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Food Banks and Marriage Proposals
Evening strolls with the upstairs neighbour
Since moving abroad, many delightful, amusing, surprising, and sometimes head-shaking events have found their way into my life adventure.
This one is sweet, awkward and, hopefully, over.
I live in an apartment building with 4 small apartments stacked one above the other in the heart of Arles, France. I first encountered S (let’s call him Serge) a few days after securing the apartment, when he called to me from the street through my open window (there is no screen, just wrought iron bars that prevent entry). He had dismounted his bicycle and indeed had a baguette tucked under his arm, which struck me as funny and perfect.
It’s absolutely true that you see people walking (or cycling) with baguettes in hand in France.
His approach alarmed me a little, but he did indeed have a key to the building and had been living here for several months already. We had a brief and pleasant conversation in the foyer and then each retreated to our interiors. To clarify, he speaks no English.
Today, Serge quietly knocked on my door around 6pm, inviting me out for a walk and I thought something to eat. I’d already eaten but getting outside sounded good and I was curious about…
