How far can you push a brand?

Over the past six years I have been shopping for many Parisian souvenirs; as farewell gifts, as personal souvenirs, as a little attention for dinner parties or luncheon gifts but this has topped it all... a cereal brand called Puffed Heart, really?

What is a puffed heart anyways and what is its connection to Paris? The French would say "C'est n'importe quoi!" but some Spanish supermarket brand manager clearly thinks the Eiffel Tower image will sell in Madrid... even on a box of cereals! I might add at 85 cents it is the cheapest box of cereals I have ever come across. Vive la France!

My life as a proud and independent Expat woman

For my 30 year high school reunion I was asked to write about my path of life after having graduated. At first I was not so sure I wanted to share this with the wider public but then again it seems I am on a roll about revealing more about the author behind the blog this week! So here goes:

The deal with my father was that I needed to obtain my Swiss Matura thereafter I could study wherever I wished to. I obliged and of course took off to the United States the minute I got my High School Diploma thinking that I would finally fit in with the Americans I had looked up to for so many years. After two years, however, I came running back to Europe finishing my BA at the Bocconi University in Italy haven woken up to the realisation that I was much more Continental than I ever knew or would have liked to admit!

I decided to stay in Europe and even headed back to good ol' Switzerland landing the perfect job for myself as Export Area Manager at Caran d'Ache the world-renowned coloured pencil producer. Three years later I was hired for yet another dream job as European Export Manager with Elizabeth Arden, Unilever's cosmetic division. Yet again I was travelling the globe, working with colours and dabbing in a touch of luxury.

As I moved on to Marketing Director for Europe and the Middle East and my career was taking off in the right direction I lost my heart to a charming Italian co-worker who swept me off my feet and all the way to Argentina.

I was not going to give up my life and career to move the other side of the globe without a ring on my finger and his condition was that I follow him with a work visa. I found myself a job as Business Development Director with the French advertising company Publicis in Buenos Aires and off we went.

In 2000 the crisis hit Latin America and cost me my job, I discovered was pregnant and we decided I was going to be an Expat wife - for better or for worse - working as a team with my husband.

Our son was born a true Porteño and a few years later we moved to Paris, France and then on to Milano, Italy where I gave birth to our little girl. With two kids in tow we moved from Milan to Madrid, Spain then to Lugano, Switzerland and back to Paris where we are now based.

I have happily followed my husband over the past two decades rebuilding our life time and again from scratch not losing focus of what works best for our family. I have developed my own personal interests in International education and Expat blogging which I pursue with passion.

For in order to be a proud and independent Expat woman you must never trail but trail-blaze with passion and conviction!

My last business trip to the Middle East many moons ago!

A stroll around Madrid

Philip Johnson, one of the architects behind the Puerta de Europa towers, is said to have proclaimed, "We must end the right angle if we do not want to die of boredom. The skyscraper is over; we can forget it." He was true to his word in his design of these, the first towers in the world designed at an incline of 15 degrees. 

Inaugurated in 1996, the Puerta de Europa is a pair of 26-story office buildings located at Madrid's northern edge that have become a symbol of the city and are Bankia's operational headquarters. 

Fire was a feared enemy and a common front for many people in Madrid so in 1822, through a private initiative, the owners of houses located within the walls of Madrid chose to constitute a society in which each of the partners was insurer as well as insured. This association created a fund with which damages and effects caused by the fires could be repaired. This is how the Mutual Fire Insurance Society of Casas de Madrid emerged. 

Houses were identified with the sign: "Asegurada de Incendios"

BiciMAD a new means of public transport in the city of Madrid, offers a self-catering rental service with electric bikes which are practical, simple and ecological.

A little Guardian angel is always welcome.

Hidden among fashionable brand stores in the Salamanca neighbourhood, this food market has provided the locals with fresh food and delicatessen products for more than 130 years. People come here to shop seafood, meet, cheese, fruit and much more.

A peep through the gate into the gardens where I celebrated my 40th birthday in style!

