How I Met My French Husband in the Pandemic, Plus a Guy with One Single Tooth Who Insulted My French, and Which Apps to Use if You're Looking for Love in France
What fantastic friends and a wonderful story! It would make a great book and an excellent counterpoint to the strangely creepy memoir by another woman who it seems came to Paris about the same time you did but undoubtedly was on Happn. I have the perfect name, thanks to a former employee who refused to pronounce "th" even when speaking with F500 execs, for the loser you met: Monsieur Tooff. Glad you found a winner, and appreciate the tips and the inspo. Now off to seriously brush up on my French so I can think about a trip.
Oh my goodness. I, too, am a romantic. I know, big surprise. We are so similar, again. My Ohio to France journey began when I was 11. My family were not travelers at all either (Coal miners and moonshiners), and our relationship today is non-existent. In 5th grade they passed out a flyer for a Back-to-Back program to France. Long story short, I went. It’s all in the manuscript I wrote so eventually it’ll be out in the world, hopefully. The editor I was shooting for had a death in the family, so I’m waiting but I think I’ll search for someone else. 😥 I want to get moving on it. Anyways, I love hearing it all Karen. Especially seeing your love selfies together. So sweet. 🥹
Quelle belle histoire! J'adore lisant ces aventures (je ne suis pas sure si aventure est le mot propre). J'apprecie aussi la vocabulaire. Je suis tellement heureuse pour vous et Monsieur B. I look forward to the next installments of La Flaneuse. A bientot. R
Merci Robin ! C'est vraiment gentil :-) Merci d'avoir laissé ce commentaire. Greetings from sunny Paris 😘 Et oui, dans ce cas là vous pouvez utiliser "aventure" 😃
J’adore cette « post » Karen! Très charmant, comme toi! Merci beaucoup for making me feel young again as I was when I lived and worked in France so many years ago.
I do hope we can meet pour le te (sorry, I know there’s supposed to be an accent but my tech knowledge is limited) ou un café. Ah voilà, l’accent!
It was delightful reading about about how you met M. Bussen! Tres charmant!
I keep referring mes amis to your newsletter—🤞🏼It adds a bit of sunshine ☀️
and sparkle to days that recently here in the USA can seem dark!
Merci beaucoup!
P.S. mon mari et moi serons à Paris le mois d’août.
You make a lovely couple. In a previous newsletter you mentioned that your country home is 10 minutes from Fontainebleau. WOW, I was blown away by it.
I really enjoy reading about your adventures. It makes me feel as if I am in Paris. Just an aside, Karen, it's fun when you mention French products that we can get on Amazon.
Thank you Debbie :-) Yes we are just next to Fontainebleau which is so wonderful--the forest, the château, and less than an hour to la Bourgogne, my favorite wine region. We are lucky. OK for the recommendations, I will add some in !
I love it! The dating struggle (and the adventure) is real and can be frustrating ! 😂 But I'm living proof that it can happen in a big way when you least expect it. Also, French men IMHO = FANTASTIQUE ! 🇫🇷 💕
I always enjoy your newsletters Karen! I think though this is the first time you have shown phots of Monsieur B😍. you are a gorgeous couple and I wish you many more happy years ensemble…🥰🫶
Awww thank you, c'est gentil ! Yes, I don't feature him all the time but I should because he is so handsome 💕 Thank you for the sweet wishes. Can't believe we've been married for three years already!
That is a sweet story. I am so happy for you. Did you know that I met my man here too. It wasn't on a dating site, but 10 years later we are still together and very happy. I have also encountered people insulting my French too. It says more about them than you.
Merci Kim ! I think I knew your man was French but not how you met. That is wonderful!! As to the insult, I thought it was hysterical considering he did not speak one word of English and he had one tooth. The sheer bravado was so funny!
