TODAY’S WORD: survivre : to survive
PRONUNCIATION: [sur-VEEV-r]
EXAMPLE: « J’essaie de survivre à New York. » — I’m trying to survive in New York.
How to Be Street-Smart in an Expensive City
by Jacqueline Espinasse
I knew about inflation. I knew prices were higher in big cities. But nothing prepared me for a $12 block of Greek feta cheese. At this moment in my 28-year-old life, that teeny-weeny square of dairy whispered, “You’d better hustle here…”
I live in the same neighborhood as Matt Damon and Amy Schumer; I bet they could make a Greek salad for the whole block. Meanwhile, me? j’essaie de survivre—and I’m ready to surrender, convinced that 80 percent of my paycheck will go straight to groceries..
And then this happened. Walking back from work down Atlantic Avenue, I spotted a store. The logo hit me—this was the store I shopped at in France! It felt like waking from a bad dream. The shop is called “Lidle,” pronounced like “Little.” Fun fact: Vin calls me “Little Jackie” because I’m a fan of that place. Inside? The same feta for $3.15. Yes. The food tastes great, the store is quiet—no lines, no chaos—just cheese at a reasonable price. The catch? Location. Not glamorous, but on my way home from work anyway.
Contrast that with Trader Joe’s, a famous brand in the U.S. Shopping there in NYC is like trying to mail a package at a French post office: I’m dancing around people just to grab bananas—or, like back in France, to keep my place in line. Anywhere else in the country, TJ’s is great.
My store is the European cousin of TJ’s. Americans don’t really know about it, so shhh—let’s keep it our little secret. Alright, you can tell family and friends, but no more, okay? I need my Greek salad more than Matt and Amy.
So how do you stay street-smart in an expensive city? Think like a European, shop like a European, don’t go big—go Lidl!
Speaking of bananas, I turn 28 today—c’est fou! Come to think of it, it’s no big deal; it’s not like I’m getting closer to my 30s and further from my early 20s…j’essaie juste de survivre.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE…by Kristi Espinasse
A lone bobby pin on a side table, empty hangers on a clothes rack, a wicker basket filled with sheets, dust on the bookshelves. Seated at the desk in Jackie’s room, I am trying to compose a story in a quiet place after yesterday’s flurry. But evidence of my daughter’s absence is just as distracting as yesterday’s whirlwind.
Monday morning, I had just opened my manuscript when Max appeared at the porte-fenêtre. He was here to pick up Izzy and Loca, whom we dog-sat over the weekend. “Coffee?” I asked, hugging him. He said yes—and, just like that, forty-five minutes disappeared.
Then our friend Patrick stopped by, and of course I ran out to the trottoir to greet him and catch up before the guys left for a day of boating and pétanque on l’Île Verte. On my way back to my laptop, I detoured into Mom’s studio to check on her. Ricci followed, immediately jumping up on the bed to be beside our lovable doyenne. “Whose Porsche is that in the driveway?” Jules wanted to know. “It’s Patrick’s.” “Oh, I thought it was mine!” Mom said, flashing a conspiratorial smile. I laughed and told Mom this was no time for a joyride. I had to run, but I’d be back with lunch… if only I could finally get a few things done! Ricci, come on! Let’s go.
Back at my desk, just as I found my sentence again, Max called: “I forgot to tell you. The livreur will deliver a package soon.” Soon never came. Instead, a waiting game. Try focusing on a story when you are en attente—it’s tricky, especially while running back and forth to peek over the front gate. Why does everyone have their packages delivered to this address? Harrumph! It interrupts my writing and, more importantly, my naps!
On the positive side, all these obstacles exercise a kind of balance—as in this morning’s walk when I veered off the flat rocks to hop across the boulders in the shallow sea. A flat, straight line is easy, predictable—numbing, even. Rock-hopping requires attention; there’s no daydreaming when each step matters. It’s harder but leads to endurance, better balance…and mid-air problem-solving (this rock or that one? Quick—decide!).
I guess what I’m trying to say is: when interruptions come, take them as strengtheners—if only for character. And character is what story is all about: the lives moving unpredictably around us while we endeavor to remain loving.
Now that things are calm again, I sit here twisting a dusty, golden bobby pin, remembering the color of her hair. Though comforting, I’m still faced with this clavier and its pulsing cursor—the insertion point, the little caret, waiting after each press of a key. I had set out to write about Jackie’s birthday (today our daughter turns twenty-eight), but the path veered once more. This makes me smile now. It’s just what our little spice girl would want on her big day: to shake things up and for us to trust that we’ll all find our way without her—that she and Vin will be back soon enough to hop rocks with us. For now, Joyeux anniversaire, Jackie! My gift to you is this bit of wisdom from Grandma Jules: Take a new path each day! (And make sure there are a few boulders along the way.)
FRENCH VOCABULARY
essayer = to try
survivre = to survive
c’est fou = it’s crazy
la porte-fenêtre = patio door (made of glass)
le trottoir = sidewalk
la pétanque = French boules (bocce-style game)
l’Île Verte = Green Island
la doyenne = the respected senior woman (female elder)
le livreur = delivery driver
en attente = waiting; on hold
le clavier = keyboard
Joyeux anniversaire = Happy birthday
REMERCIEMENTS
Thank you to the following readers for your donation this past week to this journal!
Pam C.
Elaine M.
Whether you’ve been reading for years or just stumbled upon this little corner of France, thank you for being here. These stories continue thanks to reader encouragement. If you’d like to help maintain this journal, here are a few simple ways:
🌿 Zelle – to Kristin.espinasse@gmail.com
🌿 PayPal – Click here
🌿 Credit card – Click here
Gift the book A Year in a French Life to a friend. It’s packed with colorful photos and vocabulary.
