About Stephanie Elle

How did I Become an Expat?

My first taste of cultural differences was at age 11 when my family and I moved to the Hawaiian Islands. Looking back I see the stark cultural differences between Northern California (or simply the “Mainland”) to that of the Islanders but it wasn’t so clear when I first arrived.

Travelling to Japan at 14 was the first experience I had that gave me a real lesson on the meaning of culture. In many ways it was like being smacked in the face while sound asleep, yet I am nothing but grateful for the abrupt wake-up call. The experience has had a profound impact on how I look at the world and I have not stopped wanting to learn about experience other cultures since.

Broadening my heart and soul to worlds beyond American borders has become the passion of my life and the foundation for my interest in art. I have been fortunate to walk through the hidden villages of Albania, discover the meaning of nostalgia in Austria, learn to love beer in Germany, eat octopus in Japan, shoo away men in Italy and make phone calls from authentic red booths in the UK. But it was studying abroad for a year in France that I learned I had the courage and heart to become an expat.

Why France?

After studying abroad in Montpellier and Paris for a year, I came back to the US knowing I couldn’t stay away from France for long. I researched every opportunity imaginable and finally decided my best options were to teach English for a year. The position dropped me into the middle of nowhere, Provence. I learned a lot about myself isolated in an itty bitty village, mostly that I am not willing to part with either my passion for art, nor French. As my time in Lorgues was coming to an end, I applied to various grad schools in Paris and am returning to get the masters degree of my dreams! God only knows what’s next!

So what’s all this about Art?

It’s no secret I’m an art lover. Some of my earliest childhood memories include art projects (painting in preschool, bringing home drawing after drawing from daycare, a children’s art retreat to nature…). Even one of my favorite books as a kid was about Monet’s life at Giverny. I was fascinated by the paintings of his Japanese bridge that changed dramatically based on the season and his failing eyesight.

The idea of someone being so in love with painting that they would continue to do so even while going blind thoroughly fascinated me. Art continued to play a role in my life (that’s me in front of Monet’s Reflection of Clouds on Water at the MoMA in NYC). I even painted our high school senior play backdrop – a large 22′ by 30′ panel with a dramatic sunset over the sea, and when the film Mona Lisa Smile came out, no one was surprised I loved it! By 2009 I completed my degree in Art History (along with a few other degrees) and promised myself I’d make a career out of what I love most. After some serious dedication and hard work, I’m back in Paris to continue pursuing my two leading passions: French and Art.

Why am I Blogging?

Two regrets plagued my mind whenever I thought about my moments spent abroad. First of all, I wish I’d backed up my photography as my computer crashed shortly after my return – and, yes, I lost everything. Secondly, I wish I’d blogged. Sure, I kept a journal, religiously logging details, ideas and thoughts, but I wish I’d written my experiences, things I’d learned about France, details of the places I’d traveled, in a way that reads more like a book. Journaling is private and the voice is personal. I wanted to write the details that would captivate an audience. Writing a blog provides me the opportunity to share my photography as well as capture the essence of what it is I’m up to.

I also created La Belle in France to connect with others living out similar dreams. There are so many wonderful twenty-something expats and francophiles that I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know and that’s been the true pleasure of maintaining my blog.

What is the Purpose of La Belle in France?

La Belle in France is a place for me to share my experiences as well as share the things I’m learning about the places I visit. I enjoy researching and writing about the history (in keeping with my love for Art History) behind monuments, culinary treats, artwork, sleepy hillside villages and the lives of various historical figures, each spanning across various time periods in French history. I especially love the interesting details people often overlook, take for granted, or simply don’t know. I enjoy sharing my experiences, ambitions and goals as I try to secure placement in the country that has captured the hearts of so many.