Living Abroad: Missing a Holiday (or More) Far from Home

November 29, 2013 by Michele Cherie in International Exchange, Cultural Reflections

Bonjour, mes amis! My family was on vacation in central Oregon earlier this week. Now that we've returned home, I love seeing my children spend long periods playing with their familiar playthings again. The old becomes new with absence!

Yesterday was a strange Thanksgiving Day for us. We celebrated with my family a day in advance, and we'll celebrate with my husband's family tomorrow, so our actual Thanksgiving Day was uneventful. The quiet of this holiday reminded me of Christmas 2004, when I was a university exchange student living in France. I spent that Christmas Eve in an inexpensive Paris hotel.

C'est le Weekend: Links You'll Like

November 23, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Weekend Links, Cultural Reflections, Education

Aren't you thrilled to celebrate Thanksgiving next week? I'm grateful that my husband has a week off work this year, even if some of the days are unpaid furlough days. I hope you have plenty of time to relax too! From hackschooling to newborn twins in France, enjoy the links I've compiled for you this weekend.

Thanksgiving: An Act of Grace Tied to Five Kernels

November 22, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections

We Americans will soon celebrate l'Action de grâce. I love the French translation of Thanksgiving, because in addition to gathering with family for food, this season is indeed founded on grace and gratitude. My favorite definition of grace is "unmerited favor." Sometimes it takes disasters like the recent super typhoon in the Philippines to remind us that we have far more than we deserve, and it's more than appropriate to pause in wonder at God's protection and provision.

Here in America, our lives have continued to be characterized by increasing abundance. My "five kernels" of gratitude reveal the generosity that God has shown me:

Ten American Activities to Share with an Exchange Student

November 01, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections, International Exchange, American Culture

Whether you are currently hosting an exchange student or are simply curious about what activities are highly American in nature, this list is worth reading.

Avoiding Resentment in Marriage

October 08, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections, Home Management

Before our marriage seven years ago, my husband and I had a few sessions of premarital counseling. (It was paid for by my parents, and at one point my mama wanted to know what was being discussed. The counselor, bless him, didn't share.) The counseling was pretty straightforward, as we were a confident couple who'd already dated for five years. (We have long-distance excuses, among others.) In any case, two agreements came out of that counseling:

Getting Free Cultural Passes + Discount Museum Admission for Children

September 24, 2013 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources, Cultural Reflections

The Japanese Garden. The Classical Chinese Garden. Portland Art Museum. The Children's Museum. The libraries in my area offer a free cultural pass to each of these places with no advance reservation required. The passes are available for one day checkout and admit several family members. You might have similar cultural passes available where you live. Here's the scoop: