Over the years, a small expatriate community has taken root in Mas. Irish, English, American, New Zealanders—anglophones all. When I first stayed in France, I wanted little to do with the expatriate community. I wanted to immerse myself in everything French. I still love that, and as I’ve made friends with these summer habitants of Mas, I’ve discovered what we have in common (besides a love of France). We are curious, open, individualist people who have lived disparate lives all over the planet. Conversation is lively, and as an American I’m thrilled to learn modern European history from contemporaries who have lived it.