Author Archives: Susan

What does it mean to be French?

Posted on December 19, 2009 by Susan

The latest debate in France is about French identity. Qu’est-ce qu’être français? A new minister of French Identity was recently appointed to open this question up not only to French citizens – immigrants and “de souche” – but to those … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, News from France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ten hotels in Paris under $150

Posted on December 7, 2009 by Susan

There are still some good places to stay in Paris for less than $150 per night. Here are some that are vetted by the editor of the NY Times Travel section: New York Times: list of hotels from special issue … Continue reading →

Posted in Tourism in France | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving Explained to the French – Hysterical!

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Susan

Art Buchwald’s classic explanation of Thanksgiving is priceless! It’s still a riot after  50 years. In 2005, a copy of it was reprinted in the Washington Post and it still packs its punch! I thought it was written to explain … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, French versus English, Reasons to learn French | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

History of French Cuisine

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Susan

For a history of French restaurants and what remains there after 200 years, check out: this New York Times article Thank you, Pamela, for sending it to us! Did you know that the history of French cuisine is an academic … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Antisemitism in France — hoax email still making the rounds

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Susan

Récemment, j’ai reçu mon enième exemplaire d’une alarme d’anti-sémitisme en France. Pourquoi s’alarmer sans savoir les faits ? Pourquoi blâmer la France ? Comment croire un mail sans auteur? Il y a assez de racisme dans le monde pour ne … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, News from France, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Etienne’s View on French and BHL’s Politics

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Susan

Etienne sent our blog a post of Bernard-Henri Lévy, interviewed in L’Express about his views on French politics today – the future of its Socialist Party (PS). That appears on a separate post. This post was written by Etienne Roop, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, News from France | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is the French Socialist Party Dead?

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Susan

In this Express article, Bernard-Henri Lévy talks about the future of the Parti Socialiste in France – its position today and where he thinks it is going. BHL is a “new philosopher,” a political analyst and commentator, and a journalist. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, News from France | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Libéralisme” and BHL in French politics today

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Susan

Pamela Sacks and Etienne Roop are two of my more erudite students. Pam is learning French by supplementing grammar with translating from French to English. Etienne is progressing by reading and writing French. Below is Pam’s translation of Roop’s recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, News from France | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

French complain they are working harder and earning less

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Susan

French workers react to the financial crisis in France: Getting less money for doing more work

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, News from France | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

French anthropologist Levi-Strauss dead at 100

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Susan

To read about the passing of a major French cultural icon, click on: Story on France24

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, News from France | Tagged , , | Leave a comment