My Pinoy Life In Provence, France

A peek at the lives of Filipinos around the world.

Malou Delamare

Since when have you been staying there? Can you recount briefly why you moved there?

We moved to Provence just this year, in April, after two years in Cairo. My husband got a phone call one day from the President of Toques Blanche Lyonnaise (a renowned chef’s association based in Lyon, the French gastronomic capital, whose famous members include Michelin starred Chefs Paul Bocuse, Mattheu Vianay and Nicolas Le Bec among others) for an interview for a Chef de Cuisine position in a four star luxury hotel in this region. It seemed like quite a challenge. Moreso, we wanted a different lifestyle for our children, so we came to Provence and the rest is history.

Tell us something about your place.

The region of Alpes de Haute Provence is famous for the valley of Ubaye, the Route de Grande Alpes which a lot of cyclist, rallyist and motorist pass by to go to Nice, Cannes and Monaco. We are on the border of Italy and our place is a famous route for the Tour de France. Provence has museums, shops that sell artisanale and regional products. Our village is known to be of Neo-Mexican history and a lot of the houses are quaint chateau style. Hence, the place is also famous as a tourist destination. The valley has year round activities; during the winter, there as skiing, luge, hiking and mountain climbing, and snowboarding around the ski resorts of Pra Loup and Sauze. Cycling, white water rafting, and park activities are famous during the summer season.

What do you there do for a living?

I was offered the position of Marketing Manager in Villa Morelia Chateau Hotel and Spa, the same hotel where my husband is employed. At the beginning I was doing freelance work with them, but since the hotel opened their new extension with spa and an additional 14 rooms, the marketing activities became bigger and wider. So I came on board full time.

Is there a Filipino community there?

As the Consulate is based in Paris, most Filipino community groups are based there. However, in the last two years the city of Lyon opened a satellite Consulate Office and they have a Pinoy organization which is very active in all kinds of social activities, such as the Fete Consulaire, Phil Independence Day celebrations, as well as Christmas and other notable occasions. In Lyon, you also have the Interpol where a Pinoy Attache is based and they have formed strong ties with the agency. There quite a number of Filipino professionals living and working there in different sectors like hotel, banking, I.T., government posts and even the pharmaceutical industry.

Tell us about your life there.

My husband and I settled here because of his job as a chef. You could say that, in a sense, it is difficult here if you don’t live in the big city or the capital Paris, because your social life is very limited. I lived here in 2007 and learned the language easily to fully integrate myself into the French way of life. As I have just started my job as a Marketing Manager, my time is limited, juggling home, motherhood and career altogether. On Sundays, when the hotel is closed, the whole family goes around discovering the rich region of the valley with its lakes, museums, parks and wildlife. There are a lot of things to do during winter and summer; it’s just a matter of finding the right time. Provence is famous for its olive oil, lavender oils and many others. The only disadvantage since I moved here is that I haven’t seen any Filipino compatriots around.

What cultural practices/behaviors have you acquired from your host country?

France is famous for its cuisine. As they say “do what the French do.”So it is important to appreciate that when they eat it’s mostly three course meals and they take about an hour just with the aperitif and wine. I should say that I love the classic French baguette, but my favourite is the “campaillete.” I also try to cook “chicken adobo” often as it is my husband’s favorite Filipino dish.

I love going to my nearby boulangerie every morning. Across our street we have a Catholic Church. I pass by once in a while, but I don’t attend the mass as it’s too early for me.

Your greeting to Filipinos across the globe –

Kamusta po kayong lahat! Although I’m living and working here, I always say “I’m from the Philippines” whenever someone asks me. I’m proud to be Pinoy and I think no matter where you go, there’s always that distinct mark.