FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

Félicitations on 15 years! Started reading when I went away to uni in England from Los Angeles 13-14 years ago...I moved to Paris after my studies and I've been here ever since!

Bonjour Kristi,

I am a semi-retired hairdresser. I am in a French club called "Parlons Francais". We are trying to improve our french speaking skills. It is a fun club.
Congratulations on your 15th anniversary. Not sure how long I've been reading your blog, enjoy it immensely.

Congratulations on such an enduring blog and loyal readers. I’ve been reading your blog for the last few years. I’m over halfway through my second year of living in France in Uzes in the Gard.

Dear Kristi,
I have been reading and sharing your blog since the publication of your forst book, Words in a French Life, a gift from one of my French students.Since then, I have been sharing my blog with my French students. I teach middle school in a private school in Princeton, New Jersey. Thanks to you, my students have grown to love your stories and they adore Smokey. Congratulations on your wonderful milestone, and I am looking forward to many more years of French-Word-a-Day! Mary Ellen Lederer

Sixty-something US Francophile trying to not completely lose her college French language skills. Have enjoyed learning about wine-making but will now enjoy learning about beer :). Mostly enjoy reading about real lives lived in another culture, another place.

Retired, grandmother of 2 with a third on the way, longing to get to France one day! Enjoy your writing. Thank you.

Bonjour, Kristin. I've been reading your blog for about 10 years. Sometimes it has been almost a 'road not taken' read, and I have savored a glimpse into your experiences. I started learning French in school 60 years ago, when I was 12. At 19, on foreign study in Caen, when traveling by train, I was asked why I had an American passport, because my language was so fluent. I rarely speak French now. Even the Alliance Francaise here is almost completely in English. I am an artist, I taught in a boys' school near Philadelphia for 30 years, and sometimes have students now. My own work is mostly pottery. You can find my studio on Facebook at Edgemoor Pottery, Kalamazoo. I don't have a website because I work mostly to commission and don't want to ship. We travel, and will be in southern France in the spring. We are planning to visit Lyon, Carcassonne, Aix en Provence, Lascaux, and the Dordogne. These will be all new places for us, except for Aix, and Cezanne's studio, when I was 19. So thanks for asking. Felicitations for your 15 year anniversaire!
Jenny Sanderson

Have been reading since the beginning....francophile all my life (in my 60's now) in western NC.....used to be VA and born in NO (so born a francophile i guess) wildest dreams came true when daughter met boy from Paris on semester abroad & eventually married him (great Parisian family) and now have 2 french grandbabies (now in Biarritz)...just wish we could see them more often!!

I am a housewife living in Maine.
I have been reading FrenchWord-A-Day for at least ten years.
Your articles and words have helped me maintain my reading in French.
I last visited Paris and the Loire Valley in 1974. Some day I will return.......
Eh bien, j'ai deux chats et j'iaime Smokey!
Alyssa
OOB, Maine

Australian born, but French at heart. Admire your honesty, sincerity and generosity towards your readers ... Huge congratulations to you on this milestone.

I am a retired French, Spanish, ESL teacher (NC) currently on a Viking Sea Cruise in the West Indies. I learned about your blog from a local French group so I use my French every week. I also interview in Spanish at a food pantry. I speak Italian and a little Dutch and German, too. Love your blog!

Coucou Kristi and Huge Congratulations on the 15th anniversary of your charming blog! As you, I am one-half of a Franco-American couple, splitting our time among Paris, Annecy and New York City (my hometown). JeanClaude (no hyphen) and I have met both Jean-Marc and you in NY, but on separate occasions. Together, we wish you continued inspiration and success with your blog, and with your recent move; and advise that here in the French Alps, along the shores of Lake Annecy, we have had incredibly summer-like 75 degrees F temperatures for the past two weeks.

Wonderful for the spirit, but horrible for our planet.

All the best to you and your family!

