Bonjour and welcome! I’m Kristi, writing to you from our home in La Ciotat, on the sparkling coast of southern France. I first arrived here in 1994, trading the Arizona desert for a new life with Jean-Marc—whom I met in a nightclub in Aix-en-Provence while on a student exchange. We married and raised our two children, Max and Jackie, in the French countryside, and in 2018, my mom, Jules, joined our household. Today, our multi-generational home—with its cast of colorful characters including Ricci, our spirited dog, and two resident tourterelles (doves)—continues to inspire these everyday stories.

I’m also the creator of French Word-A-Day, a vocabulary-rich newsletter I’ve been sending out for over two decades. It’s a blend of language, culture, and the ongoing adventure of nurturing a Franco-American family in France.

Most recently, I’ve launched a new book series, beginning with A Year in a French Life. It’s a chance to go beyond the daily word—to reflect more deeply on life in France, language learning, and the small, meaningful moments that connect us all.

Thank you for reading—and bienvenue to this next chapter.

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