Community

I feel a sense of community in the building that we live in and I love it! (There are 18 apartments and American citizens live in 3.)

No too long after we moved in we met a younger women (30 something) Emmanuelle on the stairs. She welcomed us to the building and basically gave us the lay of the land:

"Pizza Arson is the best takeout pizza; Don't get your haircut at the place on the corner because she's not very nice and the place by the park is great; I have an English speaking dentist that does an American teeth cleaning; Text me and I'll put you on the building WhatsApp"

This WhatsApp group was crucial right out of the gate in asking for the schedule and location of garbage and recycling pickup and how it's sorted. So many things to know!

An American resident, Libby, reached out and had us over for Aperò. So interesting to get to meet her and her son and hear people's stories! She lent us some tools for fixing our thrift finds. Libby also pointed us to Rue Bonaparte where we can go to the best Boucherie, Poissonnerie, and Marché for fruit. Now I just need to learn to cook well.

Yesterday another resident asked on WhatsApp if anyone had a couple wine glasses she could borrow. John offered to run a couple down as he was on his way out to the bricolage (mini Home Depot). He even got invited in to join the party.

We got an Ikea delivery and were figuring out how we were to get the heavy boxes upstairs when 2 young men our kid's age picked up the boxes and ran them up for us (the elevator is still broken). They were really heavy and one guy look quite spent!

Love this connection. The feeling the you are needed as you help others and that you have people to ask if you need help. I enjoyed this at Portside Pottery Studio in Vancouver and now in our building in Nice.