I live near San Francisco, but spend two months or more in France every year. I work with orchestras--hiring musicians for two groups, and work in management for a third. I also play the violin. My husband and I have a son who's a journalist in the SF Bay Area. I speak French and English, some Italian, and a tiny bit of German. I enjoy reading about your life in France, and I try to write about mine, which feels a bit bifurcated. I feel caught between two worlds--friends and family in Paris and San Francisco, so many miles apart!

Hi Kristi,
I'm an almost 60 Californian with a grown son who used to travel/work in Paris which sparked my interest in your lovely country photos and blog. I know no French but sometimes would pick up a word or phrase to enjoy and so appreciate the sound recordings. Beautiful photos and descriptive writings give me a hint of another world. Thank you for sharing it and Best Wishes!

Bonjour Alyssa,

Your story struck home with me! I lived in Maine for 10 years (Midcoast area) and was also in France in 1974 during my semester in London. I finally made it back there this past June. I went for 3 weeks with my sister. I LOVED IT!! I am going back next June with students from the school where I am a librarian. And I hope to go there every year, if possible! Don't wait another moment! Start squirreling away every penny until you can get there!

As for French Word-A-Day, I seem to read in spurts! I do enjoy every episode and have done for about 12 years, I suppose. I'm a librarian in Massachusetts and am coming up on 64 years of age in November. Yikes!!

Bon courage,
Margaret

Hi Kristi!

I found your blog 7 years ago when I was out of work from cancer treatment. I love France and have visited it for business and pleasure several times before becoming ill. Your blog helped me "escape" from my bed and think of better times when I would go back to France! I also became acquainted with many vendors from your website! I'm still not healthy enough to contemplate a trip to France, but hope springs eternal! Number 1 on my list is a Mediterranean cruise or a stay in the Nice area!

You were a Beautiful bride! Such a beautiful couple,

Eileen from Long Island, NY

Kristi - Congratulations on 15 years! I've followed you from the beginning, have all of your books and met you years ago when you were speaking at Shakespeare and Company.

I'm a paralegal at a government agency in Richmond, Virginia (33+years) and lucky me, I get to travel to France twice a year (leaving Thursday for Paris).

And.....I am a not so secret admirer of Smokey!
Tish from Powhatan VA

Cpngratulations on an enduring and endearing blog. I speak three languages: English, French and Greek. I live in Quebec and enjoy your blog. I daydream about moving to France.

I live on a farm in the Free State province of South Africa, with my farmer partner and my two very small and very wonderful children. I lived in France as a child (my mother, an artist, had a residency in Paris), and in Rwanda as a working adult (I work, very broadly, in strategy consulting), and have all but lost my once-almost-fluent French - there are not a whole lot of French-speakers in South Africa's corn-country to practice with. I love reading your blogs out loud as a way of keeping my tongue acquainted with French shapes, and like checking in on your comings and goings. Thank you.

I found/started reading your blog/emails in mid-2008. We had just moved back to the States after living in France for 2.5 yr (working there.) Your stories keep me connected to a life in France that I found filled my soul. Often times when you write about an experience in a village, or specific foods, etc. I then make an effort to find and embrace something similar in the U.S. We really do have some fine regional/traditional foods that rarely make it out to the rest of the country. This year we did NM and AZ. So I enjoyed and brought home, from your home state of NM, chimayo chile powder, piñons, coffee, hatch chiles, so sopapilla mix, etc and all the wonderful dishes made with these regional ingredients that are unknown to many in the U.S. Next year we are doing the IL, MN, WI.

Your emails are always a bright spot in my busy work work. Thank you.

I live in a small town in Virginia with my husband, 3 dogs, and 12 cats. I found your blog years and years ago after I lived in Paris for much of 2001. Of course, everything French interests me, as does your life, Kristi. Thank you for sharing it with us! Much love to you and your family. xxxx

I have been reading your blog for at least 10 years. We travel to France about once a year. This year we were in Guadaloupe—formidable! We have friends all over France (one family lives near you in La Cardière). Some of our friends are associated with my husband’s profession—medicine, some with his hobbies of hunting and fishing, and some because they knew my dad when he was a soldier on the Western Front in WWII.

