sage advice

“Whatever you do, don’t bring your wife to France for the first time in the wintertime.” That’s the advice that Paul’s old boss gave him before we moved here. The old boss is a really good guy. He is the one who orchestrated this move and has been Paul’s greatest advocate and full of sage advice. They met together a couple of weeks ago in Paris to ‘talk about life’.

The above-mentioned advice has a story to go with it (they always do). This seasoned expat Bernard has had many different assignments in various countries and this is the ONE piece of advice he had to give? Now I understand. Seems that his wife arrived for their American assignment in Houston during the month of August. ‘nuff said. She could barely stand the heat and threatened to return to France. Here we are in January, with winter in full swing, and it’s cold and dark and dreary. It also happens to coincide with the expat calendar of “6-8 months into the assignment blues”. Kids have left, holidays are over, the language is still difficult... good thing I didn't arrive here in January....looking forward to the spring!