Year: 2025

Jackie

La Ferme: Social Skills & The Scent of Volunteering

BOOK NEWS: I’m happy to share that A Year in a French Life is now available in a digital format — at half the price of the printed edition.You can read it on your laptop, IPad, tablet, or phone. Enjoy the photos and vocabulary anywhere, anytime!👉 Order your digital copy here. TODAY’S WORD: la ferme = the farmPRONUNCIATION: [lah fehrm] EXAMPLE SENTENCE:J’ai fait du bénévolat à la ferme samedi dernier.I volunteered at the farm … Continue reading La Ferme: Social Skills & The Scent of Volunteering

Jacqueline Espinasse13 Comments
Jackie, Joy, Uncategorized

Ce Truc: Finding Joy, Finding Courage

TODAY’S WORD: la joie : joyPRONUNCIATION: [zhwah]Example sentence:Ce truc que j’avais enfant avait un nom : la joie.That thing I had as a child had a name: joy. Ce truc by Jacqueline Espinasse  Do you remember ce truc you had as a little kid? Do you remember how scents, sounds, textures, and colors felt so vivid, intense, amplified? Just a few years ago, I realized that ce … Continue reading Ce Truc: Finding Joy, Finding Courage

Jacqueline Espinasse17 Comments
Brooklyn, Jackie

Le Perron: A Fun New Sport for a French Girl in Brooklyn

In this blog post, Jackie shares insights about Brooklyn’s unique culture, particularly the joy of “stoop finds,” where locals leave unwanted items on their doorsteps. She reflects on her experiences treasure hunting, discovering everything from furniture to household items left by others. Jackie emphasizes the rich history of stoops in New York, designed to elevate entrances above dirty streets. The newbie Brooklynite describes the thrill of these finds as a personal benefit amid the high living costs in wealthier neighborhoods. The post combines storytelling, humor, and a sense of community, showcasing Brooklyn’s charm as seen by a French native. Continue reading Le Perron: A Fun New Sport for a French Girl in Brooklyn

Kristin Espinasse26 Comments
Jackie

From La Ciotat to Cape Cod — A Beach Story (with Cake!)

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE Our house was especially quiet the morning of our wedding anniversary, with only the sound of a critter shuffling around in the attic and the pepper tree branches swaying in the breeze. Outside, the wind was picking up, carrying with it the chill of fall. I was about to mention the mouse when, “Happy 31st!” Jean-Marc said before hurrying … Continue reading From La Ciotat to Cape Cod — A Beach Story (with Cake!)

Kristin Espinasse28 Comments
Uncategorized

Survivre: Think Like a European, Love Like a Mom

TODAY’S WORD: survivre : to survivePRONUNCIATION: [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 Cityby 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…” … Continue reading Survivre: Think Like a European, Love Like a Mom

Kristin Espinasse21 Comments
Uncategorized

Settling In: A Franco-American in New York

A warm welcome back to those who lost touch last spring, when this blog moved homes. On Monday I sent out a note through my old mailing list, and over a thousand of you found your way back here today—what a joy! To catch you up: my daughter has moved to New York, where she has begun a few new jobs… including writing her weekly … Continue reading Settling In: A Franco-American in New York

Kristin Espinasse28 Comments
Uncategorized

From Storms to Fresh Air: A Mother-Daughter Dispatch

🇫🇷 MORE FREQUENT FRENCHI started a WhatsApp channel 💚 for French Word-A-Day and would love for you to join! There you’ll receive daily updates on French language, culture, and life in France, as well as a heads-up for any new stories here at the blog. 👉 Join the French Word-A-Day Channel on WhatsApp 🔔 Once you’re in, don’t forget to tap the bell to turn on notifications (or you may … Continue reading From Storms to Fresh Air: A Mother-Daughter Dispatch

Kristin Espinasse23 Comments
Jackie

From the Family Nest to the US Open 🎾

SPONTANEOUS FRENCH I recently started a WhatsApp channel & would love it if you followed it for some of my spontaneous updates on French and France culture, language, and news: Join the French Word-A-Day Channel on WhatsApp (Once there, be sure to tap the bell (upper right corner) to activate notification) TODAY’S WORD: cocon familial : family cocoon / home nestPRONUNCIATION: [koh-kohn fah-mee-ahl] EXAMPLE SENTENCE:J’ai quitté le cocon familial pour … Continue reading From the Family Nest to the US Open 🎾

Kristin Espinasse55 Comments
Interview

A Live interview & A New Channel on WhatsApp (and Ricci turns 5!)

Bonjour, A spur-of-the-moment message to make you aware of this Thursday’s online interview. I’m delighted to invite you to an upcoming France Today Live event where I’ll be in conversation with Sophie Gardner-Roberts. If you’re not already a subscriber, France Today is offering you a free 30-day trial. Simply sign up for the trial, then register for the event using the links below: I look forward to seeing … Continue reading A Live interview & A New Channel on WhatsApp (and Ricci turns 5!)

Kristin Espinasse10 Comments
Uncategorized

Brunch! Experience the Charm of Café Lo in La Ciotat

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse J’ai le cafard. “I have the cockroach.” It’s a funny French way of saying “I have the blues.” Not that the blues are funny at all. Thankfully, like the clouds outside my window today, they pass on by with time. Le cafard came over me yesterday, three days before my daughter’s impending departure. At the mall, my belle-sœur, … Continue reading Brunch! Experience the Charm of Café Lo in La Ciotat

Kristin Espinasse31 Comments