I am a fluent speaker of French and a former children’s author. I didn’t realize any of my books had been translated into French until a friend in Poitiers told me her then 7 year old son was reading one of them at school!
And yes, like another of your readers, your blog is sometimes about “the road not taken” for me. Thank you for sharing.

Hi! I am an American living in Canada for 5 years now. My husband is French Canadian . I am 67 and really struggle with the French language. I am been your fan for several years now.

I love your blog.
Dallas, TX

My husband and I (ages 74 & 69) are on a great retirement adventure. Having sold our house, and obtained French Cartes Séjours, we are now traveling full time and blogging about it (nomadsineurope.com). I enjoy reading and learning from your blog. Keep up the good work!
Kathy Sabatier

Hi, congrats on your blog... an American friend introduced me to your blog several years ago... have been trying to teach myself French for many years... I’m an interior designer retired.... but full time artist.... painting animal portraits mostly ... but other things as well... still life,waterscapes, and landscapes... I’m on Instagram... under the name Sprucemesa... I think we have conversed a time or two on that.... always enjoy your posts...Thank you, Teresa

A trip to France -took me down the road to all things French. Your book-took me to your blog. Your blog keeps me tuned to all things French-but with your American insight. Your insight-your writings-your photos brings out why
so many of us love hearing from you weekly via our inboxes......continue with all your wonderful talents & bring that joy to those who love to have that France in our lives.

Bonjour Kristi and Congratulations on 15 years! I have enjoyed your blog since 2006? and I have forgotten how I found you but so glad I did! I've always loved French and France and studied the language in HS but have not mastered it. I found that I got so much better at the language when we lived in Brussels and I could use French every day!

Wishing you many more years blogging and enjoying life in France!

Eileen in Charlottesville, VA....by the way...HELLO to Eileen in Long Island, NY! :-)

Kristi,

I was turned on to your website because we took our family (10 people!) to France for the first time this past summer and wanted to know everything we could about the area (Provence, particularly the Luberon valley). Doing our research, we found this delightful blog. A hundred years ago I taught elementary French, and have so enjoyed your blog here. I read your book, Words in a French Life, and enjoyed that as well. Thank you for taking the time to record your family speaking, to think clearly about great words to share, and to write about your life. Now that we have been to Robion, we don't want to go anywhere else!!!! We are spoiled. Thanks from Pittsburgh, PA!

I am 56. I am from mainland France (from Seine & Marne, the Brie country, near Disney!) and I have been married to a Reunionese for 33 years. We've been living here in Reunion Island since 2004. This is a beautiful tropical island, 250 miles west of Mauritius. We have a 31-year-old son, living here too with his girlfriend. My husband and I are delighted new grand-parents : our first grand-son was born on Aug. 15 this year ! I teach business English to young adults attending sandwich courss trainings. My husband is a realtor and a local magistrate.

I've been reading your blog for years now and I do thank you for sharing your life with us all. My warmest congratulations on this 15th anniversary, Long life to your blog!

Felicitations! I followed you through your difficult decision to leave your beloved vineyard and dreams, You had the courage to accept that it was time to make the lifestyle change. I bought my dream farm at the same time you moved to yours. I now face the same decision and your bravery is helping me. Your comment about starting out to do one chore and then doing 8 other chores but not getting the intended one accomplished was me looking into a mirror. Oh yes and the weeds... thank you for your insights and passion.

Hi Kristi, I came to France for the first time when I was 19 and on a student tour of Europe. It was love at first sight and I longed to live there. I would frequently propose a move to my husband and he was never going for it. Fortunately life blessed me when I asked my dear sweet husband #2...he said sure and in 2000 off we went and bought a house in the countryside near Limoux, (near Carcassonne). The village is called Castelreng...when we arrived we were the only foreigners and the mayor brought us up on stage at the fete du village to welcome us. You’ve heard many tales of buying and remodeling...ours was the same. A number of years, much hard work and two tons of concrete to produce our beauty of a house. Three years ago we had the opportunity to buy a 14th c. house on the river Aude in town. It was owned by the King of Aragon and part of the original Limoux city wall. This time a dear friend had totally remodeled it so all we’ve had to do was enjoy. In the winter we live in Carmel CA so it’s a lovely life for a couple of retired high school sweethearts who met again by chance.... I’ve been reading your blog for more years than I can remember and so do my cadre of French student friends. I appreciate not only your language and writing skills but most of all your honesty and genuineness in sharing the special details of life that are often so meaningful and universal. Wishing you and your family many blessings and happiness.
Judi Wallner Chandler

