Jackie, now 15, successfully travels alone from Idaho to Marseille, showcasing her independence and maturity. Her parents eagerly await her arrival at the airport, celebrating her ability to navigate airports and customs solo. The reunion captures their joy and pride, emphasizing the importance of growth and confidence in young adulthood. Continue reading Having a Good Head on Your Shoulders: A French Expression
A "crique" or little sea inlet along the littoral, or Mediterranean coast. crapahuter (krah-pah-ew-tay) : to clamber, crawl, trek, or yomp Also: to plough along, to trudge, to schlepp Audio file: listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wave file Pour accèder à la petite crique, on doit crapahuter sur les rochers.To access the little sea inlet, we have to scamper over the rocks. A DAY … Continue reading crapahuter
Ann Mah is giving away three advance copies of her new book Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris. Enter to win here. haché (ha-shay) : minced, ground; chopped un steak haché = hamburger (the French say hamburger when the burger is served on a bun; sans bun and it's called un steak haché) A DAY IN … Continue reading How to say chopped in French? + gift giveaway
Where is the mind located and do our thoughts really have substance–as scientists have observed? They say our thoughts can control our pain levels and more. I believe this, having used mind over matter while receiving several shots during skin cancer removal. Now if I could only train other parts of my brain–especially the emotional parts. Note: the fur, above, is fake. I'm wearing my daughter's … Continue reading How to say “a thought” in French and rewiring the brain (neuroplasticity!)
Back when things weren't so complicated and you spoke your heart out. TODAY'S WORD la pastèque (pah-stek) : watermelon A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristin Espinasse La Salade d'Amour I was talking to my table-mate to the right when my left ear perked up and my husband's words came as a shock. I can't believe he just said that! But that was private–just … Continue reading Pastèque: Easy Fruit Salad Recipe
"Ignorance is Bliss." Remember this photo from last September? Back then, while eating my way from one end of this fig tree to the other, I had no idea there was more to a fig than meets the eye…. une guêpe (gep) : wasp Terms, Expressions, and an example sentence: la taille de guêpe = slender-waisted, hourglass figurele nid de guêpe = hornet's … Continue reading How to say wasp in French… and the fascinating life inside a figue!
"The Kiss". Jean-Marc and I celebrated our 19th anniversary with a hike along the sea and a swim at this calanque, in St. Cyr-sur-Mer. la noce (nohce) : wedding, nuptials faire la noce = to live it upla nuit de noce = wedding nightle voyage de noces = honeymoon A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse Stopping Traffic Memories are like … Continue reading le mariage civil + noce + the French are softies when it comes to weddings
Wish I'd gotten a picture of the hero in today's story. Meantime, here's a lovable stand-in. Photo taken somewhere in the Vaucluse… le locataire (lo h-ka-tair) : tenant Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav file Le locataire ouvre grand ses bras. "Entrez, je vous en prie!" il dit.The tenant opens his arms. "Come in. Please!" he says. A Day in a … Continue reading How to say tenant in French?
Forward this post to a French friend. Today's edition, on fudge, is a reverse-dictionary entry: instead of translating a French word, we'll begin with English. This is dedicated to all of our French readers–so happy to know you're reading. You keep me on my toes! (photo of a sweets shop taken in Paris) fudge (n) (fuhzh) : espèce de caramel mou (a kind … Continue reading Fudging in French… + dessert recipe
