French Coffee Was Serious Business

This close-up shows one of the small daily rituals I noticed while staying with Olivier and Rachel. In France, coffee wasn’t something you just grabbed and drank quickly. It was slower, more intentional. People sat with it. They stirred it carefully. They took their time.

Even something as simple as having coffee at the table felt different than what I was used to back home. I remember being struck by how seriously they took these little moments — the good cups, the real sugar, sitting together instead of rushing off. It was one of the many small cultural differences that made me feel like I was truly in another country.

Olivier Was Loving This

This is one of my favorite photos from my time in Tours. Olivier was in the middle of laughing at something — probably at his own joke — and I caught him right in that moment. He had such a big, genuine smile, and you can see how much he was enjoying himself.

Olivier was naturally funny and full of life. He had a way of making everyone around him feel comfortable, even when I was struggling with the language and feeling like an outsider. Moments like this — just sitting around the table, drinking coffee, and laughing — were some of the best parts of staying with him and Rachel.

Strategy Session

This photo shows Olivier and Rachel sitting at the table with me trying to figure out how to make the most of the time I had left with them. I was getting close to leaving Tours, and the three of us were brainstorming ideas for what we could still do together before I moved on.

They had so much they wanted to show me. At the top of the list was taking me to Futuroscope — a high-tech theme park near Poitiers that was famous for its massive IMAX screens, 3D films, and motion simulators. In 1994 it was considered very cutting-edge, more about immersive cinema experiences than traditional rides. I had never seen anything like it before.

Olivier Wanted a Photo of Me

This is one of the very few photos of me from the entire trip. Olivier grabbed my camera and insisted on taking a picture of me standing in their backyard. I almost never photographed myself — I was usually the one behind the camera.

It meant something that he wanted a photo of me to remember my visit. Looking at this now, I can see how young I was and how much I was still figuring out.

Seal Ride

While walking through a small festival in a park with Olivier and Rachel, I spotted this young boy on one of the children’s rides. He was riding a spinning seal that was balancing a ball on its nose, and he looked like he was having a great time.

I liked the energy of the moment — the motion blur, the concentration on his face, and how completely absorbed he was in the ride. It was one of those simple, everyday scenes that felt worth capturing.

A Quick Kiss

Olivier and Rachel were very much in love, and they didn’t try to hide it — even in public. While we were walking, they stopped for a quick kiss. It was sweet and natural, like it was just a normal part of their day.

I remember noticing how comfortable they were showing affection in front of me and in public. It wasn’t flashy or dramatic — it was just real. Being around that kind of easy, open love made their home and their company feel even warmer while I was so far from my own.

One Last Moment

Right after that quick kiss, they stayed close for another moment. Olivier had his arm around Rachel as they stood together in the middle of the busy market.

I didn’t take many photos during my stay with them, but I’m glad I captured this one. Being around their easy, open love made my time in France feel warmer and less lonely. Saying goodbye to them a short time later was harder than I expected.