Friday, April 22, 2011

My Life in France ~ Being Married to a Basketeur

Good Morning everyone!  If you haven't entered the giveaway, you can do it now! I will wait for ya! Just go here.  Okay great, thanks!

Today, Friday, I am continuing the series about our life in France.  It is a crazy life, I will be the first to admit it, and it definitely needs installments to fully explain.  Actually, I dont' think I could ever fully explain our craziness!  So just little picture windows is perfect.  

Today I am secretly excited about this little section. hehe  Because, as I am sure most of you are, I am proud of my husband!  So I thought I might write about what it is like to be married to a Basketball Player, or a Basketeur, as the French call it.

This is my husband.  Are you scared yet?  It's okay, he is kinda scary.  He likes it that way.   

His mean mug
When we got married and moved to Brest, France (get get cities with the funniest names!) I had no idea what was in store for me. All I really knew about this life was what I experienced in college, which was just from a fans point of view. Oooohhhh boy is it different.

So.  Awesome things:
~ He is home a lot more than he would be with a 9 to 5 job.
He can take Tae to practice sometimes
There is a game to go to every other weekend
Since we live in France, road trips are never longer than 2 days.
Most all other basketball guys are super cool and laid back
This means late nights and sleeping in, until, of course, Tae started school. No more sleeping in for momma.
~ We are getting to travel the world.
~ My son speaks two languages. Awesome.
~ Lavar is always in tip-top shape.  I think he has 3 percent body fat.
He always gets hacked like this. They rarely call it. Refs here - whole other post!

Not so awesome things:
~ Lavar is always in tip-top shape.  Although I am not heavy, I am not in tip-top shape.  You would think this would motivate me... notsomuch
~A lot of other basketball payers cheat on their wives.  It is a bummer stereotype, but unfortunately true.  Since Lavar and I are the more 'stable' of most bunches, we know things we don't really want to know, ya know?
~ He stays up late (practice is at night) and sleeps in and takes naps during the day.  Don't worry, I asked other players' wives to see if this was normal.  It is. Dang, can't get mad.
~ We are never settled in one spot.  It is kinda fun, but hard to be integrated.  That is why I love you bloggy friends!  I can take you wherever I go!
EDIT: I forgot to mention earlier how much this guy eats.  For breakfast he eats 12 pancakes, big ones, a slice of meat, and 3 eggs.  He eats a big lunch and two dinners.  Yes, two.  This is definitely on the not so awesome list because it is tough to keep up!

A few tidbits about our lifestyle:
Lavar signs contracts for 10 months at a time. We would like to change this and sign for longer, but you gotta take what is out there. 
Therefore, for 2 months out of the year (it has been longer), we don't have jobs.  Lavar is not American and cannot work in the states, and we can't live in the Bahamass because there are no basketball opportunities for him there. 
Each year in about July, we find out where our new location will be.  Lavar leaves first to make sure all is well where we will be, and I usually follow within a month. 
We have lived in Brest, Boulazac, and St Etienne.  Lavar lived in Austria by himself because he got a job a little later than expected and I couldn't fly to go with him because I was pregnant with Eli.

Lavar wasn't able to be there for the birth of our second little boy, Eli, but he was on skype the entire time!!  LOL the nurses said 'well there is a first time for everything!'  Does that confirm our craziness?

So there you have it.  A little window into our life as a Basketeur, a femme de Basketeur, and the little guys who travel the world with us.

Although it isn't the easiest life all the time.  We don't have the same security that others do.  I wouldn't change it for the world.  We are getting to experience another country and culture to the fullest.  We are able to do things together as a family that we would otherwise never be able to afford.  And my husband is living his dream.  How could we ask for more?

I think next week I might talk about living in an intercultural, interracial marriage. It might be a doozy, because our marriage sure is!  (in a good way, of course!)

If you missed last weeks, you can click here.

And thanks for all the love and encouraging comments, I really appreciate it!  Have a great day!

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

what a cool post! its nice to learn more about the downside and upside of being married to a basketeur ;-)

hope u have a good weekend!

Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims said...

check you out in a belted scarf. so snazzy. great post! I enjoyed reading :)

Anonymous said...

To cute! Your story rocks! again I want to live there even for just a year... I know nothing about basketball but did those guys get a foul called for pushing him in that picture? He he I'm just saying! and your belt is AWESOME!!!!

Macey said...

Such a cool post...really interesting to see how you live.
I don't think I could do it. LOL
I'm not that strong!

Jayna Rae said...

Oh my, I just loved this post. I love getting to know you better. I love that you have an exciting and crazy life. I think it is wonderful for children to be so well cultured. And I love that you are married to a handsome man who loves you. So sad that so many men, in so many professions, are not faithful. When you get a good guy grab on!!!

Stephanie McDonnell said...

He doesn't get to work in the States even though he married an American?

Kristi said...

Love your style of writing! It feels like I'm sitting with a glass of wine listening to a girlfriend's stories! So cool!
I haven't been posting much (sick and back working full time) and I miss it. Glad I got a chance to stop in and read some of my favorite blogs....yours included of course! :)

Kym @ Travel Babbles said...

Hello Natalia!!! Wow this is so neat!!! Very awesome to see the basketball wifes perpective - we are all in the same boat! I look forward to staying in contact with you :)...I know it can be very difficult to find women/friends who understand our crazy lifestyle. Feel free to email me any time at kymberly . young at yahoo.com.

Tammi Durso said...

Wow, great pictures!!! But my favorite has to be the one with Tae standing behind his daddy! Love that boy! And love that husband of yours. Great post!

Teresa Rose said...

I was just going to say the same thing Tammi! Such a sweet picture.

Unknown said...

Great post! I'm happy to have met you.

Nicole said...

So cool hearing about this! I knew a girl several years ago that was married to a guy that played basketball in Spain (maybe?) It might have been Italy. Forgive me it was at least 15 years ago. It seemed really fun to travel like that though! He went ahead of her and then she would go where ever he was playing. Again, you have a beautiful family! Have a great Easter!

Unknown said...

Just found you from My Girlish Whims. I really have enjoyed reading through your blog. This post made me grin because I think it's super awesome you're married to an athlete who got to Skype in for the birth of y'all's child. :) Technology is truly amazing!!

Looking forward to some more spectacular posts!

Jennifer said...

Great post girl! I love reading about your unique life! And wow on what your husband eats for breakfast!!! Just wow!

Wendy said...

Your family is absolutely precious!! :) PS I plan on teaching my kids how to speak French (when I have kids!) if for no other reason than so we can talk to each other in French. :)

Unknown said...

This is so cool and interesting! I stole a couple of these pics to add to your post!! I love all this:)

Patti D. said...

Awesome post, your life sounds like fun, but what about your kids? what about their schools? moving so much sounds like a problem since I guess they need stability and steady friends, right?

XOXO, Michelle said...

new follower from the hop, and fellow expat!

I loved the peek into your life!

xoxo
Paula
http://realhousewifeofsingapore.blogspot.com/

Travel With Lulu said...

Okay, so that's not a post you read every day! And drank every word. Love the pros and cons, which are not necessarily obvious right off the bat.

Do you know TexaGermAdian? If not, you should: http://texagermanadian.blogspot.com/2011/05/big-news.html
Her husband is also a professional athlete in Europe.

Thank you for joining Post Of The Month Club! Can't wait to see where you move to in July XOL

Bron said...

There are some cool experiences for you as a family....never a dull moment I am sure.

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful family you have! i guess there are always pro and cons to whatever type of lifestyle we choose to have.

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