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The Everyday Life of a Young American Girl in France
laurasviequotidienne.blogspot.com
26
I am a 23 year old American girl currently living in Lille, France. I spend a lot of my time being baffled by the French (including, but not limited to, their culture, food, and language), despite having a handy dandy interpreter in the form of my very own French boyfriend (otherwise known as FBF). I have decided to share not only the moments where I feel a part of this foreign land, but also the moments where I simply don’t get it. C’est ma vie quotidienne (It's my everyday life)!
#50908 in All , #24 in Europe

FBF en Californie

You will have to excuse me for radio silence as FBF is in fact, at this moment, in California with me for two whole weeks! FBF and I enjoying the sun setting over the Pacific ocean last time he was i...

17 may 12 1 person likes this

Choc Culturel Inverser

My first moment of reverse culture shock came rather quickly. It happened the same day I arrived in California. After the hour and a half long drive home from LAX, I really had to pee. I groggily wen...

09 may 12

Taking the DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française)

When it started to look 100% like I wasn’t going to get my work visa renewed, I looked into other ways of staying in, or returning to, France. Not yet being ready to make the giant commitment that is...

02 may 12

Cathédrale de Reims - Rêve de Couleurs

Back in the Middle Ages when most of France’s beautiful cathedrals were built, they did not look like they do today. Instead of being a uniform beige color, the façades were painted bright, beautiful...

22 apr 12

La Déesse

In the beginning of the First French Republic, many countries challenged the authenticity of this new government and saw it as an opportunity to take over parts of France. Lille was subjected to atta...

31 mar 12

Comment Dit-on?

One of my familys stories is about my Uncle Gene. Gene studied abroad while he was in college, spending a semester living in Vienna, Austria. When he came back from being abroad, my mother says, he u...

23 mar 12

Wine More Time

While in Bordeaux, I wanted to drink lots of Bordeaux wine. So while at the office du tourisme, I asked for a list of wine bars. FBF and I decided to try one called Wine More Time because it had an a...

13 mar 12 1 person likes this

Après

In school we’re taught that après means after. After as in subsequent to, for example “after we eat diner, we do the dishes,” and not as in to resemble, for example “he takes after his father.” While...

09 mar 12

St. Valentin de Loin

Because we are separated by most of France, Spain, the Atlantic Ocean, and probably 44 or so American States, FBF and I sent each other Valentines Day packages.FBF was on top of it. He knew what he w...

14 feb 12

Statue: Mon Ptit Quinquin

In Lille, there is a statue dedicated to the Northern lullaby “P’tit Quinquin” and its author Alexandre Desrousseaux. Lillois soaking up the sun at the statue dedicated to Desrousseaux and his famous...

06 feb 12

Le Boudoir

FBF has always gotten a kick out of the things Americans consider French that aren’t French at all. While the French do say “sacre,” they never add the “bleu.” They don’t say ménage-à-trois when spea...

27 jan 12 1 person likes this

Les Lascars

At the beginning of my time here, I felt like I had two very different personalities, my American one and my French one. My French personality was shy, and I am definitely not shy. I am outgoing, fri...

18 jan 12

Lannion: Prémières Impressions

My first impressions of Lannion:Lannion seems to fit the bill for a perfect mediaeval French village as half-timbered jetting houses are in abundance.The city is on a hill with meandering roads where...

12 jan 12

Versatile and Missing France

Sara Louise at Sara in Le Petit Village has bestowed upon me the Versatile Blogger Award, and for that I am extremely grateful. I love her blog, and if you’re not already reading it you definitely sh...

10 jan 12

Deux Mille Onze

2011 was a busy year, of which I spent a little over 11 months of in France. Having traveled around to a lot of different countries the previous year, I dedicated 2011 to seeing more of France, and I...

03 jan 12

Noël Blanc

FBF played for me this French remake of the American classic, White Christmas, and I cant get enough. Coeur de Priate - Noël BlancHe said, "I think it sounds really American with all the trumpets...

24 dec 11

Statue: Lille A Ses Fusilles

During La Grande Guerre (the “Great” War, aka the WWI), Lille was under German occupation. Some Lillois stayed loyal to the French Republic and started a resistance movement.Unfortunately for the ind...

20 dec 11

Maroilles

My introduction to the cheese the North is famous for, Maroilles, was at the very beginning of my relationship with FBF. Because he’s French, I met pretty much his entire family (mom, sister, sister’...

13 dec 11

Bruges Christmas Market

After reading Lonely Planet’s article about 5 great cities for Christmas markets and seeing Bruges listed as #3, FBF and I decided to pay the city a visit in December.Wrapped in scarves and warm wint...

08 dec 11

Un Souvenir Du Grand Roue

Its december, which means that the Marché de Nöel is in full swing, the city is sparkling in beautiful lights, les sapins de nöel (Christmas trees) are abundant, and Im drinking christmas-flavored Be...

01 dec 11

Statue: Au Pigeon Voyageur

Au Pigeon Voyageur.During WWI a major line of communication used by the French army was pigeons voyageurs (carrier pigeons).Once the Germans occupied the North of France, they outlawed the use of pig...

28 nov 11

Being Thankful

When I celebrated Thanksgiving last year with La Maman and FBF I explained to them a family tradition. Every year before my family digs in to the delicious Thanksgiving feast, we go around the table ...

23 nov 11

"..." ou «...»

I had been hearing, and using, the expression “entre gemey” without ever seeing it written or knowing what it literally meant. To me, people used it when expressing doubt, similar to how Americans us...

18 nov 11

Metz: Prémières Impressions

My first impressions of Metz:The city is yellow, both buildings and boulders alike.The buildings stand multiple stories tall, and have turrets to give them additional height.Ive never seen archetectu...

14 nov 11

What What in the Butt

While talking about anal sex may still be a taboo back in the States, there don’t seem to be any taboo sexual topics in France, including anal.In my extended group of French friends everybody seems t...

08 nov 11

Directions

When I studied abroad in Paris back in 2007 it was the highlight of my trip, the proof beyond all else that I had managed to fool everybody and seem French, when somebody would ask me for directions....

04 nov 11

La Légende de Lille

In the olden days, when justice was carried out with swords and mysterious creatures still lingered in the forests, begins the legend of our fair city, Lille.Salvaert, the Prince of Dijon, and his be...

02 nov 11

La Braderie de Lille

My fellow Lillois told me that La Braderie de Lille is a giant flee market taking over the entire city. The first weekend in September people come from all over Europe to buy other people’s junk at r...

26 oct 11

Notting Hill Coffee

I know many an American expat who is woe to live so far from a certain coffee establishment called Starbucks. Not being a coffee drinker myself, I didn’t miss it. But I did miss chai tea lattes. And ...

21 oct 11

La Vieille Bourse

One of the most beautiful buildings in Lille can be found in the Grand Place. It’s intricately sculpted façade stands out in bright red and yellow. The coherency of the Vielle Bourse gives it the app...

18 oct 11

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