Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

French

In France:

1) Daily baguette

2) Eiffel tower

3) You can wear colored socks with tennis shoes

4) Bonjour MADAME, Bonjour MONSIEUR

5) Do not mix sugary foods with salty foods, hence a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich, is an unacceptable lunch.

6) One sentence you must ignore, though you will hear it often; "Ce n’est pas possible!"

7) Coin operated grocery carts.

8) Middle names a mile long, example: Thierry Alain Francois Jean Michele Dupont.

9) Cigarette smoke

10) When you want to say "one" with your finger, you use your thumb. When you go into the bakery and you want to order one baguette, you hold up your thumb, "Une baguette." If you hold up your pointer finger you will confuse the baker and will receive two baguettes.

11) Wine and cheese

12) "Oh la la!" Can be positive or negative depending on how you say it.

13) They know how to wear a scarf an hundred different ways.

14) Marriages happen at the City Hall. Then if you want you can have a religious ceremony.

15) Strikes

16) xoxo does not mean hugs and kisses.

What does being French mean to you?

Comments

61 responses to “French”

  1. diana

    Fantastically frenchy picture
    Corey… when I think of France I see bue skies, bakeries, winding roads, lavender fields, confit pots, blue shutters, flea markets, wonderful old buildings, great wine, and its american ambassador Corey !

    Reply
  2. Lee

    Too many stereotypes!
    I remember the crepe-stalls with affection.
    The people were polite, despite their reputation.
    Rubber wheels on the Metro.
    Decorated Metro stations to suit local tourist landmarks. eg Rodin Museum.
    Wine in plastic bottles.

    Reply
  3. berrie

    so what does xoxo mean in france? I use it always when I sign my name sure hope it isn’t something vulgar! xo
    france to me=moulin rouge;o)
    http://www.moulinrouge.fr/home-flash-fr.html

    Reply
  4. Shannon (Sentimental)

    I have to say I wish I knew. But I love living through you!

    Reply
  5. Kristy

    Happy children,relaxed husband, tipsy mummy and lovely memories!

    Reply
  6. susan

    when i think french i think, beautful thin women, lovely lovely lavendar, amazing coffee, sweet people and the beautiful smooth stones of the Nice beach.
    ooh! and of course YOU!

    Reply
  7. ULLA

    Antiques, Incredible food, flirty men and very thin fashion-conscious women, dogs everywhere and beautiful language! And now I always think of You too Corey!

    Reply
  8. Shannon Lewis

    I think of breads and pastries, frog legs and snails.
    I think it’s a crime that they don’t believe in mixing sweet and salty…how do women survive that “time of the month”? LOL.

    Reply
  9. andrea

    You know I read this early this morning while my household slept and #10 stuck in my head.
    So now hours later, I have been driving my husband and kids crazy by making breakfast and shouting “UNE BAGUETTE!!” while shoving my thumb in their faces. I’m pretty sure I’ll be shouting that all day.
    a.

    Reply
  10. andrea

    Oh and I just ADORE the picture. So, so beautiful.
    a.

    Reply
  11. MCaplan

    Cafes, dogs, Notre Dame, long majestic walks that take you back in time, fireworks, beaches, green and white striped tents at the beach clubs, the Arc de Triomphe, Coke in the bottle, one of those double facing swings in the park, pigeons, Kinder Eggs, Bakery goods(!!!!) and wine.
    Now I am getting itchy to travel!

    Reply
  12. Meredith

    Walking more, driving less
    Hotdog sandwiches stuffed with french fries
    Topless tanning on the beaches
    Colorful weekly outdoor markets
    Bonjour, au revoir Madame

    Reply
  13. Josephine

    To me, French means statues of angels, fields of lavendar, wonderful-smelling milled soaps and perfumes, chandeliers, and lovely, angelic, imaginative transplant-american women named things like Corey…

    Reply
  14. Amber

    Oh, I love this.
    When I think of France, I think of and younger hubs and me and big backpacks. I think of stumbling apon ancient villages of limestone.I think of the *perfect* moment of watching the sun set over the Loire river, with the fairy tale like chateau of Saumur across the water. I think of warm bagette and butter for breakfast. I think of being on my knees in Notre Dame. I think of making love in a sleeping couch on the night train to Avingion. I think of dreams attained.
    *Sigh* When I think of France, I smile. That is why I love to come to your blog.

