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Yes, Lyonnaise food deserves it's own blog post. Nothing compares to the amazing dishes I've eaten in Lyon. French food is my favorite type of food so I was very happy to put this post together. I'll be sharing some of my favorite dishes from Lyon and also from France in general. Quenelles This is probably the most famous and popular Lyonnais meal. It is made out of poached pike fish and is a cylinder shape. It has a super soft texture, amazing sauce and is soooo delicious. It is usually paired with rice and cooked veggies. Below I've included a link with more details about Quenelles and a recipe for how to make it.
Salade Lyonnaise
Other SaladsI had never heard of cantaloupe and ham being a combination until living in France. I remember Will's mom having an appetizer of cantaloupe wrapped in ham and I thought it was so weird! It's a normal pairing on salads as well.
Goat Cheese Salad Goat Cheese .... Greatest of All Time Cheese...... There's no coincidence in the name being what it is because it's my personal favorite cheese. So of course I'm a big fan of this French salad topped with melted goat cheese on a toasted baguette. Seafood Salad If you're a seafood lover, you'll love any seafood salad topped with shrimp, salmon, crab sticks, and more! Escargot Who knew snails could be so delicious.... Once you add a yummy sauce to it, it's a great appetizer, usually eaten on holidays and special occasions. Foie Gras I had to google pictures of foie gras, because I couldn't find any that I took. Probably because I'm totally NOT a fan of it. Foie gras is another food eaten on special occasions and is pretty pricey as well. It is duck liver, usually eaten on bread and/or with jam on top. Popular for the French, but not something I personally enjoyed eating.  Other Random Meals
 Desserts & PastriesTwo must-haves for dessert in France are crème brûlée and mousse au chocolat/Chocolate Mousse. Both are super rich and creamy and extremely tasty!!
Were you really in France if you didn't eat some macaroons?
Where We Eat
I hope you've enjoyed this post and aren't too hungry after reading about all this French food....
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It's been a little while since i've moved and i've been reflecting on our life in Lyon and the beautiful things that came from it. Below i've written about 8 of the lessons I learned from our life in Lyon, the French culture, and the French people. Know that these reflect MY personal experience and may differ from other's opinions about their French experience. 1. Embracing ChangeChange isn't really easy for anyone and I personally find it extremely difficult. I won't reflect a ton on the changes I first experienced in France since I've blogged about those in the past (You can find those in my "January 2016" through "June 2016"ish blog posts), but will speak to the ways God allowed me to learn how to embrace and adapt to change. It took me a while to figure this out. (And I'm still figuring it out this time around!) My first year in France was a total rollercoaster of dealing with change: loving new cultural things, missing pieces of America, hating parts of French culture, etc.... These 3 were a continuous - out of order - cycle that I experienced over and over. I eventually hit a point of thinking 'this is my life, I can either fight it or embrace it.' This wasn't easy by any means, but I got tired of pushing back against the things I didn't like and realized I could learn to move forward and accept the changes, even when I didn't like them. After reaching that point, I could finally begin to ENJOY all the new things around me. I used to think that change was bad because I hadn't really experienced much of it in my life before Lyon and didn't really know how to handle it. Now I'm learning that change in life/culture/experiences means new friendships, new growth, new opportunities, new chances to learn about different ways of life etc. I found this quote online and feel like I wrote it myself... "It's so easy to pick up my things and move to a new country... but at the same time it isn't. I think about moving (again) but then I think to myself "but that means i'd have to start over... I'd have to meet new people, try and build the (already hard to find) relationships again, I'd have to get to know the new place and I'd have to learn to love it incase I don't fall in love with it after some time spent living there"... but at the same time all of those reasons are the reasons I'd want to move again because it's a new adventure and a new beginning." -Unknown Author I've learned that it's ok that things are different than you are used to. It's ok if people are different than you are used to. It's ok if a culture is different than you are used to. It's ok if people are different than you are used to. France is a very different culture, but that's what makes it beautiful. If you don't embrace the changes, you miss out on what makes that place and those people so special. I'm thankful I let go and allowed myself to embrace all the differences we experienced in Lyon. If not, I would have missed out on so many amazing things. 