Rosie: a day spent in Castries

Castries visit Tuesday 13th May

This was an agreeably varied day out, punctuated by a pot-luck lunch. Some people came for the morning’s cultural walk, some for the flower-arranging workshop, some for lunch alone! The energetic part of the programme began with us meeting up at Rosie’s to drop off food, then a rendezvous at the Tourist Office to meet our guide, Bernadette. From here we walked up to the chateau for a talk on the history and a tour of the grounds (Bernadette kept testing us on dates, to check that we were awake!). We were allowed into the Orangery and finished by exploring part of the old town, where the aqueduct enters the chateau after snaking round, and through, the houses!

Guide Bernadette, Dawn, Mariannick, Caroline, Rosie, Maggie and Leslie

 After a walk back to Rosie’s we had lunch in the sunny back garden where we were (almost) sheltered from the wind. Reluctantly tearing ourselves away from the relaxing warmth, conversation and delicious food, we made our way to the florist’s shop (Les Fleurs des Thés). The workshop was very productive as the florist was generous in her provision of materials (“…use anything you want.”), and the group worked enthusiastically to produce satisfyingly brilliant flower arrangements. The shop is also a ‘salon de thé’, so we finished with a refreshing drink before staggering away, protectively guarding our creative efforts against the high wind.

 

Rosie, Katharine, Caroline, Denise, Leslie

Editor:  This was a Garden Group event (although of course, open to all) and all who were present were very appreciative of Rosie's

work in arranging the day, and hosting us for lunch at her home.  Thank you so much, Rosie, we all had a great time.

Maggie: message from Mentawai, Indonesia

 

 

Message from Mentawai, Indonesia

 

Although the project in Mentawai did not receive a Development Grant this year, the people at YBTI are very thankful for our help.  Maggie sent YBTI an e-mail to tell them that the DG went to a project to construct a schoolroom in Haiti, and received the following reply, which she wants to share with all the members of AWG.

 

Dearest Ibu Maggie,

Thank you very much for your mail informing about the result of our proposal “ Mentawai Boarding school dormitory repairs”.  It ok ibu, since we know that God knows the best. We are sure that our family in Haiti need it more that us right now. We still have a place to stay. We would be fine. Still there is another time.

On behalf of all children in Dormitory, we do appreciate every step you have been taking to help. Thank you very  much. It really mean to us.

Salam from Indonesia.

Editor:  the Ibu salutation means Madame.  

Katharine: These were Mother's photo essay (NY Times)

Op-Art LEANNE SHAPTON

Mom Genes

MAY 9, 2014

I often put myself in my mother’s shoes. We wear the same size, though she is six inches shorter than I am. I also have two dresses of hers, a shawl, three handbags, a sweatshirt and a china mug with a blue rose on it. I took all of these things without asking, thinking she wouldn’t miss them and that, as her daughter, somehow they were mine, too. I’d take them when I was visiting, cutting short conversations to root through her closets. I took them in moments when I was not conscious of needing her. But if complimented, I proudly say of her shoes, “These were my mother’s.”

I asked some women to talk about something they wear that used to be their mother’s.

