tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post3559113476631424375..comments2023-09-23T11:16:00.352+02:00Comments on The Franco-American Flophouse has moved: Fear, Shame, and the Expat MemoirVictoria FERAUGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-44677695511117948482015-07-15T13:00:18.474+02:002015-07-15T13:00:18.474+02:00Born French, naturalized American 40 years ago - p...Born French, naturalized American 40 years ago - professionally active 20 years in France and 30 years in the US - one (almost) bilingual son - now 75 and retired, Lucky enough to split time between Paris and the US. <br /><br />In short, I think I am qualified to express an opinion: Victoria is totally right, as usual. And I wish I was as gifted as she is...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16937988386900241487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-56257762317729983072015-07-15T02:48:46.462+02:002015-07-15T02:48:46.462+02:00@Tim, Excellent question and that sent me looking....@Tim, Excellent question and that sent me looking. So far I haven't found any. There is a one written by a British woman about their time in Texas which I read and it was OK. There are some novels written by French about Japan - just finished one called Une Saison Japonaise which is a good read. I also recommend the novel Passion Fruit by Sandra Cruz about an expat couple in Brazil.<br /><br />@Leslie, Trying to get the courage to do that. As I said, the fear is justified.<br /><br />@Nezumi-san. Here is the full quotation: “Tap into what you don’t want to say.” Tap into that secret place, despite the agony, despite the personal pain, over and above the fatigue. This one little piece of me I want to get down on film."<br /><br />@Andrew, It's both. I've talked to many expats who shrink at the idea of revealing to their families and friends back in the home country just how bad things got for them. They have either tried to talk about it and were shut down because no one wanted their bubbles bursted, or they are just too ashamed to admit that they moved to another country and it didn't go well - personal failure. An example what man wants the world to know that his Japanese wife is deeply unhappy with him, left him more than once, and refused to sign off on his residency card in the hopes that he would be thrown out of the country (this has happened to more than one foreign man I've met here in Japan). Or the woman in France I met years ago sold everything back in the home country and was in France for less than a month when her French husband asked for a divorce. Powerful stuff. The stuff of which one hell of a novel or memoir might be made.<br /><br />And do not underestimate the precariousness of the migrant (even ones from developped countries). The foreign citizenship puts the person in a one down position when it comes to the courts and the society. So writing something that is not necessarily flattering to the receiving country can get a migrant in a lot of trouble.Victoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-11450583780050236472015-07-14T16:00:28.673+02:002015-07-14T16:00:28.673+02:00Good reflections. Is it both internal as well as w...Good reflections. Is it both internal as well as what publishers want?<br /><br />But I agree with Leslie. You should write - or at least compile your relevant posts - for a more honest look.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-19898749387084288072015-07-14T10:19:21.862+02:002015-07-14T10:19:21.862+02:00"Tap into what you don't want to say.&quo..."Tap into what you don't want to say." Brilliant advice.<br />Inaka Nezuminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-35870878130385053222015-07-14T08:33:45.126+02:002015-07-14T08:33:45.126+02:00I hope you write your memoir. Soon. I will look ...I hope you write your memoir. Soon. I will look forward to reading anything you write, but the topic of the realities of emigrating would particularly compelling in your articulate, honest hands. Truly, LeslieLeslie in Oregonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-2268348844522260072015-07-14T06:09:12.356+02:002015-07-14T06:09:12.356+02:00Are there any novels written in France about Frenc...Are there any novels written in France about French people living in the United States or Canada? I am curious as to why they are not any.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894651289037073128noreply@blogger.com