Quick Tips to Live More Like the French
Since the French devote their lifestyles to food, and their culture is one of the most envied in the world, why shouldn’t we take a few cues be a bit more like them? Here are some tips on how to best live a French lifestyle à distance. You decide your own order of priorities. 1....
Find Your Travel Niche
Thrill, change, education, art, business, history, heritage, family, food – just a handful of reasons why people love to travel. Something about a foreign place fuels the ticking of your mind and the energy of your spirit. And as all of us Francophiles know, that one place exists where the culture and atmosphere fully satisfy...
5 Spots to Get a French Fix “à distance”
Even with all the buzz around the maison at AFDC, it’s nice to be able to link up with some other DC locales to indulge in a little nostalgia, and with all the expats around DC, there are plenty of options to choose from. AU blogger, Erica, offers up a few of her top picks. Share your favorite...
Unlikely Pieces of Paris
Francophiles around the world can thank Audrey Hepburn for her infamous quote: “Paris is always a good idea.” Hundreds of years before Audrey until today, the magic of Paris has inspired minds, souls and hearts to express themselves through art, philosophy, writing and love. The architecturally awe-inspiring boulevards, the markets bursting with fruit and pastries,...
A Study in “Yummy”
What would you call the sensation you feel during the first bite into your favorite delicacy? Is that first bite merely a sensation? Is it a feeling? Could it be an emotion? To me, a warm crêpe stuffed to the brim with slivers of bananas and fresh maple butter on a cold March morning is...
A Student in the City of Lights
For many avid student Francophiles, it is never even a question whether or not they will study abroad. When they arrive, the experience often feels like a surreal respite from American college life. The beginning is all about getting acclimated to a rich new culture, speaking French more or less all day, every day, learning cafe etiquette, searching for WiFi (pronounced...
Making Homes Away from Home
Think about walking down a street in your neighborhood. Whether you live near the bustling stores and streets of downtown or in the more tranquil neighborhoods of residential D.C., there are familiar buildings, businesses and homes you inevitably picture. The nearest pharmacy, coffee shop and grocery store are all familiar places that you visit quite...
Finding Warmth at the NGA
The time of year that herds the crowds off of the normally bustling National Mall with nippy winds and barren trees is upon us. Fortunately for Washingtonians, D.C. never fails to provide its residents and visitors with cultural activities, whether the sun beats down with its humid rays or hides behind the icy wind and...
Birkin: Une vie intime
One half of the duo responsible for one of the sexiest songs of all time, Jane Birkin wears her intimacy on her sleeve. Now, over forty years after recording “Je t’aime… moi non plus” with her then-lover Serge Gainsbourg, the British singer-turned-activist is getting intimate with concertgoers once again. This time, it’s not only to...
La poésie en série: Santa Fe
As a compliment to the traditional grammatical exercises and pronunciation practice, some of our French 103 students got outside the box with a lesson in writing poetry in French. In addition to helping students learn to put together simple phrases, writing poetry in a new language can help inspire students to think of new vocabulary...
La poésie en série: New York en été
As a compliment to the traditional grammatical exercises and pronunciation practice, some of our French 103 students got outside the box with a lesson in writing poetry in French. In addition to helping students learn to put together simple phrases, writing poetry in a new language can help inspire students to think of new vocabulary...
La poésie en série: Paris, un été chaud
As a compliment to the traditional grammatical exercises and pronunciation practice, some of our French 103 students got outside the box with a lesson in writing poetry in French. In addition to helping students learn to put together simple phrases, writing poetry in a new language can help inspire students to think of new vocabulary...
