Reunion Island, the dreaded Q&A.

Say I just met someone at a party. As we chat, glass of Chardonnay in hand, I know what will eventually happen, once the what-do-you-do’s and the where-do-you-live’s have been dealt with. It will go like this:

Q: “Do you have children?”

Me: “Yes, two sons and one daughter.”

Q: “Do they live in New York?”

Me: “No, they live in Reunion Island.”

Allow here for a few seconds of silence and a blank stare, then:

Q: “Interesting. Where’s that?”

Me: “East of Madagascar and west of Mauritius in the middle of the Indian Ocean.”

Q: “Really?”

Me: “Yes, it’s a French island of 850,000 inhabitants. It’s an 11-hour flight from Paris and I go there every year in June – their winter – when the temperature is bearable.”

“Your children, were they born there?”

Me: “Oh no, we’re all from Paris.

At this point I will be asked to explain how on earth they all ended up living so far away and brace myself for a story I’ve told so often that I’m ready to fall asleep on my feet.

I will explain that my older son upon graduating from business school in Paris opted for 18 months of civilian service overseas rather than 10 months wearing a uniform and that he loved the place so much that he stayed and built a career and a life for himself there. Years later his sister, on a vacation visit, fell in love with a man her brother introduced her to and proceeded to give up her advertising career in Paris and move to Reunion where she became a teacher. Finally I will relate how my younger son after lost his job was asked by his brother: “Why don’t you start over with us in sunny Reunion rather than remain in rainy Paris?” He promptly sold his house and furniture, packed his family and there you are, end of story.

If by then, my interlocutor has not moved on and wants to know more, I will add a further tidbits about Reunion.

The island is volcanic and the eruptions of the Piton de la Fournaise are spectacular. The sight of lava flowing down the mountain and into the ocean at night is quite unforgettable. Reunion is a destination for outdoors and sports fanatics. Tourists come to trek, surf, run Iron Man-type marathons, bicycle up and down the mountains, hang glide and many more physical activities. Jumping off a cliff and flying with my older son was a thrilling experience, the memory of which I will forever cherish.

Reunion is populated by Europeans, Indians, Chinese and a majority of mixed-race Creoles. Although several thousands of miles from Paris, it maintains all the features of a French département. Road signs, Euro currency, Police, banks, post offices, everything is the same as in homeland France. Only the palm trees, the fields of sugar cane, the colorful markets and luxurious vegetation remind you of where you actually are.

I only wish Reunion were closer to Manhattan. A couple of hours by train from Grand Central would be just fine, but c’est la vie, isn’t it?