riverside_jordan_epton_raw_audio_sophie_epton_s_stud_0270_clean
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​[00:00:00] 

Speaker: Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of The Away We Go, we Go podcast. 

Speaker 2: Yes. You might go, I don't know if we go right now, somebody's going, oh you 

Speaker: guys, I am doing this right now from the couch because I love you all and I don't want you to like miss out on a week or I don't wanna like not record for a week for you.

Speaker 2: Sophie really is dedicated because let's just say ya girl ain't up to a hundred percent. 

Speaker: No, I, [00:01:00] I got a cold like three weeks ago. Wow. Can barely talk right now. Um, from the kids, that's 

Speaker 2: perfect for a podcast. 

Speaker: And it turned into a sinus infection. And I've been taking antibiotics now for like five days, but I still sound like this and.

I took my antibiotic too late last night and I woke up this morning feeling super nauseous. So hence, uh, we are here. We are here for you, but I am not all there and I'm, here's what I can from 

Speaker 2: Couch. Here's what I can tell you about Sophie. Of the, she's not a hundred percent, she's probably at like 35%, but of the 35%.

She's gonna give you a hundred percent of that. 35%. 

Speaker: That's right. That's right. 

Speaker 2: That's 

Speaker: right. But I really wanted, I really wanted to talk with everyone today just about more [00:02:00] holiday things, and especially just kind of how we're celebrating how people are celebrating in France.

So this is like to me so special because we started recording the podcast in January and so we have yet to like experience all of December and all of the holidays with you as listeners.

And so I thought it'd be really fun to kind of take you along a little holiday ride today and just kind of share a little bit more about like what we're experiencing and what we're doing as a family in the next few weeks and just. Why, you know, it is truly so special living here. Don't get me wrong, I think Christmas, the holidays are special wherever you are because it truly is about just like the spirit of it all and you know, being with loved ones.

But what I will say is that after living in Austin for 15 years, where we had so many Christmases that were like 70 degrees and palm trees, and just [00:03:00] like, you know, I think because I grew up in Colorado where there was always snow and a crackling fire and 

Speaker 2: Yeah, you grew up in like the picturesque holidays.

I grew up in Chicago where it was like the snow is gray and black, it's frigid, and your breath freezes outside. But moving, this is not so 

Speaker: fun. 

Speaker 2: Moving to Austin, it was warm. So here it's like the whole vibe is holidays. So for any of you that listened to my solo episode last week where I was talking about the holidays, just mostly about like the concept of living abroad in the holidays, during the holidays, having your traditions, you know, carry over into a new country, the things that you bring with you, the things that you.

You know, pick up and learn. We definitely wanted to do the like holiday part two, where obviously Sophie could be included because she's the holiday queen in our family. She's the overall queen in our family. [00:04:00] Um, laughing because she referred herself as the mean queen earlier because she got real saucy with me.

When we were setting up, she's like, oh, can you just bring the laptop over here? And it was really great 'cause I was like, okay. And she's being real funny about it. We had a good time getting set up for this. It only took us about an hour and 15 minutes to fully logistically get set up. 

Speaker: I think yeah, by the time I like, yeah.

Yeah, you're right. You're right. It's okay. We're we're here and we're doing this. So 

Speaker 2: proud of you, buddy. Um, so yeah, this is a, this is hopefully a fun part too, where we can kind of talk about what we're actually doing, what we're excited about, and the whole vibe and. And if not, then it is redundant from last week.

But now Sophie's voice is here, so that just makes it better. Anyways, you're welcome. 

Speaker: It won't be redundant. Um, so, so first of all, you know, when you think about France at Christmas time, it's just like Europe generally. And at Christmas [00:05:00] is just, they just bring it to another level of. Just celebration. Like there's so many different Christmas markets in France and X is absolutely no exception.

The whole city just like turns out and it's amazing. So it's like around the middle of November, all of the vendors will set up in like these little. Log cabins on the ro bow, which is like the, the main drag of the city, so to speak. The main boulevard. 

