When I think of perfume, french perfume comes to mind. And I am now starting to understand why the French have a long tradition in the art of making perfumes (or at least I have my own hypothesis). According to Wikipedia, “Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces a pleasant scent.” And after living in France the last 5 months, I now understand the importance of having a pleasant scent. And here is why. When you meet another person in France (even often complete strangers who are friends of friends), hello and goodbye means giving a kiss (well, more like an air kiss) on both cheeks where you are in verrrry close proximity to the other person’s face & mouth. For non-frenchies, this can take a bit of getting used to (since we are used to having a personal space bubble that is now being popped!). Now, I am okay with it.

So, you say, what is my point? Well, when you are greeting everyone in such close proximity every day (unlike in alot of other cultures where a handshake at arms length is quite sufficient), I think the french bisous must’ve had something to do with the creation (and longstanding tradition) of perfume here in France. That way, when you go in for a hello or goodbye smooch, you get a whiff of whatever scent they are sporting (or maybe they are going nakie in which case it’s often their breath you smell). And you can also tell a lot about a person by their scent. While meeting for a meal with 25 of the French boy’s family and friends over the weekend, I smelt a whole range of people’s scents and perfumes. I found myself thinking “mmmmm, nice aftershave” or “Oooh she smells fruity… strawberry or raspberry?” or “hellooooo halitosis”. In whichever case, it is an interesting and uniquely french experience.

Luckily for me, the French boy bought me a scrumptious Flower by Kenzo bottle for noel. Ain’t he sweet! Long live the parfum, I say! (especially while I’m in France)

Upon first impressions on living here in France, I couldn’t help noticing the clothing of the women as I think it says a lot about a culture. I started to notice a trend of black, brown and grey colours, often paired with a pair of black leggings or tights. The style here seems more conservative and much more traditional to what I am used to back in New Zealand. I prided myself on my tacky bright pink dangly heart earrings and bright paisley headscarfs back home (or in the UK), but here I feel like it attracts a little too much attention and screams out “I’m a foreigner!”. So for now, I have put away some of my bright stuff and have started wearing my less funky vetements. I feel like my bright clothing are a big part of my identity and I don’t want to lose that but at the same time, I also yearn to just blend in here, rather than sticking out on the metro every morning for my choice of clothing.

french girl: laid back but still stylee

Maybe they also don’t follow trends as much here. I remember living in the UK when bright neon ra-ra skirts were in fashion and the high waisted skirts (never really understood that one!). Oh and let’s not forget the big white baggy tshirts with huge bright lettering on them saying “I STOLE YOUR BOYFRIEND” (among other tacky things). But maybe the frenchies like to stick with the more traditionelle. Often they look sleek in black, with their hair styled (but not too styled… ). And they seem very comfortable and in tune with their bodies. Even the little girl I look after is constantly told by her maman (mummy) to improve her posture or that the clothes she has chosen for herself for school look moche (ugly) together. This awareness of how one looks may have something to do with the fact that frenchies know how to project themselves with confidence and grace. I find it fascinating.

Also, unintentionally, I have now been given a french style haircut (short side fringe and bob… aka a blonde version of Amelie) by the hairdresser to which I asked for a trim and ended up with half of my long blonde locks gone (which I’ve had for over 10 years). Ah well… c’est la vie!

Does anyone else have a dad crush on Obama right now?

In his first interview with a French television channel, he has proclaimed his love for the Frenchies and their délicieux cuisine.

“I think the American people continue to love all French things,” he said. Relations between France and the U.S. have steadily improved in recent years, particularly since the 2007 election of Sarkozy, who is widely seen as pro-American, and that of Obama, who is wildly popular in France.

Asked what about France he himself loved, Obama responded, “Let’s see, we have the food, we have Paris, we got the south of France, Provence, the wine.”

Obama said he had traveled through France during his college days and that a return trip to the southeastern region of Provence was long overdue, though he acknowledged his French was rusty.

“I studied it in high school and I just forgot it,” he said, adding “Michelle, I think she speaks a little French.”

“Merci beaucoup,” he said, concluding the 10-minute-long interview.

Read the full article here.

So, to Obama, chin-chin! Or as the Frenchies would say, santé!

Juste pour me rappeler ou je vivrai en septembre…

The beauty and charm of sweet France.

1. vino 2. cheese shop 3. paris, je t’aime 4. croissant + ipod 5. saucisson 6. farmers market 7. reflections in france 8. café au lait 9. restaurant 10. little glasses of sweet pleasures from the patisserie 11. fromage 12. boulangerie

I never thought I’d say this again, but… “LA here we come. ”

In 3 weeks and 3 days (not that Im counting…!), me and the French boy will be touching down in LA. It will be my second time there. But a few things have changed since 2007. Last time I was passing through on the way to Scotland for a one year working holiday, this time I am passing through on the way to France for a one year working holiday. Last time was a week, this time it’s 3 months. Last time I was travelling with a friend (starting our year long travelling adventure), this time is with my boy’o (and starting another adventure of our own). My good friend I travelled with, Alley belly, now lives in Munich. And me (soon to be), France.