 The building was designed in 1912 by architect Joaquín Rojí López-Calvo and built from 1914 to 1917 as a mansion for the Marquises of Amboage. It was purchased by the Italian Government in 1939 to become the Italian Embassy in Madrid also known as Palacio de Amboage.

What used to be the mythical Teatre Beatriz inaugurated in 1925 then transformed into a restaurant by Philippe Starck in 1990 has now become a trendy retailer with a rather impressive design overhaul. 

When modernisation kills tradition...

Wondering what's behind these doors?

Off to a serious shopping spree at Plaza Norte, one of the largest shopping malls in Madrid, located to the north of the city. The interior has the feel of an 18th century palace to it, boasting Venetian-style lighting in the form of lamps and large chandeliers, marble floors, columns, staircases and balconies, and lapis lazuli obelisks. The effect is an intriguing mix of present-day modern technology combined with the gracious elegance of past eras. It won the prestigious 'Architect of the Year Award' at the 5th Central & Eastern European Real Estate Quality Awards held in 2008.

I never DID fit in...

If you ask me where home is my answer is Switzerland. I spent most of my life living in the four different lingustic parts of this tiny little country and Swiss German is as much part of my identity as English.

I'll spare the details if it might be American or British English because it is a mix of both as I am what nowadays you call a TCK. The term of Third Culture Kid was still not invented when I grew up, it would have made things a whole lot easier because I could have fit in.

Being a foreign kid in Zürich in the 1970s was not always an easy affair not even with a perfect Zürischnurre (the local dialect) which sounded so local my high school friends later teased me about it.

As a young teenager I would have given everything for my mum to speak German rather than English to me while in public. My dad loved speaking Swiss German with his broad American accent only to embarrass me in front of my friends.

I never quite fit into the Swiss German mould. I did not know how to define myself but I remember wishing I could find some like-minded peers.

Turns out the two companions I made during my Primary years - who both seemed as exotic to the Swiss as myself thanks to a foreign parent - are still my two closest friends today.

Looking back on my dad's efforts and my mother's total insouciance of adapting to the locals makes me smile. They had moved to Switzerland with the goal of carving out a better future for their kids allowing us to grow up multilingual and feeling at home in various cultures.

Today I am proud and comfortable to be different. All those childhood experiences made me the person I am now. I speak different languages and enjoy adapting to foreign cultures but it hasn't always been an easy ride.

However, the world has become a much smaller place and it is so much easier for my kids to fit in... mainly because somewhere along the line the mould has been thrown out!

A hot lazy Summer day

What do you do on a hot Summer day when the thermometer hits 40°C in Madrid?

You hang around in the air-conditioned living room with your teenage kids because they rock.

You decide to treat your teenagers for a milkshake in a cool (air-conditioned) diner.

You hit the mall and buy some pink flamingo lights... just because!

You decide which bikini to wear because this is today's most important decision to take!

Finally, you hang out at the pool with a good book since your kids have shared enough time with Mummy today and are listening to their music.

Busy in Madrid

Our second home is Madrid. Well, if I am honest it is where I'd like to live all year round. Although we left this city over ten years ago it still feels like we've never actually really moved away. But, it's complicated... life gets in the way... and before you know it you've landed in another place and start all over again.

Nevertheless, we have managed to hang on to a little slice of Spanish lifestyle and we savour every moment of the summer weeks we spend here. Viva España! 

You know you've arrived in Spain when the Osborne bull crosses your path.

 As every year... just in time to celebrate my birthday with my BBFs... in style!

The annual visit to Warner Bros Park is a promise I have kept to my kids for over a decade.

You can never have enough pool time!

A bit of exercise won't hurt, especially when the tennis courts are PiNk!

Some creative activity all in the spirit of Peace and LOVE!

Ibiza and friends

When your Andalusian friend invites you to celebrate her birthday in Ibiza you know it will be an unforgettable experience. 

... when you know that la reina del flamenco and her French husband have travelled the world and their friends are as outgoing as you are therefore it is guaranteed to be a brilliant weekend.