    Reply
  15. Nicole

    The wonderful market-bought picnic we shared in Arles. The crazy French woman who served up the worst seafood ever in Nice. Walking down the Champs-Elysee in the rain. People tolerating my crappy French 202 level of a beautiful language. Really expensive coffee. Really good wine. That one experience with the winemaker in the Loire I will never forget. How everyone is named Pierre. Hairy armpits. Lots and lots of scarves.
    Good memories. Thanks for tolerating my trip down that lane. Now, the closest I get to anything French is reading your blog and singing “Frere Jacques” to my daughter.

    Reply
  16. stephanie s

    boats in the fountain at Luxembourg Gardens, the woman who wouldn’t seat me at the restaurant and made me cry, the best sea bass i have ever tasted, the pigeon feathers, the little carts that picked up dog leavings, champagne and foie gras for dinner, the top of the Eiffel Tower, the stolen pebbles from beneath the Eiffel Tower, and, the confused look on the face of the baker when i wanted one croissant but held up my index finger….

    Reply
  17. cruststation

    I love that photo! Thank you for the insight into French culture, I spent most of the day trying to find out what xoxo meant but no luck:(, I think that using the thumb instead of the pointer finger is most interesting -love to hear more.

    Reply
  18. expatraveler

    That just brings back memories and makes me want to be in the cafe. Thinking of France, I think of the mediterranean, cafe’s and good coffee, strolling Paris, beautiful buildings, adoring paintings, and taking many photos…
    The thumb is such a good one and something I totally had to learn.

    Reply
  19. julie

    I’m totally fascinated by these coin operated grocery carts you speak of…must seek out on google….
    Oh, and when I imagine what France must be like, I think of Hemingway’s moveable feast and Van Gogh’s cafes…
    Lovely.

    Reply
  20. vegasandvenice

    Well now, you learn something new everyday! Cool!

    Reply
  21. jennifer

    a friend and i arrive in narbonne and are tired and starving. she’s the spanish speaking part of our duo and i’m the french (if a year of highschool francais (with a b-) should even be mentioned. we find what we need in a corner market (a couple cans of tuna and a bottle of orange juice). when i go to pay i shyly attempt my best french. the woman at the counter says in her heavy french accent and with a grimace, ‘do you speak english?’ i reply (with a smile ‘cuz i’m relieved she does) , ‘yes!’. she sighs and simply says, ‘please’. as in, ‘please do us ALL the favor of not attempting another french word. tail between american legs…we took our ‘dinner’ back to our hotel room and ate it while watching the summer olympics on the little tv in the room. not surprisingly, i began all my interactions during the rest our france journey with, ‘bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?” 🙂

    Reply
  22. Orama

    Great photo on your blog. That’s France to me, small tables and chairs
    close together facing the street.

    Reply
  23. Beth

    I’m taking notes for my someday trip to France. Does that mean that chocolate covered pretzels are out? (The French could learn a few things from the American cuisine!)

    Reply
  24. Lauren

    1. Stone buildings painted the color of the sunset.
    2. Ocean blue shutters
    3. Flower boxes hanging from windows spilling over with blooms.
    3. Scrolly black ironwork
    4. Old french women shaking their rugs outside their doors.
    5. Cobblestone streets.
    6. Tiny little cars with funny little horns.
    7. Bicycles with baskets filled with wares.
    8. Old men and young lovers sitting outside at cafes.
    9 “La vie en rose” playing in the background everywhere you go (even if it’s just in one’s head.)
    10. A funny little woman with warts walking around with her thumb in the air.
    ;o)

    Reply
  25. blackbird

    now I am going to order my baguette with my thumb – so I can feel french.
    what DOES xoxo mean?