2. Reliance on OthersNo car, no job, no knowledge of the French language, no debit card, no friends, no apartment: This was my life for the first few months of living in France. The independence I loved was totally taken away and there was basically nothing I could do on my own. In a lot of ways I felt trapped in a life so foreign to me with no escape. The only option I had was to give in to my desire of wanting to do everything on my own and use the people God placed in my life... To accept the love, money, help, gifts, etc that people offered and to surrender my situation to God in order for Him to show me that I can't do it all on my own. 3. Being "Other"I grew up in a community where everyone around me spoke the same language, had the same skin color, ate the same foods, had the same views and ideas (mostly) and enjoyed the same activities... I fit in with everyone around me and felt like I belonged there. Throughout my time in France, I never felt French. I knew I was different and I felt that in a lot of ways. Not necessarily in a bad way, but just different. In general, a lot of my habits were different, the food I enjoyed was different, my French accent was different, and the way some people treated me was different... Through some of the discomfort I felt, it has shown me how to have more empathy for the people who don't feel like they fit in, whatever that reason may be. It's hard to feel like an outsider but now I know to give more grace, love, and patience to those around me that may feel the same way. 4. Greater Understanding and Love for WilliamWhen Will and I announced we were moving to Lyon, we got a lot of encouragement but also criticism. We had people warning us of the difficulty it would put on our marriage or telling us we were too young and should re-think it. We moved 4 months after we were married, both 23 years old. It was definitely very difficult for us but also was an incredibly strong foundation for us to build our marriage on. I can't think of many things more difficult for newlyweds than picking up and moving to a totally different place and starting a completely different life... We learned very quickly the importance of listening to the voice of God and following his calling. I'm thankful for the trials we experienced in Lyon (there were a lot!) and the way God used those to bring us together and strengthen our marriage. I'm also grateful for the things I discovered about Will, because of our move. When we were dating and first married in the States, I knew there were habits of his or things about him that were "different" but never really thought anything of it. After we moved to Lyon, I started to realize that the same "different" habits he had were similar to all the other French people I met. I got to connect the dots to see how the French culture was intertwined into who he was. In a lot of ways, he's more American than French to me, but he still has pieces of his upbringing and culture that make him as wonderful and amazing as he is. We will never agree on the use of napkins (I haven't met a French person who uses them - Will also finds them unnecessary) or what type of texture bread should be, but after all, he's French and i'm American and that's OK. 5. Slowing DownIn this section, I'll be generalizing about the French culture and people... This will not always apply to each person or situation but seems to be the majority from what I've experienced. French culture has taught me a lot about slowing down and living a slower-paced life. A full-time job is 30-35 hours a week. French people get 4-6 weeks of paid vacation time each year and spend most weekends relaxing at home, walking through the city or park, or enjoying cafes and restaurants. Most stores are closed on Sundays and close in the early evening during the week. Many schools are closed on Wednesdays so typically one parent stays home with them. Kids don't usually have 25 different activities taking up their time during the afternoons and evenings. They value time outside of work, time with family, and understand the importance or resting and relaxing. I liked not having to feel rushed... Most people around you aren't in a hurry. They do a lot of walking instead of driving and enjoy the "in-between" parts of their lives just as much as the big moments. I hope to apply this healthy lifestyle to our life in Denver, as much as possible. 6. French Cuisine & Meal TimesMeals were one of the hardest adjustments to get used to when we moved. It was difficult going from eating dinner at 6:00 to eating at 7:30-8:00. Food portions are much smaller and I remember feeling hungry often, until my body adjusted. Most dinners with family or friends lasted for hours, whether it was at home or at a restaurant. At first, I hated it. Now I've come to really enjoy and admire it. Meal time is important for the French because it isn't just about eating food, it's about connecting with the people around the table. I remember on my first New Years Eve in France, 2 days after we had moved, we were still eating dinner when the ball dropped... I couldn't believe it took so long. When we eat at restaurants, we're usually there for a few hours. No rushing to eat and leave, but instead taking in the food and company around you. The waiters and waitresses don't come around often, because of how common it is for people to be there for so long. As for the food - the French sure know what they're doing when it comes to cooking and baking. I'm not into the typical French food: bread, cheese, wine, or foie gras, but the meals are incredible. Every restaurant we ate at exceeded our expectations. I was also lucky enough to eat more homemade French meals than I can count. Will's mom is an incredible cook and it was fun learning what typical homemade French meals are like. Out of all the different types of food I've eaten, French definitely outranks them all. Living in the gastronomy capital of the world may have spoiled me, but I'm hoping to find some authentic French restaurants in Denver. 