Archive by Author
Have You Ever Spoken French…in Reverse? Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Dec 8, 2014
Back when I was just becoming familiar with the language, I would sometimes go out with Parisian friends to a bar or brasserie and listen while they spoke amongst themselves. I’d be feeling somewhat proud about the advances I’d taken in French and knew that I could have a pretty comprehensive conversation. But, listening to…
5 Things you Need to Know About Shopping in France Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Dec 1, 2014
In honor of this Cyber Monday and recent Black Friday, here are some important facts and terms to make your shopping trip in France easy and stress-free. Unlike in the United States, sales in France are state-run. That means that companies don’t regulate their own storewide sales to get rid of old inventory before the…
Joyeux Thanksgiving: Celebrating Thanksgiving in France Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Nov 24, 2014
When I was living in Paris, Thanksgiving (literally, l’action de grâce, although most French people will just say Thanksgiving) was the one day of the year when the American expatriate community would come together as one and reclaim their American-ness. I’ll be honest: For part of the two years I spent living in France, I…
Bonjour Tout le Monde: New Blogger Elizabeth Schmermund’s Introduction Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Nov 17, 2014
Bonjour tout le monde, je suis ravie de faire partie de votre communauté. Hello everyone, I am happy to be a part of your community. Je m’appelle Elizabeth Schmermund and, since I will be taking on weekly blogging responsibilities for the French Language and Culture Blog, I’d love to tell you a little bit about myself…