We heard on Christmas Eve
that I had successfully obtained French nationality through marriage,
and we were invited to a ceremony at the French Embassy in Cotonou
last week. It was a bit of a long way to go, but it didn't seem like
the kind of invitation you can refuse!
Our first challenge was to
find Embassy-suitable outfits for Marc and the boys. Fortunately they
had all we needed at the big hypermarket in Cotonou – though only
just! I also found a handbag I could carry which would be big enough
to put nappies in without actually looking like a change bag!
It was funny to see that
Simon chose to wear a tie like Marc, and was very proud to do so,
whereas Benjy, despite choosing to wear the same thing as Simon, very
obviously only did so because he realised he had to look smart! He
did love his new shoes, however, which he chose himself.
The ceremony was actually
an informal reception for myself and two other (Beninese) ladies who
had also obtained French nationality through their husbands. We were
each allowed up to six guests, and then there were various Embassy
and Consulate staff members there, so there were between 30 and 40
people. We were complimented on our smart and extremely well-behaved
children (Proud Parent moment!) despite Eve sitting down on the
thick-pile carpet, pulling her shoes off, and then rolling around.
Poor little village kid, used to dusty concrete floors!
We were served drinks to
begin with, as one party were held up in traffic, and once they
arrived the Ambassador called us ladies forward. She gave a little
speech congratulating us and reminding us that French nationality
brings both rights and privileges. The “Marseillaise” was played,
she gave each of us some paperwork, and there were official photos
taken.
After that there were
canapés and small-talk. We enjoyed meeting the Embassy and Consulate
staff. While in some ways our life up in the village is very
different from theirs in Cotonou, ex-pats always have things in
common, and so we talked about bringing up children overseas and that
kind of thing.
I was glad to have marked
my becoming French in a special way, and it will certainly be a
family memory!
Our family with the
Ambassador:
The Embassy:
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