This is in response to Season 3, Episode 10/11 of The Summer I Turned Pretty and it's depiction of moving abroad. Save for later if you want to avoid spoilers.
I've never heard of the programme but it sounds fun. I'll watch out to see if we can get it in NZ.
My favourite-of-all-time 'moving abroad' book is 'Almost French' by Sarah Turnbull. It's the ultimate tale of culture shock - a down-to-earth Australian girl placed among the haughty mores of Parisian society. Sarah has a way with words (unsurprisingly, I guess, as she's a journalist). I laughed uproariously with her at the sheer ridiculousness that she encountered, cried with frustration alongside her in the bathroom after yet another social faux pas, applauded as she found the secret to winning with visa bureaucracy (find a common enemy to criticise, in your parlance with the official), suffered alongside her with every social rejection and put-down. And howled with derision when her French boyfriend told her she should dress nicely to go to the baker for morning croissants, because going in her sloppy jogging pants 'was not nice for the baker'.
Highly recommended if you haven't already discovered it 😀
Oh thanks for the tip! I added it to my list - I'm always reading something so once I'm done with my current library queue, I'll give that one a go! I already completely understand the dress nicely sentiment - It's the same attitude here in Italy. I actually apologized to my neighbor yesterday because he ran into me into my workout clothes 🫣
Not in any serious way! It's probably a bit of imposter syndrome to be honest as that feels like such a scary step and my story wouldn't be "good enough". I know, I know. Have you?
A bit like you really. I do have something in mind - not travel-related - but I have to achieve the thing I want to write about, first! And I'm not there yet.
I've never heard of the programme but it sounds fun. I'll watch out to see if we can get it in NZ.
My favourite-of-all-time 'moving abroad' book is 'Almost French' by Sarah Turnbull. It's the ultimate tale of culture shock - a down-to-earth Australian girl placed among the haughty mores of Parisian society. Sarah has a way with words (unsurprisingly, I guess, as she's a journalist). I laughed uproariously with her at the sheer ridiculousness that she encountered, cried with frustration alongside her in the bathroom after yet another social faux pas, applauded as she found the secret to winning with visa bureaucracy (find a common enemy to criticise, in your parlance with the official), suffered alongside her with every social rejection and put-down. And howled with derision when her French boyfriend told her she should dress nicely to go to the baker for morning croissants, because going in her sloppy jogging pants 'was not nice for the baker'.
Highly recommended if you haven't already discovered it 😀
Oh thanks for the tip! I added it to my list - I'm always reading something so once I'm done with my current library queue, I'll give that one a go! I already completely understand the dress nicely sentiment - It's the same attitude here in Italy. I actually apologized to my neighbor yesterday because he ran into me into my workout clothes 🫣
Ha ha! Have you ever thought of writing your own book? I know you've written an informational book, but a more personal one?
Not in any serious way! It's probably a bit of imposter syndrome to be honest as that feels like such a scary step and my story wouldn't be "good enough". I know, I know. Have you?
A bit like you really. I do have something in mind - not travel-related - but I have to achieve the thing I want to write about, first! And I'm not there yet.
It's the "I live here attitude" that always kills me. I wish!