We are all crazy about our new dog Ricci, who gave us quite a scare recently….Nous raffolons tous de notre nouvelle chienne Ricci, qui nous a récemment donné une sacrée frayeur. TODAY'S WORD: Raffoler de : to adore, love : not be able to get enough of something A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Two weeks ago we nearly … Continue reading Raffoler: A Great Verb for Something You Love (such as dogs and cookies…)
Jean-Marc and Ricci at Port des Capucins. "I'm going to take her with me to New Zealand!" he teases. Read about my husband's 2024 périple in today's update. Joyeuse Action de Grâce!I can't guarantee that's how you say "Happy Thanksgiving" in French. But I hope you have so much to be thankful for and that your lives are brimming with blessings in any language. In … Continue reading Thanksgiving Vocabulary + Périple: Jean-Marc’s Journey from France to New Zealand & Bike Tour
Punaise! When I heard about the bed bug epidemic in Paris, I almost canceled plans to see my best friend. I’m so glad I didn’t let those punaise reports destroy this joyful reunion. TODAY'S WORD: Punaise! : Darn! Oh no! Oh dear! Punaise also means bug or “bed bug”. The exclamation may have been born of the horror of seeing the crawly creatures, i.e. … Continue reading Punaise! Our Hotel in Paris had a little bug (and not the kind you’re thinking)….
On a train journey back from Paris, Kristi reflects on feeling hungry and shares insights about social norms surrounding food in France. She contemplates the appropriateness of eating at unusual hours, specifically her craving for gourmet leftovers after missing lunch. During her trip, she observes fellow passengers enjoying snacks, which fuels her internal debate about breaking cultural norms. Ultimately, she decides to embrace her hunger and eat her meal, finding relief in the absence of judgment. The piece highlights the author’s humorous struggle with societal expectations and includes a lesson on the French vocabulary word “la fringale,” meaning hunger or cravings. Continue reading La Fringale: At what hour do the French get the munchies?
Our story begins in Le Beausset… just over the hill from Bandol. TODAY'S WORD: Ratiboiser : to chop : to plunder, pinch, swipe Ratiboiser also means "couper à ras" (to cut very short). When you return from the hairdresser's and your locks were cut too short, you could say, "Ils m'ont ratiboisé les cheveux. They completely cut my hair!" A DAY IN … Continue reading Ratiboiser & Cafi: Two Fun Words from The Olive Harvest
