Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Photo Du Jour: Metro Music Man, 12ème arr.


I thought this harp music was a recording--
or not really a harp--
until I peeked around the corner.
We've also been trumpeted on the Metro trains.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Photo du Jour, Fête de la Musique

There was music all over France yesterday to celebrate the solstice, and we caught this delightful accordian orchestra that accompanied my friend's choir at a community center, Le Centre de Maurice Ravel, in the 12ème arrondissment. The choir sang songs en français, as well as selections en anglais from the musical West Side Story. Afterward, mon petit made musical instruments en papier and Danielle and I talked until minuit. Bonne fête vraiment!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Photo du Jour

There are many food delights to be enjoyed in France, and most are quite simple, like melon au porto. My friend Danielle's, shown here, is a slight variation to accommodate mon petit. Normally, in summer, one can serve the Porto-- a sweet Portuguese aperitif, or apero, inside half of a small French cantaloupe, along with un morceau de jambon de Parme, an italian ham. A perfect midday snack. The fruit vendor at one of Paris's many open air markets can produce a melon that will be perfect for consumption at the time of day you tell him you plan to eat it.
C'est delicieux!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

En France, la Fête de la Musique

After several days exploring; conquering finally my son's jet lag--le décalage de horaire--after several VERY early mornings; and finding the necessities--boisson riz et beurre de cacahoutes (rice milk and peanut butter) chez Franprix, and a few new favorite parcs--we are settled comfortably in the 12ème in Paris.

I was delighted to be a special guest at an English course at the local community center, where the instuctor, a delightful femme francaise, spoke with great animation and a heavy British accent. At the end of the class, my friend Danielle produced a wonderful apero (aperitive) and snacks and I offered to join the students for coffee en anglais parfois to help them supplement their class. Je suis contente :-)

Meanwhile, my son occupied himself by drawing our apartment building and the rope pyramid at the playground just below the building.

Tomorrow, the first day of summer (which we fully expect to banish the spring rain from Paris), we look forward to celebraitng the Fête de la Musique. In the 12ème alone, there are at least 24 listed performances, and there will be many more people just playing music where they will.

I've been too busy enjoying myself to worry much about learning the language, but my dear friend here speaks to me only in French, so I'm delighted toujours to be in a joyful class with her, while discovering Paris. In return, she says it helps her to listen to me speak with mon petit en anglais.

A très bientôt!


http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/site-2010/?page_id=29


Fête de la musique sur Nomao

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Prêt pour la voyage?

Can one be truly entirely ready to embark on a nomadic existence, even a French one, leaving address, work, and country for an experience in France that, while at two months draws sighs from fellow countrymen, will undoubtedly be too impossibly short for much more than an extended tourist vacation?

After bumming around for a week or more between relatives homes and between two cities, I've decided it will be a relief to spend a few days becoming ensconced in a small one-bedroom appartement in Paris where I am to make a home base for the next two months.

Still, it’s hard to say au revoir to Seattle friends in almost the same breath as je dis bonjour.

Hopefully, when I return, it will be with additional speaking facility and confidence, and a renewed vigor for the study. “Returning”to Seattle will be in itself a joy, with a vast array of possibilities available for further study of la langue française, and so many wonderful people and places to discover and love and get to know better.

That said, saying goodbye to Spokane, my home for most of my life, was pas facile, especially with the delightful francophone community there, cheering me on and helping me to make real mes rêves, and helping me to discover joy in that city, too. How could I have missed its discrete charm for so long?

I’ve determined to impart a true travelogue for the group when I return for a brief visit in August, with details and conseil for their own future voyages.

Mostly, I'll miss my daughter, an adult now, with new wings to fly, but la petite de mon coeur.

Donc, Tuesday nous nous envolerons, moi et mon petit, to finally arrive at our pied a terre in notre belle France.

Only then does the voyage really begin.