TODAY’S WORD: boulot
1. job, work
2. chubby, plump
metro, boulot, dodo = the daily grind, all work and no play
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Hear Jean-Marc read the following sentence in French
Notre fille, Jackie, a trouvé un boulot en tant que “runner.” Le runneur est un serveur qui est en phase d’apprentissage il se tient en retrait du service, observe, apprend et exécute des tâches simples de soutien au service. Il va par exemple dresser et débarasser les tables, faire les aller retour entre la cuisine et la salle, ou encore nettoyer les sols entre chaque service. (definition from Seasonpros.com)
Our daughter, Jackie, found a job as runner. The runner is a waiter who is in the learning phase, he stands in the wings of service, observes, learns and performs simple tasks that help the service. He will, for example, set and clear tables, go back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room, or clean the floors between each service.
Improve your spoken French with Pronounce it Perfectly in French or Exercises in French Phonetics
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
Students in France begin looking for summer jobs as early as March – and our daughter was no exception. So when April came around and she still hadn’t secured a petit boulot de vacances, she pounded the pavement–handing out CVs up and down the coast between Bandol and Les Lecques. (If she could not pursue the job selling ice cream at the port of Cassis, it was because parking would be trop cher!)
Our 19-year-old was so relieved when she got the call from a restaurant in Bandol that she offered to work gratuitement.
“Jackie!” her father and I protested.
“I only offered to work for free the first day. I have no restaurant experience and I need to learn!” And with that, she cleared the table where we were eating lunch, out on our front porch. She was clearly motivated and had gone as far as to get training tips from her friend, who works tables in Sanary-sur-Mer. “Jeremy taught me to stack the plates like this…” Jackie said, balancing a tottering tray….
I was unsure about our cadette working in such a fast-paced environment. Jackie is very much like me–dans les nuages. I work at my own pace, do not like to be rushed, and tend to fade off, or rêvasser. Having said that, it is unfair to cast a blanket statement over one’s child! Maybe she really isn’t like me in that way at all?
Well, we would soon see for ourselves! On Monday, le Lundi de Pâques, Jean-Marc made a reservation at Le Jérome restaurant for Monsieur et Madame Blanc –a faux nom as our visit would be a surprise….
(Don’t miss Part II of this story. Click here)
FRENCH VOCABULARY
Increase your vocabulary with this list of useful words
un petit boulot de vacances = seasonal or summer job
CV (le curriculum vitae) = resume
trop cher = too expensive
gratuitement = for free
le cadet/la cadette = youngest, youngest child
dans les nuages = (head) in the clouds
le faux nom = alias
rêvasser = daydream
le lundi de Pâques = Easter Monday
A peek at vocabulary from part two of our story
comme un marseillais = Like a native from Marseilles (bending the rules, not heeding the laws)
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
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Mon amie fait attention à toi et feel better soon! xoxo
Congratulations, Jackie! Good idea about offering to work for free the first day!
Kristi, feel better soon!! And, enjoy your dinner Mme Blanc!
🙂 One of my dds worked in restos while in University.. great job! Great pay eventually when tips are involved..what a beautiful plave to work in:)
When we ate where she worked..(and we never eat out..lol but did more when she worked..) I only had eyes for her..and you wuld think she was performing brain surgery..we are so in love w/ our children..that everything looks great on them♥Don’t we?:)
Merci a Jean-Marc. J’aime entendre la prononciation.
I live in the Rocky Mountains near Estes Park. I love your photos and can’t wait to read the posts! It’ very interesting to me how daily lives in other countries are so different.
Merci.
Hope you are feeling better soon. We all started some place we did not want to stay. I think she will have fun there for the summer and what a beautiful location!!!
The restaurant business can be such fun! So many interesting people! The waitstaff will appreciate a dedicated, enthusiastic runner such as Jackie! What a beautiful place to go to work, too! Hope you feel better soon, Kristi.
Jackie’s petit boulot sounds like what the American restaurant industry used to call a “buss boy,” or. in enlightened terms, a “busser.” In fancy places, a “server assistant.”
Yikes. I can see where this is going…ha!
Sheila
I am reading your book and really enjoying it. I love your way with words, your sense of humour and your resilience!
I find France fascinating in so many ways and so different from North America. I am English Canadian, with a French name, and I can see the positive sides of both French and American culture. Canadians are quite reserved and down to earth so we find Americans blow their own horns a little too much. On the other hand, we are raised to be very polite and to help others so French indifference and rudeness can be upsetting to us.
I am particularly enjoying the way you manage to navigate the challenges of daily life without losing your sunny outlook, or your mischievous sense of fun. Your photos are gorgeous, and you have taught me many new French words. Recevoir tes courriels me donne beaucoup de plaisir. La vie n’est pas toujours facile, donc il faut trouver des gens sympathiques et créer des liens avec eux. Bon courage et merci infiniment!
Bravo, Jackie! Mère Kristi, restez chez vous et gagner votre santé.
what is it about spring that everybody I meet are feeling down with something, including myself…
Our dear Kristi,
First of all,please feel better soon!
Another wonderful,well written post (with pronunciation!)Always the happiest way to start the day!
Thank you!
We applaud dear Jackie for her determination to find employment.These days certainly not an easy accomplishment,but her idea of working the first day for free was definitely a good one,showing her sincerity.
Blessings to all of you.
Love
Natalia. Xo
Congrats Jackie! Feel better soon Kristi! 😊
Love your determination and creative thinking dear Jackie (much like your dear mother!) and sending healing thoughts your way dear Kristi.
Feel better soon and bon chance Jackie! xx
Congratulations Jackie!! Please take care of yourself Kristi. Feel better soon. Love & prayers from Arizona.
Bonjour Jackie,
Merci d’avoir mentionné notre site comme source d’information sur votre blog.
Nous serions ravis d’échanger avec vous sur les emplois saisonniers du tourisme, hôtellerie-restauration en France.
N’hésitez pas à nous contacter sur notre adresse mail.
Bien à vous,
Kamila