Language of Molière Antibes Boulevard d'Aguillon
Expat Living and Real EstateJemma - French LessonsLearning French

Doing Battle with a Teenager in the Language of Molière

Contributor blog post by Jemma: “Moi, je veux prendre le penne au pistou,” Lolo says to the waiter in fluent, properly French-accented French. Her order is no surprise. Pesto penne is one of my 13-year old’s favourites. The wiry waiter turns his gaze to Philippe, who sits beside me at …

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Swimsuit Shopping Antibes Cote d'Azur
InspireJemma - French LessonsShopping & Gifts

Swimsuit Shopping for a Teenager in Antibes

Contributor blog post by Jemma: When we arrive in France’s Riviera this summer, Lolo doesn’t have a swimsuit. It’s not because she forgot to pack it. She simply doesn’t own one that fits. My new teenager is growing like the queues of passengers waiting for the next French train that’s actually …

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French Riviera Style French Lessons Blog
ExploreJemma - French Lessons

French Riviera Style Ten (More) Ways to Spot You’re in the Côte d’Azur

Contributor blog post by Jemma: Let summer begin! It’s not just that the calendar has sailed past June 21, varyingly known as the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and France’s Fête de la Musique, when entire cities put on their dancing shoes. Non, another sign of summer – at …

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Cote d'Azur Summer
Jemma - French Lessons

Au Revoir: Summer 2017 on the Côte d’Azur

Contributor blog post by Jemma: Lolo has adapted completely to Toronto’s time zone. Which would be brilliant news, except that she is still waking up in Antibes. Theoretically, my pre-teen could obliterate all jet lag as we close up our Côte d’Azur home, Bellevue, and leave this beloved region for more …

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French Car Pound
Jemma - French Lessons

How to Survive the French Car Pound

Contributor blog post by Jemma: French Lessons welcomes 2017’s guest contributor: Rachael, our friend and dinner party guest whose evening ended badly. She’d only bid us ‘bonsoir’ when she promptly returned to Bellevue’s gate. A call to the police confirmed that yes, indeed, her car had been towed to Antibes’ pound. …

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Tribute Antibes HMS Unbroken
ExploreJemma - French LessonsProvencal History & Traditions

WWII Antibes’ 75th Tribute for HMS Unbroken

It is a time of anniversaries. World War I’s centennial commemorations have dotted the globe. Canada celebrated its 150th. Even Lolo’s summer camp in the woods of Ontario proudly handed out t-shirts with “100” on them. World War II anniversaries cannot yet claim three digits. Partly because of the war’s …

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Chateau d’Esclans Domaines Sacha Lichine La Motte en Provence, Whispering Angel
Jemma - French LessonsTasteWines and Spirits of Provence

Rosé Wine: Provence’s Most Alluring Angel – Whispering Angel

Contributor blog post by Jemma: “You drink more [rosé] than a heavy red or an acidic white,” Tom says from his doorstep perch inside Château d’Esclans. That’s “one of the delightful qualities” of this type of wine, he says. It’s the best sort of marketing strategy for a winery: a …

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Coffee Kiosk Starbucks Cannes
InspireJemma - French Lessons

A Starbucks-Shaped Hole in the Côte d’Azur

Contributor blog post by Jemma: Last week in Cannes I stumbled on the most stunning sight: Starbucks. Right there on Rue Jean Jaurès, the street extending along Cannes’ revamped train station. The vision was stunning in its most rudimentary sense: I was stunned. True, a few Starbucks already scatter around …

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La Langue Francaise Marche Provencal
Jemma - French LessonsLearning French

How Food Spices Up la Langue Française

Contributor blog post by Jemma: My dive into France’s linguistic obsession with food began with the summer shoe sales. This dazzling array pulled us into the shoe store – and launched an exploration into the French language. Twelve-year-old Lolo and I were meandering recently through the narrow streets of old …

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Ten Ways South of France
Expat Living and Real EstateJemma - French Lessons

Ten Ways You Know You’re in the South of France

Contributor blog post by Jemma: Philippe, Lolo and I are driving into nearby Cannes one afternoon, chatting away about something or other, when the insistent voice of Waze breaks in. “Wait!” I say. “What did she just say?” We pipe down inside the car, a bubble of calm amid the …

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