French Stereotypes and French Policemen

Now, I grew up being taught that policemen are good people, working to help and protect us. I don't know if that is still what children are taught in the US. Here in France however, they have a bad reputation: lazy, take bribes, and so on.
I just had an interesting visit. Well, barely a visit. I was on our driveway, pruning the rosebushes, when a policeman stopped by. He wanted to let me know he had clocked me over the speed limit (in town)  a few days ago, and that I should be careful, because someone else might give me a ticket! He said, "I clocked you going too fast, and then I said to myself, that is the American!"

Maybe I should explain that I know this policeman. I had to go the police station and declare that our garbage can had been stolen (city issue, so I had to have the declaration so the city would give me a new one). The policeman that helped me was very kind, curious about my birthplace (wow, an American in northern France!) and left a good impression. He has since met more of the family as he and his colleagues are regularly in front of our house stopping cars to verify papers. He may have even been present when the kids took out coffee and cookies. (This is totally an unFrench thing to do, I am sure, but the kids think it is a blast!)
I also had my papers checked twice last week (not in front of my house), by two different policemen. (This is legal in France) Both times the officers were very nice, and noticed (again) my foreign place of birth. Wesley was even asked if he was a little cowboy! (talk about stereotypes!!)

Funny, these incidents don't confirm the stereotype that French people have about policemen, and it certainly doesn't confirm the idea that the French don't like Americans! (While this seems to be true when the French talk about American politics and government, I have never found it to be true on a one on one basis! The French find it very cool that I am a real, live American.

(The picture is the whole family, being really silly, in front of our house. I am still looking for a good picture of the house!)

My wonderful Mother-in-law

Stéphane posted this on his blog , and I thought it was worth sharing. Sorry to those who read his blog already!

What I Miss Most of the Woman Known to Most as Sophie Kapitaniuk

To you she was Sophie. To me she was 'Mamy'. 3 months have now gone by since she has gone to be with Jesus. The pain has lessened (as it should), but I still think of her often. Here are a few things I'll miss of my grandmother.

• Her prayer. Daily she prayed. On Sundays, at church she would pray "Lord bless your servant," as the preacher stood. During the week I would drop by and ask her to pray for specific things. I don't know what will be the consequence of her prayers. I also cannot say what will now be the consequences of the lack of prayer, in our family, in our church and in our city.
• Her excitement. Though she was 75 years-old, she was easily glad when she heard stories of people taking risks for Jesus. She loved missions because she loved Jesus.
• Her listening ear. I know many women (and men) tend to become talkers as they age. They go on tangents and you just have to bear with them. Not so with Mamy. She really listened. She loved to offer advice, but she always listened. I miss being able to talk to her. I miss reading the Bible to her.
  
• Her presence. At the birth of my youngest cousin I cried at the realization that she would never know our grandmother. When, God willing, I have children, I will not be able to show them to Mamy. She loved children, and few things made her happier than holding babies.

3 months have come and gone. I still think of Mamy daily. I'm simply glad that her suffering is over and that she is happy now. Her love was God and to himself has gathered her. She is in heaven because she trusted Jesus as her saviour.

We're famous!

We're famous!!! Well, if getting your picture in the local paper makes you famous, then we are. Last week a young journalist spent a couple hours at our house asking all sorts of questions about home-schooling. He wasn't sure what day the article would appear (ok, I admit to stopping at the newsstand every day. We didn't want to miss it!!!) Finally today, it appeared! Now, I was expecting a small article, not a whole page on the first page of the local section!


We have always tried to stay as low profile as possible with home-school. No sending a child to the store during school hours, no P.E. outside during school hours (except for snow days, of course!) After all, we are the ONLY family that home-schools in our area. I wonder if the low profile is a thing of the past. Guess we will find out in the days to come if anyone recognizes us, or if we are still invisible!

For those of you who read French (or are just curious) here is a link to the newspaper article on the "Voix du Nord" website.


And for those that have always wanted to see a French "café," here is a picture of one in our neighborhood (notice the headline ad on the door)!

Snow Day!

How can snow stop home-schoolers from school? I know, I know, it doesn't make sense. I am sure that most people from the northern half of the United States would laugh to see us call a snow day for this amount of snow, but the southerners must understand. We hardly ever get snow. (We live at the same latitude as Winnipeg, but somehow the proximity of the ocean and it's warm currents give us a mild climate) This year has been a bit exceptional, and this must be the fourth snow fall (and also the fourth snow day!).
My students are all outside having PE! They have already assembled the dusting of snow to try to make a snowman. Wesley came in to ask for walnuts for finishing touches. I will have to go out and see this!
Turns out there are two! About knee high. (The second one looks strangely female. I think they have been reading too much Calvin and Hobbes!)
And now I see they have set up a goal and gotten out all the balls (soccer and otherwise) that we own. So much for snow!
They will come back in soaking wet and muddy (it is above freezing) and my washing machine will get a work out.

I'm a Blogger!!!!!

Never thought I would become a blogger! But what could I say when Stéphane did all the work and said, "Here Mom, now all you have to do is write!"
Of course, I have no idea what I will be writing about, but with 7 children (and 20 some animals), and a house that is more like a beehive than a home, I assume that subjects will be presenting themselves.

I thought it would be appropriate to start off this blog with a photo of our kitchen where most of life seems to happen, and besides, I couldn't find a picture of our French farm house! Have to put that on later!

What a Deal!

I get to be the first blogger on the Kapi blog and you get to read me! Subscribe to this blog to be kept informed on life in France with a family of 7 kids and 2 hyper-active parents. See you soon!