17 minute read
La Vie En France
LES RÈGLES DU SAVOIR-VIVRE À LA FRANÇAISE
by Anne Alonso
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The DSM is an English language magazine but we thought it might be a nice change to have an occasional article written in French. Our lovely friend and French teacher Anne kindly agreed to lead us in this experiment.
I. VOUS ÊTES INVITÉ CHEZ DES FRANÇAIS POUR UN REPAS (OU À L’APÉRITIF) :
1. Il n’est pas obligatoire d’être sur son 31 mais un effort vestimentaire sera apprécié ! 2. Si le rendez-vous est prévu à 19.00, n’hésitez pas à arriver 10 ou 15 minutes plus tard. C’est très fréquent en France et il n’est pas conseillé d’arriver avant l’heure prévue. Mais si votre retard est trop important, passez un « coup de fil » pour en informer vos hôtes. 3. Offrir une bouteille, une plante, un bouquet de fleurs ou des chocolats sera bienvenu mais en aucun cas obligatoire. Vous pouvez arriver « les mains vides » si vous êtes uniquement invité à l’apéro. 4. L’apéritif précède toujours le repas. Il peut être parfois assez long (plus d’une heure). Ce moment convivial permet d’échanger, de faire plus ample connaissance, avant de passer à table. N’oubliez pas de trinquer avant de commencer à boire : “santé !”, “à la vôtre !”, “tchin !” sont les expressions les plus familières, oubliez “salud !”, les français n’utilisent pas ou peu l’expression espagnole. Si vous entrechoquez votre verre avec celui d’une autre personne, vous devez la regarder dans les yeux, c’est amusant mais prenez garde à ne pas renverser votre boisson !!! 5. Lors du repas, vous pouvez vous servir vous-même puis faire passer le plat à votre voisin de table si l’hôtesse vous le propose en disant : “servez-vous !”. Vous pouvez finir entièrement le contenu de votre assiette, ce n’est pas impoli en France et, au contraire, l’hôtesse sera ravie de voir que vous avez apprécié sa cuisine. On parle beaucoup pendant les repas mais il est de bon ton d’éviter les sujets polémiques : politique ou religion par exemple et préférez parler de la famille, des enfants… sujet qu’adorent les français. 6. Même si vous êtes fatigué car on peut parfois finir le dîner vers minuit ! Ne partez pas immédiatement à la fin du repas. Prévoyez un moment (20 ou 30 minutes) avant votre départ et surtout n’oubliez pas de remercier vos hôtes : “quelle bonne soirée !”, “tout était parfait !”, “mille mercis !”, “la prochaine fois, c’est chez nous !”…. Mais, en partant, faut-il serrer la main ou faire la bise ? That is the question !!!
Je serai heureuse de vous en parler dans un prochain article. À bientôt Bien cordialement
Anne LEXIQUE DE VOCABULAIRE :
• Le savoir-vivre : Manners, the rules of (social) etiquette. • Les règles : The rules.
1.
2. • -Être sur son 31 : To get dressed up to the nines.
• -Passer un coup de fil : To give somebody a ring, a buzz. • -L’hôte : The host.
3.
4.
5.
6. • -En aucun cas obligatoire : It is not at all compulsory. • -Arriver “les mains vides” : To arrive empty-handed.
• -Faire plus ample connaissance : To get acquainted, to get to know better. • -Passer à table : To sit down to eat. • -Trinquer, entrechoquer les verres : To clink glasses. • -“Tchin !” : “Cheers !”. • -Oubliez : Forget, don’t use. • -Regarder quelqu’un dans les yeux : To look somebody in the eye. • -Renverser son verre : To spill one’s glass.
• -Lors de : During. • -Faire passer le plat : To pass the dish. • -“Servez-vous !” : “Help yourself !”. • -Être ravi : To be delighted. • -Il est de bon ton : It is good form, it is fashionable. • -Éviter les sujets polémiques : To avoid contentious subjects, topics.
• -Même si : Even if. • -Fatigué : Tired. • -Serrer la main : To shake hands. • -Faire la bise : To kiss someone on the cheek.