Speaker 2: And a lot of the different cities like have the cabins.

Yes. But X is like, you know, the ro bow is such a long promenade that there's probably like, we gotta pause for a second. Okay. 

Speaker 3: Hello, we, Mr. Bon. [00:06:00] Function. Okay. Okay.

Speaker 2: You wanna keep that in? Keep a little snippet of me speak in French. 

Speaker: Maybe That was cute. 

Speaker 2: I mean, here's the deal. I can get by. But when these guys talk at the speed that I'm talking right now. They rarely do they speak like two x when I'm speaking right now without enunciating, I'm just like, I kind of get the idea of what you're saying, but now you've only said a sentence of 20 words and I, I'm still on the first five, so it takes a bit for me to get caught up.

But either way it was fun.

Speaker: [00:07:00] Okay. So, yeah, so there's, there's tons of cabins that are like lining the streets, but what's so cool is that.

They are open all day and then throughout the night. So it's super magical because the whole, you know, Boulevard essentially has these twinkling lights like, you know, hanging down and everyone's walking around and it's cold, but it's like cozy. Everyone's in their coast, they're grabbing mold, wine, you know, they're looking at.

All of these like great little gifts to buy for people and it just feels so lively and festive every single day. 

Speaker 2: And it's super family oriented too, because you have all the rides for kids. There's station with like balloons and toys and it's just like, it's just like a really, you know, fun. It just feels like it's kind of a festival every day.

And they also have a stage, so they'll have music throughout the week. So the other day I was walking, I was out with the twins, we were with a couple friends, we were walking back and they, they had these like. [00:08:00] Carolers, but like we're talking like this is like a choir. 

Speaker 4: Yeah. 

Speaker 2: Up on stage. And they were awesome.

Like we could hear them from like blocks and blocks away as we were coming. And both the tunes were like, I wanna go see the music. 'cause they could hear it was epic. So, I mean, they have bands, they have carolers, they have like all sorts of stuff. It's really cool. 

Speaker: Yeah. And then it's really fun too. And I know this is not only here but in many parts of France, but it's like they have.

All these little vendors sprinkled throughout the city that are special just for the holidays. So they'll have someone that's, I know you wanted this the other day. Oh my God, I haven't 

Speaker 2: hit it yet. I keep walking by and it's not a convenient time, but they literally have half a wheel of cheese with a, it's like ale cheese.

I know. But for those of you that don't know what relet is, all that matters is you see a half a wheel of cheese mounted up with a heat lamp. And they just give you, scrap it, your ham sandwich and they scrape that melted part off and whew, baby, 

Speaker: it's, yeah, it's really good. So like, you know, the [00:09:00] people be sell or people are selling like, you know, crepes with chocolate and ette sandwiches and.

The roasted chestnuts. There's like several people, which we're still on the fence. I think a little bit about the roasted, so I haven't gotten the roasted 

Speaker 2: chestnut yet. 

Speaker: Oh. I've had them. They're, they're kind of, they don't have a lot of flavor, but still I would do 'em anyway. I'll, 

Speaker 2: I'll probably do it because I to it's fest.

Speaker: Yeah. It's festive. 

Speaker 2: Even if it's like, all right, I did that. 

Speaker: There's mold, wine, like, it's just, there's, there's a lot going on, which is just fun. And then also, you can't not find one part of this city that isn't decorated to the nines.

They start in, you know, either, I mean, depending on the shop. So mid 

Speaker 2: to late November? 

Speaker: Yeah, like mid to late November, every shop gets decorated. Every restaurant, like they have. You know, it might be something simple like just, you know, a beautiful garland and lights, or it might just be like all out with like crazy twinkle lights.

But a lot of, because there's so many different places that sell food items [00:10:00] here and they sell, it's like specialty food items. They're like in a pieri or, you know, it's, whether it's, you know, they're selling pastries or chocolate or honey or whatever it is, they are gonna have the most beautiful displays.

In the front windows and it just like, it like draws you in. So it's really cool 'cause everywhere, everywhere you walk it's just, it's in your face in the best way. Oh, 

Speaker 2: in your face. 

