Church in France

1. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
In a small village in the surburbs of Paris,  about 25 miles away from the city. In FRANCE. (That's in Europe) 

2. WHAT IS CHURCH ATTENDANCE LIKE? ARE THERE MANY CHURCHES?
Church attendance in France is pretty low. About 50% of the population recognize a catholic affiliation. Of those only 4% go to church weekly. A lot of people go to church for Christmas and Easter (but mostly Christmas and Palm Sunday actually, to put the palms on tombs). 
Most churches I go to have attendance of people 65 years old or more. There are some families with young children, we are not alone. But the majority of the crowd has white hair and glasses. 
I have seen very active parishes in Paris, lots of youth, several services every week end, groups for prayer and service etc. It exists mostly in big cities. 



An other specificity of France is the traditional movement. There is the infamous Frat St Pie X, which claims not to be schismatic but kinda is. And the officially catholic counterpart Frat St Peter. They both offer the extraordinary rite, tridentine mass in latine. 
I have gone there a few times (frat St Peter) I would love to go more. It is attracting a lot of young people. They have many many young families with children all generations are represented. The closest one to my house is about an hour away and I counted 45 kids under 6 last time I went in July (= summer vacation, lots of people gone). 
The attraction for tridentine mass is probably strange seen from outside. But catholicism here has been neglected for decades, catechism was very light, mostly about love and friendship, helping one an other etc. Which is great. But the sacraments were not taught. I went to CCD for 10 years, did my first communion etc. And found out at 20 years old what "real presence" means. I didn't even know I was supposed to believe that the host is the body of Christ. Teachings about contraception are widely unknown. 
It is very common to have people ask to get married in church because it's nice on the pictures.
In short the traditional tridentine parishes attract a lot because they share the complete truth, they don't sugar coat what the church teaches, well it's one of the only place where I received any teaching at all (the other one was one of those big parishes in Paris when I was a student). For me it's also the only place where I saw kneeling during consecration. 


As for the number of church buildings yes we have many, many. Every single village has a church. most often an historical building from the XIIth or XIVth century. 
Most of them are also closed. Parishes regroup about 10 villages and as many churches (steeples) for lack of priests. Our local parish group counts 9 churches. We have 3 services on week ends. 2 are always in the same church, one on saturday night, one on sunday at 11am. the third service rotates.
As for other religious affiliations, we have nearby: Muslim (more and more common in France, 3% of the population is practicing Muslim, almost as much as practicing Catholics) Jehovah Witnesses and reformed church. Those last two are still very confidential.


more about religion in France (wikipedia does a good job for an overview)

3. HOW APPROPRIATE WOULD IT BE FOR A PERSON TO ACKNOWLEGE THAT HE OR SHE IS A BELIEVING CHRISTIAN IN CASUAL CONVERSATION?
 That is ok. Reactions might range from similar statement :) to sympathy (looking down at people who need a religion as a crutch in life) to downright aggressivity or being made fun of. I often share about faith when someone is grieving. I say something like 'I am a believer and I will pray for your family member" and I have yet to see someone being upset about it. The answer I get most often is gratitude.

4. WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO THE POLITICIANS CLAIM TO PRACTICE?
 None. It is not acceptable for politician to talk about faith. they might go to church for big occasions, such as burrial of a soldier or the pope's nomination. 
Only a handful of marginal political parties declare their faith. They usually get voters of their community.

5. HOW COMMON WOULD IT BE TO SEE A FAMILY WITH MORE THAN THREE KIDS? WHAT ARE THE ATTITUDES TOWARD FAMILY SIZE?
It is very common. Most families have between 1 and 3 kids. Beyond that it is 95% of the time a blended family (say mom had 3 kids before she met dad who has 1 of his own and they had one more together, they now have 4 kids full time and dad's little one once a week) . 
To have more than 4 kids from the same set of parents, living together is almost automatically saying "I'm catholic" or "I'm muslim". ;) 
Attitude is generally positive. You might get a few people asking "why". I had a great aunt ask me that question for my second kid! Lol. Some older ladies see children as a burden and contraception as a liberation..

