Happy 4th of July Independence Day and soon Bastille too! Celebrating Transatlantic Freedom.

Happy Independence Day / 4th of July to all my fellow Americans. Four years ago this week I officially became a US citizen during a special naturalization ceremony held at New York City Federal Plaza and officiated by Hilda Solis (photographed above) who was then the United States Secretary of Labor (Ministre du Travail), a wonderful and warm person appointed by President Obama, the first Latin woman to serve in such a high governmental position. I had no idea I would experience something like this when in the late 90's I initially relocated to New York from my hometown Paris with a relatively junior job at  a now-defunct global investment bank (Lehman Brothers) and pursued other dreams since. I hold fond memories of this immense honor and rewarding moment. Next week will the French celebration of Bastille Day (July 14th) in my country of birth. It is not always logistically easy to be dual citizen of both France and the United States but it is culturally enriching for sure and I feel blessed and privileged belonging to two nations rightly considered as the birth places of modern democracy, even if this precious fruit has been at times endangered by wars, crisis, terror and hatred and could still be now. With all my gratitude and hopes for more peaceful and joyful days on both sides of the Atlantic.  

Pascalito - Proud Franco Americano :-)