I am delighted to share with you that I will be receiving a gold medal, La Médaille d’Or des Valeurs francophones, from the French government. This is a landmark in my near 20 years of blogging about the French language and culture. Sincere remerciements to Bernard Duhaime, president of La Renaissance Française, to the American Delegation, and to the French Committee for this nomination and award. And merci infiniment to you, Dear Reader, and to my family, for your support and ongoing encouragement over the years. This reward would not be possible without you! (photo of French Ambassador's Residence by APK via Wikipedia)
Today's word: le remerciement
: thanks, acknowledgment
Sound file: Listen to my husband, Jean-Marc, read in French and in English:
Médaille d'or des Valeurs francophones–Cette médaille distingue les personnes qui se dévouent au développement ou au resserrement des liens linguistiques et culturels entre la France et les pays ayant la langue française en partage.
Gold Medal for Francophone Values — This medal distinguishes people who devote themselves to the development or strengthening of linguistic and cultural links between France and countries sharing the French language. –La Renaissance Française
More than an honor, this award is a second-wind, uplifting, and a motivation to continue to peaufiner or refine, polish, and improve this weekly French journal–and it will keep me on my toes for an eternity (this last word reflects the accidental stars in the photo, above).
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! I’ve been reading your blog for years, and it has strengthened not only my knowledge of the French language but, even more importantly, my understanding and love of French culture.
Bonjour , je suis une nouvelle lectrice. J’aime lbeaucoup lire votre “blog”. Felicitations de cet honneur! C’est bien merite!
Félicitations! Bien joué!
So well deserved!!
Chère Kristi,
Felicitations pour avoir reçu un prix aussi prestgieux.
Une reconnaisance bien méritée pour votre dèvouement à promouvoir la langue et la culture française.
Votre persévérance a été récompensée❣️❣️
Bravo!!👏🎉👏🎉💙🇫🇷💙❤️🇺🇸❤️
Bien amicalement,
Marti
Fabulous, Kristi! Couldn’t be happier for you!! Hard-earned and well-deserved!!!
Bravo Kristi and so well deserved!! I am a great fan of your stories,all your writing is great!!Thank you for all the inspiration and beautiful stories. Hip hip Hurrey!
cheers, Mirjam
Wow Kristi, congratulations!!! That’s absolutely fantastic, and you richly deserve the award.
It’s funny–I had to check the date when I read it because the over-the-top name of the award and the medal reminded me of a certain post about a law requiring you to clean skulls in the Catacombs with a toothbrush! But no, this is for real. I couldn’t be happier for you.
I join the many, many others who know so well how appropriate this honor is…for you have embodied the mission of spreading appreciation and love for French culture and the beautiful French language around the world. I am hopeful that this medal will provide you with the inspiration to continue to brighten our lives for many years to come! Merci and felicitations!
Des années et des années d’efforts! Bien joué, Kristi!
PS. An award better than being called to scrub the catacombs of Paris with a toothbrush!
Félicitations, Kristi! You must be on cloud 9! How exciting to be recognized in your adopted country for your lifetime achievement
in ton métier choisi! I look forward to reading more about this medal and surely you have stories to tell about other recipients.
Congratulations on the fruits of your persevering efforts. Joanne
We have followed you for almost all of those 20 years, and couldn’t be more pleased. Congratulations and celebrations abound. You are an inspiration to all of us francophiles .
Felicitations Chere Kristi!!
This is well earned, deserved, and very exciting!
Wow!! Quel honneur! I have been a loyal reader for 17 years – since my son was un bebe and your kids were so little. Thanks for letting us into your life and your journeys.
Thrilled for you and so excited! Anne & Kirk
My heart sings for you, my dear.
(I wish I could say that in french).
Toutes mes félicitations les plus sincères! Bravo!!
Wow, how exciting! Congratulations on this well-deserved honor. Thank you for your ongoing efforts and willingess to share your adventures with all of us.
Kristi, “Congratulations” hardly describes the pride and excitement I feel at the moment. I’m whooping and jumping up and down in celebration. I’m so happy for you, particularly as this is such a tangible reminder for you of the value of your efforts. Your delightful and open personal style give life to “dictionary” words, as well as sharing moments of what it’s like to live in France. I always look forward to seeing your email, and it provides a mini vacation. Congratulations
WWWWaaaaaooooooh!!!!!
Félicitations Kristi !!!!
This is so well-deserved, Kristi! Thank you for giving so much pleasure to so many of us over the years.