... when you know the Paella and the Cava will be served in abundance and the good vibes will be flowing freely. 

... when you know the International crowd will easily mix with the Spanish family and friends and have the entire restaurant dancing on the tables ... at lunchtime!

... when you know the sunshine, the food, the music and the ambiance entices you to party and have a fabulous time. 

... when you know the long hot summer days at the beach will be followed by a Mediterranean sunset cruise in the evening breeze. 

... when you know that Ibiza stands for peace and love and at our age that is just what you enjoy most!

Our own private little "swimming pool" surrounded by ancient fisher huts

The cava is cool and we can start the party!

The dishes are exotic, creative and tasty

Who needs WIFI when you have friends?

Not only the flamingos are lounging in the sun

Exploring the interior countryside of Ibiza

The parish church dedicated to Saint Augustine and was built in 1786 and the only church on the island facing to the west instead of the east.

San Agustín is one of the best-preserved villages on the island that is a slice of the real Ibiza, and a very tranquil one at that.

Enjoying the sunset cruise off the coast of San Antonio

Happy Bastille Day

It is France's birthday today. Usually this French National holiday goes unnoticed in our family since we are sitting in the sweltering Spanish heat this time of year but due to a rather important guest of honour the world has it's eyes on Paris today.

Once again thanks to Donald Trump who attracts so much media attention the world now knows what Bastille Day is just like the globe followed the US election and received a lesson on the American voting system due to all the press coverage.

My kids could not believe their ears when Expat hubby pulled out his tablet after lunch declaring he wanted to watch a recap of the July 14th parade along the Champs-Elysées, the highlight of the French national holiday celebrations. Every year in the morning - since 1880, almost without exception - the spotlight is on the French military regiments as they parade down the avenue.

Later in the day, the focus will be shifting to the eagerly-awaited fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower at which point we will probably devouring our Jamon Iberico and Croquetas along with some Tinto de verano on our terrace enjoying the evening breeze after a scorching 40°C hot day...

... and if we have enough Tinto de verano, we might even sing "La Marseillaise"

It's summer time

Heading south...

It's a sad day but let's celebrate!

Today was a sad day. The last day of school should be a happy one but this time of year comes with mixed feelings for our family. We've been through the motions so many times, saying goodbye to Expat friends who are leaving for new destinations time and time again.

The first round of Au Revoirs after only two years in Paris was tough. Many of the friends our family had made upon our arrival were heading on and seeing them leave hurt like hell.

Over the following years I realised that maybe WE were the lucky ones because so many of the leavers would have rather stayed in Paris. So for some years, I convinced myself that I was the fortunate one. My kids never quite bought this idea, needless to say!

I do admit I have toughened up a little. Friendships made later on are not quite as intense as they seemed to be when we first started our Parisian adventure. However, despite my resolution of being brave every year one or two people's farewell words and gestures have me tear up immediately.

It breaks my heart when I see the children hugging their little buddies in the school yard with tears in their eyes and their mums looking on helplessly also in floods of tears. It hurts just watching them.

On the other hand, these emotions are a strong testimony of how close one becomes in a short amount of time, how bonded one feels and how many memories one has created together.

Imagine having to leave a place you had called home for a few years without a tear in your eye or a chip in your heart?

With this in mind, it is with a glass of champagne that we celebrated our friendship today during the traditional end-of-school-year picnic, thankful to have met each other, hoping that one day our paths might cross again.

Bon Voyage et à bientôt mes amis!

A totally cool teenage Birthday tour

It is a true feat nowadays to surprise your teenage kids and organise a birthday celebration that they will truly revel in. Never the one to pass up a challenge, I set out to scout Paris' off-the-beaten track activities but did not find quite the right fit ... until one day... jogging past Passy Metro station I spotted a bunch of teenagers all kitted with bright yellow traffic vests busying themselves over some kind of skateboard. Taking a closer look, I recognised those awful hover boards that kids (and some adults) have been using as transport cutting off your path along the Parisian pathments over the past year or so.

