The first word ever posted in this journal was bosser, (slang for "to work hard"). That was a promise! Ten years have passed and on a bossé comme on pouvait—we've worked as hard as we could. Time now to celebrate….
jour pour jour (zhoor poor zhoor)
: (almost) to the day
Joyeux Anniversaire French Word-A-Day! by Jean-Marc
((Listen )) to Jean-Marc's letter: Download MP3 or Wave file
Il y a déjà 10 ans, jour pour jour, Kristi s'installait sur une table d'étudiant dans l'entrée de notre maison pour démarrer French Word-A-Day. Joyeux Anniversaire, nous sommes si fiers de toi.
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It's already been ten years, almost to the day, that Kristi settled in at a student's desk in the entree hall of our house to start up French Word-A-Day. Happy Birthday, we are so proud of you.
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Au départ, elle exprimait beaucoup de frustrations liées à sa vie d'expatriée en mettant en lumière les différences culturelles entre la France et les Etats-Unis (l'Arizona en fait).
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In the beginning, she expressed a lot of frustrations tied to her expatriate life, shedding light on cultural differences between France and the United States (Arizona, in fact).
Our changes in life, and especially the period spent at the Rouge-Bleu winery, were important sources of inspiration, not to leave out the arrival in our life of Braise and Smokey. Of course our children and the family have been there all through the years and the numerous newsletters will be a way for us to relive our past. Finally, the books she has published will always be there, should one day the Internet cease to work.
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Et maintenant, comment voyez-vous l'évolution du blog de Kristi pour les 10 prochaines années ?
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And now how do you see the evolution of Kristi's blog for the next ten years?
Thank you, Jean-Marc, for the touching tribute you wrote! And mille mercis to you, dear readers, for continuing to read this journal and for your ongoing support. The letters you wrote in response to the "break-up" edition touched me profondément.
See the evolution of this blog, by reading through the online archives. (Stories posted prior to 2004 are no longer online, though some of these entries are published in the memoir Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France).
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Kristi,
Congratulations & thank you. Your blog, books and photos have been a source of joy over the years & I know I’ll never tire of reading what you write. I think a novel is a magnificent idea & am willing to pre-purchase. You have made me feel like a part of your family, a very rare talent.
80 degrees and sunny in Southern California
What a beautiful gift you have given all of us, your writing. I so enjoy hearing about all your adventures, good, bad and sometimes sad. Sharing your life with us takes courage. I wish I could remember how I found the blog all those years ago but my mind just can’t bring it back. ha ha
I am so honored to call you my friend.
xoxo
Happy birthday, FWAD! What a joy it is each day I come to this site. Thank you thank you for your stories and inspiration and look into the French life I, too, adore.
Congratulations Kristi! I have thoroughly enjoyed both of your books and came to your blog that way. You certainly have a gift with words and keen emotional IQ. I can’t believe the letters you were sent recently that you alluded to in your last post. Incomprehensible! Keep up the good work, you enrich many people’s lives. All the best for your future for both you and your family.
Karen NZ
Felicitations, lovely lady! We’re lifting a glass to celebrate YOU this evening! With love- Anne & Kirk
Congratulations! More of the same please. It is wonderful! Merci beacoup
Chere Kristi,
Dix ans deja? Joyeux Anniversaire! Je suis votre lectrice fidele de Toronto. A dyed-in-the-wool Francophile who lived in France — Vichy and Paris — as a boursiere of the French Gov’t and, yes, I have returned many times to my beloved France. I enjoy your blog so much and save it to my E-archives.
From one writer to another: more power to you and keep ’em coming!
Regards to your beautiful family,
Nanyi
Joyeax Anniversaire – well done you – for having started ‘it’, but even more so – 10 years later you are still doing ‘it’…. 🙂
First thanks to Judy for explaining ludique and ludic — new words to me in both languages. Good words to know.
Jean-Marc’s tribute is lovely and hard to top. I have not seen all ten years of posts, my loss. Reading your first book made up for some of that loss, as did aiding in the process for the second book.
I cannot look ahead ten years, maybe one or as far as five. What you write will change with your life, as your children become adults and Jean-Marc’s work life settles in its new routine. I do hope you keep writing and sharing your insights on life in general and life in France.
You write non fiction for us, which I like very much. I do not know about a novel, that is a very different genre. I think of the stories written by Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit and Unbroken). With plots and much emotion but strictly non fiction. She writes of the lives of others but in a very deep way, shows us her emotions in her particular life. Your life is your own, and I think is full of true stories with insights on life.
Joyeux anniversaire!
Sarah
Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary. I always look forward to reading your blog and seeing your beautiful photos and hope to do so for many more years to come.
Congratulations, Kristin! What a momentous occasion. How many of us start a project without ever bothering to finish it? You should be truly proud!
J-M and Kristi – Congratulations on a decade of hard work and just rewards. J-M – I would like to hear more about the planning and work that will go into creating a new vineyard, complete with lessons learned from your prior vineyard. And Kristi – of course more vignettes from the South of France. But honestly, I see you writing a novel under the nom de plume of Smokey Doodle, based on a dog’s observations of French life from a very lucky dog’s point of view. I sometimes write letters from my own dog to friends, and find it a very freeing experience … a dog can say and think just about anything and get away with it! Whatever the next decade holds, I look forward to sharing it with the Espinasse family!
Bonjour Kristin: Is JM now training to write to thrill all your fans?
By chance, I came across your blog, jour pour jour, 19 months ago and I’m hooked. I’m your fidèle lectrice. Thank you for all those anecdotes that have made me smile, laugh and enjoy. You are such a good writer that could get me engrossed each time I read your stories.
