On October 1, 2015, my husband and I moved to Nice, France. We are currently beginning our 11th month – as residents. It is tricky because we don’t either one speak French. We try to, but — no. A word here and there, but full sentences throw us for a loop. Yet, we have been able to make ourselves understood – by waiters in restaurants, UPS at the door, the mailman, the Post Office, the grocery clerk, the pharmacist, the doctor, the dentist. A lot of these people speak “some” English, but not much. I bought Michel Thomas’ French apps, and listened for months to the lessons. That helped. My problem comes with pronunciation. Mine and theirs. I say something I think is excellent, and they look puzzled. If they say something, I have no idea what it might be. Yet, I can translate it. I can read a lot of things; I am struggling with speech. I had hoped to pick it up faster — no.
We moved to France as a compromise. We had been living in Los Angeles, California, for many years. I had moved there in 1968, from Gainesville, Georgia. While there, I worked as an actress in film and television – selling real estate as backup. At a certain point, I got frustrated with acting and decided to go to law school. I practiced law for fifteen years and decided to retire. I married my husband Steve Orlandella – a live sports producer for television – in 2005. We had dated for several years, and he popped the question that spring. In 2014, we decided to retire. He hated the traffic, and I had battle-fatigue from contentious clients and defense attorneys. Steve wanted to move to Sarasota, Florida. I wanted to stay in L.A. We compromised by agreeing to move to Nice, France. It did not happen quite that easily, but all of that drama and saga I will save for another time.
It took us two years to “get our ducks in a row.” Steve applied for an Italian passport so he could have duel-citizenship. I required a long-term French visa. Plus, I had to close down Law Offices of Jay W. MacIntosh. It was complicated with snags galore, but we did it. And, here we are.
Hopefully, this blog will be the forum for me to explain how we did it – especially at this time in our lives. I am older than Steve – by 13 years, so moving home – lock, stock, and barrel, is not the norm. But, going to law school at age 59 was not the norm either. And, going from Georgia to the University of Wisconsin was not the norm. Moving a family and furnishings from Georgia to California was not the norm. So, I can say – I was not the norm. Neither was Steve. So, I am going to write about France, moving to France, and living in France – from my perspective. I plan to post pictures and write about the setting. Don’t expect this to be a travelogue — no.
This is my first post. Welcome aboard. BY JAY W. MACINTOSH
JAYSPEAK 
It’s about time. You two adventurer/creatives lead the way for the rest of us. Your blog is extremely interesting already. Please keep going. We’re awaiting the next…..
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What is this compromise you referred to? I said Sarasota, and you said NO! As compromises go, you can do better.
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Dear Jaye. I am so glad you are doing this. Apropos of perhaps nothing at all, I left Gainesville in 1967 and still have family there but never moved back, as my work took me to ABC News offices in Atlanta, London, Denver, back to Atlanta, and I spent much time in trouble spots all over Europe and the Middle East. But enough about me. Retired now. I have often wondered why you changed your name to Jaye MacIntosh. Janet Jewel is euphonious and lovely, so please address it unless I’m being too nosy. Best to you in all of your endeavors. My wife Cynthia and I love France and go whenever we can, especially to Paris. Lucky you (though I know luck had nothing to do with it, right?).
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