France has made international news several times lately for coming up with creative solutions to public problems. Like the Uritrottoir, which made its debut in early spring. I think it's clever, but apparently it's pissing off our neighbors (pun intended). And a theme park in western France is hoping that people will litter less if crows … Continue reading Stray observations
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Tutus, Tahiti, and the travail of language learning
Lately it seems like everyone’s favorite question is whether I speak French yet. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the answer is, still, non. To be fair, here's what I can do: Say some basic stuff, albeit mostly things like "I'll have the spinach quiche please" and "I like this champagne. Can … Continue reading Tutus, Tahiti, and the travail of language learning
The most stressful part of a French party
On Monday night, we went to a wine and cheese party at the Montpellier home of the brother of one of our Paris friends. (Anne-Claire, whom you may remember from the dinner party where I, um, really made a splash.) “Bring a bottle of wine or cheese to share!” the invitation read. Now, if you're … Continue reading The most stressful part of a French party
Paris in August
People warned us that Paris would change in the summer. After le 14 juillet, locals would skip out of town for four or five or six weeks of summer vacation, while international tourists would take their places. And shops would close, leaving us to rethink our regular routines. Sure enough, our regular produce market is closed, my … Continue reading Paris in August
Directions
Every now and then, some poor lost soul mistakes me for a French person and asks for directions. I take it as the ultimate compliment that they think I look like a person who lives in Paris; the only problem is that they also think I look like a person who understands French. Usually I … Continue reading Directions
Mmmacarons!
There are a few things you absolutely have to eat in Paris—wine and cheese, obviously, but also escargots, crème brulée, and macarons. (And one thing to avoid: the dreaded andouillette.) Colin and I have definitely done our part to support the French economy with our consumption of the first two, but somehow we made it nearly … Continue reading Mmmacarons!
Six months in
Today marks six months since we boarded the plane for Paris, and I can't believe it. Where has the time gone?! We have simultaneously done so much and so little, and although we've seen a ton, our list of places to go and things to do just keeps growing. I can’t even bring myself to … Continue reading Six months in
Le Tour de France
Sunday was the last stage of the Tour de France and, well, since we’re in France, we figured we should watch. The fun part about watching in Paris is that the cyclists ride eight laps around the same circuit, so if you blink and miss them the first time around you still have seven more … Continue reading Le Tour de France
Wait wait… there’s more!
HOLD UP. YOU GUYS. I thought Friday’s post would be it for Colin’s 15 minutes of fame, but then this happened: Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me! joked about his research, and Tom Bodett could barely breathe he was laughing so hard, and Faith Salie compared Colin’s flying lizards to Tom Cruise hanging off the … Continue reading Wait wait… there’s more!
Lizards everywhere
Hey guys! I'm taking a quick break from my regularly scheduled Life in Paris programming to announce that Colin's lizards are literally taking over the world... at least by internet. He published a paper in the journal Nature [paywall] this week, and ever since the press release went out he's been doing media interviews left and … Continue reading Lizards everywhere
Practice Makes Parfait 