Leaving America Questionnaire #11
Susie Morgenstern, children's book author, Nice, France
What drives Americans to leave home and settle elsewhere? That question has been on my mind for many years. This series, Leaving America, seeks to uncover the multitude of reasons and lessons learned—beginning with Americans in Paris. Become a paid subscriber to access this newsletter’s archives!
In France, they call her the grande dame of children’s literature. Susie Morgenstern has penned over 150 books in French, the majority of which are intended for children and young adults, spanning a career of more than 50 years. In 2016, she was awarded the Legion of Honor for her contributions to literature, and today, she continues to write and publish new books. As she recently told Radio France, “I get up in the morning and work. I write, write, and write. I can't wait until morning to get to work. And I get scolded! The booksellers tell me there are too many books, that there's no more room. But can you write too much? That's the question I ask myself. I'm obsessed with writing, I'm 80 years old, I've got to get rid of everything I want to write before I leave this earth."
You’ll notice that she lives in Nice, not Paris. The solstice felt like the right time to begin broadening this series geographically on occasion, so let’s head to Nice with Susie, an American who has built her entire adult life in the south of France.
Where was the last place you lived in the U.S.?
Belleville, New Jersey, where I grew up.
Did you intend to leave permanently or was the move temporary?
I sort of knew, but wasn’t sure, that it was permanent.
Was there a pivotal moment when you knew your life would be best pursued elsewhere?
My French husband taught math at NYU while I finished my B.A. in Rutgers, Newark. The days that he didn’t find his newspaper, Le Monde, in Times Square, he was lost and miserable. He was pretty much always a shipwreck on Manhattan Island (and Belleville). I was pregnant. He read Proust to the fetus every day and night. She became my first daughter and surely understood the French better than I ever did. I knew that if I wanted to keep the guy, I had better go to his homeland. I knew I was more flexible. I didn’t even know that I was completely unconscious, unaware, and ignorant. I only knew what had been inculcated: The United States was the best country in the world.
What sort of financial consideration did the move require, even if as a student initially? Does one need a plump savings account to make this work?
He had a job at the University of Nice. I had no money, no idea what I was getting myself into, and no French. We had Jacques’ tiny salary and lived in a furnished apartment. Near the end of the month, he told me I couldn’t spend a centime. I had a cutie pie baby and the love of my life. Nice was and is so beautiful—the sea, the blue sky, the bright sunshine. I didn’t feel deprived. I just missed my family. Phone calls were exorbitant, but we didn’t even have a phone.
At what age did you leave? Looking back, was that too soon or too late?
I was 22. Too late to have a good accent. To this day, when I say bonjour, people answer me in English.
When did you know you'd made the right [or wrong] call?
Wrong call when my kids started school. That was my biggest culture shock. Too much school! Too much homework! Too stiff and demanding. But the right call: I was with the man I loved. He understood for the two of us. I admire him now. How hard it must have been to take on an idiot immigrant!
What does Nice offer you that your native home couldn’t and, perhaps, still can’t
Its legendary beauty, the healthcare system, free schools and university, true friendships, and great food.
Can you share any anecdotes about your highest and lowest moments in Paris?
There are too many highs and lows. I wrote a book about all this, called “Mes 18 exils,” as well as “Jacques a dit” and a young adult book, “Galère !”
Are there aspects of American life that you long for?
Certainly not right now! But in the beginning—bagels! As well as my sisters, easy parking, warmth, and cordiality.
What book or movie do you most associate with the American experience abroad?
My own!
If you had to narrow it down to one, what is the greatest lesson living abroad has taught you about yourself and the world?
We can evolve, we’re adaptable, and we have the strength to face what we have to face.
Have you ever considered going back? (Why or why not)
Not even when my husband died. I’ve been here 57 years. My life is here, my career, my friends, and my hospital!
For those contemplating leaving the U.S., what do you suggest they consider most about the decision?
I really can’t say because I just followed my authentic Frenchman and let him do the thinking. Had I ever considered thinking and planning, I might not have come. And I really like it here. I would say: Follow your heart.
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Another incredible interview! I am such a fan of her work. It is inspiring to see an author still loving writing at 80. Gives us all hope.
Wonderful you included her in this series. Even in this interview, her personal warmth and honesty radiate.