Over 30 years ago I went off to the south of France to be an Au Pair. Although it is common these days for young people to do a gap year or travel, it wasn't as popular then. I travelled by train to the South of France - crossing Paris by bus from one main line station to another (a real challenge for my first time abroad) and finally arriving in Cannes nearly 24 hours later. Leaving my family and friends behind was both frightening and exciting. Jacki a work colleague and friend had arrived 2 weeks before me with no luggage, as it had been lost en-route. She had been washing out her one pair of knickers every night in the hope that they would be dry for the next morning.
Waiting for me at the station was an incredibly glamorous petite woman not much older than I was and she proudly showed off her new British Mini. In my ignorance at that time I didn’t realise what a big deal it was – a French woman having a British car – the French being so patriotic and always preferring to buy French products - was a fact I was unaware of at the time. A trait that I admire immensely in the French now.
Waiting for me at the station was an incredibly glamorous petite woman not much older than I was and she proudly showed off her new British Mini. In my ignorance at that time I didn’t realise what a big deal it was – a French woman having a British car – the French being so patriotic and always preferring to buy French products - was a fact I was unaware of at the time. A trait that I admire immensely in the French now.
Well suffice to say I only stayed for a couple of weeks as their beautiful home was up in the hills of Vallauris well known for its association with the artist Picasso (again a fact lost on me at the time) and much too far from my friend Jacki who was is the centre of Cannes. Added to that I spent all day on my own with only three aggressive Alsatians for company and a list of chores as long as your arm which included making English Chocolate cake and hovering using a machine that gave me an electric shock every time I switched it on. I had a lovely room at the top of a spiral staircase but was very unhappy being so isolated.
Luckily Jacki found me another job with the daughter of her employers and I moved down to where there was more life. I was installed in the basement of a large apartment block which was on the sea front. The room I had (bearing in mind the family lived in the penthouse) was about 12 x 8 with bars across the window, an iron bed, plastic wardrobe and a sink that only had a cold water tap. There was a loo across the corridor and I had two bolts on the door so although it was fairly basic it was mine and I was free to come and go as I pleased. My room was nicknamed ‘The Cell’ and soon became the meeting place for all the many friends I made, mainly other Au Pairs and ex-pats working on the beautiful boats.
Luckily Jacki found me another job with the daughter of her employers and I moved down to where there was more life. I was installed in the basement of a large apartment block which was on the sea front. The room I had (bearing in mind the family lived in the penthouse) was about 12 x 8 with bars across the window, an iron bed, plastic wardrobe and a sink that only had a cold water tap. There was a loo across the corridor and I had two bolts on the door so although it was fairly basic it was mine and I was free to come and go as I pleased. My room was nicknamed ‘The Cell’ and soon became the meeting place for all the many friends I made, mainly other Au Pairs and ex-pats working on the beautiful boats.
Although I come from a family of good cooks my time in France gave me a new understanding of food and cooking - I think it was where my real love of cooking started.
This blog wasn’t going to be the story of my first trip to France - a place I try and visit as often as I can - but one about catching up with old friends; but once you start writing sometimes things just come out of the ends of your fingers as you hit the keys.
This blog wasn’t going to be the story of my first trip to France - a place I try and visit as often as I can - but one about catching up with old friends; but once you start writing sometimes things just come out of the ends of your fingers as you hit the keys.
One of the many friends I made there was Irene – she was also an Au Pair and we met her at a French class. We shared many crazy and wonderful times together: and when we eventually moved back home to England we kept in touch. Ironically she lived on the Wirral not far from where I live now and she now lives in Surrey not far from where I was living then. Eventually we got a flat together in London and spent several years sharing even more crazy times.
Well it’s been over 20 years since I have seen Irene and last week we met up again. We lost touch after we had had our children and found each other again on Facebook. The years just melted away as we shared forgotten memories, reminiscing, laughing and reliving our sometimes misspent youth. The years disappeared and it was as if no time had passed.
Well it’s been over 20 years since I have seen Irene and last week we met up again. We lost touch after we had had our children and found each other again on Facebook. The years just melted away as we shared forgotten memories, reminiscing, laughing and reliving our sometimes misspent youth. The years disappeared and it was as if no time had passed.
Social media can get bad press but I have had so many positive things happen, finding old friends again and keeping in touch with friends and family around the world. Back then when I was an Au Pair I longed for the post man to arrive and bring me letters from back home. I had to book a telephone call at the local post office once a month to speak to my parents and waited weeks for my photos to be printed. Now we live in the instant messaging world and I love it.
What a great story Paulene! You were very adventurous setting off like that. I remember my first visit to France and loving it to bits, still do.
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