This is my screen saver. It's a picture I took in July of last year in Southern France, going from Costa Brava to Bordeaux.
You are welcomed to download the image, or use it for any purpose, other than selling it.
For all of you French speaking Canadians: I envy you! French is the most romantic language. You can say: "Eat S..t!" and it will probably sound like a declaration of love... Manger m..de! See! That "nn" from the back of your throat, that nasal "RR"... Romantic, I tell you! I'm going back to my French studies!
When I'm in France my accent is so good that the locals start telling me stories. Only after a good, long while, do they notice my eyes glazing over. Then they ask: "You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?"
"Oui!", I sheepishly answer.
J'adore la France! J'aime la langue française!
Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte Join The TravelingRainers!
LOL! I can't pretend to understand French, it is a beautiful language. What a lovely photo Mirela. I promise to get it together to start posting next week, after the last of the family graduations is over. Nice post!
Debbie: Family graduations... Wow! Which one of your girls is graduating?
That is such an emotional occurence. Wait and see!
Please take pictures and do share!
Awesome view, Mirela! We had a new agent join, and he was from France - and oh his accent :) He read my grocery list for me in french, and even that sounded romantic, haha.
Adios
We lived in Belgium when my son started the second grade. We put him in the local schools and he was pretty well fluent in the language by the time Christmas rolled around - at least "play ground" fluent. Imagine - here I slaved over the language for three years and hardly managed to be understood in the meat market and this baby of mine was talking up a storm! People would ask him how he had a mother who wasn't Belg . . . gotta love youth!
I forgot my intended comment . . . (maybe that's why I can't speak french!) . . . LOVELY photo!
Kara: Isn't it though?
The grocery list... If he could make that sound so good, just imagine what he'd sound like whispering sweet nothings in your ear...
Delicious! Hhrrr.... Let's go back to the grocery list!
Robin: That's awesome about your son. There was a doctor in PA, Dr. D....something who had enormous success working with kids. His theory was that children can learn several languages before the age of 7 and that it is relatively easy for them to do so. I guess this proves that to be right! Does your son still speak French?
Robin (comment 2): That's funny! I thought I was the only one who did that. ...Sisters...
allo cherie, j'ai juste viens pour te dire... avoir un bon fin semaine! (or in English... hi my dear, I just came to say have a nice weekend)
Bonne nuit (good night)... Maybe I shouldn't feed your French addiction? ;-)
Nice post. Thinking about going there. My wife is dreaming about it.
Merci beaucoup! Vous faire de même, Marti! S'il vous plaît continuer à nourrir ma dépendance français!
Merci M&M, a bientot...
Take her there Jon! You both will love it! Southern France is dreamy! Fresh, verdant and enticing. I look forward to going back! If you go to France, you absolutely have to go to Biarritz. It's on the Atlantic side and it is magical, absolutely magical!
You're no "pepe lepieu" that's for sure!
Es un foto precioso come siempre. Gracias mi amiga por todo que hases. Tienes un talento incleible par escribir y para tomar fotos.
I have been to Paris a few times, and have had wonderful experiences each time. The French get a bad rep for being Rude... and I have not found this to be the case at all (other than the taxi drivers!) Then again, I live just over an hour away from New York and Philadelphia.. so Rude may have a different meaning for me!
French is a beautiful language. I used to be able to speak it somewhat- even won some awards- but this was in Texas. Imagine: A bunch of Texas High School Kids twanging out themselves some Frohn-Sayz. I'd love to be able to immerse myself in it- it's the best way win back the language skills. I imagine with your Romanian background you have a facility for all latin based languages (especially reading it). That true?
Je = I
tu = you
moi = me
vous = you (p) or Y'ALL down south
Nous = we
Oui = Yes (or dirty magazine) :)
Non = No
Bonjour = hello
Allo = telephone version of "hello"
Mon = my (masculine) - In Jamaica, you say Eh Mon instead of Hey Man
Ma = my (feminine) - You know, Ma...like Mother
Chat = Cat
Chien = Dod
Cochon = pig
fenetre = window?
port = door
bureau = desk
maillot = bathing suit
oiseau = bird or eye
Je vien = I am coming
J'ai = I have
Je t'aime = I like you
avec = with
amour = love
garcon = boy
jeune fille = young girl
mere = mother
pere = father
frere = brother
soeur = sister
de = of
le = the (masculine)
la = the (feminine)
un = a
bon = good
tres = very
Hey, why am I dong this?
www.rosettastone.com
Je ne parle pas francais!