Speaker: So that's, yeah, that's just, what am I trying to say? 

Speaker 2: No, it's, it's just, it's so inviting. It's so inviting and it's so fun to like walk around and they're like spray painting the windows and everybody's got all sorts of different stuff.

So, yeah, it's cool. And then they also have, like, you know, they've mounted the lights. On all the different streets, so as you're walking down, even as the sun goes down, everything's lit up like everywhere. It's like the whole city center is just like in it. It's great. 

Speaker: There's also just so many.

Cool activities and [00:11:00] fairs and things happening that are special just for Christmas in, you know, in the AL area during this time. So this weekend for instance, and I talked about this a little bit with my mom on a recent podcast, but we are going to meet our parents out at Chateau de me this coming weekend for an annual like.

Christmas market day. This place is so cool. So it does a market, it's like, I think two or three days over one weekend. So essentially what it is, is it's like this beautiful chateau and they open the whole thing up to so many vendors.

Probably like art 

Speaker 2: vendors. Jewelry vendors, food vendors. 

Speaker: Yes. Like everything you could think of that's sort sort of like art, like artisan. Yeah. So it's really fun because it's just fun to go like walk around, eat great food. Find great vendors, buy little gifts for people, prevent 

Speaker 2: your children from breaking anything.

Super 

Speaker: fun stuff. [00:12:00] That one, yeah, we're definitely gonna have to figure that out because they, I think, I think this is 

Speaker 2: the week that we buy the body leashes, dude. 

Speaker: I think so too. 

Speaker 2: So you ain't those little two back in. 

Speaker: But, but there is this one vendor and when we see her again, we will give you the info. She makes, I'm watching 

Speaker 2: Sophie drool as we speak.

Speaker: She makes the most incredible chocolate babka I've ever had. 

Speaker 2: Another babka, 

Speaker: another bka that's a Seinfeld reference. And it is to die for. And we made a huge mistake last year by only buying one. And I think we literally, it was so good. We ate it in like a, a day. It was crazy. Like between the four of us, it was gone.

Speaker 2: We typically do anyways, but this was like, I think it was aggressive. 

Speaker: This was on another level. So no problems. Were left this, this year. We're getting probably at least four to five just to make sure that we have a nap. We have nap. Let's go. Wow, you really drank your coffee this morning, didn't you?

Listen, 

Speaker 2: [00:13:00] you start talking about buying pastries and bobcat. Sophie asked me this morning on the way home because as she mentioned, she wasn't feeling great. She's like, can you pick me up a couple baguettes, some bread? I go overboard. I bought like probably 10 croissants. I bought a handful of baguettes. I bought a different kind of like bag at bread.

I have a problem and I'm not, it's, it's not a problem, but it might be seen as a problem. It's okay for me, so there is no acceptance. In this, I'm just okay with it. Um, but, uh, you're, you're ridiculous. We're getting a shit ton of bobs. I love 

Speaker: you. Anyways, we're, yeah, we're getting all the bobs 'cause I want to have some for New Year's and we'll figure it out.

But I'll let you know. Hopefully she's there this year. We'll find her and, you know, get in touch with her. 'cause I know she has an Instagram account, but I just cannot remember her name right now. So. And then, so that's, that's this weekend. And then next week will be really fun too. It's kind of, everything really winds down because, huh?

Just like we've told you before, every eight [00:14:00] weeks, two weeks out of the eight weeks, the kids are off. So this time it times out with Christmas vacation, which is nice,

but the kids will be done by next Thursday. But what's really cute is we're gonna go watch a little performance. They're learning a song that they've been singing to us at home, which is, and we've been 

Speaker 2: practicing. It's pretty awesome. They're, I, I gotta be honest, man. Like they're what, like three and a quarter coming up on three and a half?

Yeah. Years old. They're pretty good at remembering lyrics. 

Speaker: They, oh, they, well, of course they are. They have you as their dad, like they have music in their veins. Yeah, but I'm 

Speaker 2: shit at lyrics. 

