ll be submitting an application to renew my residency permit — this time with a change in status from “student” to “private and family life.” Thanks to...
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At last!
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. So, without further ado, I give you two thousand words packed into what we think are some very pretty pixels … It was obvious to us what was in the...
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A Watched Pot Never Boils
Believe it or not, it’s back to the prefecture tomorrow. If it seems to you like I’m there four or five times a year, it’s because I am! That said, I can’t complain too much this year considering the...
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525,600 minutes
Every August 15, a big anniversary rolls around. August 15, 2010 was the day I left the US with big dreams, 130 pounds of luggage, and a one-way ticket to Charles de Gaulle. The days leading up to the...
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“Signs of Becoming French” (from FUSAC)
Hitchhiking … showing approval … or showing the number “one”? I don’t reblog very often, but sometimes you come across something that’s just too good not to share. While it’s not really a “blog,” FUSAC...
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