Congratulations on your first decade and many more decades to come!
Touts les jours, j’attends l’arrive du blog de Kristin. J’espere que vous continurez a écrire de votre vie en France.
Congratulations on the Tenth Anniversary of French-Word-A-Day! I enjoy and learn from every post. As to its future evolution: I hope for more of the same: your French lessons and your stories and comments about your and your family’s (including Smokey’s and Braise’s) life in France, French culture, French history, French geography…whatever you are thinking about and/or doing. I really like the addition of a story or essay in French, with the English translation of each paragraph following its French counterpart. Take it wherever you want, and we will follow! Bravo and thank you!!!
Kristi,
Congratulations on 10 years. I think that I have been reading you for at least 9 years if not all 10 years. You gave so much of yourself that all of us feel that we are part of your family. You have not been afraid to write about mishaps or personal things about you or your family. I would read parts of your FWAD to my husband and to me you seemed like a really good friend. When we finally were able to meet you at Rouge – Bleu and then again in Paris, you made us feel so welcome and like old friends. Thank you for all that you have given of yourself, your family and your friends, as well as those two furry family members with who I fell in love, even before meeting them.
Thank you again.
Kathleen
Novels are fine, and I’ve certainly read my share of them, but there are a lot of ho-hum ones out there (not to mention the bad ones). These days I’m reading more and more excellent nonfiction, the kind written with intelligence, imagination, and skill. I agree with Sarah (from near Chicago). All kinds of writing have value, with fiction counting no more than nonfiction. Good writing, in whatever form it takes, has the power to stir us. Congratulations on ten years of stirring your readers!
on this halloween night, i am catching up with your wonderful blog….i feel so lucky to be able to keep up with your wonderful family……and also be able to listen to french in my ever fleeting wish to understand a beautiful language…thank you again for your sharing
Congratulations!! I’ve been following your blog for about 7 or 8 years. It’s always a treat. I love your storytelling, humility, humor, patience, kindness – your keen eye in photos and words. All of it! I’m very grateful for this gift you give all of us. Wishing you and your family all the best in your new home, and new adventures.
Amicalment!
Gayle
Dix ans deja?!! Pas possible, Kristi! … So many Espinasse treasures now stored up in your words and images, and so VERY many more — unique and exquisite gems — to come. “French-Word-A-Day/3 times a week” means to me: the LIGHT of my week with its Candour, Word magic, Sunshine/Shadow, Love and delightful surprises.
Félicitations, Kristin!!! I’ve been reading your blog posts for about a couple of years now, and I love every one of them. Looking forward to many more … 🙂
I just love your blog. I love France and hope to return. I imagine myself living there through your stories and photos. You have a lovely family and beautiful property.
Happy Birthday French Word a Day.
I’m a little late to the party because I’m without internet while waiting for Orange to turn it on in my new apartment. I have to say that your stories over the years excited me about someday buying the place Brad and I now own, encouraged me to start my own blog, and made me determined to speak better French. Thanks for being there every week.
Joyeux anniversaire! I think I’ve been getting the FWAD for about 6 years and have really enjoyed following the family Espinasse and trying to translate the writings of Jean-Marc. Have your books also. Hope you will lead us through the Bandol years with descriptions of the area and the people; take us to the growth of a new vineyard; update us on your children’s progress and keep those great photos coming. We feel very attached to Braise and Smokey and hope you discover many interesting places and people in these next 10 years. We are ready when you are. Merci. Kristi.
Kristin, congratulations on the 10th anniversary of your blog. I discovered your amazing blog back when you wrote daily about your life in France. Your stories enriched my life and kept me involved with building upon my French language skills even though I no longer worked for a French company. Fast forward 10 years…all six of your books sit on my bookshelf (and have been read over and over as well as many copies given as gifts to friends and family), my French significant other has gratitude for what I’ve learned from you regarding the language and the culture, and my French vocabulary has grown leaps and bounds. I had the privilege of meeting you in person Feb 2008 during your visit to San Francisco, a moment I treasure. Thank you for your continued generosity sharing your life with your readers, myself included. I’m looking forward to the next 10, 20, 30…plus years of your your wonderful stories.
Félicitations et “Bon Anniversaire”!! Dix ans déjà!?! C’est pas possible!
Dix ans! Congratulations Kristin! That is fantastic. I can remember receiving your first book for my birthday in 2007, (after my first trip to France)and then signing up for the blog soon after. I have always enjoyed reading about the journey for you and your family. Keep going if it is what makes you happy, because I love following your lives.
Amicalement
Christine xx
Félicitations !!! Congratulations!!!
Je suis très heureuse d’avoir découvert French-word-a-day.
Best wishes for the future.
Kristi, Congratulations on 10 years of sharing with us. I hope you will continue for at least 10 more. I enjoy your blog, you make me laugh, you make me sad.
Your new home looks so cozy and French.
Thanks for taking me to France. I love the view from your perspective.
Good health to you and your family.
From the beginning, it’s all been a wonderful joie de vivre experience. Thank you so much Kristi for sharing your life, your heart, your family, and your country. I remember the first time I found you online. You had just begun. You are brave, and I applaud you and your family. 🙂
http://www.writemomentswithgod.blogspot.com
Happy Anniversary Kristin! I’m sooo behind in reading the blog but I am determined to catch up. I’m not sure if you’ll even see this note as I’m sharing so late but I’m so happy for all of your success. You’ve made such a difference in my life and I’m so thankful to have stumbled upon your first book many years ago-which led me to your blog.
Best of luck as you move forward. May your new life give you continued inspiration for years to come.
I hope you had a big cake and a party to celebrate those 10 years!
🙂 Carolyn