poids
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Illusions in the desert... read on in today's missive!
Paris apartment for rent. St Sulpice.
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le poids (pwah) noun
: weight
Audio: listen to these words, below: Download MP3 or WAV
prendre du poids = to put on weight
perdre du poids = to lose weight
quel poids faites-vous? = how much do you weigh?
de tout son poids = with all one's weight
un poids lourd = freight vehicle, semi-trailer truck
Today's list of idioms is a little light... won't you weigh in with your own "poids" expressions? Thanks for sharing a new term here, in the comments section.
Meet Jean-Marc... in Belgium, December 10th, 11th, and 12th! He'll be at the Salon des Vins et Métiers de Bouche (Centre Sportif de Soumagne, Tel 04 377 98 11)
A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse
One Quick Thinking Camellaro
Last month, on the black-ashed island of Lanzarote, our family of four navigated the volcanic desert floor from the inside of a tour bus. We listened to Paul, our native guide, fill us in on all the island's "asides": its lava-rich legacy, its austere architecture (laws have local buildings standing no taller than a palm tree, or so it seemed...), and its inhabitants. Presently we were about to meet the lumpy, long-lashed locals as our bus was pulling into a camel station.
Lumpy, long lashed locals...
I looked out the window, feeling a mixture of awe and apprehension....
We alighted in the parking lot and took our places in line, queuing up deux à deux as our guide had instructed us to. "Oh," Paul mentioned, motioning us to line up in twos, "and the heaviest person on the left...."
Earlier, Paul had enlightened us about the Arabian camels on the island: these were dromadaires (one hump and not two). The way we would ride these gentle beasts was to sit on either side of the hump, on sturdy seats fashioned for the occasion. For this reason, the weight needed to be evenly distributed—or patatras!—the riders would come crashing down.
I wasn't so worried about falling as I was about fleeing—for that is what my experience had been: ripping through the wind on the back of a crazed quarter horse. But this wasn't a cheval and there was no risk, this time, in letting the reins slip. By the way... where were the reins?
Apparently there would be no reins! This, after all, was a camel convoy. The only person holding on to a rein would be the camellaro, or camel driver.
Presently our camel driver, Moroccan by custom, was eyeing our line-up. As he walked down the queue, his eyes weighed the would-be riders. Now and again, he stopped to switch the places of passengers, as we stood there, two by two, waiting to take our seats.
Oh, yes, I remembered, heaviest person on the left.... I looked left, to my 15-year-old son, and told him to stay put, right where I had placed him! But the giggles coming from behind had me turning around in distraction. The couple—in tank tops, shorts, and knee-high socks—quickly quieted.
"But he weighs more than I..." I insisted. The couple nodded their heads, humoring me.
I turned to Max. "You do weigh more than I! You are taller!"
"It's (my) muscles," Max chuckled, pinching my side. Yes, I had to agree, muscles weigh more than... than never mind about that!
The camellaro put a stop to my arguing when he placed his hands on our shoulders, Max's and mine, and moved to switch us! That is when every self-respecting bone in my body balked. I would not budge!
"But he does weigh more! He does..."
The camellaro didn't need to understand English to sense my "illusionment" and he was not about to dis me. Hell hath no fury like a disillusioned fille!
Without missing a beat, he reached forward to where my daughter was standing, to the right of her "heavier" co-passenger (her father), and switched her place with mine.
And that is how I became a veritable poids plume, and, this time, not only in my mind.
Le Coin Commentaires
Corrections, comments, and stories of your own are welcome in the comments box, here.
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French Vocabulary
camellaro = camel guide
deux à deux = two by two
le dromadaire = dromedary (one-humped) camel
patatras! = crash!
le cheval = horse
la fille = girl
le poids plume = lightweight
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The little cages, or "muselières", around their mouths keep the dromadaires from nibbling at tourists. This lovely "lady" above, could not resist, time and again, nudging her son, who stood in line ahead of her (carrying Jean-Marc and me). Camel riding, we were told, is strictly regulated, in Lanzarote, where camels give no more than five rides (20 minutes each) per day.
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Ah, yes, women and their weight - I'm not even going to comment, my wife hasn't been weighed at the doctor's office in years even though she's far from overweight, but great pictures of the dromedaries.
Posted by: Bill in St. Paul | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 01:32 PM
We'll be at the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independents... next week. Will Jean-Marc? If so, we'll stop by to meet, greet and shop!