Lynne
Formidable! Congratulations!
Congratulations Kristi. A well deserved honor. As a former French teacher, you have kept me in touch with my homeland. Bonne continuation. Janine
Just want to add my congratulations!
As others have said, a well-deserved honor!
Many thanks for hours of reading pleasure.
Congratulations, Kristi! After reading the description of the award’s criteria, you are a most deserving recipient! I already look forward to some great pictures of you and your family at your future ceremony! “Quel Honneur!!!” – Janet
Mille Félicitations!!
Bravo. Magnifique! So deserved.
Thank you for all the years of sharing your experiences with us.
What an honour for you and your family. You for your wonderful writing full of grace and wit, gently prodding us all towards a better understanding of ourselves, reflected in l’esprit de la fraternité française. And for your family who have shared insights into a French way of life through your writing. C’est fantastique!
Heartfelt congratulations! We, your readers, have known for years that you deserved this award … so delighted for you and your family.
How glorious to receive recognition and acknowledgement for something that has come straight from your heart for so many years!
This must be overwhelming.
Well done, Kristi…
Beautifully said…
félicitations à vous!
Congratulations and so well deserved! You need another medal for sharing your difficulties which helps all of us who struggle with what life throws our way.Also selfishly, this makes me happy that you are going to continue writing.
Congratulations on your wonderful achievement!
FABULOSO, Kristi! What a distinguished honor!
With love and admiration from a native New Yorker and her husband orignally from Annecy,
Trish
Félicitations, Kristin!
What a lovely honor and validation for all your work!
Amicalement,
Chris
Kristi,
Félicitations et quel honneur 👏👍. You definitely deserve the recognition for your many years of your engaging stories and pictures. We have come to love you and your family, which by the way feels also feels like our family. You tell a good story and when I can’t be in France you give me something to keep me going until my next visit.
Again congratulations. Peace, Kathleen
Congratulations from the Southern tip of Africa where I live now (Cape Town). Your blog is such fun to read and it serves an important purpose in bringing the French Language to a wide group of readers. It is so very useful to school children and students too. And you have won a place in all our hearts.
Wow! Very cool!
Et Oui, so very well deserved, Kristi! Brava! We’re so proud of you! Félicitations ma Belle!
What a tremendous honor and well-deserved recognition! Congratulations!
Dear Kristi…. what a wonderful and prestigious honor! You certainly deserve it after all your hard work of being our ‘French tutor’ all these years whilst you entertain us with your amusing , heartbreaking and happy tales of your life in France! I have looked forward to reading your informative blog for nearly 20 years and have never been disappointed! You are such a talented writer and I can only thank you for the many hours of happiness you have brought me over time. Getting to know your family and your Mom thru you blog and photos has enriched my life immeasurably! Keep being the best Ambassordress (?) America has ever had! Congratulations and best wishes for continuing success…With great affection and respect, Judi Dunn…Tallahassee, Fl.
This makes me so happy!! Congratulations on this wonderful honor – yes, it is much deserved. This American girl (well, OLD girl) has always been fascinated by the beauty of the French language and images of her cities and countryside. I still hope to visit someday. Reading your posts stirs my soul to get over there and see it all for myself. Thank you for doing what you do!
Congratulations! Such an honor!
Congratulations on this very well-deserved recognition! My wife and I started following your blog as we were doing some language study preparing for a month long visit to France in April, 2014. Your posts were fun and of great help to us. We were even able to stay at Domaine Rouge Bleu for the Provence portion of our trip! The story of your French life and experiences has been fascinating and inspirational to us. Thank you!
YES! MAIS OUI! FORMIDABLE! SENSATIONELLE! — BRAVA, KRISTI!!
Great news! Congrats on this well deserved recognition, Kristi!
Congratulations to you both. Your pride in Kristi’s achievements would mean the most to her. I have read that to live ( successfully) in a new country, one has to ” grow a new heart”. And Kristi has certainly done so- she has embraced her French family, the French language and culture.
I live in Australia, and my two sons have each partnered with women from different nations- one from Eastern Europe, one from Asia. Their drive and determination, and willingness to embrace their new lives, to seek out the positives in their new home is admirable, and energising for all of us. I can see my country through fresh eyes.
Felicitations Kristi ! C’est bien mériter.
Bravo! So well deserved!
Congratulations Kristi!! Such a thrill and well deserved!
Big Hug from Dublin, OH