The Year I Fell Into France

<p><strong>Mel Reyna's non-fiction naiveté travelogue blends rich cultural insights with everyday life captivating the heart of French living most tourists never see.</strong></p><p></p><p>When life falls apart-divorce appears careers vanish and dreams crumble-you can either break down... or stand tall and book a one-way ticket to your dreamland. Armed with stubborn hope a 59-pound suitcase and a tattered paperback French dictionary <strong>Mel Reyna sets out on a four-month journey as a first-time French WWOOFer volunteer (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) to the City of Love</strong>. She uncovers behind the scene experiences of WWOOFing life by volunteering on farms vineyards and crumbling châteaus trading labor for a chance to rebuild her spirit.</p><p></p><p><strong>Lost broke and hilariously unprepared</strong> she stumbles through muddy fields missed trains tricky kitchens and countless wrong turns. From a sh** day wheelbarrowing manure to pruning grapevines all the while navigating the language barrier with comedy charades and <strong>fielding invitations from a restaurant owner to work as a waitress and be his live-in lover</strong>. Along the way she discovers that sometimes your life has to fall apart before it can fall together.</p><p></p><p><strong>A light and inspiring travel story</strong> weaving together a <strong>2010 recession-era exploration and sustainable volunteerism stories</strong> topped with light-hearted personal transformations. Through true adventures all across France this down-to-earth story is for anyone dreaming of your next escape or navigating your own new path after loss. <strong>A witty yet heartfelt travel journey</strong> for fans of travel books food self-help through experience and real-world resilience.</p>