Posted by: Pat Hanrahan | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 01:52 PM
Kristin, Those pictures were breathtaking! The wide expanse of space punctuated with a camel and a few tourists....hmmm...fabulous! xo Robin
Posted by: Robin | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 01:55 PM
I learned a way to remember the difference between Dromedary and Bactrian (one hump or two) camels. Just think of the shape of the letters that begin their names. One looks like a B, with two humps, and the other a D, one! You never know when this will come in handy.
Posted by: Leslie in Massachusetts | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 02:12 PM
Rate is expressed with à
by the dozen à la douzaine
by the meter au mètre
by the hour à l'heure
by the day à la journée
by the month au mois
Posted by: gail bingenheimer | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 02:26 PM
Fabulous photos, Kristi. I too fell off a horse but I didn't drop the reins, the saddle slipped ... hairline fracture of my sacral wing! I should have stuck to bare back. I'm glad you conquered your fear as I learned to do.
Posted by: Suzanne, Monroe Township, NJ | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 02:32 PM
Great photos Kristin!especially the onre asleep !!
Posted by: Audrey Wilson | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 02:45 PM
Whoops! just noticed the typographical errors . Sorry , I tend to type too quickly for my own good !
Posted by: Audrey Wilson | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 02:48 PM
How about "faire le poids"? It means "to be up to the challenge," as in "il ne fait pas le poids a [imagine the accent] cette tache {imagine the circumflex--sorry].
As for camels, I rode one once at the Bronx Zoo. That was enough. You are braver than I am.
Posted by: Jeri Famighetti | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 02:55 PM
Deux poids, deux mesures means double standard.
Posted by: Leslie in Massachusetts | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 02:59 PM
Kristin,
Sometimes it takes me a few days or weeks to catch up...somehow dance and piano lessons and the daily life of a stay-at-home Mom keep me so busy I don't have the time to stop, breathe and read!
That being said, I am all caught up today! I must say, I LOVED the last paragraph of "vantard"! It is good to be in love, especially after all those years. I have the same affection for my own husband and it's great! BTW, bought a case of R-B a couple of weeks ago. Had it sent from Tim in Texas. As I drank my first sip from the first bottle, I was back at your kitchen table. My husband took a sip and said "that takes you back, doesn't it!" Had it not been for his surprise trip to Provence, it wouldn't have "taken me back". No wonder I feel that way about him!
Also, I feel your pain about les fleurs de cimetieres! I have noticed a small one on each hand and I'll be 36 in January! Time to keep sunscreen in the car (I have heard the hands get exposure we don't think about, like while driving, and who puts sunscreen on their hands specifically?)
One more thing, it is baking season for me with the holidays just ahead. I have seen the Eiffel Tower cookie cutter before and I want to purchase it, but I would like to do it from your site...any chance you could put that up again?
Merci et bonne journee!
Amber
Posted by: Amber, Peoria, IL | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 03:20 PM
It's fun to sometimes see how French you have become in the way you use English. For example, you wrote: Camel riding, we were told, is strictly "reglemented" . . . I could not find that word in my American Heritage Dictionary (the big 20 pound reference book). I think the word you want is "regulated". I loved noticing this because my son did a similar thing on a postcard he sent me during his semester abroad in Rennes: On the way (from Paris to Rennes via bus) we stopped to "regard" the Cathedral at Chartres. After only 2 weeks of French immersion, he was using English as if he were a French speaker.
Best wishes, Mair
Posted by: Mair | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 03:38 PM
Salut Kristin,
Thanks for the great photos and the insight on the use of camels. Interestingly, camels played a role in Arizona history. In the mid 1800’s the U/S. Army established the U.S. Camel Corp. They had over 70 camels that were used mainly for freight hauling. The man in charge of the camels was named Hi Jolly. A monument to him is found at Quartzsite, AZ.
Question: Do they keep camels in a Camelot?
À bientôt
Posted by: Herm | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 04:06 PM
Chere Kristin, another wonderful post accompanied by such beautiful pictures! That rough terrain contrasted by a glorious blue sky! Especially enjoyed seeing the lovely 'lady' sporting her 'museliere'--and learning how the dromadaire rides are regulated!
How gifted you are! Your descriptions made us feel like we were right there beside you (worrying about our own poids!)
THANK YOU for smiles to my morning!
Bon journee!
Posted by: Natalia | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 08:47 PM
Bonjour kristin ~ I love this post with the beautiful camels and what a lovely word 'museliere' I have never heard it used before .
Posted by: Dianne | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 09:44 PM
Salut Kristin,
I knew the word poids before I went to France, and thought I was doing quite well until I went to buy a snowboard but was stumped by one of the first questions I got asked "Tu peses combien?". I asked the poor bloke to repeat it three times before he changed tack and asked for my weight, not what I weighed - finally it struck me what he WAS saying. Boy did I feel silly...
