Studlover (imported) wrote: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:53 am Patient, thank you for your kind remarks. It is always nice to be acknowledged and being a teacher, that is something one rarely gets!

As for my desire to live and work in France, it's not just the fact that our country has gone so far to Right (please don't anyone start anything about this, ok?), but it is the fact that I realized that since I was 14 years of age, I am a duck out of water. If I lived in NYC, I probably wouldn't feel as I do as there is so much culture there, e.g. NY Phil, Met Opera not to mention the countless other musical events that go on, plus the plays, Broadway and the fact that NYC has this attitude of "live and let live" which America in general does not have, save California.

I have lived my life in US but I want to expand my horizons linguistically, musically and "faire de la cuisine."

What strikes me about the immigrants of the 19th Century such as your German and my German ancestors is the courage. What strikes me now is the courage some Americans have to leave as if this were a reversal of why those brave souls came to America.

As for the provocation this post has produced (as the others), that seems to be the story of my life. I do that in real life as well as here, and many times it is untentional. I simply make a statement and all hell tends to break loose.

Thanks for the good wishes and I only hope that the dream for my son and me will be realized.

Studlover