Hi, I'm new here and I first fell in love with France and the French when I was a young girl in school learning about the American Revolution in history class. I think it's the most romantic time period in our country's history mostly because that's when the whole French-American alliance first took place. The famous movie star Tom Hanks recently produced a mini-series about John Adams on HBO on cable TV and I was enthralled with how beautifully the diplomacy of Benjamin Franklin with the French is portrayed. It intensified my already extremely passionate desire to go to France, meet French people and get involved even further. Unfortunately I've never been blessed with the means to travel as a tourist let alone an expat so everything that entails Americans to be "allowed" to go to France and especially acheive marriage into the culture is of particular interest to me. From what I've read about so far from various sources is that trying to qualify for a stay or residence in France and the administrative process is NOT for the faint-hearted. Every time I see or hear about a French-American dating or married couple I always view it from the perspective of a patriotic enthusiast of America's War for Independence, and my mind goes wild wondering if awareness of the French-American alliance has played a role in the romantic attraction/relationship, maybe even as a symbolic thing. And what about inspiration to learn the language because of it?

I could write poetry about it, and express how I noticed that alot of Americans go crazy over France and the French not unlike how alot of girls and women go crazy over horses, however I'd be heartbroken to learn that not all francophiles can go to France and/or get married to a French person, just like not all horse lovers can make a living in the equine industry and/or become award-winning equestrians.

What I'd like to ask is if any of you became francophiles because of the Revolutionary alliance, aside from the typical niceties like France's great food, interesting customs, art, etc. Not to downplay any of the usual things that attract Americans to France and the French, but I can't help but wonder. Even if you didn't, I'd love to read some insights and philosophies about it.

Carolyn