You've seen this one before…but does one ever get tired of the sunrise in La Ciotat? Besides, who wants to see a picture of a poubelle…
Today's Word: la poubelle
: garbage can, trash can, dust bin
Increase your vocabulary with 2000 French phrases. Click here to order the book
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
Sometime ago, when we lived at our first vineyard, Smokey and I started a YouTube channel. You may have seen us trying to make something with lentils…or viewed our Yogurt Cake Tutorial. I think you would agree that our golden boy is a natural behind the camera! And, I admit, having my dog alongside takes away some of the behind-the-camera jitters.
But as far as vlogging goes, Smokey and I don't have a very good track record. On average, we upload a video every 4 years…. And so on Sunday, 4.5 years after posting How to Open A Bottle of Wine with a Book, I began to feel that creative itch to make a video. Having just returned from the farmers market with a backpack full of goodies, a topic naturally presented itself: We could call our video, What's in My Bag!
Nevermind bad lighting or a bad hair day, Smokey and I were ready to begin filming again! To distract from the gray skies (and our gray whiskers… which have appeared since the last filming…half a decade ago…) we sat within a wide frame and put the focus on the backpack beside us. Malin, non?
If only we were truly clever we would have been able to save our 4-minute chef d'oeuvre from the ethers of the internet. Gone went the 30-second intro where we ask viewers to send us topics for future videos. And gone went the 3-minutes of footage in which, one by one, we pulled items out of our trusty sac à dos (how Smokey enjoyed grabbing for the parsley and the laitue and the fenouil Not wanting to torture him, I tossed him a datte and we concluded our video with a look at the bright green row of fèves behind us.
Impec! Satisfied with our recording, we hurried into the house to show it to Jules, who gave it a thumbs up. Go ahead and post it!
If only we had. But no, one of us had to fuss with it (taking screenshots until poof! The footage completely disappeared. Nowhere to be found (not even in the phone's poubelle!)
It was hard to let that one go, so, after racking my brain for hours behind the screen of technology, I headed out for a walk to clear my head. And that's when it occurred to me: maybe the universe was sending a message. Maybe I should NOT pursue a new year's goal of making more videos? But then who am I to interpret the universe's message?
Next I asked my Mom's opinion, my sister's opinion, my husband's opinion–and finally my therapist's opinion. The latter answered with a question: Why are you asking for everybody's opinion?
So, Dear Reader, I won't ask your opinion… instead, I'll ask you to send Smokey and me bon courage. Perhaps we'll return to the farmer's market to refill our backpack, and refuel our dreams.
P.S. Jean-Marc took this warm-up video of me. In it you will hear me answer Jean-Marc's question, What are you going to write about tomorrow? I promise that after viewing it (right here) you won't feel so bad about your own accent when speaking French! To see more Day in the Life videos, look for the follow button at my Instagram account, and keep your eye on my Instagram channel. Many thanks. Note: Instagram is best viewed on a mobile phone, though you can access it by PC (only you won't see the channel. Not sure why…). Click here for the video.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
malin = smart, clever
chef-d'oeuvre = masterpiece
le sac à dos = backpack
la laitue = lettuce
le fenouil = fennel
la datte = date
la fève = broad bean
impec = impeccable
Here's a screenshot from the video Smokey and I made before I accidentally deleted it forever! It's been a frustrating week as far as technology goes: issues with my listserver (which sends out these emails), issues with a built-in editor (which slows down my blog composition sessions), and many discouragements. TGIF! (DMCV: Dieu merci, c'est vendredi!) Enjoy your weekend.
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Oh no! I had a day like that too. Somehow it helps to know that I am not the only one silently wringing my hands on the other side of the screen. Bon courage.
I recently saw something about the tomb of Eugène Poubelle, who is buried in a tiny hamlet outside Carcassonne. I thought, wow, bad luck to have the same name as trash can. Then I learned that trash cans are actually named after him–he got Parisians to use them and quit dumping trash in the streets. Clearly he made life better.
I have been having a week like that myself. I wondered if Mercury is retrograde, so I googled it and here is the answer: NO. Something else must be bumming you out … Mercury turns retrograde at 10:19 AM PST (North America) on March 5, 2019. LOL
Ahh. Technology. It is a wonderful thing, but sometimes its sole purpose is to frustrate. However, it happily allows you to share your life so generously with all of us. By the way…I have that book that you used to open the bottle of wine. A cherished possession with the bottle marks embedded in it. So happy that we had the opportunity to meet you and Jean-Marc.
Must research this retrograted Mercury thing! I feel bummed out today, too. Maybe a long walk later when it warms up a bit, it’s been chilly for Houston. Not sure what it is, but there seems to be a bummy attitude around here lately!!!
I watch a lot of videos on Youtube, since we don’t have regular TV, my family seems to indulge in that a lot. I think it’s so much work to put out a video every day or even every six years! I notice a lot of people who do videos make the comment that their previous video seemed to have disappeared into the ether! Oh well! Thanks for writing about it and thanks for sharing your life and making us all feel a little more hopeful about things!
