It was chance that brought Carlie Bonavia to Strasbourg. The Australian communications manager was living in London and booked a weekend getaway with friends.
“I remember walking on the tarmac at the airport for my flight back to London and my girlfriend said: ‘So what did you think of Strasbourg?’ And I said: 'It's nice but I’ll never have a reason to come back here.’”
What she did not realise was that she would end up bumping into Yannick, a Frenchman she had briefly met in Strasbourg, at a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym in Copenhagen a few months later.
It was the start of a long-distance relationship that would culminate in Carlie moving to Strasbourg in 2016.
Nine years later, she has come to appreciate her new home.
“I love that it’s a smaller city with a lot going on,” she said. “I’m a big city girl. I’m from Melbourne, I lived in London, and I was a bit worried about Strasbourg being the seventh biggest city in France, but there is a large international community here.
“And I like that it’s designed so you have most of the amenities you need within a short radius.”
Moving to Strasbourg has also allowed her to drop her dependence on a car.
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“It’s very bike-friendly. I’ve become a bit of a commuter-cyclist. That was something I never did in Australia or the UK.“
Carlie bought a house with Yannick in 2019 and said they probably wouldn’t be able to afford the same quality of life in somewhere like Paris. Yet, the capital is an easy one hour, 50 minute TGV ride away when she needs to visit her office.
She made many friends through international women’s groups but became frustrated when they moved away.
“What I learned is that if I want to make a long-lasting community in this city I need people who stay here.”
Roller derby fun
Carlie loves the relaxed vibe of StrasbourgCarlie Bonavia
This is where roller derby entered the picture. Looking for a safe outdoor activity during the pandemic, Carlie bought some roller skates and hit the local skate park. One year later, she joined her local roller derby team.
“It has been revolutionary,” she said. “I’m not a fast or agile skater, but that’s fine. There is a role for everybody. It’s a really inclusive community and I wish I had done it years ago.”
The sport hails from the US and matches are played in English, but skating has also helped with her French as all the tactics, calls and training are in French. Post-training socialising was another reason to improve.
“I have a personality in English that doesn’t come through in French because I don’t have the vocabulary, so that’s been a huge motivator to boost my French so I can show more of myself to my French friends.”
Carlie has also noticed a better work-life balance in France, partly due to most shops closing early and on Sundays.
“I have learned to get all the house errands done on a Saturday morning. Then Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening is the time to indulge in your passions.”
After a period of unemployment a few years ago, Carlie noticed a different attitude in France compared to her native Australia, where people on unemployment benefits are “really stigmatised”.
“In France I feel like there is such a healthier attitude towards it. You pay for this safety net and you are entitled to use it if you need it.”
There is one thing Carlie, a self-confessed “talker”, misses about home, however: Australian banter.
“Just going up to someone at the supermarket checkout and being like: ‘How’s your day been?’
“French people don’t banter like that. Sometimes I’ve tried and it hasn’t gone very well. They are like: ‘Who are you, why would I have a conversation with you?’ Whereas Australians are up for chatting to anybody.”
