This past March I participated in something that ( at first ) I didn’t think was necessary, important or worth my time.

A mandatory course to learn and practice my knowledge and skills of the French ( for the Republic of France ) culture, language and political system.

It is mandatory since 2026, yes just my luck! So I was one of the first participants in its program. Me, along with 14 other « French expats » aka. Non-Europeans living in France.

This course ( a 4 full days of 8:45-16:00 ) spread out over a month, required us to be present and participate in learning all things about France, in order to obtain a certificate ( and then pass a test on the matter, thankfully I have since passed ) to continue our journey in obtaining long term residency cards. ( Or at least that is the goal. )

I was super upset when I first learned about this course, because I knew it would be difficult for me to organize. I had to find pre and post daycare babysitters, take a bus at 6am to the city, to find a ride home at 4pm ( or take the bus again for 2 hours ) Like I said, not ideal. I live on an island without a car and have a 2.5 year old. It required a lot of patience and organization.

What I didn’t think of, is the pleasant surprises and people I would meet during the course :

1. Our instructor was around my age was also a mom, and also extremely tired from working days and had multiple night wakings from her little ones, was extremely easy to relate too.

2. A student and fellow Canadian, a québécois woman, was also exactly the same situation as me. A mother, partner, and new to this island we both call home.

3. As well as multiple expats from all over the world ( Africa, Asia, South America ) who were going through exactly the same process as me, and doing all they could to stay and work in France legally. Men and women, working overtime, and blackjobs, and nightshifts and weekends, like most of us do, who do not fit into the “normal” frame of classic French society.

4. But, my most memorable discovery was of her. It was here, that I first learned about the history and culture of all that is “Marianne”.

If you do not know what I am talking about, you can inform yourself here. She is a fictional female figure of the French Republic since around the revolution of France in the late 1700’s.

Since learning about her, I have noticed her everywhere. On the paperwork I have to send for my visa application, on the doors of the public building from my daughters daycare, as a statue in the town hall where I photographed a wedding this past weekend. In all public and government buildings and paperwork.

It got me thinking about her image, and the symbolism it gives to others. This fictional un-existant woman who represents liberty and freedom in France. Someone who all us female expats can identify with, yet absolutely not understand because of her secrecy.

Was she a mother, a daughter, a wife, a young worker, a sister, a friend ? Was she praised or mistreated? Famed or pushed away? Welcomed or hated?

She is beautiful and is “of course” Caucasian. And her profile suggests she is looking towards something in the future ( to the rightside ) but what else ?

Her depiction in 1830 painting by Eugene Delacroix of the French revolution depicts her “of course” topless as she holds Frances flag high in one hand and a rifle low in the other. This image, painted by a man, makes her symbol provocative for no reason. Was she a feminist? A warrior? A leader? A noble? A peasant?

I cannot but also compare her to the “friedensengel“ statue in Munich ( my last place of residence) A monument of a woman representing the Greek goddess Nike, created by the Germans after WWII pointing towards France for peace, and located on the European square in my old neighborhood. Is this a coincidence?

I can’t help but to identify with her. And all that she is and is not. As I wait for my next visa application to be approved ( I still need to pass an exam at the end of May to prove my French literacy is adequate to “integrate” into society. )

Alas, I am here. Like Marianne, existing in all my expat unexsistance. In all that she is and is not, hidden, and present, as a femme Canadienne in modern day French society.

Thanks for reading, and learning and following my journey, Andrea

Ps. My full name – ANd-rea MARI-e also really resembles Marianne