The past eight months have been a long blur. Working and taking care of Mark pretty much drained all my energy—Feng and I are both completely maxed out.
But despite the new challenges we face as parents and despite the lifestyle adjustments we had to make, we are still travellers. “Have baby, will travel”—here is the motto at home. After all, I travelled when pregnant!
We haven’t done much in the spring other than taking Mark to the U.S.A., spending a weekend in Montreal and going to The Rolling Stones concert in Toronto. It’s now time for a real trip, to Mark’s other “homeland”—France.
Mark is going to meet his grand-parents, his uncle and his aunt, and his great-grand-parents. And hopefully it’s not too late to start the baby on a healthy diet of rotten blue cheese, bottles of wine and baguette crust, nom de dieu!
I just hope he won’t take up smoking…
One of the reasons why I decided to work as a freelancer was to make better use of my time and to be able to travel more easily. With most 9-5 office positions, you don’t get a lot of time off—just the regular two-week holiday. As a freelancer, I work my butt off during busy times and yes, I often juggle assignments late at night and on weekends, but at least I can book time off whenever it’s convenient for us, and I can even work remotely if needed. Not having to beg HR for time off is a huge relief, I hated this aspect of the Canadian work life.
So, from June 25 to July 24, we will be living la vie française with bébé. Expect pictures and funny reverse culture shock stories!
Now I just have to pack, brush off my Parisian French and say goodbye to the humongous Tim Hortons coffee cups that have been giving me my daily energy boost for the past few months.
France, here we come!
If you come by Lyon (la plus belle ville !) feel free to tell me!!
I wish; but I think we will stay in Nantes and around this time!
Baby Mark is going to be a well-travelled kid! Bon voyage!
So far so good… 🙂
Oh I want to go to France! Have a great trip. Enjoy it lots and spend lots of time with all of your loved ones! Hope Mark behaves on the flight etc xx
Thank you!
Enjoy! I took my LO there a month ago. for the exception of the flight back, it was wonderful to be home and have family helping. They are so “gaga” that this is also your vacation from the baby
Ugh; the flight back is tough on us, qdult, qs well, I can imagine for kids! And yes, everyone is gaga about him.
Le bébé is traveling! Does le bébé have a French or a Canadian passport? I am envious; I didn’t get to ride an airplane until I was 3 years old! 😛
He has a Canadian passport. He is eligible for a French one but I won’t bother now since you have to apply in person at the Consulate in Toronto.
Salut Zhu,
I was kind of thinking that petit Mark would have his first trip to Mom’s homeland. It is only normal; a part of his roots are here!
I will be checking in and enjoying your travelog & bien,sûr, pics!
Yup, you will have to shrink your daily cuppa or switch (temporarily, of course) to Starbucks or other.
Bon voyage!
La mie câline will do 😉
Wow.. That’s a long trip for Mark! But he sure looks ready and looking forward to itin the picture 🙂
We trust him to be a good traveler… hopefully!
Can’t wait to hear how Mark enjoys his other home country. Bon voyage to all 3 of you!
Thank you!
I can’t believe you have to apply in person at the Toronto embassy for Mark! I mean, what good is having a capital city when France’s embassy is not even located there?!
Too bad Mark isn’t old enough to enjoy the pastries. I know you are crazy about them, but what about your husband?
Enjoy your time in France and I hope the weather is good to you. And eat lots of pastries!
I am crazy about French food because I haven’t had it in a while 🙂 Feng likes pastries too… and I think Mark is getting hooked, he has a little bit.
I’m so jealous and have been talking about getting my time back.. The only set back is that P wouldn’t be able to follow suite..Not sure about that one..So jealous, bring on the pics!
I’ll share the magic of traveling through pics 🙂