Tell me about yourself.
I’m French and was born in the suburb of Paris. I was raised in Sait-Claude,Guadeloupe. Saint-Claude is a ville dortoir, where people just go to sleep. They work elsewhere and there aren’t many business in the city.
Later on I returned to a city in the south of France. I came to the States because I got my first job. Lansing is the smallest city in which I’ve ever lived.
Have you ever quit a job? No, but I quit my career. After I had my first son I didn’t want to be a professor anymore. I decided to open my business and teach French.
Unlike in the States, Europeans don’t pick any job. Instead, they pick a career—something they are passionate about.
What is an important lesson you’ve learned? There are no missed opportunities there are only better opportunities. I have no regrets. There will always be a better door down the road.
What accomplishment are you most proud of? Learning a foreign language. During my PhD I had to present and publish the results English. I learned text book English and [speaking] wasn’t my strong point. My mind used to go blank when people spoke to me in English. It took my moving to the States to show me that I could learn it well. It was very hard to learn before coming. Learning English helped me develop a technique for teaching.
When did you become comfortable with English? After I had been here six months, I was on the bus one day when I realized that I understood the conversations around me, without any effort. I used to hear people talking as background noise.
Before I would misunderstand what was being said to me all the time. Someone would ask “How are you doing?” and I used to respond “nothing” because I had heard “What are you doing?”
What are your hobbies? I’m a mom, so I have none. Before I was a mom I danced: ballet, lyrical, and salsa. Every week I had three ballet classes and two lyrical classes.
I also fell in love with Capoeira Brazilian martial art. The history behind it is that slaves couldn’t fight so they hid martial arts in a dance. I had two classes a week until I was 39 weeks with my first son. He shifted and threw my equilibrium off. I fell and that was a sign that I should stop, (he was fine).
I did a lot of travelling. When I arrived I used to look for cheap tickets and every six weeks I’d go visit a new city. I used to “couch surf” booking accommodations at couchsurfing.com. It wasn’t too much. (I usually had my own room)
It was more about having a tour guide on site, who would show me around the city, than it was about saving money. I saw a lot in two or three days. I needed travel to feed my brain. I needed to look at the world in a new way. I met amazing people with whom I still keep in touch. I even “couch-surfed” with my husband, he loved it.
Europeans have a desire to explore; we are raised to be world citizens. I had couch surfers at my house when I was a PhD student, but I had limited time.
Where were your favorite places to visit? I’d do tests that suggested places ideal for me—It allowed me to realize what kind of cities I like. I fell in love with Chicago. I went to NY and Minneapolis a lot. In Minneapolis my host liked to danced, so I got to go dancing a lot. It was refreshing but without high cost. I went to Canada a lot too in Montréal and loved it so much that I extended my stay.
Is it hard to communicate in French in Montreal? Yes! The words are different. They call a drink brovage not boisson,and chaussures are called souliers. They use bienvenue for you’re welcome. You understand what they are saying but it sounds like ancient French—words we used centuries ago.
What is a dream you’d like to accomplish? As Gaëlle, in a selfish way, I’d like to feel a part of something bigger that’s why I wanted to be researcher. I’d leave a print on the world—my contribution to the human race. When I opened Aux Petits Soins it was important that it be for other people not for me—a way to help the human race. I always dreamed of being a mom and didn’t realize[how much I wanted to be available for them] until I had to make the choice between career and being present. I thought I’d have a career and a nanny.
I want my kids to be decent human beings and be part of something bigger. Regardless of their choices, as long as they are decent human beings, respectful, with real values, that’s what’s important.
What’s the hardest thing about adjusting to life in the U.S? France is a socialist country. People wouldn’t say I want to pay less taxes so everyone can pay for themselves. The U.S. is an extremely individualist country. Everyone should take care of their only rainy days. There’s no support for others in hard times. I struggled not to feel too hurt about this. People are raised to hold their own problems here. The roots are very different. In France people enjoy life and if a disaster happens the government helps. The U.S. is about survival, France is about living.
I want my kids to learn to live, as dual citizens. We take school off and travel. Every day should count, one should be responsible but still live.
People think they are free here but they are less free. They are even told how and when to cut their own grass!