💛
The French language has often mystified me. It is beautiful to listen to, hard to understand, and as a student difficult to translate. Darn those poems we were required to read and translate! One of the most quirky things that I hear is Poubelle. Translation: trash can. I think poubelle is a lovely word, rolls off the tongue, a good name for a favorite pet. And to think that it means garbage can.
Kristin, had a day I would like to forget yesterday myself. Your post is a nice diversion to my thoughts on work. It’s a new day!! Your French sounded nice. Better than most of us wanting to speak it, I’m sure.
such a pretty word for garbage. You sound French to me….and I could understand most of it.
Hi Kristi,
Sorry your video went “poof”…. I like the warm-up video…you are looking very “hygge” sitting there on the couch with your blanket, socks, fire and pizza?
I would like to see some videos of you and your mom out and about at the market, walking by the sea or chasing your chickens. 🙂
How frustrating! However, I’d say the universe was simply reminding you with a video, or a photo, or a post, to back it up before messing about with it. I’ve gotten a few of those computer “seminars” on back up, and still don’t do it well enough. Download from your phone to computer, and THEN play with it on one or the other.
I do hope that you won’t give up on videos, as they are super ways to “meet” you and become better acquainted.
When this type of thing happens to me, I have finally come to realize I can do it again. Look at your first lost video as your rehearsal version. Think how much better the next one will be because you have already done it once. And, I bet the second attempt will take less time. Also, you can change and improve during the second shooting. So, your second one will be much better than the lost original video!
Join the club ,Kristi ! I have always said computers have a mind of their own & if they can be awkward they will be .
By the way , I wish my french was as good as yours .You have all the right inflection in your speech .Comes of having a French husband I guess .
So much lost to cyberspace! Bon courage!!! Et, merci beaucoup pour “DMCV”!!!
Thanks for posting the little video that you had. It made me realize I absolutely have to work on my listening skills because even with your American accent I only understood about a third of it. Have a great weekend.
Bon courage!! This post makes me laugh at my own stubbornness not to get involved in any more internet communications styles. You are very courageous – I cannot keep up with emails and texts so do not even try the others. I enjoy all of your posts and appreciate you sharing your life in France. Off to the art supply store for canvases. Have a great weekend. Hugs to you and Smokey.
Just watched your video on how to open a bottle of wine with a book – going to try that tonight. Love it. How fun.
Thanks, Nancy. Keep in mind it will not work with a plastic (recomposed cork). You should do just fine with real cork. Good luck!
Thank you, Audrey!
Videos are the future, and yes, you should do them. You are a visually appealing subject, which is a great asset. Why not take a video class, in person or online, to learn more about the craft and avoid frustrations?
Thank you for making me laugh so much this fine Friday morning in Los Angeles.
🙂
Our dear Kristi,
You are so warm and endearing that you don’t need bon courage for any more posts or videos because whatever you put out there is WONDERFUL!
The previous ones(especially the ones with sweet Smokey!) still wrap us in hugs!
Continued blessings always.
Happy weekend!
Love
Natalia . XO
Non courage et bon chance, Kristi! ❤ your posts, videos, toute les choses!
Very difficult to write en francais-Facebook changes EVERYTHING! 😬😬😬😁😁😁
Yes, technology is so challenging! But I would love to see videos of your town and maybe someone at the market, who sells eggs or cheese or honey?
Just a thought.
Bon Courage!
Diane Covington-Carter
OMG , what suspense with opening a bottle of wine ! And now you have me trying to figure out Instagram . What next ? Before you know it , I will be a ” well-rounded person ” , and I wonder what is the French for that , ” Vive la difference ” . . Oh , I did finally make it to France 3 years ago . And my French was good enough to talk myself out of an Opel replacement and into a Peugeot , after having ” frappé un petit île de bric en circulation ” . Of course , it helped to say , ” Pardon , veuillez-vous nous aider ? ” We drove from Paris , to Vichy , to Dordogne , to Oradour-sur-Glane , to Haute Normandie en Seine , to Giverny , to le Mont St. Michel St-Michel , to des plages de la Normandie , and back to Paris . And I am still alive . But I love the French . . . when they are not tail-gating me .
I can’t believe it’s been four years since that video! I remember it well.
Thank you, chère Natalia. 💕
I know ! It’s infuriating !!!!
Watching your video makes me wonder what language you speak most often at home. I’m guessing French, but now that Jules is with you maybe you speak more English?
Ah! Poubelle. I live in Paris and there is a Rue Eugène Poubelle very near the Seine in Paris in the 16-ième. It is named after the 19th century préfet and diplomat who introduced the idea of garbage cans and collection in Paris, insisting for reasons of sanitation that all apartment buildings have them. It, of course, took a while to become regularized, but, it is a belle chose!
We have ditched a lot of English words in favor of French words since we spend part of the year in France. Poubelle was the very first. It’s so much prettier than garbage can or trash can!
Other substitutions are pérephérique, recette, déchetterie, and one of my favorites, carreyrou.
Kristin, maybe Smokey would help you do some more cooking videos. You might have to help him up onto the chair now!
Thank you to ALL of you who add such unusual tidbits to my life, facts I never would have known in a million years! And to Madame Kristi, a dichotomie extraordinaire of pure goddess and words defining garbage! 😉
Thank you, Teresa. 💛