Cécile’s New Wheels! Vespa…Guêpe…What does a wasp have to do with the Italian scooter by Piaggio? + se faire chaler

You see two-wheelers ("les deux-roues") everywhere in France, whether scooters, mobylettes, bicycles, or trottinettes–this compact form of transportation is one way of outwitting traffic in Marseilles and Paris. Read my belle-soeur, Cécile's, story in today's all French edition. Today's word was supposed to be guêpe, but in a last-minute switch-a-roo, it is now the more interesting phrase "se faire chaler", which I bumped into while editing Cécile's … Continue reading Cécile’s New Wheels! Vespa…Guêpe…What does a wasp have to do with the Italian scooter by Piaggio? + se faire chaler

La Flemme! Why everyone’s so lethargic, paresseux, and feignant this time of year–and what France has done to remedy it!

"LA FLEMME!" Je m'en veux. I've been feeling so guilty about this lassitude that's set in around here lately. I should be doing the grand ménage de printemps–or putting away all our stuff that's been crammed upstairs during our remodeling.  At the very least I should be writing to you–catching up on a few stories about our petit bassin (it's been repaired!) or our home … Continue reading La Flemme! Why everyone’s so lethargic, paresseux, and feignant this time of year–and what France has done to remedy it!