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
A Little Summer Break: This journal will return in July. I leave you with one more story from my daughter, who’ll return to France very soon…so soon she can already taste it! More in today’s story. We thank you for reading and sharing these missives. TODAY’S WORD: la marée : tide PRONUNCIATION: mah-ray EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Comme la marée, les comparaisons entre la France et l’Amérique vont … Continue reading Fish Eyes and French Toilets
Back at the vineyard in Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, Max and I were in middle school. Once the hot days were over, Dad no longer needed our petites mains for the harvest and our petits pieds to crush grapes, and when we weren’t swimming in the river with Braise and Smokey, there wasn’t much left to do. So in winter, we spent our weekends and evenings playing a game on the computer. The goal was simple: make your character as powerful as possible. You started by creating a character, choosing its powers, name, gender, and colors. Continue reading Some People Build Roots. Others Wander. Can Fulfillment Be Simple?
TODAY’S WORD: se mettre en échec : to set oneself up for failure PRONUNCIATION: [suh met-truh ahn eh-shek] EXAMPLE SENTENCE:Quand on apprend quelque chose de nouveau, il vaut mieux avancer doucement pour ne pas se mettre en échec. When learning something new, it’s best to move forward gently so as not to set yourself up for failure. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi EspinasseDuring one … Continue reading Success: Advice from a French Nurse and Dog Lover
TODAY’S WORD: apprentissage : learning; apprenticeshipPRONUNCIATION: ah-prahn-tee-sahj A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse The first thing I did when Jean-Marc and Jackie left for the airport was to hurry to her room. Our little American shepherd followed, to sniff out anything my daughter might’ve left behind. Ricci’s nose swept the floor like one of those metal detectors used by treasure hunters here on the … Continue reading Un Bel Apprentissage: A Beautiful Learning Experience
TODAY’S WORD: l’aidant(e) : caregiver PRONUNCIATION: [lay-dahn(t)] A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Two weeks ago, Mom moved into the house—into Max’s old room. She immediately loved the firmness of the mattress, the cozy space, and the way the wooden shutters blocked out all the light—perfect for nap time. She packed only her toothbrush, in her pocket, and, for the fortnight that … Continue reading How to Say Caregiver in French (and in the Cosmos)
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
Merci for your encouraging notes following last week's update regarding subscribership. Your words revive me! Today's mischief takes place in La Ciotat (photo snapped outside Le Palais Lumière where a patch of daisies looks as innocent as a team of pranksters in hiding. Read on.) TODAY'S WORD: UN CANULAR : practical joke, prank, hoax A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse … Continue reading Canular: How To Say Practical Joke in French? + Jackie & I have fun at Max’s expense…
