Ski Trip

This past February my son and I took advantage of the opportunity to go skiing at Tignes/Val d'Isère in the French Alps.  The area is located in the center of the triangle formed by three former Winter Olympics sites (Grenoble in 1960, Albertville in 1992, Turin in 2006).  The facilities were excellent with 480 hectares (1186 acres) of marked runs and 3200 hectares (7907 acres) of off-piste skiing with something for every interest and ability.  The town offers many restaurants, shops and activities such as ice skating, swimming (indoor pool and hole in the ice in the lake), snowmobiling and bowling.  Night skiing is not an option but you may go night sledding (with helmet and light) along-side one of the ski runs.  We were blessed with excellent weather and condition.  As the saying goes, "A good time was had by all."

A Couple of Laughs

A couple of humorous experiences came to mind this past week.

When the movers arrived at our house I identified which items were designated for storage, which were to go to Norway and the few items that we would need in our last days in the house.  An hour later I needed one of those "keep in the house" items and it was gone.  Six weeks later when our shipment arrived in Norway I found my half eaten box of cereal.  The cereal was a little stale but I was so home-sick for the familiar that I still ate it.

In our move from Norway to France I researched what was required to bring our Norwegian born dog into France.  My wife and I spent at least ten hours looking online, talking to the vet and calling the French authorities.  After getting vaccinations and filling out the proper paperwork we felt confident.  Upon our arrival in France we went through the "Red Line."  I approached an immigration official and told him I had a dog with accompanying paperwork.  The response I got was "What do you want me to do about it?"  After all of our effort we got a "who cares?"  As a family we had a good laugh about it.

West Coast Cliffs

Le Havre:  Shipping containers.

Over the Easter weekend we took a short trip to the west coast of France.  The area is a short distance north of the D-Day beaches.  Bunkers, machine gun nests, etc. dot the cliffs as remainders of the German defenses from WWII.  The city of Le Havre is a Unesco World Heritage sight.

Le Havre

Le Havre:  Skate Park

 Le Havre is known for its architecture.  St. Joseph's Cathedral is the tall narrow building.

Le Havre:  St. Joseph's Cathedral

 St. Joseph's Cathedral is rather mundane on the outside but is beautiful on the inside.  The stain glass windows do not portray any religious themes but rather are collections of geometric shapes.

Le Havre:  St. Joseph's

Le Havre:  St. Joseph's

Le Havre:  Pedestrian bridge over Bassin du Commerce

Le Havre:  Le Volcan

Le Havre:  Le Volcan

Le Havre:  Le Volcan

Le Havre:  Cathedral Notre-Dame

Étretat

 

Étretat:  Town of Étretat

A thirty minute drive north of Le Havre are the famous and magnificent cliffs of Étretat.  A feature of the cliffs are the natural arches.  Hiking paths go in either direction of the town.  Low tide offers special views and opportunities.

Étretat:  Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde

Étretat

Étretat

Étretat

Étretat

Étretat

Étretat

Étretat

Étretat

Étretat

Étretat:  Proud Parents

Definite Maybe

"Uncertainty is certain" is an unwritten but understood rule of being an expat.  Dates and places may as well be written in pencil as they are subject to change.

Our original contract was for three years in Norway, which got extended to four years.  As we approached the last six months of our time in Norway we were told that there was a 99% chance we would be in Scotland next.  Our contract expired at the end of July so we had plenty of time for confirmation.  In April of 2016 we were informed that Scotland was no longer part of the picture and to prepare for Houston.  Less than a week later were told to hold off on Houston plans because there were two additional doors of opportunity that were at least slightly ajar.  The first door to close was Houston.  May remained void of a confirmed assignment and the uncertainty of our future created a great deal of tension.  Option number two would only be making a decision in August so another door was closed.  June brought an exploratory trip to France and five weeks prior to the end of our contract it was confirmed that it would be our next destination.

As we rapidly approach the end of our current contract in France we are again at "there is a 99% chance that you will be in ... next."  After our experience leaving Norway I will hold off on divulging our tentative new destination until it is 100% certain.

Our story is rather bland and ordinary.  A fellow expat in Norway told me they moved from country A to country B.  After one week in B they were transferred to Norway arriving a week before school started.  One of my students told me she had averaged just under one year per location with stays ranging from three months to two years.

Being flexible and ready for the unexpected is part of expat life.  The situations may not be enjoyable at the time but they add to the bouquet that is the adventure of life.