Kristin,
I have been saving your blogs for over 10 years and love that you share your life with others.
I am a somewhat "retired" professional watercolorist, and have a website that shows some of my work and has FREE watercolor lessons (about 32) that aspiring artists can use in their pursuit of a painting career.
It is www.maboysen.com/. It is soon to be redesigned because my son says it is "out of date", but I seem to get lots of traffic anyway. My paintings are also featured on www.maryann-boysen.fineartamerica.com/ where people can order prints in many sizes.
I am currently busy with crafts for the Children's Guild of Cleveland (OH), and we have an extensive website showing our "Creations" that we sell each year to benefit children's agencies in the Greater Cleveland area. So creativity is my passion. I can't sit and do nothing. Always creating. That is my passion.

I loved your references to Wells College! I was there in 1965 for a summer Institut of Langue et Culture! Met some of the best teachers I ever had in my life. This was the beginning of the new wave of FL teaching and we were on the ground floor. Happy Life!

Hi Kristi, I live with my aged spaniel in the New Forest in Southern England. We enjoy lovely walks every day in our beautiful surroundings. My son and 2 grandchildren live close by. I am retired from my main job and dabble in property renovation.

The most important things in my life are family, friends, health and home. I try to work on all of these things every day and ruthlessly eliminate everything that is not important to me, so that I have time for the key things in my life.

I am with Jean Marc on his wanting to celebrate special occasions with great gusto ..... and plenty of wine!
I have been dipping into your French Word a Day for some years now and feel I know you and your family very well!

I hope you and Jean Marc are feeling at home in your new home and moving forward in this new chapter of your life with optimism and joy.

X

I am a retired grandmother from Minneapolis, Minnesota and besides traveling I love hanging out with my grandchildren.
I love “words”.... no matter if they are in poetry form or blog form or just a vocabulary list I love the written word.
Thank you for sharing your gift of “words” !!

Marcia

I'm an Acadian from south Louisiana who's first language was "Cajun" French.
Love your blog, French conversation tables, arts and crafts, and reading. Enjoy seeing France through your words and eyes! Congratulations and merci.

We are an Amerocan couple in our late 60's currently living in Tucson. We just sold our old dutch barge which we lived on in France for seven years with a home port of Roanne, Rhone Alpes. We have been reading your blog for about 14 years. We attended your first book reading at the American Library in Paris (and brought you some Mexican chocolate for encouragement). Congratulations.

Congratulations on the impressive milestone. I am a 51-year-old who has finally made the move to a French-speaking country after studying the language on-so-many years ago in college. Have kept it up, though, and happy to be able to use it daily now. I'm now in Marseille, just down the coast from you. So maybe we'll run into each other one of these days. Keep up the writing!

Congratulations on 15 years! At age 15 I spent a summer in Nice studying French. I spent my first career as a special education teacher. I love traveling and have returned to France many times for short visits. I started my own travel agency; Great Getaways Travel 6 years ago and now I love sending other people on great vacations all over the world!!
I love reading your journal to follow your life living in France!
[email protected]

Felicitaations Kristi! I remember meeting you in Ste Cecile 7 years ago and have been reading your blogs for over 10 years.
We just came back from France and ended up in Aix-en-Provence and actually flew back from Marseille.
I was raised and educated in France and started my early childhood near Albi as a hidden Jewish child. My memoir "Your Name Is Renee" Tu T'appelles Renee" is still in print and widely used in the US.
I am now a proud grandmother of seven wonderful children and also devote my life teaching about prejudice, discrimination and tolerance.
Bonne continuation et chaleureuses amities,
Ruth K. Hartz

Happy 15th!!!! I'm an American Francophile in Nashville, TN. I don't speak French, only the very basics. I do however speak English with a great French accent... at least I think it's great! I m lucky enough to have been to France twice. I have even been to your house!!!! In 2010, we were in Provence, staying in a house in Senas, and our house manger set up a wine tour with Jean Marc. We had a wonderful time!