I am addicted to technology therefore it did not even take the time for me to reach home that day, I had decided this would be just the ticket for Expat Girl's birthday activity. The clever business entrepreneur - whom I was to meet later on - had marked the traffic vests with name, telephone number and website. A few minutes later I was booked for a party of 5!

Expecting a rather emotionless but fun ride around the block for the kids, I could not have been more mistaken. The positive vibes were flowing the moment we met the monitor; smiling, on time and fully equipped with protection and safety material as well as the infamous self-balancing powered personal transporters consisting of two small-wheeled platforms on which the riders stand.

Everyone got to work excitedly making sure helmet, arm and kneepads and skate gloves with wrist support fitted snugly. Oh, and of course, the fluo yellow traffic vests!

Thirty minutes later after a clear and complete introduction session by the extremely kind and patient monitor the kids were ready to venture out onto the bike path over the Bir-Hakeim bridge and head towards the Tour Eiffel along the famous banks of the Seine. Wohoooo!

They received tips how to face and overcome urban obstacles, go up or down curbs, venture over a manhole cover, slalom between passersby… only one hour later the children were dancing to Justin Timberlakes' Can't stop the feeling on their hover boards!

The experience would not have been so much fun and playful had it not been for the guide, a young French entrepreneur who started his business of alternative tours two years ago. Thanks to his exceptional guidance, laid-back approach and endless patience the kids had an exciting and unforgettable afternoon while becoming little Hoverboard pros in just 90 minutes.

The smile on my daughter's face said it all, this unusual way of touring Paris had been a hit. Mille mercis Ibrahima pour une aventure inoubliable et une balade vraiment réussi.

Some like it hot!

France has been hit by a heatwave... the first true one since we've moved to Paris. The kind when you get up in the morning and don't need to check the weather to decide what to wear... a summer dress and sandals will do fine! The kind of heatwave that has the sun greeting you every morning when you open the shutters. The kind that makes Parisians actually start wearing colours rather than black. The kind that makes locals talk to each other feeling a sort of complicity in their fight against the sweltering heat.

More than one lady has asked me over the past days where I purchased my pink fan... in Madrid would be my modest answer... but I am sure the street vendors will hook on to that new business opportunity before long.

Today the capital is sizzling reaching a whopping 37°C. It is hotter in Paris than it is in Madrid, Lugano or Napoli. Now that's a first! I am enjoying every minute of it, not often does so much sunshine come our way in this city. Ok, I admit 90 minutes of hot yoga might have been a wee bit exaggerated this morning but I felt like taking on the world after stretching and suffering all in the pursuit of keeping my body in shape!

A pool of course would be a total luxury and I must say I have been tempted to check out the newly renovated Piscine Molitor - supposedly the birthplace of the bikini - but image the queue to get in?!? No, I am not that desperate, instead I have treated myself to some scrumptious ice creams from the best places in town this week and continue to bath in the hot weather feeling thankful for what I call a REAL summer! Happy First Day of Summer!

Even the merchants found their sense of humour

"French pedicured twinkle toes" as a friend so nicely put it

FINALLY!

The perfect solution to a heatwave: Happy Hour with friends on a peniche

I don't go anywhere without my pink fan

More Happy Hours on a trendy peniche along the river

Just look at all those tourists melting away in the sun

 Queuing for a highly demanded commodity these days: Italian ice cream!

Elopement in Paris

Paris is, as we all know, the city of love. It is very lucky to have this reputation in my view because the locals are certainly as far referred from romance as you can possibly imagine. 

For the Parisians the motto is called metro, boulot, dodo, a wonderfully succinct way of saying that you live to work. Métro refers to a subway commute, boulot is an informal word for work, and dodo is baby talk for sleeping.

In any case, lovebirds from all over the globe are seriously spoilt for choice having decided to marry in the epitome of romance and whether its overlooking the Seine or standing beneath the shadows of the Eiffel Tower, saying “oui” at sunset in Paris will always put a smile on my face while I jog past them day after day witnessing their happiness.