6. WHAT WAS THE DOMINANT BELIEF SYSTEM IN YOUR AREA 50 YEARS AGO? WHAT IS IT NOW?
60 years ago the majority of France was catholic, probably more socially than individually. Then there was both Vatican II (and a lot of abuses in France especially) and the sexual revolution. And church attendance reduced steadily every year. It still is. Infant baptism is still going down . Only adult baptism is slowly raising. 
The dominant belief system is atheism. There is no God. Religion is superstition (but horoscope is fine lol). It is normal to have no belief, or maybe believe in human nature, which is better that nihilism. Religion, any religion is seen as obscurantism and fought against by our current government. 


7. DO THE PEOPLE WHERE YOU LIVE SEEM HAPPY WITH THEIR LIVES?
Yes they do. they complain about taxes. And about the weather and the train system. But overall people are fine and don't miss religion at all. Or at least they don't seem to. 

if you'd like to read more about different religious climates in the world it's here

1. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Your answer here.
2. WHAT IS CHURCH ATTENDANCE LIKE? ARE THERE MANY CHURCHES?
Your answer here.
3. HOW APPROPRIATE WOULD IT BE FOR A PERSON TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE OR SHE IS A BELIEVING CHRISTIAN IN CASUAL CONVERSATION?
Your answer here.
4. WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO THE POLITICIANS CLAIM TO PRACTICE?
Your answer here.
5. HOW COMMON WOULD IT BE TO SEE A FAMILY WITH MORE THAN THREE KIDS? WHAT ARE THE ATTITUDES TOWARD FAMILY SIZE?
Your answer here.
6. WHAT WAS THE DOMINANT BELIEF SYSTEM IN YOUR AREA 50 YEARS AGO? WHAT IS IT NOW?
Your answer here.
7. DO THE PEOPLE WHERE YOU LIVE SEEM HAPPY WITH THEIR LIVES?
Your answer here.
- See more at: http://www.conversiondiary.com/#sthash.KubX2iPt.dpuf

1. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Your answer here.
2. WHAT IS CHURCH ATTENDANCE LIKE? ARE THERE MANY CHURCHES?
Your answer here.
3. HOW APPROPRIATE WOULD IT BE FOR A PERSON TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE OR SHE IS A BELIEVING CHRISTIAN IN CASUAL CONVERSATION?
Your answer here.
4. WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO THE POLITICIANS CLAIM TO PRACTICE?
Your answer here.
5. HOW COMMON WOULD IT BE TO SEE A FAMILY WITH MORE THAN THREE KIDS? WHAT ARE THE ATTITUDES TOWARD FAMILY SIZE?
Your answer here.
6. WHAT WAS THE DOMINANT BELIEF SYSTEM IN YOUR AREA 50 YEARS AGO? WHAT IS IT NOW?
Your answer here.
7. DO THE PEOPLE WHERE YOU LIVE SEEM HAPPY WITH THEIR LIVES?
Your answer here.
- See more at: http://www.conversiondiary.com/#sthash.KubX2iPt.dpuf

Raising a bilingual kid

We live in France. I am French. Everything I've read about bilingual children could be summed up in a couple sentences: each parent should speak his native language with the child.
Yet we decided to do otherwise.
I speak English with my kids. Sometimes French to read a story if the book is in French. Sometimes for nursery ryhmes, sometimes for playing I mix up words of both languages (a big NO-NO but I don't care, I could just as well make up words I don't think it's that bad! ).
We decided, as a family, to make our home a little piece of the other country. For now we are in France, our kids are likely to go to school in the village, their babysitters are French, their friends in the park speak mostly French, my parents, sister, cousins, almost everyone else speaks French with them.

