One of the first things a visitor to France mentions to us after driving in their rented Peugeot are the Roundabouts. How do they navigate those circles with cars coming at you in all directions? They ask. The English are more familiar with the roundabout, but the Americans often are faced with their first turn around the circle upon leaving the Montpellier airport parking lot.

After living in France fulltime for the last 18 months, I've become quite used to the roundabouts and quite enjoy them. Today, however, I had an epiphany driving from our small village in the south of France to Uzes five kilometers away through the countryside, and then onto the larger town of Nimes 30 kilometers away. I realized that if I never went to the big city or outside the Uzege region, I would be able to drive forever without ever stopping at a red light. There are just no stoplights in this entire area.

In France, and especially in the country, roundabouts are loved. These beautiful circles are planted with various landscape designs, fountains, vineyards (yes on a roundabout) gardens and trees. The French, being a very civilized society, know how to weave their cars through the double lanes, pass a car on the left and cut over just in the nick of time to the cut off to the road on their right. Cars entering the roundabout yield to those already in the circle (first come, first serve) and somehow they all move together.

In driving through these roundabouts, I'm amazed at the feeling of flow. There are no abrupt stops where you wait forever for the light to turn green, or in the worse cases, for the left hand turn lane to go, then the right hand turn lane, then the opposite turn lane, and ten minutes later you get to go.

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About the Author Suzanne Saxe-Roux Ed.D is a successful entreprenur, coach, speaker, writer, and consultant. In 2005, she decided to move with her husband and young daughter to a small village in the south of France. The purpose was to leave the rat race in San Francisco and figure out the next phase of life. As an expert in helping other people through life transitions and transformations and an experienced public speaker, entrepreuner, consultant, speaker, and author, she is continually indulging herself first hand in the experience of successfully navigating change and transition, especially in mid-life. Suzanne's mission is to help others with career and life transitions while creating the lifestyles they desire. Click here to visit Suzanne's Website.

First Published: Dec 03, 2007