The French Connection: Expats in Larchmont

Baguettes vs. Big Macs, soccer vs. football, pommes frites vs. fries.

For some of us, these options don't even register—but for many French expatriates living abroad in the U.S., these choices allow them to blend two cultures and create a temporary home away from home. 

Sophie and Jerome LeJamtel, two such expats, live in Larchmont with their four sons. In 1998, Jerome—a French bank executive—was transfered to Singapore, where the family lived for four years. And when they learned that Jerome would be transferred again, this time to New York, friends in Singapore recommended that they consider living in a Westchester County village called Larchmont.

Now, with the exception of a one-year stay in London, the family has lived in Larchmont since their 2002 move.

Sophie LeJamtel resembles her American counterparts in more ways than one. She maintains a hectic schedule—taxiing her sons to and from various sports and extracurricular activities. She also attends the many farewell parties for fellow expats.

"I've been living abroad for so long I just make do with where I am," Sophie says. "I do miss my family and friends though. I am happy when we go home to visit."

The family often returns to France during the summers.

The LeJamtel's are hardly alone in the village: according to the 2000 census, 592 of Larchmont's 6,500 residents—or 9.15 percent—identified as having French ancestry. Another 43 residents claimed French-Canadian ancestry.

A fair number of these residents find themselves in the village as a result of globalization as their companies extend beyond national borders. There was a time when the term "expat" conjured up visions of individuals disillusioned with the culture or politics at their place of birth. But no more. In our global economy, the term applies to men and women who uproot their lives and move lock, stock and barrel to another country at the request of their employer. This is the case for several French and French-American families in Larchmont's international community.

Michelle, who chose not to give her last name, arrived in the U.S. 35 years ago with her husband Alexis and their three young children, Valerie, 12, and nine-year-old twins Bruno and Didier.

Alexis was working for Total, a French petrochemical company. In 1976, after two years in Pennsylvania, Alexis learned that he would be transferred to New York. He had his sights set on living in Manhattan, but, following the advice of a few French banker friends, the couple settled in Larchmont.

"Everyone knew one another and took care of one another," Michelle said of 1970s Larchmont. "No one took many vacations. There wasn't much money. Things were very different from the way they are now."

Still, Michelle and her family settled in quickly. She enrolled her daughter in the Lycée Français de New York in Manhattan, but her twin sons attended Mamaroneck public schools, where they developed local friendships and experienced a complete American academic environment. As a result, the family's immersion into American culture was intense: Michelle volunteered in various school projects, and the boys spoke English in school all day and played on local teams. Bruno and Didier graduated from Mamaroneck High School, and Valerie from Lycée Français, but all three children attended American universities.  

The French presence in the Sound Shore area dates back to more than 300 years, when French Huguenots settled here after fleeing religious persecution at home. In 1688, some 33 families established the community of la Nouvelle Rochelle. Many of the settlers were artisans and craftsmen from the city of La Rochelle, France—thus the name of New Rochelle. Soon, many French families were moving to what would eventually become Larchmont and Mamaroneck.

Today, for many French and French-American families, Larchmont 's international popularity can be attributed to the presence of the French American School of New York (FASNY). Over 25 years ago, real estate agent Bea Weintraub hosted an organizational meeting for FASNY at her home in Larchmont. 

"There were four or five French families already living here," Weintraub noted. Her Larchmont neighbor was a Frenchman expat, and he wanted a French-American, bilingual educational experience for his children.

"The Lycée Français in Manhattan was the only other option for families who wanted an international academic environment for their children," Weintraub added.

Some American families also wanted a bilingual educational experience for their children, so, in 1980, the French American School of New York opened its doors to 17 students. Now, its students represent over 45 countries.

The Bône's are another transplanted family with a story similar to the LeJamtel's. Currently, all of the Bône children attend FASNY. Still, their mother, Capucine, misses elements of French culture.

"When I do my French cooking, I make do with what I find," she said. "There is a lot of junk food here; what is not expensive here is not good for you. We eat a lot of fruits and vegetables at home. I like trying new things with the new ingredients I find, but here things are very expensive. "

Favorite food shopping destinations for most families are Stop & Shop and Trader Joe's. But Auray Cheese Shop has struck a chord with the European community in Westchester County, offering French, German, Polish, Israeli and Portuguese cuisine.

"Customers, regardless of their nationality, can walk into our shop and feel as if they walked into an established charcuterie any place in the world," co-owner Bob  said. Dedicated to their international following, the owners will be spearheading a Bastille Day block party July 14.

Difficulty often arises for French shoppers when hunting for authentic French bread. 

"The French enjoy crispy baguettes," Capucine Bône explains. "When it's put in plastic bags it becomes soft." To solve the problem, she purchases several loaves of the desired breads and freezes them. When she's ready to serve the bread, she toasts the loaves in the oven. And while the exact texture may not be achieved, the results are close enough to make the bread palatable.

While Larchmont may serve as a temporary home away from home for some expat families, others move to the area and make it their permanent residence.

When Venezuelan-born Carmen Meausoone and her French husband Jean-Paul moved to the U.S. from France, their older daughter remained in France with family, but nine-year-old Valerie travelled with her parents. First, the family settled in Connecticut, but after a few years they moved to Larchmont. They were very much a part of the French community; Valerie attended FASNY for grades nine and 10 and finished  her studies at Lycée Français. The Meausoones' travels also saw them living in Singapore for a spell. When Jean-Paul fell ill, the family returned to Larchmont where he succumbed to his illness; mother and daughter still reside in the area they now call home.

To stay, or not to stay? For some expats, that becomes the question. Whether they return to France because their job transfer has come to an end, or remain in the Sound Shore area, one thing is for certain: for everyone involved, the experience of sharing cultures is enriching, and the experience is one unparalleled.

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