Un Pot de Départ for Max & July Vocabulary Roundup
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Our 22-year-old, Max, had a wonderful send-off party at the beach in Les Lecques (that's him centered beneath the sombrero). His closest friends gathered to wish him well in Mexico, where he will be on an exchange program through May 14th, 2018.
un pot de départ
: farewell drink
Bonne lecture - Happy Reading!
If you missed a post this month, no worries you can rattraper, or catch up! Here's a list of all the missives that went out.
Click here to listen to Jean-Marc pronounce today's word--and all of the vocabulary below. Sit back and relax (you don't have to keep up with the recording. Come back and listen a second time.
Les Transats: Something You Can Rent on French Beaches
le transat = lounge chair
boules = pétanque or bocce ball
la peau = skin
avoir le cul entre deux chaises = to have the butt between two chairs
le parasol = beach umbrella
à plus = bye for now
le maillot = soccer jersey
derrière chaque grand homme, il y a une femme
behind every great man, there is a woman
French Sloppy Joe's: One of Many ways to use up a delicious batch of Caponata!
au pif = by guesswork
Décontracté at Château de Pibarnon
la murette = little wall
fleur de sel = "flower of salt", highest quality sea salt
anchoïade (m) = anchovy dip for vegetables
la daurade = sea bream
la récompense = reward
Lance: My Husband's Creative & Quirky Side
comme d'habitude = as usual
beurk! = ew, yuck!
la garrigue (f) = Mediterranean scrubland
la navette = shuttle (ferry boat)
une lance = spear
un oursin = a sea urchin
un outil = a tool
le superflu = excess
Boire La Tasse: Short story by the sea, funny French sayings
boire la tasse = to swallow a lot of water (unexpectedly)
le secouement = shaking off
le râteau = rake
faire son truc = to do his thing
pas un chat = nobody in sight
simple comme bonjour = a piece of cake
la crotte = droppings, dog mess
Best City in Which to Live...La Bonne Réponse
la bonne réponse = good answer
le refuge = mountain shelter
la cigale = cicada
là où sont mes amis = there where my friends are
le maçon = builder, construction worker
tant qu'il y a l'amitié = as long as there is friendship
Eplucher, Friendship, and Bernard's Courgette Carpaccio
fastoche = easy
désolé(e) = sorry
Tu vas voir = you'll see
très facile = so easy
econome = vegetable peeler
nouer les liens = to bond, to strengthen ties
tendre to main = hold out one's hand
amitié = friendship
au pif = by guesswork
Des Clopinettes: Old Slang Used by a New Generation
un oursin = sea urchin
les boules = game in which players throw steel balls toward a "cochon" or smaller ball.
la pétanque = another word for boules
un pas = step
il y a des enfants = there are kids here
une clope = cigarette
des clopinettes = peanuts (little or nothing)
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Posted by: Margaret | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 01:23 PM
Tell Max to come visit us in San Miguel de AllendeL I have a daughter about his age living there she speaks fluent English and could show him around...
Posted by: Paul Guerin | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 02:23 PM
Thank you very much, Margaret, for your donation! And many thanks for explaining the relatively easy process of sending funds through PayPal. This is all so helpful and much appreciated!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 02:25 PM
This was super easy to donate this time. Thank you for keeping up your blog! I love to live vicariously through you. :) All the best to Max and Mom, Dad, and Jackie as the dynamics at home have changed a bit for a while. God Bless!
Posted by: Adrienne | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 02:39 PM
Thank you very much, Adrienne, for your feedback - - and for the donation you just sent! Im glad to see your note here, or I might have addressed the thank you note that I am about to send to John 🤣.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 02:49 PM
Thank you for your posts. I love learning some French idioms while hearing about the comings and goings of your family.
Posted by: Mimi | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 02:54 PM
Bonjour Kristin, we wish Max was in NEW Mexico instead of Mexico but so happy for him and his new adventure. Someday we will come and see you and Jean-Marc again, we miss seeing you. But, you are ALWAYS welcome to come see us in gorgeous Santa Fe!
Keep up the good work on the blog, it is still a highlight of my day!!
Joanne
Posted by: Joanne | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 04:27 PM
Max et ses amis sont tous adorables! Bon courage, Max et ses parents.
Posted by: Alice Freeman | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 05:14 PM
What a bunch of handsome dudes! Bonne chance Max! Just be super careful of the water in Mexico. Use ONLY
bottled water !!
Joyce,AZ
Posted by: Joyce | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 06:55 PM
Hi Kristin,
Wow!!! Off Max goes into the wild blue yonder, keeping well in mind all of his parents' Love and admonitions. What a wonderful experience for him.
I expect that he may see his Grandmother while there? Is Jacquie wishing that she could go also?? You and Jean-Marc look to have done a great work with your children.
We most often do our best. We fall down. We get up and go again, hoping for a better friendship with God and with each other.
Joys and merriment and the blessings of God to you all, C-Marie
Posted by: C-Marie | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 08:03 PM
Wow! How can every single one of those boys be so gorgeous! Ils sont tous très beaux!!
Posted by: onehsancare | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 08:14 PM
That is one handsome group of young men. If they venture into the states via San Diego and need some assistance have him/them contact me. I know how hard it is when our "bebes" move away and how much better I feel when someone my daughter knows is nearby...just in case. if you would like our contact info just privately message me. :)
Posted by: diane | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 09:22 PM
Our dear Kristi,
As happy an event as this is,(beaucoup felicitations!),it also pulls at our heart strings to realize just how grown up Max has become,and how filled with accomplishments and brightness for his future!
Especially now,we wrap very tight hugs(and blessings)around you all .
What a big step in your lives!
Love
Natalia XO
Posted by: Natalia | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 11:08 PM
Wow! Somebody looks like Mom! You will miss you sweetheart while he is away. It is a wonderful opportunity for him to get to know another culture....but you know that! I wish him well. MUCH LOVE Eileen
Posted by: Eileen Burns | Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 11:57 PM
Bonne chance, Max! De temps a autre, nous aimerions lire quelques mots sur vos aventures au Mexique.
Bon voyage!
Posted by: Marianne Rankin | Friday, July 28, 2017 at 05:26 AM
Je pense que les sourires de Max sont le sourire de sa mère, sans les moustaches, bien sûr, mais avec la même expression réfléchie, timide, gentille et nuancée.
Posted by: Dana | Friday, July 28, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Bonne chance Max. Have a wonderful experience!
Posted by: Susan | Monday, July 31, 2017 at 11:03 PM