France

Saturday Snapshot 5

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French town

In case you haven’t noticed my obnoxious excitement all over Facebook, Twitter and beyond, I’m officially working as a nanny in France. Thanks for reading and I’m glad to have you along for the journey!

This week took me to Nord-Pas-de-Calais, a rain and apple-filled region on the French-Belgian border.

Speaking of apples, the family I work for owns an apple farm there, which is where we stayed for two nights. When I asked the grandfather how long the farm had been in the family, he said, “Well, we have a map from 1820 that has our name on the property, so at least that long.”

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5 French Expressions That Will Help You Survive Paris

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Cafe in Paris

Paris can feel intimidating to the first-time traveler. It’s not the herds of Peugeots careening around one-way streets or the plenitude of dog droppings on the sidewalks; it’s the Parisians. Like New York, Paris is a busy place where most people are in a hurry. Parisians just don’t have time for the poor French of us tourists (ahem, travelers). … Read more

How to Order a Baguette Like a Parisian

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Pain au levain

Wondering how to order a baguette properly? Look no further. In France, bread is a daily staple. Everyday, mothers send their kids to the local boulangerie (bakery) to pick up a baguette. (Sometimes one for breakfast, one for snack/dinner!) But let’s start this baguette guide off with a pop quiz. Which baguette is better? If you … Read more

How the French Stay Thin

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One question I am asked a lot on account of spending time in France is, “How do the French stay thin?” And in light of my most recent Francophile food-related posts about delicious food in Paris, French bread and French cheese, I wanted to enlighten my mom readers on how the French indulge in good … Read more