Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 11

“Smala” & Family Visit to Cassis, Aix-en-Provence, Marseilles

My family visiting Cassis: Kristi, Reagan, Heidi, Payne, Jean-Marc, and Max

TODAY’S Word: smala (smah-lah) noun, feminine

    : entourage, big family (famille nombreuse)

from the Arabic, zmalah: tribe

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse

This first week with my American family has gone by en vitesse! Beaches, the farmers market, snorkeling in the Mediterranean and even cliff diving (for the guys). What a whirlwind good time it's been with Heidi, Payne, and Reagan since they flew in fro...

A Little Tour of La Ciotat, France. Allez! On y va!

"A Diamond in the Rough" that's the best way I can describe our coastal town. And while it may not be chichi like Cassis, Bandol, or Sanary… La Ciotat has more character in its little pinky than all three. Can you sense our salty sea breeze coming from the turquoise bay just below?

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TODAY'S WORD: LE QUAI

    : wharf, pier

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kri...

"Bidou": A Do-It-Yourself Tummy Tuck in French (Bilingual Story)

Today, learn a tummy tuck trick my husband and I use on our morning walks. Passing by historic sites, such as the Eden Theatre--the oldest cinema in the world--is a helpful distraction as we do our "standing situps."

Are you an Expat who needs to file your tax return? Don't sweat it! Get $20 off when you use Expatfile software to begin the simplified process.

LE BIDOU (bee-do)

    : tummy, tum-tum

The word bidou is used by children or by adults speaking to children. Bidou is also a colloqui...

Engagement is a "faux ami" + Welcoming a Pet into the Family & Responsibility

"Adopt Don't Shop"... is that even debatable? And yet the decision between adopting from a shelter or choosing a puppy from a breeder isn't always straightforward. Read Jean-Marc's essay about our current dog dilemma, and we welcome your thoughts and experiences in the comments. (Picture taken at one of the animal rescue centers we visited this month).

Today's word is a faux-ami or false cognate (or "false friend"): it resembles an English word but it has a different meaning:

L’ENGAGEMENT 

  : ...

Vachement Content! How I filed my Expat Taxes Early (and Easily)

Oh happy day in La Ciotat! I've filed my US expat taxes and now I can go out and play! It only took a few hours thanks to this excellent tax software at Expatfile. Now, don't miss today's non-taxing story. 

"VACHEMENT CONTENT(E)"

    : chuffed, very pleased

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse

Chuffed is a word I use so infrequently I could count on one hand the number of times I've said it. Today, it perfectly describes this feeling of satisfaction. I am chuffed, chuffed, so very chuffed...

A Fun Word for Wine + Jean-Marc's Epic Farewell at Chateau Beaupin

Jean-Marc and Kristi, center, surrounded by longtime friends.

Tuesday Night was my husband's big night and this was no time to stress. So I took a deep breath, asked readers for ideas about how to chill before a social event when you are an introvert and you don’t drink, and received some excellent tips in return. Next, I dressed to the nines and headed to Marseilles with mon cheri for his epic farewell dinner. With the help of his friends and investors, Jean-Marc was saying goodbye to his wine...

Doggone it! A Travel and Dog Lovers Edition

Millow, an 8-year-old French bulldog, enjoying the salty air en route to Minorca, Spain

From Toulon to Minorca Jean-Marc and I sailed across the Mediterranean sea with dozens of wonderful dogs. Enjoy all the photos of these seasoned traveler-toutous in my column below. First, meet a cherished reader and dog lover...

OUR CHÈRE NATALIA
You may know Natalia from the cheering and affectionate comments she’s left here over the years. Natalia’s enthusiasm and support have touched me and other blogge...

A Horticulturist, A Lawyer, and a Cat walk into a Chat bot...

Today's entry won't whisk you into the blossoming fields of Provence or take you on a tour of Paris's catacombs. Our destination is cyberspace (of which France is part of, n'est-ce pas?) and the mission is to keep up with technology. This journal will return to its bucolic roots very soon, so please don't leave the room. Without further delay, here's our word of the day:

DÉBROUILLARD (day-broo-ee-yar)

    : someone who is resourceful and able to find solutions to problems on their own
    : qu...

La Rafale: The Gusts of France: An Ode to the Mistral Wind

Harnessing the wind in Hyérès, South of France, a kite surfer’s paradise. More advantages of the wind in today's story. First, our word of the day: 

LA RAFALE

    : gusty wind, bluster, squall

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse

Brise, rafale, mistral...No matter how poetic it is in French, wind can be disruptive and annoying. My husband used to curse the wind as it blew through our vineyard snapping the limbs off his grapevines. The blustery Mistral knocked down his precious grapes week...

La Surdité: I Can't Hear What You Are Saying! + Tinnitus in French

Jean-Marc, tending to his tomato plants as Mama the Dove looks on. 

la surdité (suhr-dee-tay)

    : hearing loss, deafness, infirmité auditive

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A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
"Je n'entends pas ce que tu m'as dit..."

Over the past year, I have noticed my hu...