Speaker: That's true. Okay. They have me as their mom and I remember everything there. It's, yeah. Yeah. I 

Speaker 2: mean, I remember songs from like the nineties, like I can, I can sing like The Crossroads by Bone Thugs and Harmony.

Right. That I learned in like 1995. But like, I can't remember anything over the last like, wow, what a ference four years. I know, right? It's just such a good song. 

Speaker: Anyways, so [00:15:00] we are, we are gonna be watching them do their cute little performance and then they're essentially. Off. So we're gonna, we're gonna figure it out.

But the following weekend we are going to meet my parents again for, we always do this like holiday tradition where we go to La Mago. I know I've talked about this place before. It's magical, like no matter what time of year. So it's this beautiful old stone farmhouse that's like about a seven minute drive outside of God, and it is.

The food is phenomenal. The family that, I mean, essentially the family owns the place, runs the place they live upstairs with their kids. They're really family friendly, but it also feels very like beautiful and upscale experience. So in the summertime, it's like amazing to just sit outside, enjoy the gardens, sit under the trees.

But in the winter, it's so cozy because you sit inside this [00:16:00] beautiful stone farmhouse, the fire is crackling. The food obviously changes. It's totally seasonal, and it's beautiful and warm and hearty, and we always go every year. So that's what we're going to do in a couple weekends. 

Speaker 2: I'm pretty stoked about it because most of the time I go and I get, what do I get?

It's the. God, I can't remember the name of the dish. Miguel talks about it all the time. Dob do. Thank you. It was completely escaping my brain as most things do all the time. The dob and it is like a hot pot of amazing beef and like some vegetables and like the gravy sauce in it and like, whoa. It's good.

Speaker: Yeah. They generally have that. So be It's good. I'm stoked about it. It'll be, yeah. It'll be really, really special. And then in the meantime too, I think we're gonna be taking our kids on lots of the [00:17:00] rides, doing cookie baking, cosing up in bed and watching all the Christmas things. They're very into Peppa Pig right now.

Speaker 2: Yeah. And they're, and they're into Christmas stuff. We've, yeah, we've kind of very much, almost completely trans, transitioned them away from Halloween now. Um, that took a while. Yeah, it did take a while. They were in a lot of the spooky stuff and kept wanting to watch Halloween, but now we're onto Christmas, which is great, and they're having a ton of fun with it, so that'll be, that'll be fun.

Speaker: Yeah. And then one of the places that we are really excited to, finally, we're doing this, this year, I 

Speaker 2: know we've talked about it for the last, like, I know. 

Speaker: I know almost well in our defense, the kids were so young in 2023 when we first moved, and then last year, huh? This is funny. I was also horrifically sick in December, uh, and we just couldn't go.

I mean, I was so sick the [00:18:00] whole month, so. Uh, fingers crossed we're doing it this year doing it. We're going to, I will tag this in or link it in the show notes. So it's this beautiful little port town and they go crazy at Christmas time and it's fairly close here. It's what? Under an hour drive from here.

Yeah. Probably 

Speaker 2: 45 minutes maybe. 

Speaker: And they, they take all the boats and decorate them with twinkle lights and the whole town is like exploding with like lights and colors and they just, they do incredible things. And they also, I need to check on this, but they do fireworks as well during the holidays and for sure on New Year's, new Year's Eve.

So. That is a place that has been in my dreams and on my mind. Yes. And we're making it happen. I think too. It's so cool 'cause like the kids are, I think of the age now, they can really appreciate it. We're finally understanding. Yeah, they're, yeah, they're like 

Speaker 2: cognizant of things. Like they remember stuff they like are aware.

So [00:19:00] it's fun. And there's a lot of, there's a lot of cities that they do, what do they call it in French? It's like a fe de. Yes. Something like that. Yes. So like, it's, it's like a light festival where they'll either have it for days or they'll do like the big, you know, lighting when they like, kind of turn everything on.

