What makes a place feel like home? From her cozy, occasionally trembling New York apartment to a shared meal at church, Jackie reflects on hospitality, homelessness, and the dignity of being welcomed as a guest. This week’s French word is foyer: home, household, hearth. Continue reading Foyer: A Warm Welcome, a Shared Meal, a Sense of Home
WORD OF THE DAY: rebondissement (ruh-bon-dees-mahn) : an unexpected twist; a surprising turn of events Entre les chutes de Mom, la rupture de Max et les fiançailles de Jackie et Vinny, notre vie de famille est pleine de rebondissements ! Between Mom’s falls, Max’s breakup, and Jackie and Vinny’s engagement, our family life is full of unexpected twists! A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by … Continue reading Rebondissement: A Breakup, Three Falls, and an Engagement
WORD OF THE DAY un cappronounced: kahpa cape; figuratively, a threshold or turning point franchir un cap — to reach a milestone; to move into a new stage of life UN…DEUX…TROIS… By Jacqueline Espinasse If you went to kindergarten in France, chances are you played a game called Un, deux, trois, soleil ! All you need is a wall and a few friends. One child stands … Continue reading Un cap: Jackie’s Big News—and a French Childhood Game
WORD OF THE DAYle frelon (fruh-lohn)hornet RELATED EXPRESSIONSUn nid de frelons — Literally “a hornet’s nest.” Figuratively, a volatile situation in which interference may provoke anger or conflict.Les frelons de la littérature — Literally “the hornets of literature.” An old literary expression describing envious critics who disparage other writers’ work while stealing from it. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse For our … Continue reading Frelon: An Anniversary with Uninvited Guests
LA FOULE = MOB I was on my way to the gym yesterday when I saw some police officers near the local high school. Three flics, to be exact. I wondered why they were there, but asking might take their attention off of something imminent. Just what, exactly, might be imminent? I noticed batons and holstered guns. The street was as quiet as it usually … Continue reading Student Riots & La Foule
UNE DURE À CUIRE une dure à cuire (ewn dewr ah kweer) : a tough cookie; a tough woman “Je suis une dure à cuire,” a dit Maman après sa mésaventure.“I’m a toughy,” Mom said after her mishap. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse I wasn’t sure whether the scream was real or part of a dream. Then I heard Mom calling … Continue reading “I Have a Little Problem…”: Mom, a Giant Mirror, and a Tough Cookie