7. HumilitySeeing things in a totally new way showed me that my way is not always the best way or the only way of doing things. I am a proud American and love so much about America. However, seeing things from a different perspective showed me that other countries, cultures, and people have even better ways of doing things than I am used to. I learned to be open to new ideas and ways of life and to realize that just because I have been doing something for a long time, doesn't mean it's always the best. 8. The Importance of TravelI didn't have the opportunity to travel until Will and I got married and now that I have, my life will never be the same. We have gotten to experience 12 different countries together and will add many more to our list in the future. It's amazing all that you can learn from traveling, especially when you throw in different languages, money and cultures. The practical parts of travel are fun to figure out together.... public transportation, navigating your way through a new place, long airport waits, using a map, etc. It's thrilling to be in a different part of the world and not really have a clue where you are or where you're going. The experiences you have and the lessons you learn through a trip to a new place make traveling priceless. -"The Best education you will ever get is traveling. Nothing teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating experiences." -"Travel : the only thing you buy that makes you richer." -"Travel is an investment in yourself." -"Travel makes you realize that no matter how much you know, there's always more to learn." -"A mind stretched by new experiences can never go back to it's old dimensions. Learn. Travel. Grow." "But that's the glory of foreign travel, as far as I am concerned. I don't want to know what people are talking about. I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can't read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can't even reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses." My favorite part of travel is eating the local food, interacting with natives, and seeing how different the landscapes and architecture is. France alone looks different depending on what region you're in. Seeing different cities and countries reminds you of the beauty and detail God put into the creation of the earth. "When I say I want to travel I don't mean I want to stay at resorts and go on tours with tour guides or buy key chains from souvenir shops. I don't want to be a tourist. When I say I want to travel I mean I want to explore another country and become part of it. I want to discover small coffee shops in Germany and Italy and France. I want to walk on beaches in Australia and browse the book stores of England. I want to hike the Great Wall of China and go cliff diving in Hawaii. I want to meet people who are not like me, but people who I can like all the same. I want to take pictures of things and places and people I meet. I want my mind to be in constant awe of life on earth. I want to see things with new eyes. I want to look at a map and be able to remember how I was transformed by the places I've been to, the things I've seen, and the people I've met. I want to come home and realize that I have not come home whole, but have left a piece of my heart in each place I've been. This, I think, is what is at the heart of Adventure and this is why I plan on making my life one." So many amazing people have been a part of our lives in the past 3.5 years in Lyon. God gifted us incredible relationships that we will be forever grateful for. Moving to a foreign country is extremely lonely, but it doesn't have to stay that way for long. There are so many incredible people around the world and many of them were in our lives in Lyon.
 It is with extremely mixed emotions that Will and I (and Joey) share that we are in the process of moving back to America. We've known this for a while, but haven't shared any details because of the importance of the Green Card process. We made the decision to move back in the fall of 2017 and began the Green Card process for Will in November of 2017. Earlier this week, he was officially approved (It was a very long process) and now we wait for the final step - his interview in Paris. Will having his green card will mean that he will become a legal permanent resident in America and allow him to work and live there.
 Here is part 2 of our trip to Tunisia. We enjoyed camel rides in the desert, driving through Tunisia, seeing old villages and also seeing the lives of the Tunisian people.