So there's a lot of places that do it, but we're just, we're so close to this one. We've been talking about it for years. So I'm stoked. 

Speaker: Me too. Yeah, me too. Throw 'em in 

Speaker 2: the car, grab a couple blankets and go. And 

Speaker: so follow, keep following us on our stories on Instagram and on TikTok, because we are definitely gonna be sharing all about that when we go.

We just have to figure out the exact date, but it'll be soon. Yep. And you know, then just Christmas and Hanukkah were, you know, starting to celebrate the 14th for Hanukkah. 

Speaker 2: That's right. We got our menorah out. They gotta make sure we have enough candles to last through because I think every year I think they got their hands into the box 

Speaker 5: uhhuh 

Speaker 2: of [00:20:00] candles and you know, when you have just enough candles to make it through, whatever you need it for.

And we might be down a bit, but, um, I'll be excited because, you know, we will. I, I don't know that we'll do the, uh, I mean, eventually these kids are gonna outsmart us and they're gonna get Hanukkah gifts and Christmas gifts and it's gonna be a thing. Um, so we're gonna have to sort that out. But, um, yeah, it'll be fun.

You know, we will, I think we're gonna do, I don't know when we haven't talked about it, but we are gonna do like a. Like a more like Hanukkah dinner type thing? We'll, 

Speaker: I think this year we have them help us with the lot 'cause 

Speaker 2: yeah, we can make lots and lots, lot cocktails, some Coggle, they might dig the Coggle.

Speaker: Well now. Yeah, because 

Speaker 2: they like raisins. They like cinnamon, they like noodles. 

Speaker: That's true. We, that's what we'll make this year for sure. I thought we can make 

Speaker 2: a good co I 

Speaker: love how we're like workshopping this out right now on the podcast. 

Speaker 2: Yeah, why not? [00:21:00] 

Speaker: Game planning. Um, and then at Christmas my parents are planning to come into town and be with us, which will be really fun.

I mean there, I will say there's like no matter where you live and who you are, I think. Just being able to see Christmas through like little kids' eyes, whether you're an auntie, a mom, a dad, an uncle, whatever it is. Like, I just think it's so cute to like be able to experience all of that through their little eyes for the first time.

It's, it's cool. So it, then you and I, we, we have, we will talk more about this too. I'm fucking 

Speaker 2: willing. We, but 

Speaker: we, we have a dear friend who's an absolute angel. Who is letting us use her place? Um, and state. Maybe a literal 

Speaker 2: angel. 

Speaker: Yeah, literal angel. And we are going to go on a staycation. And the reason I'm not saying any more [00:22:00] details about it is because I'm terrified about jinxing it.

So when it happens, we're not 

Speaker 2: gonna Murphy's law this shit. It's happening. I, 

Speaker: I will let, I will let all of you know, and you'll get to see, but 

Speaker 2: if this girl is spinning in dizzy circles from sinus ear infection. I'm gonna blindfold her and throw her in the car and drug her and drag her the hell out there because we're having a couple nights out.

Speaker: Yeah. So Jordan and I will get desperately need it. Jordan and I will get two, two days, like two nights essentially, just to have a little staycation, just the two of us, which we desperately need. We're so excited. We just want to chill. And eat and catch up on the next installment of Stranger Things.

Things 

Speaker 2: walk outta Stranger Things. Yeah, I think we have like eight hours of Stranger Things to watch and That's great. Is six hours. 

Speaker: It's eight. Close to eight. Eight hours, 

Speaker 2: which is not gonna be a problem because all we want. For Christmas 

Speaker: is to [00:23:00] sleep, 

Speaker 2: is to and 

Speaker: to 

Speaker 2: rest. Chill. Oh man. We're really sounding like toddler parents right now.

I really, I think for a long time we were, we were holding off and trying to be like, nah man, we're, we are cool and we do all the family stuff together and, and our friends around town who see us. We will be, I, uh, saw a couple friends recently that, you know, we, we see them at school and then I pass 'em on the street and we're like in town together.