    Reply
  26. angela

    my favourite french word… well, phrase i suppose.
    saying “mon chou” to my dear ones.
    i love the sound and the feel of those words on my tongue. and then the smile on my face thinking i’ve just called them “my cauliflower”.
    and of course, i love the way the french say omondieu!
    but to me france is sitting in cafés, the endless ways the women gracefully and beautifully have created their own style with wearing scarves.
    in the south of france, it is the motorway reststops where even the ladies stand when going to the loo.
    it is baguettes, and realising that a café au lait is simply a lovely strong coffee with a bit of milk on the side.
    it is walking along the seine and always finding my way back to shakespeare & co. bookstore across from the notre dame.
    it is wondering why i can’t fit into any of the french clothes.
    france. a beautiful discovery each and everytime.
    oxo
    angela
    http://www.omondieu.blogspot.com

    Reply
  27. la vie en rose

    oh i wish i had an answer…some day i will. for now i just have my dreams and imaginations…

    Reply
  28. Brother Mathew

    stone buildings, art nouveau, utilitarianism, gargoyles, the metro, cars with dents, WWII, gothic arches and flying buttresses. Lance & Greg.
    A Frenchman winning on Bastille Day. Dreaming George will win Paris Roubaix someday. Eating blue cheese in a forest. Brother Yann drinking warm French beer with me. My tireless pregnant sister covering all her bases. scooters and decomposed granite.

    Reply
  29. Dianne Schwartz

    Hmmm…dog poop on the sidewalk? I’m so bad.

    Reply
  30. snowsparkle

    from my recollections of france 32 years ago… being french means: spontaneity, passion, love of fine foods and wine, passing time sipping cafe au lait, wine or beer sitting at street cafes, giving in to temptations… and yes, smoking (not me, but it certainly seemed like everyone else did). thanks for this forum for all things french and the lovely photo.

    Reply
  31. Joanne

    Wish I could say that I have been to France, but alas, this will have to do:
    ~lavender fields
    ~fine perfumes and milled soaps
    ~boulangeries
    ~patisseries
    ~cute cafe spots
    ~cafe au lait
    ~baguettes and croissants
    ~le coq(from Peter Mayle’s books/movies)
    ~minstral/winds
    ~stone homes with blue shutters
    ~narrow cobblestone streets
    ~Le Chocolate (movie)
    ~wine and romance
    ~fashion/chic
    ~rapid conversation using hands and body movement
    ~passionate people
    (hot blooded!):)
    C’était une question
    d’amusement!
    Dites merci très beaucoup, mon amie!

    Reply
  32. andrea

    France est un pays magnifique. (Hay! I can say “excuse my French” and really mean it without even swearing! 🙂

    Reply
  33. mary ann

    c’est tres manifique, is what i say about this post(sorry about the phonetic spelling of magnificent… i took 4 years of french in high school and it is wicked rusty!).
    france will always remind me of fields of lavender, of art (with a capital A), of cooking and my weakness, chocolate croissants!
    thanks for this post….it brightened my afternoon!
    🙂 mary ann

    Reply
  34. Mary Jane Rossi

    Just love your comments today…I wish I’d of know about the thumb thing when I was visiting Paris…..French for me is eating crepes that my memere would have cooked for me….

    Reply
  35. jennifer

    the France I imagine and hope to one day see is Black and white photos, strong espresso at a sidewalk cafe every morning, long walks, fresh bouquets of flowers from the farmer’s market, meals that last for hours with good wine, conversation and laughter. Someday…

    Reply
  36. –erica

    I must make it to France.. and soon.

    Reply
  37. ~Vicki

    …everything wonderful!

    Reply
  38. Colette

    I couldn’t resist this!
    Paris et banlieu:
    1. Pain au chocolat (au goûter quand j’étais toute petite).
    2. Most frequent utterance: Ce n’est pas logique!
    3. “An American in Paris” at Christmas on TV.
    4. Shopping at Galeries Lafayette.
    5. Café-crème at Gare de l’Est waiting for the train to Pavillon sous Bois where we lived.
    For starters.

    Reply
  39. Linda Mathieu

    When I think of Paris I think of my first glimpse of Notre Dame, the lights sparkling on the Eiffel Tower, the romantic restaurant my French husband took me to on our first night in Paris, and the sidewalk cafes with people sunning themselves in the chairs while people watching.
    France, totally different to me from Paris, is chateaux, fields of lavender, markets with piles of fresh fruits and vegetable, mistrals, perched villages, rows of vineyards.
    I too discovered the use of a thumb to say one when ordering anything after I kept arriving home with two croissants instead of one. I thought it was just my bad French. Isn’t it funny how such a little thing is done differently around the world?