 Djerba Tunisia, AfricaWill and I spent an incredible week at Djerba Tunisia. We wanted to spend some time on the beach and Africa is just a 2 hour flight away from Lyon. It was both our first time in Africa and in an Arabic speaking country. Djerba is the small island we stayed in, but we also spent some time in other parts of Tunisia as well. (More details coming in my blog post - part 2) French is the second language in Tunisia, so that definitely made it easier for us to read signs and communicate. Also, multiple Star Wars scenes were shot in Djerba and other parts of Tunisia, which is super cool!
We spent time with camels, seeing dolphins swimming in the sea, reading and relaxing on the beach, and enjoying time in the sun.  Cinque Terre, ItalyOur final road trip stop was Cinque Terre Italy. It wasn't on our original plan and I'm so glad we changed it up because it was incredible! It is located in the north west of Italy and is made up of 5 beautiful multi-colored villages. (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.) We got to visit 3 of them and saw them all from the sea on our boat ride. This personally wouldn't be somewhere Will and I would want to spend a lot of time in, but for a short trip, it's a great stop, especially in the summer time. We wish it would have been warm enough to swim in the sea with the beautiful view of the villages behind us.
Salzburg Austria, The Sound of Music Tour One of my top bucket list items was finally marked off and it was everything I had hoped AND MORE! I grew up watching the Sound of Music, singing all the songs, and reenacting scenes with my sister. It's my all time favorite movie so seeing all the places where the movie was filmed was so incredible. I also couldn't miss out on the opportunity to re-enact some of my favorite scenes. I owe William a special shout-out, not just for willingly coming along, but for following me around to find scenes from the movie and filming my singing and dancing when I looked like a crazy person on the streets of Salzburg. I made him watch the movie a few years ago and he fell asleep. Old musicals are not his thing, but he cheerfully came along. (Although he did start falling asleep on the bus ride home. LOL)
I was originally very worried because the weather leading up the the tour was terrible. Lots of rain, gray clouds, and storms. Although the day ended up being dark and dreary, the rain came before and after the tour... A blessing!  Venice ItalyVenice Italy was the second stop on our road trip. Everyone isn't lying when they talk about how incredible the canals are running through this old city. It was smaller than I had imagined, but probably seemed this way because I felt like I was in a maze because there are so many different streets and bridges to take that lead you somewhere totally new. We walked 10 miles each day we were there, so it's definitely not a place to go if you're looking for a relaxing trip. However it's an awesome place to visit if you're looking for something totally different than you are used to. The buildings are so old and worn down, in the best way possible. Each street leads you to so many different paths and streets, with new bridges and new buildings to admire and there are no cars, which is super awesome. Will and I really enjoyed seeing all the transportation boats... We saw a police boat, an ambulence boat, a tractor/construction boat, a UPS boat, etc. Of course the Gondola's are the most romantic of all boats in Venice. Will and I were both pretty amazed at the blueish-green color of the water in Italy.
 Will and I have spent the last week and a half on a wonderful European roadtrip. There were places we wanted to knock off our bucket list and this was the perfect time! (A huge perk in France is the wonderful vacation time... I had over 20 paid days I still needed to use before June!! Thanks France!!)
Our original Roadtrip plan was visiting: 1. Lake Como, Italy 2. Venise, Italy 3. Salzburg, Austria 4. Munich, Germany (Later Changed to Cinque Terre, Italy) 5. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany (Later Changed to Cinque Terre, Italy) 6. Interlaken, Switzerland (Later Changed to Cinque Terre, Italy) A few days before we left the weather said that it would be raining and snowing in Germany and Switzerland. (IN MAY!!! CRAZY!!) We ended up not booking any hotels/Air BNBs until we got a better idea of what the weather would be. The day before we were to leave for Germany, the weather still said snow the next few days and since we knew we would be more north and in the mountains, we decided to head back to Italy for warmer sunnier weather. We're so glad we did! After leaving Salzburg, we headed to Cinque Terre Italy for a few days and really loved it! I am so grateful for the flexibility we have of living in Europe and having a car to go where we want and change plans when needed. The full Roadtrip itself was about 30 hours of driving. Our first stop was Lake Como Italy. |