View from the Vendée
September 2022
by Karen Taylor
Here we go again...
La rentrée – if you’ve heard it once you’ve heard it a dozen times this month. It’s a tradition, an institution, almost an obsession for the French population! As 1st September approaches, avoid the stationery aisles in the supermarkets like the plague - they’ll be overrun by frustrated parents clutching lists of essential fournitures scolaires for their offspring’s return to school. This system’s a mystery to me because the school where I worked in the UK (like every other school I’m sure) ordered their stationery in bulk at the end of the previous school year, packed everything into the various departmental cupboards, then calmly went off on their summer hols – simple!
But it’s not just the schools that have a rentrée – all the clubs & associations that had closed shop for 2 months over the summer suddenly reappear at the Forum des Associations early in September. Now that is a good idea, especially for us Brits who don’t always know what’s going on in their area. It reminds me of Careers Evening at school where you wander round the stands & each ‘stallholder’ tries to sell you their profession (except in this case, their activities!) Since the infamous Brexit kicked in on 1st January 2021, UK pet passports are no longer valid. Instead, dog owners need an Animal Health Certificate each time they travel to the EU. It seems a strange decision to me – we still need a passport (albeit our distinctive maroon ones are gradually being replaced by boring black ones), so why abolish pet passports? Anyway, decision made, so to bring Kobe over the Channel we needed to book a vet appointment and pay for the all-important health certificate – the princely sum of £164 for ONE journey into the EU!!
The UK vet didn’t agree with the new system (‘Why not apply for a French passport?’), the lady at UK customs didn’t see the point of the new system (‘Why not apply for a French passport?’), and our French vet just shrugged and said ‘Pourquoi…’ – you get the idea! So we did, for the very reasonable sum of 32€ (for life!). All our daughter has to do when she arrives in France is to send off the Changement de détenteur section of the I-CAD registration form, and to update his passport with her name & address. More importantly, as an EU registered dog, Kobe no longer needs an Animal Health Certificate to travel into France.
We’ll be sad to say Au revoir to Kobe when he leaves next week, but happy in the knowledge that he’s free (literally) to return to France at any time!
This year however, la rentrée has a different significance in the Taylor household. After 3 months dog-sitting our daughter’s 18 month old Chocolate Lab whilst she’s been away on a training course, we’re returning young Kobe (pronounced like Toby, in case you’re wondering) to his rightful owner next week. But here’s the thing – he came over to France with us in June as a British dog & will return in September as a French citizen! How so? I hear you ask. Well, I’ll explain…
Vive la France!!
MontMartre Morsel
Before it became a part of Paris, Montmartre was a village of little farms, vineyards and windmills. During the Belle Époque, it became a haven for artists such as ToulouseLautrec and Van Gogh due to its more affordable accommodation and cheap wine (it was exempt from Paris's wine tax)!
One of the most visited squares in all of Paris, there is strong competition for a space on the Place du Tertre. Artists are allotted a tiny space of about one square metre, which must be shared between two artists on alternating days. The artwork allowed is limited to paintings (mostly of Parisian scenery), portraits, caricatures and silhouettes. Aspiring artists must apply through the town hall of the 18th Arrondissement, but it is believed that the waiting list is about 10 years long! Legend has it that the word bistro was invented at the square's oldest restaurant, La Mère Catherine. The story goes that Russian soldiers who were in Paris during the Russian occupation in 1814, would take an alcoholic beverage there, but often shout “bystro !” (meaning “quick” in Russian) to urge on their comrades to finish drinking in order to re-join the ranks.
