French By Heart

French by Heart: An American family’s adventures in La Belle France by Rebecca S. Ramsey

American Rebecca Ramsey had always loved France so she packed up her three young children, an elderly cat, all her household belongings, and followed her husband to a small village in France. Culture shock soon set in. Ben’s first grade teacher speaks only French to him, peanut butter is considered exotic and too rich by the French, Rebecca’s neighbors think nothing of scrutinizing her every move from behind their lace curtains and are not shy about telling her that barefoot Americans are sauvages. Her high school French, spoken with a Southern accent, is not sufficient to get her through everyday life. Her first visit to the bank, like many of her experiences, will have you cringing as well as laughing. But along the way Rebecca discovers a wonderful little antique store that sells furniture refinished with a secret formula that rejuvenates the wood, and the purchaser, she learns the French woman’s knack of accessorizing and being comfortable with who you are, and the neighbor she thought of as the Wicked Witch of the West becomes her friend and counselor. This memoir is full of amusing adventures and misadventures, as well as some observations of the differences between French and American culture that could be useful to those planning visits to France. Don’t pack those running shoes and jeans!