Four years ago, “lost” and “anxious” were the watchwords that described my mental state. I was transitioning from grad student to twenty-something in need of career clarity, perpetually in an existential fit. What would my place in Paris be now that it was time to face the realities of adulthood? And more importantly, how would my mixed background be received by French employers?
Some of the friendships I cultivated during my grad program were changing – the international cohort was enriching but the end of the program brought tearful goodbyes as classmates closed the chapter on their Paris experience to head home in search of work. I struggled to see how the next stage of my life in Paris would unfurl and for several months I was in a bit of a dark place.
Then a few things happened. I started a blog that, while initially serving as a forum to vent some of my expat frustrations, took on a life of its own and evolved into the site it is today. Around the same time, I met the girl who would become my business partner in my cookie adventures, figured out the whole Twitter ‘thing’ (because in 2009, it was still a somewhat nebulous social tool whose purpose seemed to teeter between superficial Facebook-style status updates and real, engaging conversation), and started opening my eyes to the dynamic city around me. With my hand in a few different pots, I was on the road to creating my own path and Paris story. Lost In Cheeseland pushed me to explore, to uncover the stories waiting to be told and embrace its quirks and innate gifts. I pined less and less for trips back to the states and spent more time traversing the city eating, drinking, photographing and immersing myself in a place that felt more like home than anywhere else.
A couple of years later, I started suggesting article ideas to publications and have been contributing stories about food, travel and lifestyle in and out of France for a number of outlets since (you can see some of them here). This blog has not only connected me to many inspiring people – from my Francophile readers to other expat writers – but taught me heaps about myself and given me the courage to be more ambitious. Blogging truly changed my life.
Of course, I wouldn’t have forged forward with this site without your comments, encouragement and undying love for France. So to thank you for being such an integral part of Lost In Cheeseland, I’ve arranged for a few fantastic gifts:
Grand prize (1 winner):
-2 spots on a Context Travel 3-hour walking tour of your choice
-1 cooking class at La Cuisine Paris (course: Café Gourmand)
2nd prize (1 winner):
-3 beautifully illustrated Paris maps courtesy of Herb Lester
How to enter:
1// Leave a comment below with your favorite Lost In Cheeseland post of the last year
2// Leave a comment telling me who you would like to accompany you on the Context Travel tour
Both responses are necessary to be entered to win. Entries will close on August 1st and two winners will be chosen thereafter. Thank you to Context Travel, La Cuisine Paris and Herb Lester for offering these prizes!
The fine print: Giveaway open to readers worldwide. The grand prize winner should have travel plans to Paris before July 2014. Winners will have 48 hours to respond otherwise an alternate winner will be chosen. Good luck!
Photo 1: Elena Rossini
Photo 2: Herb Lester