Ah well - it's what happens when you listen to what you're expecting to hear, not what you're hearing I guess!
Good photos, and good work.
Merci mille fois pour la travaille excellente!
Posted by: Nigel | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 10:14 PM
I can feel your "pain" regarding "poids"! What a cute story. I can just imagine the sly little grin on Max's face as he mentioned the "muscle weighs more than . . . "! And to answer Herm's question: I would say "alot" :)
Posted by: Candy in SW KS | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 10:22 PM
What a diplomatic and french camel driver not to want to insult a lady!
Posted by: Sophie Day | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Kristin,
I can't believe that you are worried about your poids. I only wish that I looked as good. I am constantly me mettant au régime (not sure that this is correct) except when in France - la formage, les baguettes, les croissants et le vin et les autres nourritures - are too good.
Great pictures of the desert.
Posted by: Kathleen | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 10:38 PM
Like Mair (above) I noticed how French you've become. I'm sure you care about the English language as much as French, so do note that in addition to "reglemented" instead of "regulated," you used "argumenting" instead of "arguing".
Posted by: Ellen
Posted by: Ellen Seiler | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 10:54 PM
I, too, loved the photos, but was not too keen on the subject matter. At some point, it just gets old ... like age spots.
Of course, we would never discuss the camallero's lackluster approach from the get-go, eh? :)
On a brighter note, I opened a bottle of Mistral yesterday with dinner. Yum, almost as tasty here as on the farm!
Cheers -
http://voiedevie.blogspot.com
Posted by: Voie de Vie | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 11:20 PM
Trying to post, trying to post...
Posted by: Pat Cargill | Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 04:56 AM
Kristi, I always learn so much from your stories. Thanks to Herm, I never realized there was a connection to HiJolly and camels in Arizona. Do you remember the HiJolly Date Ranch out in east Mesa?? I always wondered about that name and now I know.
As far a museliere goes, I believe that I first saw it when reading "Le Petit Prince". The pilot draws a museliere on the sheep so that it won't eat the Little Prince's rose.
BTW,wonderful picture of the sand and camels.
Posted by: Sandy Maberly | Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 03:33 PM
Salut Sandy,
I don't recall the date ranch by name, but I do recall the miles and miles of orchards and lots of fresh fruit stands east of Mesa. I moved to the valley in 1963. It sure has changed!
À bientôt
Posted by: Herm in Phoenix, AZ | Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 04:06 PM
Pat: Jean-Marc won't be at the French salon... just the one in Belgium for now.
Leslie: thanks for the mnemonic D & B device!
Amber: so good to know you got the wine from Tim, at French Country Wines! And thanks for thinking of buying the cookie cutters from me... I'll put the link up in tomorrow's letter!
Mair and Ellen: Thanks for "regulated" and "arguing". :-)
Suzanne, "sacral" wing... will have to look that one up! P.S. I haven't conquered my horse-riding fear...
Dianne, Sandy, and Natalia, thanks for noticing "muselière" -- all credit goes to Newforest, who pointed out the word after viewing last weekend's Cinéma Vérité photos.
Voie de Vie: good to know the Mistral is ageing well!
Nigel: glad you mentioned "peser" for "to weigh".
Sandy, HOw I'd love to visit Mesa and see the Hi Jolly Date Ranch. Thanks to Herm for pointing out the Camel connection in AZ. I've been reading about him and the Camels here: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11284
Jeri: what a surreal experience, riding Camels in the Bronx zoo!
Thank you all for these interesting and entertaining comments!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 06:30 PM
poids
personne de poids = personne d’importance, de considération, d’autorité, de mérite
tomber de tout son poids = tomber tout d’un coup et sans que rien amortisse la chute
au poids de l’or = excessivement cher
faire le poids = suffire à quelque chose
mettre tout son poids dans la balance = jouer de toute son influence pour orienter une prise de décision
faire deux poids, deux mesures = juger différemment d’une même chose selon les personnes, les circonstances, les intérêts, etc. Être partial
Posted by: Olaf Proan | Friday, November 19, 2010 at 05:20 PM
Kristin, you've triggered memories of my past life in Central Australia...
Australia has a lonh history of camels, arrinving around the time of the Burke & Wills Expedition. There are over 30,000 dromaderies, running wild and now very thirsty due to the drought...
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I've ridden camels in Alice Springs and on the famed Cable Beach in Broome... Just wonderful.
May I weigh in with "poids plume"... being a weight category in boxing... nothing personal Kristin, if anything, you are un poids plume... In fact, I envy your "sveltesse"!
Posted by: Jacqueline in Brisbane | Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 01:22 AM