When I met my husband, he was always so respectful and sweet when speaking to me in French--he still is to this day and that is just one reason why I love him so much!! bisous 😘
I love this post, Karen! As someone who has been single a while, also managed to get out of a long relationship with a jerk, and has had dismal luck on the apps, I related to so much of this piece. Maybe it even gives me hope that my Monsieur B is out there, somewhere. Thanks so much for sharing. PS - I think tips 3 & 6 are good advice for anyone anywhere in the world. ❤️
Merci ! I really appreciate your great comment and yes, the happy lightning of love can strike at any time, even when, as in my case, there seemed to be not much hope. Anything can happen! But one thing I'd say is that if I hadn't been forced to join Bumble for a few weeks, I never would've met anyone. I used to spend most of my time in Paris alone. So I really needed that kick in the pants! Bisous and bonne continuation ! Your Monsieur B is waiting to meet you--at just the right moment.
Thank you so much for writing me- ugh I know what you mean. For me it was just the idea of trying something different to be open to meeting new people—I had been so closed off for quite a while. Whether the apps or another approach, I think the idea is just to find a way to frame it for yourself so that there is a benefit to you, maybe even beyond dating. As in, meeting new French friends, having a chance to practice conversation in French, etc. I lowered the stakes for myself and I got lucky. I hope you will too😊 Greetings from Paris 😘😘
Funny! I’ve never used the apps because my husband and I met in late 2003, but I used match.com a bit before that and also had a date with a guy who had a good job but very bad teeth. 😁 He had more serious problems than that, but still … love your story!
What fantastic friends and a wonderful story! It would make a great book and an excellent counterpoint to the strangely creepy memoir by another woman who it seems came to Paris about the same time you did but undoubtedly was on Happn. I have the perfect name, thanks to a former employee who refused to pronounce "th" even when speaking with F500 execs, for the loser you met: Monsieur Tooff. Glad you found a winner, and appreciate the tips and the inspo. Now off to seriously brush up on my French so I can think about a trip.
hahaha the name! I love it 🦷 😂 thank you for making me laugh.
Bravo for brushing up on your French--bonne continuation ! 💕
Oh my goodness. I, too, am a romantic. I know, big surprise. We are so similar, again. My Ohio to France journey began when I was 11. My family were not travelers at all either (Coal miners and moonshiners), and our relationship today is non-existent. In 5th grade they passed out a flyer for a Back-to-Back program to France. Long story short, I went. It’s all in the manuscript I wrote so eventually it’ll be out in the world, hopefully. The editor I was shooting for had a death in the family, so I’m waiting but I think I’ll search for someone else. 😥 I want to get moving on it. Anyways, I love hearing it all Karen. Especially seeing your love selfies together. So sweet. 🥹
Yes small Buckeye world 😃
Thank you for this lovely comment and I’m wishing you every success with your manuscript ❣️
Fantastic! Love reading about this story that I was lucky enough to experience as it was happening. One of the best love stories ever!
🥰 🥰🥰 love you
Quelle belle histoire! J'adore lisant ces aventures (je ne suis pas sure si aventure est le mot propre). J'apprecie aussi la vocabulaire. Je suis tellement heureuse pour vous et Monsieur B. I look forward to the next installments of La Flaneuse. A bientot. R
Merci Robin ! C'est vraiment gentil :-) Merci d'avoir laissé ce commentaire. Greetings from sunny Paris 😘 Et oui, dans ce cas là vous pouvez utiliser "aventure" 😃
What beautiful photos of you both!
Merci Betty ❣️
J’adore cette « post » Karen! Très charmant, comme toi! Merci beaucoup for making me feel young again as I was when I lived and worked in France so many years ago.
I do hope we can meet pour le te (sorry, I know there’s supposed to be an accent but my tech knowledge is limited) ou un café. Ah voilà, l’accent!
It was delightful reading about about how you met M. Bussen! Tres charmant!
I keep referring mes amis to your newsletter—🤞🏼It adds a bit of sunshine ☀️
and sparkle to days that recently here in the USA can seem dark!
Merci beaucoup!
P.S. mon mari et moi serons à Paris le mois d’août.
Paris is waiting for you ❣️
You make a lovely couple. In a previous newsletter you mentioned that your country home is 10 minutes from Fontainebleau. WOW, I was blown away by it.
I really enjoy reading about your adventures. It makes me feel as if I am in Paris. Just an aside, Karen, it's fun when you mention French products that we can get on Amazon.
