If you take the time to get to know folks here and make an effort to talk to them, they often turn out to be wonderfully generous and warm-hearted folks. An example: when I was heading to the Verlaine museum in December of 2023, I had booked an Airbnb about 40 minutes away from the museum, which was really in the middle of nowhere. I had taken the train to the Airbnb and reserved an Uber to get from there to the museum. However, at the last second, my Uber canceled, and there were no other available taxis in the area. My Airbnb hosts, an older retired couple whose spare room I was staying in, asked me what brought me to the French countryside, and I explained that I was hoping to go to the Verlaine museum but had no way of getting there. Once they understood what had happened, they insisted on driving me all the way there themselves, waiting an hour and a half while I looked at the museum, and then driving me back. They were very, very kind to me even though we had only just met. I think, based on my experience here, that many French people are that way: very, very kind if you take the time to talk to them.
My time here continues to be busy and exciting, and it is going by much too quickly. I am really looking forward to sharing some of my experiences with you all over the next few weeks. C’est parti! (We’re off!)