And the, the js and you know, it's always funny because they, they kids are older and so they're able to like, you know, stop by street food and kind of hang out together and they'll see me like running down. From the apartment or down the street, I'll be like, Hey guys. And it's like always in passing to be like, Hey, I really wanna catch up and hang out with you guys anyways.

See you in three weeks. And then I'm like, back up here. And that time passes. So it's pretty funny the, the season we're at. But I think all [00:24:00] that to say, so, and I are stoked for a little break and grateful to all of those people who are helping us to do that, which is yes. You know, the combination of the 

Speaker: and, and I just have to say this too, so.

I just feel like this kind of opportunity wouldn't necessarily come our way if we weren't living in France because, I don't know, it's just, it's really interesting, like the community that you meet and the friendships that you make in some ways feel I. Like so much tighter and stronger because you feel connected in a, in a certain way to living abroad or doing something different, going out on a limb.

Speaker 2: I'm way o I'm way overshooting the, the sentiment, but it is like a, a very diluted version of like shared trauma, not actual kind of, not actual trauma compared to real trauma, but, but just the, the shock factor of. Like you're kind of have a seat at [00:25:00] the table when you Right. Become bold and you do something like this, and like when you meet other people who've done it, it's just already you have so much in common just from like being there.

Speaker: Right? So I think that it just. We're, the fact that we're living in France and getting to experience all of these things makes us feel very, very thankful for this specific holiday season and excited for everything that's to come. So obviously, you know, follow our stories and everything. We'll be keeping up to date in the next couple weeks with a lot of fun stuff going on,

and then I just wanted to end a little bit. We got some really fun questions and I thought this would be such, I've been kind of collecting them specifically for an episode like, like this one, and so I thought it would be really fun to talk more about just sort of the traditions and differences that we feel and see being in France.

One of the really fun questions that we got [00:26:00] asked are what are some of the most important holiday traditions of Provence and how are they different from the rest of France? And I would say the things that really can be different is that we see a lot here are either the 13 desserts, which is very proven, Saul.

Like you walk through and you see, and Jordan touched on this a lot in the last episode, but essentially if you didn't listen to that one yet, it's, it's like these little desserts that all appear on the holiday table. And it's, I mean, it's not really like a fixed list, but they generally include like rays and something with walnuts or hazelnut, something with dried figs, almonds, there's a newgate.

There's a cadi soul, which is like an. You know, it's an X, it's an X thing that's like, it's like a 

Speaker 2: X cookie that's like almond and melon. Yeah. And [00:27:00] little 

Speaker: like sugar paste, like all of that. Like it'll have fresh fruit and dried fruit, all these different things on the table. But they actually sell them every time you walk through in these like, you know, well, 

Speaker 2: dessert stores or, yeah, or like confectionary 

Speaker: stores.

That's what they're called. And you can just pick them up. And so I think for the first time. This year we are actually going to get one and include it. Yeah, we just 

Speaker 2: haven't yet. No, it'll be good as long as we dump the walnuts. 

Speaker: Right. Poor Luca. So, so that's kind of a big thing. And then the, the cent, which is really interesting and a huge thing here is they have like, even like a, a whole boulevard near the Corra boat here.

Speaker 3: Oh yeah. And 

Speaker: all they sell are these cent tones, which are these handmade clay figurines. And they're used to like, for elaborate nativity villages or a lot of 'em. I mean, they 

Speaker 2: have like, there's like all squirts of stuff though. 'cause they have like six or eight. Like [00:28:00] booths. 

Speaker 4: Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2: And there's like rows of like, stuff for like farm animals and fences and like, things to like make like an entire, like mini city.

I mean like think if you've ever seen Beetlejuice, like the whole city that he built up in the attic. It like has that kind of stuff. It's, it's. Actually really cool. 

Speaker: Yeah, so like a lot of, I mean some of them will be like little fish mongers or little Bakers or little shepherds and Yeah, it's, it's this big thing, so every time we walk there's this one section, we actually do have like a, a celebration, like a cent tone celebration festival that happens during December here.

