I met my first DG'er

I had the opportunity to go to France and stay at Philomel and her family's gite. What a great experience! It was fun to meet such an amazing women and her family. This picture is with me on the left, her amazing 93 year old mother, Helenes and Philomel on the right. They were such gracious hosts. I have to admit were we hesitant to go to France as we don't speak any French. But, with their advice and the local people's acceptance of us, it was so fun. The view from this patio while we chatting was spectacular!

I'm so glad you got to go and meet these lovely ladies. Going to a place with a totally different language from yours can be scarry.

It was a joy to meet them! It was an adventure that we enjoyed to go to another country. I love to meet people from other places. I had heard that the French didn't like Americans. But, in the area of France where Philomel lives, we didn't find that to be true. They were quite good at trying to communciate despite our language barrier. It was a pleasure to do that. Of course at her chateau, everything was in English. Some British and some American English. But, fun to listen to the differences.

Okay- how many DG's live in MN and your FIRST was in FRANCE?

LOL What a lucky lucky girl! And I bet they were super! (say it like sue-perre and you got the accent spot on!)

lol, I do do things kind of funny. I couldn't make it to the Iowa round up. I had to work. I am going to try to make it to next years. Yes, they were super (accents are hard for me.)

OHHH How I envy you! Isn't her Mother a beautiful lady? I would love to hear her tell stories of her youth! Going to make it one of these days!! Jo

Great to see all of you! I'm such a chicken about language barriers, but would love to see the world.

Her mother Helenes is an amazing woman! We only had a couple evenings to chat. But, physically looks in great shape for any age, but especially 93. She is a birder. I don't know very many birds. She and Philomel were great at telling us what we were seeing. She is also willing to take on an adventure. She moved to another country. I think it is amazing at any age, but especially at her age.
Roadrunner, it looks like you have done lots of traveling in the USA. That is a great opportunity. I try to find reasons to travel. This one started as our oldest daughter's last college class is in Spain. I told my DH that we always go visit the kids were ever they go to school. Then the trip kind of blossomed from there.
GW language barriers were actually kind of fun to work around. Pointing and gesturing and making sounds and faces to get your point across made more than one person laugh at/with us. I hope someday you can get the opportunity to see the world.

GW- make a note: see the world!! They will love you wherever you go and you will really appreciate the experience.

epazota- how great that your daughter got to have that class! For you and her!

Louisiana is as far from home as I've ever been. Well, that and Canada. Pretty tame travels, in all!

Just get you & Howie a passport and then the world just opens up!

I grew up in a crazy small town in NM (Roswell, actually, and no, I am not an alien!) and when I went abroad for the first time to southern France I was amazed how similar it was and yet how different. Same zone, different continent, you know? Then all over Mexico: Same desert I grew up in but more wild. Then I went and lived in England and North Wales. Man, you could hang a seed on a string and it would germinate!

And everywhere I have been it has been about what grows there and the gardeners. Some people just go to see another place and all they see is the McDonald's are just like ours.