• 
  I STILL WEAR IT; it’s perfect for a certain winter day. I think it’s early ’60s. When my mother died I wanted her clothes. My sister thought it was creepy, so I took loads of them. I’d just had a baby, and so I enveloped myself in her clothes because they had her smell and her energy. I now love seeing my daughters wear them. When my father died we discovered he’d had a secret Swiss bank account. In England in the ’50s and ’60s there were a lot of austerity measures, but my mother continued to be a complete fashion maven and had the most exquisite designer pieces. When we looked at the check stubs we saw that the checks had all been made out to Bergdorf Goodman. He’d used his Swiss bank account purely to finance my mother’s clothing habit. Jane Wells, 55
• 
  AS A HIGH SCHOOL student, I used to go to the Hungarian Pastry Shop at 111th Street near Columbia University and sit among college and graduate students while wearing my mom’s college sweatshirt. It was like the equivalent of wearing your mother’s too-big heels, but dressing up in the costume of an older intellectual. I wear it now on weekends when I’m getting coffee and going grocery shopping for the week. Audrey Gelman, 26
• 
  I PLAY TENNIS in this skirt all summer long. My mother wore it before she had me and after she had me, and she’d play in it. She loves tennis, and I love tennis because of her. She got me into it. I was forced to take many lessons and I didn’t appreciate them at the time but now we can play together, occasionally. We don’t enough. I still have this vision of my mom in the skirt — tennis was part of her social scene, she played with a bunch of her girlfriends from our community and schools and temples and there was a group at the country club. I enjoyed seeing her be so athletic. Carlyn Schlechter, 39
• 
  IT’S A LATE ’60S BAG. She gave it to me when I was about 22. If I consider buying another black bag I compare it with this one and realize I don’t need one. She was careful about her things, so they are in good condition. Besides the fact that she was a deeply stylish person, she was a single mother and didn’t care for the conformity of Boston. We would go to preppy stores, and I’d ask her: “Don’t you want these espadrilles? Don’t you want a belt with whales on it?” because I’d see them on other mothers. She just told me, “I will never dress like that.” Sheila O’Shea, 38
• 
  MY MOTHER, DOROTHY Duncan, was given the kilt by her grandmother. It is a “Duncan Ancient” tartan. I think it was made by a kilt maker in Perth, Scotland. My mother was very proud of her Duncan heritage, though she didn’t talk about it much. She gave me the kilt around 1988, and I had it made into a jacket three years ago. Kilts are not my style so I changed it so I would use it more often. I think of my mother when I wear it. Louise McCagg, 77
• 
  I THINK I GOT to have it once she’d worn it enough times that she was going to be busted showing up in it someplace else. I was in my early 20s. My mother knew I loved it. Our dressing style is really different in all ways except formally. Stylistically, where we bonded was her party clothes. This was the only dress I wound up with, mostly because she’s so unsentimental about stuff. It’s more an attitude I inherited from her. My daughter hasn’t seen the dress yet. It’s right up her alley. Brooke Williams, 48
• 
  THIS IS A LITTLE TOP of my mom’s. It’s so magnificent. My mom and dad lived in Israel where my dad was studying marine biology, and this shirt was my mom’s. I was conceived in Israel, and so my mom wore this at the beginning of her pregnancy with me, and then she gave it to me. It’s hand-crocheted. It’s gorgeous. She bought it in Jerusalem somewhere. I still wear it all the time, you know, with high-waisted jeans. Gaby Basora, 42
• 
  OUR FAMILY MOVED to Indiana when I was 7, but before that my mom had only ever lived in the South, so cold weather seemed really alien and dangerous to her, especially as the mother of young kids. She used to dress us in full snowsuits just to go to the grocery store. My parents recently moved to Florida, and now every time my mom visits me in New York she brings one of her winter hats to accidentally leave at my apartment. She does this regardless of the season. Mary Mann, 29
• 
  I HAVE A PHOTO of my mother wearing this coat, and she’s mugging for the camera wearing dark glasses and it’s so unlike any pose I’ve ever seen her in. Impish. Badass. In all other photos she’s posing like a nice classic Italian lady. It was handmade for her by her seamstress, who’d go up to Paris twice a year to buy fabric and see what was new and then go back to Padua, where she’d make these clothes for my mother. I wear it with jeans, which would either delight or horrify her. Pavia Rosati, 43

Leanne Shapton is a co-author, with Sheila Heti and Heidi Julavits, of the forthcoming book “Women in Clothes.” Produced by John Niedermeyer

Katharine: Happy Mother's Day (USA celebrates today)

Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries.  T. DeWitt Talmage

Katharine: Lunch under the Tuscan Sun

photo credits:  Jessica

Gianluca barbecued vegetables for the salad course

Jessica and her husband Gianluca, and their beautiful children Anna and Michelange, welcomed a group of six guests to their home for a summer Italian lunch. Gianluca prepared and cooked all the food for us - thank you so much, Gianluca.

...... and here they are, grilled eggplant, red, yellow and green capsicums, zucchini

Anne, Katharine, Elisabeth, Phil, Mariannick

We had a delicious six-course lunch - the courses kept coming, accompanied first by prosecco and then Italian red wine.  Our lunch concluded with two wonderful desserts - a tiramisu and a Tuscan pine nut cake.    All present thank Jessica and Gianluca so much for making us so welcome and for having worked so hard.  It's not easy to produce an elegant lunch in an elegant home when you have two small children - but they managed it. 

