Why am I so keen to encourage young families to stay and enjoy this special place in France, especially good for family life.
When we first came 12 years ago I started TAG in newspaper format and for one of our first interviews we sent out French speaking reporter Jill Spearman to interview the Mayor of Varen. Tomorrow I will try and find that interview in the archives. Anyway as I recall he was not very receptive to us ''ressortissants'' from the UK. His reservations were as we were older residents we did not learn the language and kept within our nationality groups. He explained that when the Spanish came at the time of the civil war, they fitted in much better as there were all ages making for better integration.
Twelve years on I wonder if in his interview he would say the same things. We have huge membership of the ''old age pensioners club' the troisieme age, we have people on various committees, like Malc on the Restoration of the Church committee, we integrate as much as possibe in French life being in various clubs and playing boule [ getting beaten regularly]and we all as far as I know have French friends. Admittedly some of us still struggle with the language and some still cling to their expat groups but generally we integrate. The Mayor did have a point though about our age, young people going to school. learning the language, learning about French life by osmosis is the way for us all to be accepted in the long term. For the young they can get out of the rat race and live their lives in a family group in the easy going French country life but ... as long as they can make a living at the same time.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com
