Plus, my personal recommendations on the road to fluency, which, if you're not a native speaker, you will never TOTALLY be. So, get over it! And parlez anyway!
I was very impressed with your French and you accent when we took class together. I’m very glad you broached this taboo topic of how hard it is to get French people to speak with one.
Loved reading this. As a Canadian, I studied French in university and lived in Montréal for a time, but Canadian/Quebecois French is so different than Parisian French. Ah well.
I am looking forward to finally catching up back in NY. This is a surprise because I am one of those Americans who dreams of having a tiny apartment in Paris—barely able to speak more than five French words aloud (and I am on day 1145 of Duolingo… I romanticize it for sure!
It's so sad to say goodbye, but holding onto a little hope that you'll be back another day (and we'll be here to help if you need it!). In the meantime, thank you so much for the shout out and talk again soon!
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I am so sad to see you go! French might still be playing hard to get, but Paris didn’t stand a chance—you rocked your year here! You lived la vie française like a pro. 🤩😘
Ahhhh! Merci beaucoup for the love Romy. I’m filled with so many feelings about it all right now. But they can wait because we are off to our final adventure of the French year here…Mont St. Michel!🥰
Aw, girl, what an awesome, funny, real and bittersweet post. Learning French is a real doozy--I'm not sure I'll ever get past A2 so kudos to you for pushing past fear and saying fuck it. Oh, and merci beaucoup for the shoutout--you made my day.
You WILL get past A2. I feel it in my bones. And the shoutout is well-deserved with more to come! Your perspective and positivity on French life and culture is so entertaining and enriching. Vive les femmes qui font des choses dures!
I feel ya, babe. We must compare notes. It’s taken me 15 years to love living in Paris (tho still part-time; I’d never move here!) and to not-speak French. I let go of the guilt and shame and decided I had better things to do with my time!
Can we all just let go of ALL of the guilt and shame over ALL the the damn things?!!! Love your response. Let’s please compare notes soon! Bisous ma chère.
Such a great article! I’m like your husband when I’m in Paris, just belting it out with a smile and an exclamation mark at the end of every sentence because I’m so proud of myself 🤪 I’ve found in smaller shops, like the fromagerie or those little souvenir places, the French will tolerate and even encourage my practicing with them. If it’s not busy and they see I’m desperately trying, with good humour and almost nauseating enthusiasm, I usually have a great exchange. I’m the Australian idiot wandering around in a complete dream state in France because I just love it so much. I’ve been many times but never as long as 10 months, although it’s a constant wish of mine, to live there one day. So this is a really interesting take on the difference. Thanks Lisa!
I was very impressed with your French and you accent when we took class together. I’m very glad you broached this taboo topic of how hard it is to get French people to speak with one.
Oh Luke. Sometimes it feels like Mr. Miyagi and Daniel son. But never coming out of the “wax on, wax off” part. 🤣
Loved reading this. As a Canadian, I studied French in university and lived in Montréal for a time, but Canadian/Quebecois French is so different than Parisian French. Ah well.
French is French is French Jared. Even if you eat poutine instead of frites. ;-)
I am looking forward to finally catching up back in NY. This is a surprise because I am one of those Americans who dreams of having a tiny apartment in Paris—barely able to speak more than five French words aloud (and I am on day 1145 of Duolingo… I romanticize it for sure!
Oh girl…so much to catch up on. Spilling all the tea!!! 💋💋
It's so sad to say goodbye, but holding onto a little hope that you'll be back another day (and we'll be here to help if you need it!). In the meantime, thank you so much for the shout out and talk again soon!
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I am so sad to see you go! French might still be playing hard to get, but Paris didn’t stand a chance—you rocked your year here! You lived la vie française like a pro. 🤩😘
Ahhhh! Merci beaucoup for the love Romy. I’m filled with so many feelings about it all right now. But they can wait because we are off to our final adventure of the French year here…Mont St. Michel!🥰
Enjoy! Can’t wait to hear how it goes! 😘
Aw, girl, what an awesome, funny, real and bittersweet post. Learning French is a real doozy--I'm not sure I'll ever get past A2 so kudos to you for pushing past fear and saying fuck it. Oh, and merci beaucoup for the shoutout--you made my day.
You WILL get past A2. I feel it in my bones. And the shoutout is well-deserved with more to come! Your perspective and positivity on French life and culture is so entertaining and enriching. Vive les femmes qui font des choses dures!
Well, his accent isn't all that bad. Dude already speaks better than me and I took 5 years of French (cuz Canada).
Frank, you an hardly count Canadian French, French. ;-)
I feel ya, babe. We must compare notes. It’s taken me 15 years to love living in Paris (tho still part-time; I’d never move here!) and to not-speak French. I let go of the guilt and shame and decided I had better things to do with my time!
Can we all just let go of ALL of the guilt and shame over ALL the the damn things?!!! Love your response. Let’s please compare notes soon! Bisous ma chère.
You’d better reach out before you leave! Or I. NYC….
Such a great article! I’m like your husband when I’m in Paris, just belting it out with a smile and an exclamation mark at the end of every sentence because I’m so proud of myself 🤪 I’ve found in smaller shops, like the fromagerie or those little souvenir places, the French will tolerate and even encourage my practicing with them. If it’s not busy and they see I’m desperately trying, with good humour and almost nauseating enthusiasm, I usually have a great exchange. I’m the Australian idiot wandering around in a complete dream state in France because I just love it so much. I’ve been many times but never as long as 10 months, although it’s a constant wish of mine, to live there one day. So this is a really interesting take on the difference. Thanks Lisa!