Anne, Katharine and Elisabeth

Philip and Leslie

Jessica wrote:  Thank you for coming into our home to fundraise for a good cause, AODVCC (American Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center) founded by Paula Lucas. We raised 150 euros. I've attached the photos that were taken from our camera. It was a pleasure to see all of your smiling faces to enjoy Italian food and wine.

Buona serata (Good evening),

Jessica

*Here is a link to AODVCC's website, if you'd like more information.

http://www.866uswomen.org/About-Us.aspx

Maggie: more photos from Menton trip with Garden Group

Maggie, Sue Rich, Robyn, Pam, Sue Rou, Carol, Sue Rey, Peggy

The Maginot Line in St Agnes, high on the hills above Menton

Maggie: Hike in Saussines - Chemin des Capitelles, April 4

The weather had been wet and nasty, but on the morning of Friday, April 4th, the day of the hike, the sun appeared and six of us plus two associate members, Egan and Alaska, had the opportunity to discover the chemin des Capitelles de la Bénovie in and around Saussines. 

The “balises” were not always easy to see or to find, and the trail at times was rocky, but it was well worth the effort.  Along parts of the 7 km trail, we followed the “draille” and were guided like the sheep that used the same trails in times past.  We saw all six of the recently restored dry-stone huts, although, according to the signs, not necessarily in the order intended.  I cannot help but wonder why capitelle no.3 has a sign with a large yellow number 4.  


 Each hut has a slightly different form, and one was built into a wall.  We also made a stop at an organic farm just over the village line from Saussines/  Once again the walk was not just fun, but interesting. 

   

Pam's dog Alaska

Peggy's dog Egan

 In order to avoid another traffic jam in Castries, I took the road less travelled to drive home after the walk, and added a few extra photos of the surroundings, including the Pic St. Loup and a village clocktower.

Noel: AARO workshop, detailed notes of the meeting

Notes from AWG AARO workshop
Tuesday, April 15th, 2014, 6-8pm at Espace MLK

I.  Introduction.
Jessica welcomed all participants and introduced panel members.
    •    Lucy Laederich, president of AARO
    •    Kathleen de Carbuccia
    •    Tim Ramier
    •    John Fredenberger
Each panel member then proceeded to present the issues they're concerned with, answer questions sent in prior to the workshop by attendees, and then opened the floor to questions where time permitted. 

II. Lucy Laederich, background information on AARO (Association of Americans Resident Overseas).
    •    AARO is a global, member-based organization formed in 1973 to advocate for overseas Americans. 
    •    AARO was instrumental in getting the vote for overseas Americans in 1975 and other various changes in citizenship laws over the years.  Brochures available about AARO's work (see website: aaro.org).
    •    AARO members make regular trips to Washington DC to lobby for Americans. AARO has worked on several issues over the years (social security, voting, citizenship, banking), but currently the main issue is taxes, and recent legislation affecting American women living abroad with foreign spouses and partners.  (Women finding themselves vulnerable because they are deciding to be removed from joint accounts to avoid reporting to the US govt.)
    •    Lucy encouraged AWG members to join AARO, and reminded us that whether we decide to join or not, AARO is there to support us.  AARO has good relations with a number of offices in DC and will do their best to take our story where it should be heard.
    •    Lucy reminded us that it's very easy to register to vote.  Advice from AARO: Vote in federal elections.  You have protections under the UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act).  If you vote in local elections, you lose those protections.  (California is the worst state.  If you vote local in Californian they'll come after you for taxes and jury duty.)