Be well, happy and keep blogging!!I am loving your new adventures on the coast.

Gael

Congratulations, Kristi, on 15 years of improving our French, but more than that, giving us a glimpse of your Provencal life. I am so happy that a friend and I met you and Jean-Marc several years ago at your former home. You are as delightful in person as in your blog. Also, I love to read about Jules, your beautiful mom.

I was a French major in college, spent six months in Paris trying to perfect my French. (Key word: trying!) I lived with the head trainer at the Opera Garnier and his wife (it was the only opera at the time). It was the experience of a lifetime. I watched many operas from his "box," met famous vocalists, and was accepted into the family as a daughter rather than an "au pair." I spoke only French, as I was with only French people. Several years later, I went back and traveled around Europe with this beloved couple. Was I surprised to find out he spoke fluent English!!! He just didn't want me to be able to revert to English. We remained friends until the end of their lives. I have many letters, all written in French, of course, all of which are treasures.

I have been back to France over a dozen times. But it will never be enough, however many trips I take.

I found this blog and began reading about 13 years ago in my high school French class. I fell in love with the language and culture and finally made it to Paris last year. I cannot wait to return and continuing exploring this beautiful country!

Felicitations! i have enjoyed your blog for years. I am a 70 year old retiree and confirmed Francophile and somewhat Francophone, about to embark on my 6th visit to Paris. I live in Oakland, California, but consider France my second home. Although not likely, it would be lovely to meet you and Jean-Marc some day. As we used to say in the 60's- "keep on keeping on". Please give Smokey a big hug for me.

I have been enjoying your site for I'm not sure exactly how many years, at least ten probably. I speak Spanish and Japanese, and in my adulthood have been working on French and Norwegian. In my retirement I hope to cycle around to all of the languages, but the focus now is on Norwegian, where we will travel again next year. I enjoy the stories of your family, including your sweet dog!

I have been reading your blog for at least 12 years and love the insights into French life. I am an interpreter and live in Israel. I speak Hebrew English French German and Dutch and until my retirement 3 years ago I worked for the US embassy in Tel Aviv. I now freelance as a translator and volunteer in an elementary school tutoring English to children who need extra help learning the language. Keep up your great work!

Congratulations on 15 years of your charming anecdotes, useful French lessons, generous sharing of your insights and challenges, and lovely photographs. I believe I've been following from near the beginning of "French Word-a-Day" and was fortunate enough to find ourselves living near you and Jean-Marc as you opened your winery and many bottles of Rouge-Bleu for us and our visiting friends (even to a day of picking grapes and photographing the harvest and pressing! A very special experience.)

As you know, we are now retired and seasonal nomads in the U.S., living and travelling in our RV, and I especially cherish your "Likes" on my Facebook page when I post photos from Arizona! I hope our paths will cross again soon, when we migrate seasonally to our beloved "La Trouvaille" in Sablet. Felicitations, Kristi!

HI Kristi, I discovered your blog three years ago when I was making plans to spend a month in Provence. I studied at the Sorbonne in 1956-57 and had wanted to do that ever since. I stayed in Maussane les Alpilles, a small village, so that (I hoped) there would be fewer tourists and I'd have a better chance to use my French. It worked and it was a wonderful experience. I'm now in my 81st year and continue to enjoy working on my French and "living"in France, vicariously, by following your family's life. Thank you for sharing it. I'll send a donation in honor of your anniversary. Congratulations!

Bonjour, Kristi. Feliciations! Retired band and choral director who returned to studying French after so many years away from it while working, with aims of becoming fluent, secrétaire of AF Knoxville, TN.