I used to use the expression “fumer comme un pompier” (smoke like a fireman) to describe a friend and some of his family members. So it was interesting to read the origins of it. Apparently at the end of the 18th/beginning of the 19th century, firefighters would coat their uniforms with a sort of fatty [...]

Some new creations from Hexagon Accessories. Click here for the Etsy page where they are sold.

Among the pitfalls in learning French are what is known as “faux amis” (false friends) – that is, words that sound as if they ought to mean the same thing in English and French, but don’t. Like librairie, which is a bookstore, not a library. Or photographe, which is a photographer, not the camera image. Assister doesn’t mean [...]

It’s always been a puzzle to me that people would start a new business, which involves a considerable investment of time, energy and money, without checking to see if its name is correct. >more

Here is the best kept secret of ALL French teachers abroad. Swearing words. Of course, this is the perfect time to send you children away so they don’t learn them faster than you do.  Warning: I know you might like to use these words to sound « more French » than you already do. Don’t. I’m offering them [...]

I’ve noticed lately that a lot of my expat friends seem to be in a slang word time warp. Do slang words learned before moving abroad stay through the years in one’s expat life? Does slang stand still over time? Je pense que oui. It seems to be the case in La Mom’s entourage. Here’s [...]

Super cute video that Anglophones can easily relate to!

Language schools abound in the City of Light, but it’s difficult to find a program that provides quality instruction and doesn’t break the bank or wreak havoc on your schedule. However, the language program offered by the Mairie de Paris fit the bill–knowledgeable teachers, after-work hours, and convenient locations. The best part? The semester long [...]

On Thursday I stopped in my local pharmacy to pick up a prescription, and it went a little something like this… Me: (in my best be-nice-to-be French) Bonsoir Madame Pharmacist! I need this prescription filled, please. Madame Pharmacist: (in rapid-fire French) blah blah blah blah blah blah…that’s a lot of iron. Are you sure that you need 8 bottles [...]