, I brought my laundry in to have it washed on July 31 and was told it wouldn’t be ready until September 1. I couldn’t understand why until they explain to me that everything shut down for the month of August when everyone takes their vacation.
And I went to a store to purchase a mattress and mistakenly asked for a “matelot”. She laughingly explained I meant a “matelas”. I had asked for a sailor!
Ah, the August exodus... it's pretty amazing. And now I know the word for sailor. I seid something absurd at the electronics store Darty last week when I was trying to buy one of those things that heats and froths milk. I think the woman behind the counter was so irritated with me she tried to melt me with her eyes.
How do you say that in French? I never made my own coffee there, my favorite thing to do was to go to a café and get a grand crème. I of course, have one here and a French press.
As a Frenchman in the US, I had a symmetrical experience. I remember the first few times people would ask me " are you enjoying yourself " which, translated literally in French, would mean " are you giving yourself an orgasm?" Although I knew they did not mean to pry, it was hard not to look horrified.
Sadly, comes a day when everything feels normal. So, enjoy yourself in Paris while it lasts!
Thank you so much for this anecdote. So so funny. I thought about going into THAT particular word in this piece but chickened out. Though I think I will do something differences in what's seductive or sexy here versus the U.S. And yeah, I'll hold tight to the wonder for as long as I can. I will say, I lived in Paris for four years in my 20s and I was always just undone that I could be there at all. Best, s
I cannot convey to you enough what a joy it is to awaken in the morning, brew a cup of whatever, crawl back into a warm bed and read your missives! I laughed out loud re this one! What a treat!! Such talent, such humor and a handful of wisdom thrown in. Whatever “big” means — in French or in English — it is in your future! Keep writing my dear……you’ve travelled a long road to get where you are today and there is no one, no one, who is more aware of the journey, its foibles and virtues, than you and no one who is more positive than you or who deserves to reap the rewards than you!
I’m sending you warm hugs from across the pond………much love, Judith
You're the best, thanks Judith. Makes me so happy to know you're reading these. Someday we should write the stories of our TIME travels.. ahem. I don't think my NDA goes back that far. much love from here, Sus
Susanna, wonderful to read your delightful piece on France. If any American deserves to be here with your observant and wry but humane sense of humor it is you. After all these years I am routinely amused by the names given to products or the names of companies and what they're in fact selling, and though I 'went native" years ago I still makes mistakes after all this time. But the French will forgive you because they love brilliance.
Thanks so so much Victoria! Today I saw fancy store in the Marais called "Oh My Cream!" (In English) I kid you not. So funny. And I should have mentioned in the piece that live next to a clothing store inexplicably called "Make My Lemonade." I know you know exactly what it's like. Please let me know when you come through we shall have a toast or two to Franglais. xx Susanna .
Susanna, Because of Long Covid I have to rest a lot but still manage to come into Paris about twice a week. Iwill send you a more detailed message through FB!
Thank you for the delightful posts and Mazel Tov on your brave move! You are making a somewhat gray time in my life much more intolerable. It has always been in my plans to move to Cagnes Sur Mer for s period of time and this gives me hope that I can do it, regardless of my rudimentary high school knowledge of the French language. Enjoy every moment, embrace the new, celebrate the unknown and please keep sharing!
Hi Deb, You'll learn it on site, and so many people speak English now, it's embarrassing. Anyway, glad you're keeping that dream kindled. I had this idea in my head about Paris for decades...
Hilarious! My grade school German got worse after living in Germany for seven years, aided by the fact that when we moved there in 2017 Germans refused to speak German, but by the time we left a few months ago the German government had proposed legislation making English the official secondary language to attract foreign workers. No great loss. They are efficient and perfunctory in their sentence structure, but not very doux...
Haha! I didn't know that about the second language law. They all speak such fabulous English. And as a Schrobsdorff (who lived in Berlin till I was 5 with a German father), I agree that German is seldom doux. But it is often hilarious. xx
Delightful first-thing-early-morning reading, your latest post from Paris! Thank you again for sharing all the joys and humor of your experiences and encounters!
