French Girl in San Antonio

I recently relocated to the beautifull city of San Antonio from Dallas and I love discovering my new hometown.

 

I grew up in the busy city center of Toulouse, France and started my middle school career on the outskirts in a small village called Montberon, not far from the Pyrénées Mountains.  It was in this small village where I learned to tell the time of day by counting the church bells and figured out the fastest short-cut to the boulengerie  where I rode my bike to pick up fresh baked bread each morning.  Two of my 4 siblings were born here and I absolutely loved being a big sister to my brothers.  But the greatest and most precious memories of my youth occurred during our frequent visits to Grand-mère's home in Bretange.  

 

My father's parents had a vast property near a small village called Crac'h in the Morbihan region of Bretagne, just minutes from the coast.   It was here that I learned about how food isn't just something that needs to happen - and happen quickly.  Instead I observed as my Aunts, Uncles,  and Cousins  took an immense pleasure in Seeing, Tasting, Smelling, and even discussing the dish before them; A process that could take up to two hours at times. There's a lot that can be said in two hours so it's no surprise that the lunch table is also where I learned about political philosophy, literature, music theory, current events and, of course, all the latest community gossip.  

 

In 1996 my family moved to the states and settled in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas where I finished high school and jetted off to college on an academic scholarship to Randolph-Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, Virginia.  I continued a life in America with frequent visits to France during the summer and the holidays.  

 

While I enjoyed life in Dallas, living it up in my cool downtown loft with exposed brick walls and a rooftop pool, it seemed that the city of Dallas was still searching for its identity.  I longed for the comfort of a city with historic roots and a culture that might remind me of life in France.  So when my fiancé  suggested that we move to San Antonio to be closer to his parents, I agreed that i t was time for a change. 

 

While I admit that the Latino culture and Fiesta frenzy of San Antonio was foreign to me at first, I've learned to appreciate it's colorful aspects.  I've fallen in love with the King William district, learned to avoid tourist traps on the river walk, discovered the cocktail culture, and I've been blown away by the food in this city.  I can't wait to explore all that San Antonio has to offer.  Let the adventure begin!