    Reply
  40. misschrisc

    The smells of the market in Spring…ripe cheeses, roasted chicken, fishy fish and flowers….
    People standing too close in the checkout line…
    Lots of days off in May…
    Hours spent around a dinner table…
    Carte Bleu!….(very worn out)
    Little refrigerators
    “Madame” or “monsieur” said a million different ways meaning, “can I help you?”, or “hello”, or “get out of my way”, or “my but aren’t you stunning…” or “you shock me!” It’s all in the intonation!
    Oh I could go on forever but I think I’ll stop here.

    Reply
  41. Homemakerang

    i think of being french about good food, a laid back lifestyle and love!

    Reply
  42. * chelsea *

    here in provence, what i like :
    * the beautiful orange sun melting in the sea at sun set
    * the magical sunlight effects on the Sainte-Baume (mountain) in the evening
    * the mix of cultures
    * older people just sitting, enjoying the day and talking about God-knows-what
    * the shiny blue sky (most of the time)
    and special from marseille :
    * “oh putain” !
    * and the view from Notre Dame

    Reply
  43. Marilyn Bellamy

    I love it all! The French are truly engaged in what’s important: good bread, good wine, good coffee, good social services. I won’t mention French pop music, though. That’s just unfortunate.
    I also love your blog.

    Reply
  44. mikaelah

    I have no real knowledge of France except what people who have been there tell me… so I know the food is excellent and the light is wonderful to paint in. It depends who you talk to about it…so I don’t listen to those who complain and I haven’t missed anything I am sure.
    I hear alot about very good bread and women who dress with style.
    When I picture it I don’t see any traffic which I know has to be wrong.
    and I want to know what xoxo means as well.
    It is nice to get a better picture of France through reading your pages here.

    Reply
  45. Annika Sandin

    ha ha this was a funny post. Have read all the comments as well. I have not much experience of France except a 2 days stop when I was interrailing ages ago. Would love to go back though and will keep these tips in mind.
    I’m also another one that would like to know what xoxo means in French…

    Reply
  46. Tongue in Cheek

    xoxo means nothing at all in France. In English we use that to imply hugs and kisses, it is an affectionate thing we add to the end of letters and cards. Though here in France, they think I am just trying to get my pen to work by scribbling xoxo…or doodling at the end of a letter like an after thought…

    Reply
  47. Alicia P.

    The only thing I know of France is a few days of Paris in college. But how it seemed to me then and how it seems to me now is that — in Paris, all the details are right. The big picture might be another story — that I do not know — but when I looked at the little things, they had always been paid attention to before I got there.

    Reply
  48. Willie

    I am French, born and raised in South Louisiana. Unlike many Cajuns, my relatives did not come from Canada but directly from France to the Port of New Orleans. I’ve been to Paris a couple of times and loved every minute of it. The people look like my relatives. The food, the smells, the art, especially the art, and of course, the women’s legs. All the walking does wonders. 🙂

    Reply
  49. herhimnbryn

    Oh, merci for that. We will be having a precious 3 days in Paris in May. I am so looking forward to it and hope that my schoolgirl/recently/hastily re learnt french will not offend!

