After a year as an exchange student in Denmark when I was 16, I've always wanted to live in Europe again. I've studied 7 languages (though not fluent!) and really wanted to live in the countries so I could get fluent.

My husband and I decided we wanted out of the midwest winters that last 8 months (don't bother correcting me - it's 40 F here right now). We both teach high school, so we decided to check out the international circuit. Although our top choices were Italy, Spain and France, we knew the chances were slim, so we kept open minds. We interviewed with Dubai, Beijing, Cameroon, and Qatar as well as France. Somehow, we lucked out and got France!

I've studied France and the French for years (husband is just starting to learn), and we're so looking forward to the slower pace and less emphasis on materialism. We also want our daughters to speak another language and have the travel opportunities that will be available. Don't get me wrong...if international teaching didn't work out for us, our backup plan was to move to North Carolina. We don't hate America at all.

Better life, here we come.

Caroline