I leave you with some positive feedback from Linda:
Bonjour Kristi, I love your new platform, on WhatsApp, so creative and fun! And fun when my bell rings! Bonne idée! –Linda
A little surprise for you in today’s WhatsApp offering: Listen to a recording of today’s story (about taking a new path each day). Join here. It’s free. If you are already using WhatsApp, you might enjoy these daily updates.
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pour deux…tres doux
I love this new email style.
Happy birthday!
The honesty just oozes from these stories.
Character! Navigate the unpredictability of life and remain loving.
Brilliant, wise, so simple and beautiful, Kristi.
Jackie, wishing you the best birthday yet! To be sure, YOU are a special gift to all. 🎉
Kristi, and I forgot to say, That was a lovely interview on French Today! You have a busy life, I don’t know how you do it all! 😊
Jackie, Merci beaucoup for your taste of life in New York…joyeux anniversaire 🥳 !!!
Love hearing from both you and your daughter. Very interesting about the prices in New York! Wow!
Lovely – thank you both for sharing your lives with us. Wishing you many more birthdays. Hugs
Navigating NYC is not easy or cheap. You have to WANT to live there. My best wishes to Jackie on her birthday and desire to take on the challenges the city poses. I am so pleased with your story today. It speaks of resilience, adaptability and willingness to overcome whatever obstacles life presents to us. There will always be rocks on every path, but some people give up or feel unable to surmount them. Your attitude is the best one to adopt. Find your inner strength, call on friends for help or look for new ways to overcome those obstacles. We can succeed, but you have to WANT to, just like Jackie.
Happy Birthday Jackie! Love reading both of your stories. Sharing our lives brings us all closer together.
Our dears Kristi and Jackie,
Bon anniversaire,ma chere! Bonheur et benedictions toujours! We are all– your dear
parents most of all!– saying prayers of gratitude to God for the wonderful and loving person-daughter!–that you are!
So enjoy your dynamic duo mom and daughter posts! You both are such gifted writers and your words always wrap themselves around our hearts!And! Our dear Kristi,we would so miss how you unfailingly relate your inspiration,outlook,and! Always ! Faith!
Blessings always
Arms tight around you
Love,Natalia. Xo
Another wonderful writing piece. Happy birthday Jackie, the name everyone but we grandchildren called her.
I’ve only been to France once. It was marvelous back in 94. St. Tropez was Devine. Always wanted to return but life got in the way. I relive my French adventure as i read your newsletter each week, so thankful for you and Jackie. I’ve only been to NY twice. ❤️
There is nothing more heart wrenching than sitting in your child’s bedroom after they have moved out. Reading your description of the stray bobby pin and empty coat hangers brought my own memories flooding back. A chapter ends, not just any chapter, but a chapter you wanted to continue forever.
I am sure there will be many more wonderful chapters for you all.
Bonjour Jackie and Kristin,
I loved both stories today! We had a Lidl here and it recently closed. I was so sad! We have an Aldi still but my favorite was Lidl. Trader Joes is always crowded so I try to avoid shopping there unless it is very early in the morning. I love their flowers!
Happy Birthday, Jackie. Your addition to Kristie’s stories are of special interest as I lived for many years in nearby Carroll Gardens, which has become a French ex-pat enclave complete with a French-English bilingual school, restaurants, stores, and a mass in French at St. Agnes. Plus you have the privilege, I think , of living in one of the most desirable areas of Brooklyn and near the Apartment F boulangerie. Bonne chance as you continue to settle in and explore.
Joyeux Anniversaire, Jackie!
Kristi,
My heart goes out to you as Jackie stretches her wings. But at the same time, well done Mama! You have done your job well and now you get to watch as your children walk their chosen paths.
I love that Jackie has your gift for writing and look forward to the coming stories.
Sending birthday greetings to Jackie and in the vein of “Loving like a mom” a bit of advice regarding food. Ingredients in the US are so different than in France, so read those labels. Sadly, many things that are banned in France are still allowed here. And, if possible join Costco, they have locations in New York. The prices are great and they carry many organic items.
Blessings,
Jenine
Jacquie is so smart and I’ve used Lidl for years near our little village. It’s fantastic and it has a huge Bio section and wonderful Italian olive oil and pastas— it’s really wonderful and I’m so glad she’s so street smart and found that in America of all places. Happy happy birthday Jacquie but oh I hope you don’t have to stay in the USA a long time…. Que Tristesse pour les Américains….
I had been following your lovely posts on and off for years until my retirement from teaching 5 years ago. Now I get to plunge into your French life whenever, and as for as long as, I wish to. A lifelong Francophile, I’ve always dreamed of something like your French life, and I especially delight in discovering parallels with my American life. So, when you wistfully write about missing your daughter who has moved to New York, I can empathize; my daughter moved from our New York home to Paris 15 years ago. And while I am deeply proud of her courage and determination (she now has dual citizenship!), I often simultaneously long for her company. Je vous souhaite à toutes les deux du courage pour surmonter les kilomètres. Amitiés –
Lidl! My absolute favorite grocery store. I get the weekly email of their specials and plan accordingly. John Newman 3960 Poindexter Ave. Winston-Salem, NC 27106 Venmo: @John-Newman-201
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My dear friend Kristi,
Please give my best wishes to your mom for her birthday, I know that it will be in a few days but I cannot remember the exact date.
It does not matter. You can older this note until the right day.
I cannot forget a friend’s birthday, mainly when it is so close to mine.
Thank you.
Bises.
Jean.
Really enjoyed Jackie’s story but I see that you miss her a lot! Hopefully, she’ll be back, maybe for Thanksgiving. Yes, Ana is lovely! Gardez le sourire, Kristi!
Merci beaucoup