The small town of Gençay, in the southern portion of department 86, held their Fête Nationale Francaise celebrations at the Plan d’ Eau at the heart of the community which is a tranquil setting comprising a lake surrounded by parkland at the foot of an escarpment. Keen to secure a good vantage point along the lake edge overlooking the central island, from which the fireworks
A Report From ... display (the main attraction) was based, I arrived early and spent a pleasant time watching the wildlife. An exciting treat Fête Nationale Francaise, was a juvenile coypu who frolicked in the water along the bank side and who nibbled contentedly at the grass as visitors Gençay, 15th July, 2022 passed by. The evening was warm, although so close to the water’s edge a cold breeze by Adrian Blake made for a pleasant localised climate. The fireworks began on time at 23hrs and lasted approximately 15 minutes. Set in a valley bowl, the surrounding geography resulted in the amplification of the explosive sounds of the pyrotechnics which echoed loudly within the valley itself. A small number of three to four second delays between some of the firework clusters igniting led the spectators to prematurely anticipate the displays conclusion, but this did not in any way distract from a very spectacular display. At its conclusion, the majority of the onlookers made their way back up the one path to the top of the escarpment to where additional entertainment was provided which did result in some delays due to the number of people. Adjacent to the catering area, but with a designated dance area, a live eight piece band, Orchestre Plein Feu, began a free concert around 23:15hrs. Singing songs both in French and English, their reportoire included numbers from, but not restricted to, Abba, Blondie, The Weather Girls and many French groups. The male and female vocalists had good singing voices, appropriate to the songs they performed and were supported well by their musicians, which included a brass section, keyboards, drums and guitars. The dance area was of ample size for the diverse audience with ages ranging from small children to pensioners, all of whom appeared to enjoy the show which went on well beyond midnight.
The site was well appointed with free entry and good parking close to the entrance. Toilet facilities were available at the adjacent municipal swimming pool and wheelchair access to the live band and catering was good.
In all, the evening’s entertainment was well planned and delivered, providing a very enjoyable way of celebrating the Fête Nationale.
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Les RosièRes De LA Mothe ste heRAy
The « fête des Rosières » was started by Charles Benjamin Chameau who bequeathed (leguer) a large part of his fortune to found (fonder) the Établissement des Rosières because he did not have any descendants.
The festival takes place during the first week of September and the wedding (le mariage) lasts (se déroule) three days.
On the Friday evening (le vendredi soir) the Rosière (in this case, the bride) appears on the balcony (au balcon) of the town hall (la mairie).
On the Saturday afternoon, the civil and religious ceremonies (le mariage civil et religieux) are held. The procession (le défilé) leaves the Orangery for the « maison des Rosières » where the bride puts on a necklace (un collier) with the effigy of Charles-Benjamin Chameau. Then she goes to the town hall for the civil wedding service and then the wedding procession (le cortège) goes to the church for the religious ceremony. Finally the procession goes back to the Maison des Rosières to receive the marriage dowry (la dot) and to sign the register (signer le registre). The bride then appears on the balcony with the mayor and the village (and other local) officials. Finally, the groom is allowed to join his bride with their families. On the Sunday afternoon, a carnival procession (la cavalcade) crosses the village with the newly weds (here called le couple rosier, but the general translation is les jeunes mariés).
Vocabulary / Vocabulaire
by Sue Burgess
La mariée bride
Le marié
un bouquet un invité
une proposition de mariage une alliance groom a bouquet a guest
a marriage proposal wedding ring
un anniversaire de mariage a wedding anniversary un gâteau de mariage a wedding cake une robe de mariée a wedding dress demander la main en mariage asking your hand in marriage un coup de foudre love at first sight le témoin the witness, the best man les vœux de mariage wedding vows se marier to get married
For the wedding, the bride wears the local headdress (la Coiffe Mothaise).
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September 2022
Life in 79
Mr Angry
by Stephen Shaw
Idon't complain. If someone stands on my foot getting off the bus I apologise; if there's a fly in my soup I will say nothing. I am spineless. Anything to avoid confrontation. Anna, my wife, does the confrontation (she's Scottish). If the lunch we ordered hasn't appeared after 50 minutes... Anna will go and enquire.
But last month the worm turned...twice! Our new French neighbours have two dogs, very sweet, but they are barkers. We are not dog haters, we love dogs, we had one! But every time we take the wheelie bin out or go to the mail box they go nuts. When the couple go out, the dogs bark continuously until their return. After considering my options (throwing a poisoned pork chop over the fence, etc.), I thought I would write them a letter.