So it's really interesting to see. It's like, and that's something that's very provenance Saul. That you'll see here. That's, that's different. But the other thing too is that, and I think this is, it goes across most of France as far as I know, but. Christmas Eve is [00:29:00] the big event here. Mm-hmm. Like it's way bigger than actual Christmas Day.

Whereas I feel like when I grew up, I mean, I feel like that's such an American thing. It's like, maybe you'll like open a present or two watch movies and then get ready for actual Christmas day. But here it's like, that's Christmas Eve is like when everyone gathers for, you know, a big dinner. They call it the, like the big supper.

And they have like all these different dishes, everyone gets together and that's, that's the main event. And then the next day I think it, it, I think kids will still open presents on Christmas day, but it's just not as like 

Speaker 2: commercialized. 

Speaker: Yeah. Well that, that too, um, you mean 

Speaker 2: what do I know? I'm Jewish. So,

Speaker: and then. The other thing I thought was really interesting that someone asked is, do French people decorate their homes for Christmas the way Americans do? And from what I [00:30:00] understand, no. Um, there's definitely a lot of stores and ex that have some cute decorations, but it's nothing like, 

Speaker 2: I mean, admittedly we haven't been like around a ton, but when you think about like the videos that you see of people where they're like hooking up.

Music to like lighting decorations and like having them in sync and doing full on light shows and like multiple Christmas trees fully decorated in the house and like gigantic blowup stuff all over the roof and lawn. 

Speaker: No, like I think when we think of like, I mean, I'm thinking of one person in particular that I'm not gonna.

Call out by name, but someone that we know that goes all out and like every square inch of their house is decorated for Christmas. 

Speaker 4: Mm-hmm. 

Speaker: Um, I think that's way more kind of American. Whereas like in France, I think [00:31:00] because a lot of the villages, the cities, the towns will decorate everything so beautifully.

They generally keep their homes a lot more chill with like a tree. Maybe a couple garlands, a nativity scene if they're religious, but like Yeah, you, 

Speaker 2: but, but I think that is kind of like some stark differences between like community culture in Europe, right. Versus the US Whereas everybody's decorating their own house.

Everybody's doing things at their own house and here everybody's out. I mean, in the book, every true. That's so true. The whole town. Here in X in most towns, I think like people are out, people are out walking around, they're, that's why you're drinking mold wine on the street and you're getting rose chestnuts and you have sandwiches.

Like it's, it's designed to have people out and celebrating together and just like, you know, being out versus like. I mean, again, like I did grow up [00:32:00] celebrating Christmas just 'cause you know, my family and their industry. Right. The Christmas was the only day that they weren't working from retail. But I would still be like, we would drive on Christmas and it was like It was ghost towns.

Yeah. In most places. Right, right. It was super quiet. Yeah, because everybody is like commuting to the gathering house and it's just there. So it's, uh, I think that that's like a pretty stark difference here. 

Speaker: Yeah, you're right. That's a really good point. One thing I will say though, that I absolutely love here in terms of decoration is that the French, like do so many things with paper and it's brilliant.

Like we have all these trees that like lay flat and then you can open them up into this beautiful, like, it's like a. I don't even know how to describe it. It's like a textured paper tree. 

Speaker 3: Well, it's, it's almost, and 

Speaker: they snap and they snap with magnets and it's so smart because you have them out all, you know, all of Christmas.

And then [00:33:00] when you're ready to pack them up, they're done. And I've never seen anything quite like it, what they do here. And so I've bought the amount of like paper decorations and trees I bought, got a lot for the 

Speaker 2: house, which, which is a bold move with four tiny, very. 

Speaker: Nimble hands, 

Speaker 2: nimble and aggressive hands, we'll call it that, but uh, 

Speaker: yeah, but it's, but I do think that's super cool.

So yeah, I would say yeah, like everything is decorated so much outside and less inside here. I think that's the difference. And it's. It's really festive. Yeah. And then last question is what is typically served at a proven salt Christmas dinner? 

