Deballer: Max unpacks after his exchange program in Mexico
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Together again. A nouveau réunis. If you are new to this blog, you might enjoy the story of our Franco-American family, beginning when the kids were very young. Click here to order the book.
Chaque jour apporte ses cadeaux. Il ne vous reste qu'à les déballer.
Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. Ann Ruth Schabacker
Click here to listen to the example sentence
Today's Word: déballer
: to unpack
: to untie
: to reveal
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
It's been over a week since our 23-year-old returned from his 10-month exchange program in Léon, Mexico. Jean-Marc and I picked up Max from the Marseilles airport...with a surprise in tow: Max's best friend, Antony, was there to meet us at la sortie. (The totally unexpected encounter garnered Antony three times the hug I'd gotten, but who's counting câlins? After a week of catching up with all his vieux pots, I got my son all to myself last night.
In our PJs, robes, and other cozy add-ons--pillows, hot-chocolate, blankets and a portable phone (what jeune homme can live without one?) we lounged on just-assembled IKEA couches in our newly-remodeled living room. Jean-Marc and I had planned the entire renovation around our son's return--the work had to be done by May 15th--or no deal!) And here we were now, enjoying an evening I had imagined many times over: just hanging out, watching a good movie.
We were actually enjoying one of Max's favorite T.V. dramas, called Peaky Blinders. He had already seen all the episodes, in Mexico, but he missed a lot of details, owing to the thick accents (Birmingham? Irish?--I don't know, I've only begun watching and I'm hooked, just as Max was!).
Max tells me the series is well into its quatrième saison. That's good news for this Mama, as there'll be dozens more opportunities to chill with my firstborn. And that's the biggest câlin I can think of.
Picture of me and Max, from the post "Unfit Mother" (Une Mère Indigne. Read it here)
FRENCH VOCABULARY
la sortie = the exit
jeune homme = young man
un vieux pot = an old pal
une quatrième saison = a 4th season
le câlin = hug
Max, left, and me, in hat, at our family picnic here at home in La Ciotat. I leave you with a picture of our new kitchen and living room!
The night after Max arrived, he and his friends--and a few of Jean-Marc's--gathered to watch the Europe League soccer finals, which, by the looks on their faces (apart from Max's) got off to a bad start for Marseilles!
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Reunions are so very special. And now, many fun shared times ahead.
Posted by: Catherine Berry (But you are in France, Madame) | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 12:23 PM
Love the new look and openness of the kitchen.
Posted by: Suzanne | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 02:39 PM
Hi Kristi,
Enjoy your time with Max! I can't wait to fly to Germany next month to see my son, daughter-in-law and lovely Olivia who will be 8 months on June 1st.
I love your renovations. I especially love the kitchen flooring and the tile in the living room!
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 04:06 PM
What a beautiful family and you are so happy to be together again. A very special time. Your remodel looks wonderful. Know you are enjoying it. Happy summer!
Posted by: Nancy | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 04:07 PM
P,S. I am also addicted to Peaky Blinders.
Posted by: Nancy | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 04:08 PM
You have such a beautiful family, Kristi - inside and out!
Posted by: Kate Dickerson | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 04:23 PM
Peaky Blinders addicted as well...
Posted by: Cécile | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 04:41 PM
We have those couches in all places over the years and two here in Collioure and LOVE them. Kids love to lounge on them and I know Max will put them to good use. Bienvenido, MAX!
Posted by: Suzanne Dunaway | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 04:55 PM
Addicted to Peaky Blinders as well! If Max watches it on Netflix, he can actvate captions in English. I am an Anglophone and still need help with the Birmingham accent...
Posted by: Isabella | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 05:13 PM
Great job of remodeling, Kristi! Your home looks casual-elegant; upscale, but inviting and cozy. Those Ikea sofas look pretty darn good, as well as roomy and comfortable, and the hot chocolate is mouthwatering.
I hope you were able to draw Max into some good conversations. That can be difficult with young men. In any case, I'm glad you've having a great time together.
Posted by: Teresa | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 05:20 PM
I know you're ecstatic for the reunion. By the looks of your pictures, the kitchen must be done. I hope the renovations make this new place feel more like YOUR home.
Posted by: Julie Farrar | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 05:22 PM
Your new interiors look lovely and are well deserved. You have worked so hard for this home. Well done.
