Tuesday, October 12, 2004

He Said, “We Have a Problem.”

Ever have one of those days when almost everything sucks? That’s exactly the type of day I had. Technologies problems seem to be everywhere – from my mobile phone and toll-free phone number to my laptop computer.



My ISP called this morning to tell me that a technician would be coming over to re-install my IP settings after I lost them during a recent computer repair. It’s a computer still under warranty in the United States, so I had to send it back to the manufacturer because there’s no one in Paris authorized to fix it. But that’s a frustrating story for another day.



A couple of years ago, the thought of the ISP technician coming over to my office to fix my computer would have scared me to death. In fact it nearly did. I hadn't seen him since he came to upgrade my cable modem this summer.



On his first visit a couple of years back, he came to hook up the cable television system and Internet service in our apartment. I wanted to return to work after the move, but I didn’t want to spend so much money using a slow, dial-up service.



When the technician rang my door bell, I let him in. He said good morning and I spoke to him. Then I showed him where he could find my computer. The whole time he was talking to me, I had no idea what he was saying. He realized it, too when no matter what he said to me, all I could no was smile and nod my head yes!



He went on working – laying out cable and hooking up my laptop to the Ethernet cable. Then suddenly he stopped. I couldn’t make out what he was trying to tell me, but luckily my oldest daughter, Chloe, hadn’t started school yet. Thankfully, she understood him.



Chloe turned to me and said, “Mommy, he said ‘We have a problem.’” When the technician realized that my five year old was bilingual, he directed all of his questions to Chloe in hopes that she could interpret. Actually, she did a really good job.



She didn’t know this but the problem was that he had to determine how to configure my computer because everything was in English. As it turned out, it wasn’t that big of a deal. He just called into the office and the tech team was able to walk him through the installation.



Fast forward almost exactly two years later, and the same technician paid me a visit today, but this time things were a lot different. For example, I did understand him and the re-installation was easy.



I guess the point to all of this is that we worry way too much about little things. In the end even the craziest situations eventually work themselves out. So the laptop is up and running again – that’s good. Now, if I could only get that stupid voicemail on my mobile phone to work!







Monday, October 11, 2004

My Mom, My Friend, Audioslave and a Cartoon Turtle Can't All Be Wrong

Two years ago today, I arrived in Paris with my family. I still remember it so well because it was a cold, wet and dreary day. Through the jet lag after being on 9-hour flight, all I could think about was whether or not I would like this place or the people. Would the people like me? Since I was leaving all of my friends behind, I had to make some new ones. I hadn’t given much thought to what people thought about me in so long.

It took me back to a conversation that I had with my mother when I was 14. I had just started my freshman year at high school. I guess it’s always tough when you have to leave old friends behind and try to make new ones, so I was having a hard time getting adjusted.

One day when my mother asked me how school was going I said, “I hate that place because I don’t think anyone really likes me.” My mother looked at me and said, “Why do you care what other people think? All you have to do is be yourself and stand up for what you believe in because what other people think about you will never matter as much as what you think of yourself.”

The advice didn’t sink in right away, but it certainly was in place before the end of that school year. And you know what? It turned out to be a pretty good year, too. Her advice stayed with me even through high school, college and throughout my working career.

When arrived in Paris I found myself struggling with that question again some 20 years later. Then I met an American who had been living in Paris for about 10 years.

She was showing me around town, and during one of our conversations about working and doing business with the French she said: “Carolyn, a lot of people are going to tell you that you’ll need to adjust your personality (a.k.a. American tendencies) if you plan to work with French businesses. Don’t listen to them. Be who you are going to be.” I listened to her, too, and so far so good on the business front.

If that wasn’t enough advice, I only have to recall a cartoon I used to watch when I was kid. Now, this cartoon is even a little bit before my time, but I remember it because I had two older brothers. If you’re old enough to remember the cartoon that I’m talking about, you'll get a chuckle. Each episode would end with the turtle saying, “Be always what you is; not what you is not!”

The lesson here is you can only be who you are. And hey, isn't that the same lesson that Audioslave's Chris Cornell belts out also when he sings "Be yourself is all that you can do?" Therefore you might as well get comfortable with yourself and try to be the best person you can be. So I guess my mother, a good American friend living in Paris, a very cool band, and a cartoon turtle can't all be wrong.

Saturday, October 9, 2004

Two Important Anniversaries

Today and next Monday, October 11 are two very important dates for me. That's because today is my 36th birthday. I guess I'm definitely middle aged now. That's okay though because the coolest thing about my b-day is that I also share it with the late John Lennon!



Monday, October 11, is important because two years ago on this date, I arrived in Paris from my hometown, Chicago, with my French husband of six years, two little girls (ages five and two weeks), and a cat! The family dog arrived three months later after clearing quarrantine.



When I arrived I didn't speak a word of French (and even now only conversationally), and having only been to France on vacation a couple of times, I knew very little about the culture, let alone the business culture.



To say that I was scared is an understatement. I resisted the move to Europe on every level in the beginning, but eventally I remembered that I so love a good challenge! I also enjoy the quiet satisfaction of proving others wrong! So along the way, it has been and continues to be at times, a bumpy ride as I learn to adjust to my adopted city, yet keep communication open back home.



Tales from the Seine is just that: Stories that chronicle my journey of living and running a business in France. They are the types of stories I share with my friends both here and back home. A lot of things have happened to me (some good, some bad, some very amusing) but I've learned a lesson from every situation. In the process I hope all of my experiences are helping me to become a better wife, mommy, businesswoman and human being.



So if you should happen to stumble across my blog, please take a moment to read my entries and join in the discussion. These are just my musings on being in Paris. I'm too busy or lazy to keep a journal, but I guess I have a lot to say about the things I've encountered! I hope the lessons I've learned can help you as well.



Until my next posting, make everyday a good one!



Carolyn