Speaker 2: Yeah, let's talk about food. 

Speaker: So what I will say is that you are not going to find like a casserole or a side the same way.

You will find a some like, you'll probably find like a creamy. You know, potato, groten, things like that. But they really focus more on [00:34:00] like meat or seafood heavy dishes that are really rich. So like, especially, I mean, right now you'll see vendors in the streets with oysters, with fo gras, with truffles, and it's the same thing as what you'll see at a Christmas dinner.

Like especially when even we go in to like see our butcher. Like it's always just like really upscale. Fancy ways of rolling meats with like cheeses and herbs and I mean all kinds of stuff like that. Everything's just very rich, very over the top. So you'll have escar go, you'll have big cheese courses and I think for us, we want to embrace some of that.

And also still, your girl still needs like a green bean casserole. I 

Speaker 2: mean, I think that's the, the cool thing, and this is, I, I kind of talked about this last week, which is like, you know, what are the [00:35:00] traditions, what are the, like the must haves that you bring with you when you've moved abroad? And you have to like, you know, put those things together.

And then what are the new ones that you take on that are more local? And you kind of get this cool different mix, which is essentially what your life is moving abroad anyways. It's bringing the things with you that you still want to continue. And then also. You know, being open to trying new traditions and then 

Speaker: Right.

Speaker 2: Even, you know, when you meet people and make friends from all sorts of different countries, that's, I think when it gets really fun when you have people bringing traditional dishes from their home country that are very different than yours and you kind of get this cool potluck, which I think is just a cool thing.

And I've heard, you know, from friends that are, that are doing stuff like that, which is really fun. But 

Speaker: No, that's, I mean, truly that's, that's like what it's about. So it's cool. It's cool to like try new things and explore different ways of celebrating, but [00:36:00] also knowing that like, I'm going to still.

Make the things that I want to make. Yeah. 

Speaker 2: You girls have a green bean casserole. Sophie makes a bomb one and can't live without, and you know, you got all the, the fixings here, so 

Speaker: yeah, 

Speaker 2: it's good. 

Speaker: So, so many things to look forward to. We love this time of year and we're excited to kind of take you along as we go and.

For everyone out there. I don't, ugh. 

Speaker 2: Yeah, you don't. I'm really don't, yeah, I don't push. No. Uh, super excited about the holiday season. I am, I'm very excited about like, the break. I think even because I'll, I'll have some time off. Even. Even though the twins are gonna be home and it's gonna feel like a lot.

I'm stoked that we're gonna just be able to like focus on that time. I think this is the, my favorite part of this time of year, which is like everybody's doing that. It's true from like a work standpoint. Like people are shutting down. It's okay to like give yourself [00:37:00] that break and, and I think we're just really excited that, that the twins are like so involved 'cause like the last couple years.

We make light of it and try to make it like fun, but like there's not so much you can do. And now, like even last night where we have a little advent calendar that some, some sweet friends of ours brought us as just like filled with lint chocolate, just a little chocolate like truffles. And you know, we're giving, we're splitting those for the twins every night, you know, or some nights at least.

And when we. Say like, okay, you guys like eating well, it's been a good day. Do you want to have your chocolate? And they're like chocolate. And they're like getting so excited and they're like bouncing up and down, waiting for you to like open the wrapper and like cut it in half and give them their half.

And I think because they're at that stage, like that's a really fun. Place to be out, like watching them like, yeah, super fun. Every morning when we come into the front room and plug in the Christmas tree, like Christmas tree, [00:38:00] like, they're just very excited. So that just makes it fun. It's fun to do things when people are excited and that's my vibe.

So I just like people being into shit and this is a really fun one. So next few weeks are gonna be busy and fun, and we have some exciting conversations coming up that. Again, over the next couple weeks and into the new year that I'm stoked about. 

Speaker: And in the meantime, we are wishing you a wonderful week and we will see y'all next week.

Speaker 2: Thanks for hanging. 

Speaker: Thanks guys. Bye 

Speaker 2: bye. 

​[00:39:00]