Thank you Debbie :-) Yes we are just next to Fontainebleau which is so wonderful--the forest, the château, and less than an hour to la Bourgogne, my favorite wine region. We are lucky. OK for the recommendations, I will add some in !
OMG, Karen-I love this! I am going to share it with all of my over 50 single friends :)
I love it! The dating struggle (and the adventure) is real and can be frustrating ! 😂 But I'm living proof that it can happen in a big way when you least expect it. Also, French men IMHO = FANTASTIQUE ! 🇫🇷 💕
I always enjoy your newsletters Karen! I think though this is the first time you have shown phots of Monsieur B😍. you are a gorgeous couple and I wish you many more happy years ensemble…🥰🫶
Awww thank you, c'est gentil ! Yes, I don't feature him all the time but I should because he is so handsome 💕 Thank you for the sweet wishes. Can't believe we've been married for three years already!
That is a sweet story. I am so happy for you. Did you know that I met my man here too. It wasn't on a dating site, but 10 years later we are still together and very happy. I have also encountered people insulting my French too. It says more about them than you.
Merci Kim ! I think I knew your man was French but not how you met. That is wonderful!! As to the insult, I thought it was hysterical considering he did not speak one word of English and he had one tooth. The sheer bravado was so funny!
When I met my husband, he was always so respectful and sweet when speaking to me in French--he still is to this day and that is just one reason why I love him so much!! bisous 😘
I love this post, Karen! As someone who has been single a while, also managed to get out of a long relationship with a jerk, and has had dismal luck on the apps, I related to so much of this piece. Maybe it even gives me hope that my Monsieur B is out there, somewhere. Thanks so much for sharing. PS - I think tips 3 & 6 are good advice for anyone anywhere in the world. ❤️
Merci ! I really appreciate your great comment and yes, the happy lightning of love can strike at any time, even when, as in my case, there seemed to be not much hope. Anything can happen! But one thing I'd say is that if I hadn't been forced to join Bumble for a few weeks, I never would've met anyone. I used to spend most of my time in Paris alone. So I really needed that kick in the pants! Bisous and bonne continuation ! Your Monsieur B is waiting to meet you--at just the right moment.
I’m in Paris in the fall…. You just never know! 😉
Get that profile ready--and make sure you see teeth in the photos 😂
HA! Noted.
Omg j’ai adoré te lire ! We have so much in common. I found myself walking right in your footsteps, genuinely moved more than once.
Et sa réponse à pourquoi il était sur Bumble ? Parfaite. You clearly found a great guy… and franchement, il a eu beaucoup de chance aussi.
Profitez bien de cette belle histoire qui commence !
Merci ❣️ ça fait plaisir de lire ton commentaire si chouette 😘😘 and how lovely to know we have something in common
Great post and it’s inspiring me to actually do the apps— which I despise! Wish me luck.
Thank you so much for writing me- ugh I know what you mean. For me it was just the idea of trying something different to be open to meeting new people—I had been so closed off for quite a while. Whether the apps or another approach, I think the idea is just to find a way to frame it for yourself so that there is a benefit to you, maybe even beyond dating. As in, meeting new French friends, having a chance to practice conversation in French, etc. I lowered the stakes for myself and I got lucky. I hope you will too😊 Greetings from Paris 😘😘
What a lovely story. Can't wait to read the sequels.
Merci, c’est vraiment gentil 😘😘
I lived in Clinton Hill for seven years! And Carroll Gardens before that. I miss Brooklyn, though I’m ok with not living there anymore.
I love Carroll Gardens! But I also really love living in France 🇫🇷💕thank you for writing me 🙋🏼♀️
I loved it too. We live in a little village in Germany now, so life is quite different from Brooklyn. But so perfect for this stage of life.
I know what you mean. I feel the same about France 😊🇫🇷
Funny! I’ve never used the apps because my husband and I met in late 2003, but I used match.com a bit before that and also had a date with a guy who had a good job but very bad teeth. 😁 He had more serious problems than that, but still … love your story!
This comment made my day❣️ it’s not just me 😂😘😘