I like to identify myself as Argentine by birth, American by choice, and French at heart. 

Born and raised in Buenos Aires, I attended elementary school at a French Catholic school.  The soeurs were gifted and dedicated teachers, and helped make me fluent in French and a lifelong Francophile.  In my teens I received a scholarship from Smith College in Massachusetts, and left for the United States to study political science and economics.

After graduation I lived in New York for eleven years, and the city remains my favorite in the world, with Paris a close second.  During these years, I became an American citizen, obtained a Masters in Economics, worked on Wall Street, and enjoyed life as a single woman living in the artsy West Village in Manhattan. 

I met Erik through one of his Harvard roommates, whom I was dating at the time.  Little did I know we’d be together for over 50 years!  We are both politically liberal, share a great love of opera and classical music, and have many other common interests, notably fine food and wine.  Last March we celebrated 48 years of marriage. 

In 1979, I joined the Foreign Service, and had my baptism of fire as the first woman economic officer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  My reward was an assignment to Paris, where we lived for four years and our only daughter, Karin Alexandra, was born.   

Following Paris, we spend several years in Washington until I got lucky again and I was sent to Bordeaux as the American Consul General. My last overseas tour in the Foreign Service was Rabat, Morocco.  Although officially retired, I was soon called back by the State Department to take on various short term assignments, among them a memorable whirlwind tour as Acting Ambassador to the tiny but amazing Republic of Malta. 

For over twenty years, we lived at Erik’s childhood home in Arlington, Virginia. We socialized with Foreign Service friends, attended concerts, plays and the opera, and traveled abroad as often as time and pocketbook would allow.  A longtime Democrat, I worked hard to help elect Barack Obama, and felt proud to be an American when he was elected twice, and every time I handed in my passport at a foreign airport.  

The catalyst for our decision to move to France was the catastrophic election of Trump in 2016.  Horrified to see America unravel, we set out to look for a new home in France, and in 2018 we found it in Bergerac. 

Living here is all we had hoped for.  We love our house with a small garden and indoor pool, a stone throw from the historic center and within easy walking distance to shops, cafes, restaurants, and so many attractions that make Bergerac a city rich in art and history.   

Membership in DLCI has been a great source of new friendships and activities.  I enjoy Wednesday coffees, the book club, lunches, and so many other convivial events.  Thank you, ladies!