Now that my two years-old is talking a little, we see how is language is building up. He knows more and more words. It's amazing to discover which words he can say and how that describes his interests and his daily life! It's also very interesting to see which words he says in English and which he says in French. For now I'd say he speaks about 75% English.
He spends almost 90% of the time with me or his father. I'm not surprised though.
At age two he is opening up to the world, building friendships in the playground, developing a relationship with his grandparents, and all of that communication happens in French.

It's hilarious to me when he brings home playground words. With the whiny accent of the little girls "arrête euuuuh " (stop it with a whine) "attends" (wait) "qui monte" (no idea where that "qui" comes from this means "that climbs, who climbs as in the one who climbs! )"caché" (hidden! )

It's so cute when he speaks French because he takes a little accent. I know my American accent isn't perfect so I guess he has one in English too. But I don't see it as an handicap.

He mixes a bit of both languages, so far I simply rephrase correctly, entirely in French if there was French, and then entirely in English. It doesn't take that much effort because he needs the repetition anyway, with being a toddler and all.. ;)

Small changes progress

Last time I posted the list of things I wanted to change:
What I'd like to "work" on in the coming months:
-reducing electricity use
-making a list of things I want to look up or do on the computer before I turn it on
-reducing water consumption, reuse kids' baths water for cleaning floors, watering garden etc.
-setting up a daily routine involving the garden (weeds, water, mulch etc)
-find a sustainable, easy way to make water palatable. the tap water here tastes awful, when I feel courageous I prepare mint or lemon water, but then it's gone within the hour.. and it's so much easier to open a bottle that actually "taste" like water, not sewer..
-hopefully we'll get some chicken!

Since then I did some small changes:

-electricity:
I unplugged the lagering fridge downstairs as it was mostly empty (only bottles than can be stored at room temperature too, the lagering phase is over)
I unplug the computer when it's charged, and try to reduce use to a max
Making sure the fridge and freezer compartiment are properly closed (tends to not seal!!!)

-computer time
I try to spend less time on it, meaning rarely when the kids are awake or my husband is home
but some progress can be made around naptime

-water
well at least we didn't have to water the garden at all this year 
as I wear sandals and wash my feet about as often as my hands these days, I use the water from the baby's bath
also I take quick showers (about 3 min) and one longer for leisure about once a week or two (for stress relief) about 10-15min


-garden routine
I haven't set this up yet

-drinking water
My 2 year old put a couple stickers on a water bottle, it has now space ships on it. So cute. We use that to drink in the park in the afternoons (5-7pm) and I make an effort to drink then

-chicken
We purchased some chicken wire, we have left over wood for building the coop.
I somewhat cleared the basement, now i need to organize the tool shed and move various things from the future chicken corner to the basement or the tool shed.
and then get the chicken.

We'll get there.

I need to post more pics! :)

Any suggestions on those topics? 

Lifestyle switches

Just a few things we weren't doing and that we changed in the past months:

-when we sit as a family at the table we say a blessing
-I keep a compost bin on the counter top where I gather as much as I can, including paper towels, egg shells and coffee grind. I empty it every night.
-Switched to completly homemade laundry products: detergent, softener, and dryer sheets.
-my husband has been making popsickles, saussages and bacon. It's really yummy! 
-we implemented fabric napkins for all meals
-Switched to homemade cleaning products and it works! And it is so cheap!

What I'd like to "work" on in the coming months:
-reducing electricity use
-making a list of things I want to look up or do on the computer before I turn it on
-reducing water consumption, reuse kids' baths water for cleaning floors, watering garden etc.
-setting up a daily routine involving the garden (weeds, water, mulch etc)
-find a sustainable, easy way to make water palatable. the tap water here tastes awful, when I feel courageous I prepare mint or lemon water, but then it's gone within the hour.. and it's so much easier to open a bottle that actually "taste" like water, not sewer..
-hopefully we'll get some chicken!