We have nearly finished renovating a small house in the beautiful village of Saint Loup with a view to Airbnb. The townsfolk were having a 'guinguette' (we thought this was the name of the group playing), so this was an ideal opportunity to immerse ourselves in village life by drinking far too much at the guinguette, staggering back to our abode to have a good night's sleep.
The first part we managed successfully; music, dancing, drinking and a ' wee pook a chaps' as they say in Scotland. Even the staggering back was achieved, but a good night's sleep...?
The little house is next to the church. We can hear the organ playing, hymns being sung, and the bells ringing throughout the day it is enchanting. Call us naive, but we didn't realise the bells rang through the night as well. TWICE! That is 96 dongs (and we heard most of them), then at 8am they throw in an extra peal just in case you weren't aware of the time.
We love the bells during the day (I don't understand why they ring twice; surely by definition time only happens once. If I was Jean De Florette toiling in the field I would be sure to count the bongs first time round), but throughout the night ... and twice! This does sound spineless, but my French is poor and I wanted to make sure nothing was lost in translation so I wrote them a friendly letter informing them of the constant barking when they go out and is there anything they can do? On my return home the other day there was a man with an accordion singing French love songs sitting in their yard; I don't know if he was a dog whisperer or just a friend of theirs, but at least the dogs were quiet.
I wrote a polite letter to the maire asking if there had ever been a proposal to stop the bells ringing throughout the night. I know some communes switch them off. In his reply he said '... it is rural life. As sure as the cock crows and cows shit (his words) the bells will continue to ring'. Very progressive.
If you would like to read more ramblings from Mr Shaw, go to www.lifein79.blogspot.com
PLAyiNG the touRists
by Jacqueline Brown
Ithink it must be something to do with working at a tourist attraction and spending my days welcoming happy, relaxed, holiday makers, keen to explore the area with fresh eyes, that has re-ignited my passion for this area. With this in mind, we have been doing our best over summer to make time to enjoy days out, ensuring we see the area as the tourists do - that and the fact there is no possibility of us going away on a real holiday before October.
The market town of Melle gave us a shady cycle route along the old railway line towards Celle-sur-Belle, where we detoured to find the 600-year-old chestnut tree that was voted the 2021 tree of the year in France. We also visited one of the most impressive lavoirs in the area, the temple-like Lavoir de Villiers with its oval pool, where a dragonfly welcomed me by settling briefly on my hand. Niort gave us art, history and culture, all in a Sunday afternoon. We made use of the free museum entry on the first Sunday of the month to visit the Donjon. Working at the Château de Javarzay, I’m used to whizzing up and down our spiral staircase in the stone turret, but at almost a thousand years old (twice the age of the Château), the spiral staircases were steeper, narrower and the steps more uneven. A visit here is not for the faint-hearted, but well worth it for the history and the view of Niort from the rooftop terrace. so cheery, colourful and full of life and friendship, seeing them always makes me smile.
A day in Poitiers began with a lunch on an outdoor terrace, followed by a city centre bike tour, making the most of the cooler interiors of some of the many churches the town is famous for. We also enjoyed the wide boulevards, fountain and views from the Parc du Blossac. Even closer to home, in Chef-Boutonne, their summer guided visits have enlightened me about the history of the weekly market and the halles dating from different eras, plus I’ve seen the sites of an old tannery, and the kiln built into the foundations of the house that in the late 1700’s was a faïencerie and later, the first cooperative store in the town. None of which I was aware of before. Much as I love to travel in France, discovering architecture, landscapes and food specialities that are different from here, I also love that even here, where the familiar feels like home, I still get excited when I visit somewhere new or learn something about the history or culture that I hadn’t known before. The school holidays might be drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean the end of late summer adventures – where will you go this autumn?
This summer, as well as the Franck Ayroles sculpture of “Les Dames de la Brèche” – the curvaceous ladies on a bench in Place de la Brèche in Niort, the Maison du Département hosted an exhibition of his artworks that are
