An Interlude in France

Benedicte, Thomas, and Olivier Benedicte DuPont was a Rotary Scholar in 1995–1996. She had been a reporter for France TV and was studying journalism at USC. Linda and I were her host family. Benedicte did not appreciate our fried chicken and grits, but we loved her chicken cordon bleu and fresh salad.

When Benedicte returned home, we promised to visit. Time passed and she left France TV, married Olivier Decker, moved to Nancy, and had four children. Finally, last August, Linda and I flew to Paris, toured the city for a week, then met Benedicte at the TGV train station with hugs and kisses.

At her parents’ home in a Paris suburb we had a great meal with a good broken French–English conversation then retired to a starry, starry night in the DuPont’s 200–year–old house.

The next day Olivier drove us to Nancy, a city of 500,000 in eastern France. The settlement dates back to 800 BC and was the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine under Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century.

Benedicte, Thomas, and Linda leave for the market. When Polish–Lithuanian Duke Stanislas died in 1766, Lorraine became a French province. The city is famous for its 18th century cathedral, Place Stanislas, botanical gardens, universities, museums, and operas. In our minds, it is now famous for wonderful hospitality and great friends.

Next week: Place Stanislas
The sidewalks and bus stops in Nancy are wonderfully decorated with flowers. Plus, the sign gives the temperature. 22C = 71F.
Thomas leaves the pool where his brother, Martin, and a friend are playing in the backyard.
Benedicte and Olivier live in this three–story attached home in Nancy with their four children.
Benedicte has a typical, modern French– style kitchen.
Ever ything has i ts place in France, even trashcans.

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