I love your newsletter. I myself moved to Paris in 1967 just after having graduated college. I had majored in French, but that did not prepare me for living there and speaking and understanding it. It was probably not until I’d been there two years that I felt fluent. I worked for an American investment bank on the Place Vendôme but lived in a studio in Neuilly so I was able to experience both worlds. I lived there for four years and had all French friends plus one German friend who worked with me. I am still in touch with them after all these years and we zoom regularly which enables me to keep up my French. For a while I kept going back every two years. My heart is still there. I dream in French.
Oh, I love that sentence: "I dream in French" how beautiful to remember it that way. Have you seen the 1961 film with Sidney Poitier and Paul Newman "Paris Blues" ?
This had me laughing out loud. My husband and I once stayed in one of the airport hotels where the only available room had two twin beds....how we longer for a "pont d'amour" that night.
You do realize that your dog is going to outrageously belligerent if you ever return to the US where he won't get to accompany you to restaurants?!?!?!?!?!🙄🤣 I am laughing while imagining my small dog in similar circumstances!
"I join in too soon and reveal that I think we are talking about the best cheeses to buy for your partner, but we are talking about someone breaking up with someone while eating cheese." Somehow this sounds like a Taylor Swift song. In a good way. :-). Keep writing, please.
French Prayer:
May you go softly and sweetly,
Collecting patience,
As you cross the bridge of love
into your precious reactivity.
Not a bad summary of your post.
I love this poem so much!! How perfect. Thank you.
After having just moved to Paris
, I brought my laundry in to have it washed on July 31 and was told it wouldn’t be ready until September 1. I couldn’t understand why until they explain to me that everything shut down for the month of August when everyone takes their vacation.
And I went to a store to purchase a mattress and mistakenly asked for a “matelot”. She laughingly explained I meant a “matelas”. I had asked for a sailor!
Ah, the August exodus... it's pretty amazing. And now I know the word for sailor. I seid something absurd at the electronics store Darty last week when I was trying to buy one of those things that heats and froths milk. I think the woman behind the counter was so irritated with me she tried to melt me with her eyes.
How do you say that in French? I never made my own coffee there, my favorite thing to do was to go to a café and get a grand crème. I of course, have one here and a French press.
Hi Susanna!
As a Frenchman in the US, I had a symmetrical experience. I remember the first few times people would ask me " are you enjoying yourself " which, translated literally in French, would mean " are you giving yourself an orgasm?" Although I knew they did not mean to pry, it was hard not to look horrified.
Sadly, comes a day when everything feels normal. So, enjoy yourself in Paris while it lasts!
Emmanuel.
Hi Emmanuel,
Thank you so much for this anecdote. So so funny. I thought about going into THAT particular word in this piece but chickened out. Though I think I will do something differences in what's seductive or sexy here versus the U.S. And yeah, I'll hold tight to the wonder for as long as I can. I will say, I lived in Paris for four years in my 20s and I was always just undone that I could be there at all. Best, s
Susanna,
I cannot convey to you enough what a joy it is to awaken in the morning, brew a cup of whatever, crawl back into a warm bed and read your missives! I laughed out loud re this one! What a treat!! Such talent, such humor and a handful of wisdom thrown in. Whatever “big” means — in French or in English — it is in your future! Keep writing my dear……you’ve travelled a long road to get where you are today and there is no one, no one, who is more aware of the journey, its foibles and virtues, than you and no one who is more positive than you or who deserves to reap the rewards than you!
I’m sending you warm hugs from across the pond………much love, Judith
You're the best, thanks Judith. Makes me so happy to know you're reading these. Someday we should write the stories of our TIME travels.. ahem. I don't think my NDA goes back that far. much love from here, Sus
Susanna, wonderful to read your delightful piece on France. If any American deserves to be here with your observant and wry but humane sense of humor it is you. After all these years I am routinely amused by the names given to products or the names of companies and what they're in fact selling, and though I 'went native" years ago I still makes mistakes after all this time. But the French will forgive you because they love brilliance.
