Tag Archives: French culture
Une semaine bien française* Posted by Tim Hildreth on Sep 13, 2016
Given my love for France and all things French, it’s not unusual for my weeks to be filled with a variety of French things. But this week I had the added bonus of being surprised in delightful ways by more French than usual. Ma semaine surprise a commencé mardi (My week of surprises started Tuesday)…
Peter Mayle doesn’t have a monopoly! Posted by Tim Hildreth on Aug 30, 2016
I just finished reading Peter Mayle’s wonderful “A Year in Provence” . . . only 25 or so years after it came out. It’s a lovely book, but I think I was avoiding it! Anytime anyone hears about my time in France they always ask “have you read . . . ?” which weirdly kept…
Allons au Brésil! / Let’s go to Brazil! Posted by Tim Hildreth on Aug 9, 2016
Les Jeux Olympiques (les JO) viennent de commencer à Rio.* (The Olympics have started in Rio, Brazil.) In honor of the games (which I love!) and Brazil (which is a lovely country), another song this week. A French one of course, but one that captures the spirit and joy of Rio, of Brazil, and of…
Zazie dans le métro . . . et ailleurs !* Posted by Tim Hildreth on Jul 26, 2016
I finished a new livre (book) on vacation last week à la plage (at the beach).** Ok, it wasn’t new-new, but it was new to me. Zazie dans le métro (Zazie in the subway) is a 1959 novel by French author Raymond Queneau that was revolutionary in its use of language. Zazie (a name created by…
École le samedi ?!! * Posted by Tim Hildreth on Jun 21, 2016
C’est la fin de l’année scolaire (en France comme aux Etats-Unis). / It’s the end of the school year (in France and in the United States). In many ways school in France isn’t all that different from school in America, but in other ways, it’s quite different. School in France is highly centralized, and as…
Août en Bretagne Posted by Tim Hildreth on Apr 5, 2016
I arrived in France for the first time at the end of July (‘fin juillet’). I was jet-lagged, confused, and a little scared at the prospect of spending the next year so far away from everything and everyone I had grown up with back in the US. Before I even had time to settle in…
Etiquette for Gift Giving in France Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Dec 22, 2014
Many people bring up the idea of cultural etiquette during this season of gift giving and receiving. For example, you might have heard that, in Japan, you should accept gifts with both hands. Or that it is common for Singaporeans to graciously refuse a gift several times before accepting it. It is important to have…