I had a crazy realisation today. Of all places, it happened as I was staring at some pizza boxes.

You may know that my awesome wife and business partner, Marine Hautemont, is French. We've been married since before 2010 and been in business together for just as long.

But I've never gotten around to applying for French citizenship.

Until today.

Down at the French Consulate in Sydney, I handed in the last of the papers needed for my application. After a few minutes, the friendly chap at reception came back to advise that my application was complete and that I'd receive a call to schedule my citizenship interview.

I headed home non-plussed, a simple administrative task complete.

Except tonight I realised this was more than just an administrative task. I'm really going to be French.

My identity, my whole story, is suddenly about to take on an extra layer: a history, a culture, a country.

As I sat in my living room with some friends, staring at the pizza boxes we'd ordered for dinner, I think it finally sunk in.
"Marine" I exclaimed, "I've just had a big realisation! I'm going to be a Frenchman!"

Everyone starts laughing. With my Akubra and big Aussie accent, maybe it'll be a surprising discovery for the classy folk in Paris.
"I don't know how I feel about that just yet!" I joke to the room.

After a pause, Marine chimes in, "Well I don't know how I feel about that either!" and we all fall about laughing.

The truth is I love France. After decades visiting friends and family, it's in my bones. The mountains. The rivers. And, truth be told, the pastries. (The pastries are legitimately in my bones by now). Finally, after more than 20 years together, I can truly understand what it was like for my wife to adopt another country.

And with that I start going from kinda emotional to pragmatically happy.
This is going to be awesome. I now belong to two of the greatest countries on earth: cumulatively some of the best beaches, the greatest skiing, the best food, the most awesome people, the best landscapes and opportunities.

And maybe the best thing yet? My home team now legitimately has a chance of winning the World Cup.
Allez Les Bleu(e)s!