Thanks so so much Victoria! Today I saw fancy store in the Marais called "Oh My Cream!" (In English) I kid you not. So funny. And I should have mentioned in the piece that live next to a clothing store inexplicably called "Make My Lemonade." I know you know exactly what it's like. Please let me know when you come through we shall have a toast or two to Franglais. xx Susanna .
Susanna, Because of Long Covid I have to rest a lot but still manage to come into Paris about twice a week. Iwill send you a more detailed message through FB!
Thank you for the delightful posts and Mazel Tov on your brave move! You are making a somewhat gray time in my life much more intolerable. It has always been in my plans to move to Cagnes Sur Mer for s period of time and this gives me hope that I can do it, regardless of my rudimentary high school knowledge of the French language. Enjoy every moment, embrace the new, celebrate the unknown and please keep sharing!
Hi Deb, You'll learn it on site, and so many people speak English now, it's embarrassing. Anyway, glad you're keeping that dream kindled. I had this idea in my head about Paris for decades...
Sorry, that's much more tolerable... :)
Bravissima Susanna. Doucement-doucement, I would like to try it in Roma's sidewalks.
I'd like to see that too!
Hilarious! My grade school German got worse after living in Germany for seven years, aided by the fact that when we moved there in 2017 Germans refused to speak German, but by the time we left a few months ago the German government had proposed legislation making English the official secondary language to attract foreign workers. No great loss. They are efficient and perfunctory in their sentence structure, but not very doux...
Haha! I didn't know that about the second language law. They all speak such fabulous English. And as a Schrobsdorff (who lived in Berlin till I was 5 with a German father), I agree that German is seldom doux. But it is often hilarious. xx
Delightful first-thing-early-morning reading, your latest post from Paris! Thank you again for sharing all the joys and humor of your experiences and encounters!
Hi Pete! So happy to see your name!! And thanks for the kind words. S
This is just so wonderful! I remember having a wonderful dinner with you in Paris so many years ago. You belong there, my friend. Sending all my love.
Thank you so much dear one. And I remember that too. Let's do it again. My guest room is your guest room. Love,s
Charming essay. I loved learning the origin of the hour of the dog and wolf.
Appreciate that David. Thanks for reading and for the kind words.
I love your newsletter. I myself moved to Paris in 1967 just after having graduated college. I had majored in French, but that did not prepare me for living there and speaking and understanding it. It was probably not until I’d been there two years that I felt fluent. I worked for an American investment bank on the Place Vendôme but lived in a studio in Neuilly so I was able to experience both worlds. I lived there for four years and had all French friends plus one German friend who worked with me. I am still in touch with them after all these years and we zoom regularly which enables me to keep up my French. For a while I kept going back every two years. My heart is still there. I dream in French.
Oh, I love that sentence: "I dream in French" how beautiful to remember it that way. Have you seen the 1961 film with Sidney Poitier and Paul Newman "Paris Blues" ?
No but my first movies there were Jules et Jim and Un Homme et Une Femme.
Your writing is delightful!
Thanks so much for the kind words Maryanne, means a lot
This had me laughing out loud. My husband and I once stayed in one of the airport hotels where the only available room had two twin beds....how we longer for a "pont d'amour" that night.
You do realize that your dog is going to outrageously belligerent if you ever return to the US where he won't get to accompany you to restaurants?!?!?!?!?!🙄🤣 I am laughing while imagining my small dog in similar circumstances!
Oh he’s made that clear! 😂
"I join in too soon and reveal that I think we are talking about the best cheeses to buy for your partner, but we are talking about someone breaking up with someone while eating cheese." Somehow this sounds like a Taylor Swift song. In a good way. :-). Keep writing, please.