    Reply
  50. Olivia

    What a wonderful invitation to fill up my heart with precious French memories:
    Bertillion Ice Cream: heaven descends and freezes into scoops of poire, cannelle, ananas, creme brulee, vanille and other wonderful flavors. (on the Isle St. Louis, Paris)
    Sennelier Art Supplies on the Quai Voltaire with deep rich pigments that blend beautifully.
    The “Bird-man” in the Tuilleries gardens who teaches children how to have several birds land on fingers, head and lap.
    Every human emotion depicted on the statues all over Paris
    Soupe de Poisson, a rich fish broth with toasted baguette slices loaded with rouille spread, garlic and shaved cheese. I live on this when in France!
    Every window a diorama world whether shoes, chocolate, stationary or tea.
    Tea! Mariage Frere with 100’s of blends made with the same sophisticated artistry as wine.
    Tiny 2-3 person elevators, each an original.
    Iron lacework everywhere.
    At Christmas: The Eiffel Tower with millions of golden lights that twinkle for 10 minutes on the hour – the Parisian Xmas tree! and fake palm trees with snow on them??? Why??
    Swimming in Monet’s waterlilies in the circular room in L’Orangerie.
    The Port de Vannes fleamarket that goes on and on…
    Surprisingly wonderful live music played in the tunnels of the Metro as you run to catch your train.
    Rodin and Bourdelle and Zadkine’s museum with scuptures inside and in lovely gardens
    Sundays when main streets are roped off so thousands of rollerskaters can race through the city.
    And so very much more….

    Reply
  51. delila

    Thank you from quick french lesson, now I will know how to act when I go there 😉

    Reply
  52. Mary Kate

    You know, in Seville when you go to the bakery, all of the the different loaves have specific names, except that they are never labeled. Never. I have never been in a bakery in Spain where the different types of bread are labeled in the case.
    So whenever I am in charge of going to the bakery and ordering the bread, I need lots of preparation and coaching, because invariably I forget the names and order buns instead of rolls, or loaves instead of muffins, or breadsticks instead of flatbreads.
    Of course, it is all delicious, but I don’t always bring home exactly what my father-in-law (Spanish) was expecting for his lunch!

    Reply
  53. Croque-choux

    I think of:
    – Buying fresh bread at the boulangeri (still warm!)
    – Impatient drivers
    – CHEESE! Over 365 different kinds I am told.
    – “Maman, je t’aime”
    – Broquantes
    – lavender scented soap
    – Bordeaux wine

    Reply
  54. sofia

    so true 🙂 but for me being french really means first of all and of everything STRIKES and french are MOANERS….HEHEHHE but I love them, I am with a french 😉

    Reply
  55. Beachknitter

    Ah, you’ve brought back wonderful memories! I was in France 18 years ago..engaged for several years to a Frenchman..then we broke up.
    The highlights that I remember:
    hopping into a cafe for coffee & pain au chocolat holding hands.
    Going to Biarritz to see the famous lighthouse.
    Going to Galeries Lafayette, sitting , looking up at the arched stained glass roof.
    Walking hand in hand along cobbled streets at night…
    St Jean de Luz..
    A gorgeous country..I still want to go back for a month vacation!

    Reply
  56. maggie

    When I think of FRance.
    I think fondly of this bus driver that stopped in the middle of the road because he realized I was taking a picture of the Oldest clock n Paris on the other side of the Police station a few blocks from Notre Dame.
    I think of the gentleman that stopped to ask me if I need help since I was trying to fiuger out off the map where the nearest metro was.
    I think of the Baker Every morning that took pleasure of telling me where I should visit every day, and his wife that made sure she packaged my creme brulee in foils and gave me extra bread for free just because I was polite enough to say good morning, Thank you sir have a great day.
    I think of the night we spent riding the old train to the catacomb and the private tours at 1 am.
    I thik of seating on the bank of notre dame watching the lights go off.
    I think of the wonderful restaurant au zebres de monmartre and the wonderful macaroni and cheese they make.
    I think of the day I fell in Love with Fauchon Pate de campagne, La duree macaroons.
    I think of this wonderful store where the owners have become friends off Rue Charlot.
    I think of the first time I saw the lights twinkle off the Tower.
    I think of the first time I attend mass at Notre dame with the Cardinal of France celebrating the mass.
    I think I need to go back soon 1 month wasn’t enough
    Can you tell I’m American 🙂
    Maggie

    Reply
  57. basco

    Extraorinaire ! Sorry for my “globish” but i’am french and i have a look on this blog “par hasard” seraching antiques’ blogs and, what a surprise ! Americans people explain what they “adore” in France. Amazing ! Keep going on this blog ! You are right, France is wonderful (of things, many things). But i’am estonished about many posts related about Paris, La Provence (okay, Biarritz is mentionned, in the beautiful country of Pays Basque, the little California…for me !), but i discover another french country : la Normandie and the local area named : Le Perche. Where you can find a great antiques, design and decorative life-style, a store in Rémalard (150 kms west from Paris): La Maison Fassier. Have a look next time you cross Atlantic Ocean. And thank you for your joyness about France, it’s a plaeasure to read these posts.

