The Bold Soul: A Writer's Life in Paris

Franchir Une Haie

Sometimes, my French life feels like just one hurdle after another. As soon as I leap over one, there's another one waiting. When will it end? Will I ever fit in? Read more →

Pajama-party workout?

Email today from the lovely girls who run the Curves where I work out: Salut les filles, Comme chaque mois, vous trouverez en PJ le programme des activités du mois de Février. Nous vous avons concocté plusieurs activités sympas, en espérant vous voir nombreuses!! So I suppose "en PJ" is a reference to the PDF file that was attached with the monthly schedule of special extra classes, etc. It's short for "pièce jointe". (Actual translation: "Hey girls, As with each month, you will find the February monthly program attached. We've concocted many great activities, hoping to see many of you!" You have to LOVE a gym where they invite you to work out and also invite you to have crèpes and cider to celebrate Candlemas or La Chandeleur, which is a holiday for eating -- bien sûr -- crèpes. Only in France would they bring that kind of food into a gym... and not feel the least bit guilty about eating a little of it.) But reading it at first glance? *I* thought they were inviting us to come and do a workout in our PAJAMAS. Because yes... in French, I AM just that dumb. Yeah, this sort of thing,... Read more →

Be afraid, François; be VERY afraid

"Don't get mad. Get EVERYTHING." - Ivana Trump in The First Wives' Club. If I were Hollande, I'd be wetting myself right about now. Read more →

Witch Tree

Plane trees in winter remind me of an old witch's gnarled hands. Creepy French trees. Read more →

A bit of old Provence

There is nothing like a little walk through the old center of a village in Provence to make this New World girl realize she's now living in the Old World. Read more →

Hyper Market, Indeed

Better strap on your helmets and protective padding: time to shop for the holiday feast in a French supermarket! Read more →

Prodigy

12-year-old French step-son was just explaining new board game rules to me extremely well... in ENGLISH. I am so freaking impressed with his progress this year; he speaks more and more naturally to me in his 2nd language, and the light-bulb has clearly clicked on for him. He's also studying Russian for the 2nd year, and doing his first year of Latin. He's TWELVE. I didn't start learning French until I was 13. And I still screw up. Ouf. Makes me feel like a language dunce. But I'm proud of him. Read more →

Bouche de Noël

In French, you not only have to know the vocal and the myriad of conjugations... you've got to SAY it right. Or they WILL mock you. Even when it's about a freaking edible Yule Log. Read more →

Explaining Thanksgiving to the French: Yeah, Good Luck with That

American in France on Thanksgiving, far from home and feeling "deboutish" today? Art Buchwald explains why. Read more →

'Appy 'Alloween!

Halloween in France: the non-holiday holiday. Read more →