Welcome to Episode #12 of Profiles in Franceformation. I’m your host Allison Grant Lounes and today my guest is Annie Sargent. Annie is the creator and host of the podcast, Join Us in France. Each week, she takes her listeners on a tour of various cities and towns in France. Annie is also a tour guide, author and most recently a cookbook author. Be sure to check our show notes at the end of this episode for links to Annie’s podcast, tours and books.
Today, she tells us about her journey from France, to Utah, and back to France again. We’ll learn about her experiences in the US and in France including:
- Why she moved to Utah and her experience living in the US as a technical translator.
- What prompted her move back to France and the impact the move had on her family, including her young daughter in school.
- The inspiration behind starting her podcast, Join Us in France.
- What sort of challenges she experienced when reintegrating back into French life, including her thoughts of French administration and how important it was to have both she and her husband’s names on bills.
- The things she misses from America, including American service.
For more information about Annie’s podcast, as well as her self-guided audio tours and books, visit her website at joinusinfrance.com
At the end of Allison and Annie’s conversation, Annie mentions several of her favorite places to visit in France. Click the following links to her podcast episodes highlighting these hidden treasure towns in France.
- Carcassonne – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/medieval-walled-city-of-carcassonne/
- Lagrasse – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/lagrasse-and-villerouge-termenes/
- Dordogne – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/best-attractions-in-the-dordogne-episode-160/
- Lascaux – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/sarlat-lascaux-in-the-dordogne-episode-46/
- Toulouse – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/the-ultimate-guide-to-toulouse-episode-183/
- Montpellier – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/tips-for-visiting-montpellier-france-episode-105/
- Camargue – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/camargue-and-gard-trip-report-episode-115/
- Marais Poitevin – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/5-things-you-must-do-in-the-marais-poitevin/
- La Rochelle – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/la-rochelle-france/
- Alsace – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/colmar-and-alsace/
- Rodez – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/tips-for-a-visit-to-rodez-episode-246/
- Chemin de Compostelle – https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/french-chemin-de-compostelle/
Quick Reference Guide:
- CP – cours préparatoire, an equivalent to the first grade in the US
- CE1 – cours elémentaire 1, an equivalent to the second grade in the US
- CE2 – cours elémentaire 2, an equivalent to the third grade in the US
- CM1 – cours moyen 1, an equivalent to the fourth grade in the US
- CM2 – cours moyen 2, an equivalent to the fifth grade in the US
- Sixième – 6ème, an equivalent to the sixth grade in the US
- Sécurité sociale – French social security system
- ameli – website for l’Assurance Maladie, French health insurance system
- CDI – contrat à durée indéterminée, a permanent working contract in France with no defined end date
- De vive voix – relaying information in person or face to face with someone else
- Vie privée – private life, privacy; type of visa/carte de séjour referred to as vie privée et familiale
- Livret de famille – family record book in France
- Carte d’identité – ID card or form of identification in France
- France Culture, France Inter – French radio stations
- Pétanque – popular French sport that is similar to bocce, using metallic balls; often seen being played in French parks or public gardens
- Blanquette de veau – classic French veal stew
- Cassoulet – classic French stew recipe containing meat and beans, named after the dish that it is cooked within
- Pot-au-feu – French beef stew
- Boeuf bourguignon – classic French beef stew braised in red wine
- Crêpe – type of very thin pancake
- Poule au pot – classic French recipe of chicken stew cooked in broth with vegetables
- Galette – classic French recipe from Brittany, similar to a crêpe but using buckwheat flour
- Seitan – often used as a meat substitute in vegetarian or vegan recipes, made from wheat gluten
- Tu vs. vous – French word for “you”. Tu is used informally with close friends or family, but not with acquaintances or strangers. Vous is used formally with acquaintances, colleagues, in public settings such as restaurants, grocery stores, boulangeries etc. Vous can also be used to refer to multiple people in a group, such as “you all” or “all of you.”
- Salut vs. bonjour vs. bonsoir – salut is an informal greeting, similar to “hi” or “hey”. Salut can also be used informally to say “bye” or “see you”. Bonjour is a more formal greeting similar to “hello,” “good morning/afternoon/day”. Bonsoir is similar to bonjour, but is used to say “good evening”
- Boulangerie – French word for bakery where you can buy bread.
References used include: americansection.org, marmiton.org, wordreference.com, linguee.com
If you are considering moving to France like Annie, Foolproof French Visas can help you navigate the path toward finding the right visa for you. It can be purchased here: http://www.yourfranceformation.com/books or in paperback on Amazon.
If you would like to pursue your own Franceformation, you can also request a free 30-minute clarity call with Allison to review your visa options and decide how to move toward creating your ideal life in France: http://www.yourfranceformation.com/free-call
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