    Reply
  58. Rick

    France–mornings of the best coffee and expresso, along with a baugette; the sexiest lingerie I have ever seen on the most beautiful women (American women–please note the lingerie); a special sunset on the beach at Narbonne plage; waking up to Mt. Blanc in Chamonix; the memories draw me back each summer.

    Reply
  59. Marie-Noëlle

    Well, I’m French and I am surprised by all your comments about France and the French! First because here (in France)every summer we are given sample surveys (about what tourists think about us) and the results are always negative! We are unpolite, we are proud of ourselves, we feel and show superior, we do not bother about foreigners, so on so forth…
    Good to see that some foreign tourists think different…
    I shall send another post to comment upon your 16 points, and to ask a couple of questions.
    I did enjoy to read all those comments upon this post… Good to see our country and us from the other side!!!
    Marie-noëlle

    Reply
  60. Marie-Noëlle

    Encore moi!
    Please, Corey, let me comment upon your 16 points.
    1) OK.
    2) I’ve always had difficulty to accept to reduce France to this “iron Lady”!
    3) This is one of my questions: what do you mean?
    4) Ok, no comment
    5) we do have sweet/salted courses, think about “canard à l’orange” or “brochettes de lotte à la pomme”…
    To me, a French person, peanut butter and jelly sanwiches go”beyond my understanding” of food, if I may say so…
    6) OK
    7) so …what?
    Sorry… Have to take my son to training…
    back later!
    MN

    Reply
  61. Marie-Noëlle

    Holding my word and resuming the list!!!
    8) In fact we do not have middle names as you have in the UK or USA:
    In the past, up to the early 20th century, families (at large)used to live in the same village for several generations and
    the tradition was to name the first son after the father. Hence a lot of men had the same family name and first name in one village and in one home… the only way to spot the right person was to precise the location (that was when people started to record facts)- a habit which created a lot of family names such as Dupont (by the bridge) or else..;
    The other way that came later was to add a second name and a third… etc…
    Besides France has a long catholic background.
    The catholic tradition was to add the godfather’s/ godmother’s first name (+ sometimes the father’s/mother’s or/and the grandfather’s… etc)
    and people tended to keep the tradition on at the registration office, even if not religious…
    9) Well, as we do not smoke in this house and as we have non-smoking relatives or friends AND as my son is very sportive, we are living in a non smoking world… difficult for me to make myself an unbiased opinion.
    Still, when we visited Spain last August, this is something I got aware of from our very first day there: every single body smokes there!!!
    10) I understand the thumb up… now my question: what do American children/people do when counting up to 5 with fingers? What do they do for 1?
    In France, when children count “1,2,3…”using their fingers, they naturally use the thumb for one, and then add up one finger with next numbers…
    11) OK
    12)That’s something I came aware of when watching an English TV series (a parody of French life during WW2)… All the clichés about the French were piled up in it, not forgetting typical phrases such as our oh la la!
    And when our Norwegian friends visited us, they liked to repeat it for fun…
    We also have a couple of Argentinan friends here, they’ve been in France for 4 or 5 years and they mentioned to me that the oh la la phrase is always refrred to in their country…
    Really I like to know my country and languag through foreigners!!!
    13) ok
    14) ok
    15) Well, I do not intend to excuse the French, nor to put the blame on them. I only want to stick to facts : going on strike is a civil right in France (in our Constitution). In the past centuries, hundreds and thousands of people fought and even died to get those social rights… Usually strikes are the last or only device to get the government or the boss’s (or the nation’s!)attention.
    16) That’s right! I knew English XXX for kisses at the bottom of letters from my teen age (with pen friends). I discovered American XOXO through my daughter’s American penfriend.
    About another comment for this post here: somebody mentioned “carte bleue”.
    I do not see how nor why cartes bleues should mean being French, as there are visa cards all the world round!
    Can anyone explain this to me, please…
    Still pleased to see my country through you all!!!

    Reply

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