III.  Kathleen de Carbuccia, Citizenship.
    •    Rules about citizenship for children born abroad: Can become citizens at birth if they're born abroad to two American parents or one American parent who has lived in the US after the age of 14, or if born abroad to unwed mother who has lived in the US for one uninterrupted year. 
    •    Two other ways to obtain citizenship: must be used before kids are 18 and assume they have at least one American citizen parent and child must be in physical and legal custody of both parents.  Timing is uncertain. First way is called facilitated naturalization (law passed in 1990s), which allows kid to get citizenship if American grandparent had lived for at least 5 years in the US after age 14.  Must apply to USCIS office in the US, provide required documentation, prove grandparent fulfills requirements, get tourist visa, brief interview/meeting, and then go to the US.  Second way is via immigrant visa from local consulate. Nowadays, if you go to a consulate, you need to go though USCIS.  Takes months and costs hundreds of dollars.  Very hard to get reliable information. Start early and be prepared for lots of delays.  This method is becoming more complicated, onerous and time consuming.  Can be done, but requires patience. 
    •    If you don't do either these methods, your child is in the same situation as a foreigner if he/she wants to immigrate to the US at the age of 18 and must apply for a visa.  If you, the parent, fulfill the residency requirement and you don't ask for a passport for your child, your child could still be required to file taxes. 
    •    How to prove residence in the US? Use third party sources: College transcript, pay slip, family membership at the local country club has worked.  Must have credible documentation.
    •    Should you try to get citizenship for your children?  Until recently, people were largely unaware of tax obligations and thought more about advantages of getting citizenship: can travel to the US easily, can work there, get scholarships to study. Disadvantages: military service (no draft, but still something to think about), and taxes. 
    •    You can renounce your American citizenship at age 18 fairly easily. Something to consider if you're certain of where your kids are going to spend their lives.
    •    Kathleen encouraged AWG to cultivate the local consulate officers in Marseille and establish a rapport to facilitate relationships. She also advised sending any problems to AARO.  AARO can take that info to the State Dept and advocate.

IV.  Tim Ramier, Estate Planning.  (See Tim’s handout: Surviving Death in France as a U.S. Citizen and Estate Planning in a Rapidly Changing Franco-American World for more detailed information.)
    •    The State Dept has a duty to help overseas Americans.  They're starting to close down services all over the world, so contact the State Dept to make an effort to keep our administrators in DC aware of our issues. State Dept knows there are 8 million Americans living abroad but no voice in DC.
    •    Estate planning.  As an American citizen, your estate is taxable. Because you're a French resident, all your worldwide assets are taxable.  First piece of advice: prepare.  Start by taking an inventory of your assets, where they are, and create a file for those who'll come after you. The US isn’t concerned about who you're going to give your assets to, they just want to know how big your pie is and want a slice. If your estate doesn't exceed a certain threshold (currently $5,350,000), you don't owe anything to the US.  Make sure your assets are easily transferable to designated heirs.  Bank will require you to prove you've filed the required papers with the US.  You can leave your money to whoever you want.
    •    The French have a different system.  The French system decides who will inherit from you (children and spouse).  60% of estate goes to French govt if you don't have family members to inherit from you.  Tim recommends making a will.  Designate an executor to administer and manage your assets. Deposit a will where your US bank is located. If you don't do a will, you have to prove who inherits and the procedure becomes more administrative. Much easier if you have a valid will that can be probated in the US. If you are beneficiary of a trust fund, you have to declare it to the French or the trust will be taxed by the French government.  
    •    Advice: Draft a will both for the US assets and French assets or a US will for anything you have outside of France.  If you don't have any children and are married or have a civil union, anything you leave to your spouse won't be taxed. Children still have to pay tax above 100,000€ deduction.  As a US citizen, you can do will in France or in US as there is a treaty between the two countries.  Or you can do a French holographic will in the French civil code. Handwritten, signed and dated and even written in English. 
    •    In case of becoming incapacitated: the US has trouble recognizing French tuteur.  Try to give power of attorney to someone.
    •    Contrat de mariage. If you were married in France, you inherit communal property. There's a presumption that everything in your marriage is community.  Even if one spouse brought a lot more in assets, and you're under community property, you only declare half of assets.
    •    Answer to question 11 (see list of questions distributed to participants). If you have a non-US spouse, the US only allows the same amount as the exclusionary amount.  You can leave your $5,350,000 to your spouse.
    •    Question 12. You have to probate. In the US, we consider the estate as an entity.  French law considers the estate as a void.  Inquire with your US bank if they'll respect the pay on death form.  You can fill it out and file it with your bank.  It's a beneficiary clause.  The beneficiary should be able to demonstrate with a death certificate.  Send French death certificate to consulate to get it certified and recognize death of American citizen.  There have been recent cases of US banks refusing or blocking account because person lives abroad.  Bank might go to the IRS to make sure no tax due on account. Do TOD/POD / joint account document, but no guarantee survivor will be able to access the money without jumping through hoops.   A Will will facilitate transfer of funds. French notaires are quasi govt officials.
    •    Question 13.  If you're receiving a retirement from France, only France gets to tax it.  Same with the US, only the US gets to tax it if it's from the US.  Different regimes for each country. Technical issue.
    •    Lucy reminded us that AARO is finalizing a survey specifically on any problems you've had with your bank in France or the US as DC has asked for concrete statistics.  Survey will be on AARO website soon.  Please respond and share with other members of expat community.  Please provide specific facts.