Posted by: Margaret | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 05:28 PM
Peaky Blinders is set in Birmingham (West Midlands, England not Alabama)
The Brummie accent is widely thought to be the least attractive of British accents (I can say this as I was born nearby)
Philologists believe that by 2100 most British regional accents will have been absorbed into estuarine English, the nasal dialect of London and the Thames estuary so we should treasure these regional differences for as long as we can.
Noble of you to Put up with the brutality of PB in the cause of being with your son.
Posted by: David | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 05:28 PM
.....Family is everything! Your renovation/remodel looks so beautiful. ! Now the house is your home as you have made it so. Many happy times to come for everyone there..... the future is bright for you and your family... Bisous, Judi... Tallahassee, Fl.
Posted by: Judith Dunn | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 06:17 PM
Modern new kitchen but still has that French je ne sais quoi mean
Nice to have a son back home but do know he will leave again!
Posted by: Jeanne Govert | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 06:32 PM
Fascinating. Love this linguistic tidbit. It's wild to observe the movement of languages and dialects over the centuries. Fun fact: one idiom that has remained consistent is Italian. Old text from the renaissance still reads as modern italian in many respects.
Posted by: romie | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 07:30 PM
New home, renovations, family reunion. What ore could you ask for? Enjoy it all and 8 reallyneed a Provençal fix. The weather is finally getting better here especially after the rain and thunderstorm last night.
A bientôt.
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen from Connecticut | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 07:48 PM
Good reunion. Fantastic reno.
Posted by: Roseann Milano | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 08:06 PM
Kristi
I look forward to your stories each week. I hope to comment intelligently in French by summer's end!
Elissa
Posted by: Elissa Hughes | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 11:57 PM
How exciting to have Max back.
Love your renovations!
xoxo
Posted by: Karen Cafarella | Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 05:11 AM
How is it that in the 2 photos of you with your son, you look even younger in the one taken when he was 23 than in the other taken when he was much younger. Whatever you are doing - keep it up. It's working.
Posted by: Ken Curtis | Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 06:26 AM
The living room and kitchen look fabulous! Happy for you all!
Posted by: Anne Woodyard (@MusicandMarkets) | Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 01:21 PM
So glad Max is home, safe and sound! Did he get to spend much time with his grandmother? What next for him? BTW, I find closed captioning very helpful when I'm watching a British show.
Posted by: Jan in Colorado | Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 03:18 PM
A tip that was given to me for watching Peaky Blinders: Turn on the subtitles! It's distracting at first but you get used to it.
Posted by: Emily | Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 05:42 PM
Your children have grown up to be such beautiful young adults!! What a wonderful time of life to be enjoying fun times with them -- in between all their various adventures. You've done a great job, Mom and Dad.
Posted by: Ophelia | Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 11:20 PM
Thanks for inviting me to the party by sharing your words and photos! Love the new place and love the big family picnic. Hope to get back to Provence before too long...such a lovely place to be.
Posted by: Jan Hersh | Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 11:30 PM
Grinning big at all this grand news, Kristi! So great to see all four of you beautiful and cherished cyber-friends together again, to admire your elegant and spacious new quarters, and to think of you enjoying 'Peaky Blinders' right alongside us. What fun, well-grounded in profound relief that the renos are done and Max is home again, however enriched and transformed by his exchange experience ... all this conveys well the fullness of your maternal heart! Bisous à tous!
Posted by: Kitty Wilson-Pote | Friday, May 25, 2018 at 08:40 PM
Mille mercis, Kitty!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, May 25, 2018 at 09:48 PM
OH!! The joy of a refinished house remodel. It is just lovely!! I have a feeling you will be enjoying it for many years to come! It’s so exciting to see you all together again!
Posted by: Gail L from AZ | Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 04:51 PM
Les copains: potes (pas: pots).
British accents are the best! Provided there are subtibles!!! TIC.
Posted by: Jacqueline | Monday, May 28, 2018 at 01:34 AM
Thank you, Jacqueline!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, May 28, 2018 at 08:40 AM
Wonderful images all around ... your family, your renovations, and your brilliant smile! Bonne fête ma chère Kristi, un peu en retard!
Posted by: Patricia Sands | Monday, May 28, 2018 at 11:04 PM
Your new kitchen cabinets are stunning!
Posted by: Cathia Gantz | Saturday, June 02, 2018 at 05:25 PM