Looking back on the past year of my travels around Europe and how we left as two naive wee kiwi’s back in 2007 in search of something (but not really sure what), I never would have predicted where my life is at now. I guess we never can. But I am so lucky to be free and be able to travel and wander the world. One very lucky bunny.

Guess what I’ve got in my hot little hands right now… my very own French ‘long séjour’ visa! Which allows me to stay and work in France for a year from September. I sent my application away less than a week ago and here it is - so I am one happy chappy.

This time in four weeks, I will be packing up my life to spend at least 15 months away from home (like I did in 2007 before moving to the UK for a year working holiday). It will be my third Christmas away from home. That is a bit strange. But I will get to discover more of France and the French boy’s country (now that he is here in mine!) by living there and of course we will spend the summer in LA on the way.

I think this calls for a celebratory vino! C’est trop cool!

Slight change of plans.

The French boy’s company asked him to move to LA for 3 months before we move to France. So in 4 weeks we are off to spend summer in LA!

I’ll be there on a visitors visa so will be a lady of leisure for 3 months. I think this is the perfect opportunity to finally volunteer like I’ve wanted to for ages (but havent had the time etc), such as my post back in January 2008, over a year ago.

So there ya go, c’est la vie!

If you are in the land of France and the name Edith Piaf doesn’t ring any bells, I would be a little concerned.

She is the queen of French love songs who led a (rather long by Hollywood standards) tragic life of suffering and passion. A movie

was made in 2007 depicting her life story, with Marion Cotillard playing Piaf, the little sparrow, and her life was… well… troubled (as all geniuses generally are?). Her voice is unique like no other.

What is even more amazing is the following mots d’amour from one of her most famous songs La Vie en Rose…

I mean seriously, could these lyrics be any more romantic?

Quand il me prend dans les bras

Il me parle tout bas

Je vois la vie en rose

When he takes me in his arms

and speaks to me softly

I see the world through rose-colored glasses

The French do the romantic oh so well. I know that the French boy often can’t find the words in English to express himself like he would in Français. And once any form of romanticness has been converted into English, it becomes lost in translation.

In my home country of New Zealand, some guys are not particularly good (Note: I’m generalising here at the “typical kiwi bloke” who won’t openly express their emotions because he is a “real man”) at being romantic, from a female perspective. They might think they are. Calling his girlfriend his “Missus” is a gesture of respect. Staying home and watching a movie with his girlfriend rather than ‘drinking beer with the boys’ is a gesture of love. Uh, not quite.

Can these kiwi guys be romantic? Sure. And I know some can be. But the others may like to take some lessons from the French. And realise that it is quite okay to be romantique. We may not all aspire to having an overly sensitive boy who is so soppy (aka cheesy) that it’s laugh-able, but a bit of romanticness here and there never goes astray.

If you are looking for a blog that is dedicated to romantic, sweet, lovey dovey, sexy and heart fluttering images, here’s Le Love to make you smile: ♥

Les grandes pensées viennent du coeur - Vauvenargues

The greatest thoughts come from the heart.

The French boy amazes me with his ability to whip out English almost as if it’s his first language. And evenmore, be witty in his second language. C’est incroyable! When I get to the point in French where I can have a proper conversation and successfully make people laugh, I will be very content.

I find it fascinating how quickly our brain can switch between languages. I often wonder if those who can speak more than one language always think automatically in their native tongue or if they adapt to thinking naturally in another one. I know that the French boy dreams in English. Would love to know your thoughts or experiences, lovely readers.

When I was in France for christmas for just 3 weeks fully immersed with a family who could not speak a word of English, I already started to think in French - I didn’t have much choice. And I learnt more French in those 3 weeks in a French village than I did in my 12 week evening course in London. I even found that asking ‘pourquoi?’ instead of ‘why?’ came more naturally. It was bizarre.

I am looking forward to being fluent and understood and more importantly, able to express myself and my personality in another language. That is my goal.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.

If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart” - Nelson Mandela

As a side note (and completely unrelated), a tip for those going on a first date - maybe don’t go for a hot curry. Last night me and the French boy went to a Thai restaurant and apparently my request for a “mild” curry was ignored. After a few mouthfuls of my green curry (which I usually love), the French boy tells me my cheeks have gone bright red. My eyes start watering and my nose won’t stop running. Good look for a date eh? HOT! Luckily I wasn’t trying to impress him

My crappy stickfigure drawing of what happens when you get culture shock and start feeling a bit homesick (thanks to my amazing drawing skills in Microsoft Paint - ha).

I’ve been reading a book Culture Shock: France about how this cycle is completely natural and can happen many times to us all, in varying intensity, over varying periods of time. The beginning of a cultural transition.

I am feeling a little weary about France because in all of my travels over the past year in Europe, I have been living in Scotland (where English is obviously first language) and just passing through places rather than actually living there, so knowing the very basics was enough. But when I move to France, this will be my first time living in a foreign country. And it’s kinda scary.

It’s been interesting reading through various blogs of other expats living in France and their experiences. Some good experiences, some bad experiences, some awful. But it is a challenge I have to do, even if i do feel like the stickman in the middle sometimes.