IV. John Fredenberger, Taxes. (See John’s handout for more detailed information.)
    •    When you get your French tax form, question on page 2 about who has to file.  The French instruction this year says everyone has to file an income tax return for 2013 regardless of whether you had any income or any tax due if you're domiciled in France.  Physical presence for 183 days, and 3 other rules.
    •    NIIT. (Net Investment Income Tax) If you have income over certain amounts, must pay 3.8% to help fund health care in the US. Even if you live and work abroad, you're required to file. See the case of George Friendly on John's handout.
    •    FBAR. (Foreign Bank Account Report) Began in 1970. Any American citizen with more than $10,000 liquidity outside the US has to report.  If you’ve had an aggregate balance of 7000€ in your account at any time over the past year, you must report. AARO is putting pressure on US congress to raise minimum filing requirement.  The response is lukewarm.  Foreign spouse can file with American spouse as married filing jointly or can file as married filing separately.  Many foreign spouses don’t want to file with American spouse.  Must report joint account balance if over 7000€ threshold to US.  Do FBAR by June 30th. 
    •    FATCA.  (Foreign Account Tax Compliant Act) Federal Penalty for not filing: 50% of maximum balance or $100,000. 
    •    Way to avoid: Under communauté universelle, doesn't matter who's name is on the account because all your assets are considered both of yours
    •    Minimum income threshold $20,000 for married filing jointly. Threshold for married filing separately: $3,900.  Threshold for a single person: $10,000. Decide if you want to file jointly or married filing separately.
    •    John's advice: It's easy to file, comply, and get back into the system now. This is the ideal time because there are budget cutbacks and fewer employees at the IRS. They don’t have the staff or budget to go after you (145,000,000 tax returns filed for 2012 in the US.)   The US wants citizens abroad to comply. The IRS has under 10% compliance rate of 8,000,000 American expats. If you’re out of the system, panel advises: File tax return for 2013 and that should be sufficient. 
    •    No link at the present time between passport renewal and tax returns.  About a year and a half ago, the State Dept put on the website instructions that they would and could share info with other departments.  Info on the passport renewal form can go to the IRS.
    •    AARO has a “friend” at the IRS.  Nina Olson is a taxpayer advocate who defends US citizens at She works for fair fax treatment for US citizens.  Staff of 130 to handle our issues.
    •    If in 2012 you earned less than $97000 you will not be taxed.  You still have to file.
    •    You can deduct a habitation tax. And property tax.
    •    Assurance vie.  Constant dispute between US and France.  A real problem about how to treat it.  The IRS doesn't recognize it as a tax deferred product. (Not like a 401K from the US point of view.)  If you take a distribution out of it, that's where the possible tax incident occurs. It's a foreign account, should be declared if the maximum balance is over 7000€. (Must convert to dollars. Last year, 1€ = $0.783.)  Get current figure from IRS website.
    •    IRS has now created tax topic index on its website, and very useful with country specific information. Download and read tax guide from IRS website. Must be filed online. First 5 pages provide basic information.
    •    French banks have already started reporting US citizens' bank accounts to US govt.  Panel raised question about our security, as third party is being hired to obtain this information from French banks and this info could be hacked / used for malicious purposes. 

Respectfully submitted,

Noel Gaussens
Secretary.