I know very little French (as you can tell) but I do know how to parlez-francais after viewing the above picture:
C'est magnifique!
and for my fellow southerners (USA not France): Tu = you , Vous = Y'All (don't let anybody tell you different)...lol
Tres bon...
Au revoir!
George: How is your Greek?
Thinking about a vacation in France?
Please visit my travel Web site: www.cruisinchris.com
It's funny all the myths surrounding French... There is absolutely nothing romantic about Eat s..t in French: trust me on this one! And be careful : Je t'aime in French means I love you! I like you is translated by Je t'aime bien...
Et... il n'est pas nécessaire de voyager en France pour entendre parler français! Visitez vos voisins du Nord plus souvent (le Canada et plus particulièrement le Québec)... But I do agree with you, French is a beautiful language (although not as romantic as you might think!)... it seems many Americans are mesmerized by my mother tongue... so... tell me : why native Americans do only speak one language (American)??? Canada is a country with two official languages and... it seems Anglos can learn to speak French. Alors... un peu d'efforts et vous pourrez aussi apprendre la langue de Molière (et la culture française par la même occasion: les bons vins, les plats succulents, la mode, le cinéma, la musique, etc.)!
Bon dimanche (pour ce qu'il en reste)!
Je t'aime =I love you
Je t'aime bien = I like you
Merci, Monsieur...Madame...ummm...comment t'appelle tu?
Mirela- I am going to Paris next week. I have never been and I am looking forward to it very much. I am going to go visit a friend who is taking a 6 week language course. She will be fluent by the end, as she has completed 2 years in the states. I envy her! I don't know any French I am purchasing a pocket phrase book this week. I know that will help me while she is in class! I saw that someone left a comment about rosetta stone...that is a great program. I used it for Spanish. (BTW I knew what George said to you and I agree!) I just don't have enough time to implement a rosetta stone French course before I leave!!!
I will post some pictures when I get back!!
On m'appelle La Dame dragon... because I'm the most demanding corporate FSL program developer and trainer in town... I was just stopping by... because anything with a title related to language always interests me! Tu es probablement Européenne puisque, toi aussi, tu t'intéresses aux langues... En général, les Américains ont très peu d'intérêt dans ce domaine.
J'ai bien aimé ton article... c'est rafraîchissant... Passe une très bonne semaine! Et... ne laisse surtout pas tomber la pratique du français.
P.S. Oiseau means bird and... un oeil means an eye, des yeux means eyes... I thought you would like to know!
J'apprécie votre aide, Mme. Dragon
Non, Je suis Americain...J'habite en Nashville,Tennessee. J'ai parlé quelque français puisque j'avais 11 ans......mais...apprenant toujours.
La plupart des Américains n'apprennent pas d'autres langues...ils ne signifie pas d'irrévérence. ..the n'a pas de besoin
La Danse Avec Les Etoiles et Idole Américaine: Dans Anglais!!!! :)
Je m'appelle Christophe!
dans anglais....en angalis....hmmmm... MMe Dragon? Aide!!!
La Dame Dragon:
Oui, je suis européen; vous êtes très perspicaces! C'était très agréable que vous ayez passé! Je serais honoré si vous liriez quelqu'un d'autre blogs mien. J'écris beaucoup de style de vie blogs ici sur AR.
Merci pour vos mots gentils! Mon français est rudimentaire au mieux.
Je parle le roumain coulant et je fais l'allemand en amateur (j'en ai eu environ 2-3 ans). Le français est juste ma langue préférée, celui que j'espère à parfait dans cette vie.
Des américains natals et pourquoi ils parlent seulement ... anglais et pourquoi les américains ne parlent pas plus qu'une langue : pourquoi devrait ils ? Le monde entier semble parler l'anglais! Dernièrement, l'espagnol a gagné beaucoup de vitesse ici. Nous verrons ce qui arrive dans les 100 ans prochains...
Merci pour le fait de passer! Je viendrai et visiterai Québec, peut-être cet été. Je dois pratiquer mon français....
UUUUU: Thank you for moderating my blog! You do a much better job than I do on it anyway...
I wish I had your sense of humor!
Since I don't, I'll just enjoy yours!
Chuck: I could just picture you doing that. I bet you were adorable. You still are, even when you don't speak Texan French!
I'm afraid my French is simply rudimentary at best. I can understand written French for some reason, much better than I can speak or write it. The little that I do know, has a very good Franch accent; for that reason, the French think that I am fluent in it, which is so very far from the reality. My French is marginal at best, although I can read a French newpaper or magazine and understand a lot of it. Go figure!
I am fluent in only two languages: Romanian and English. My German is not good, but after about a week in Germany it comes back. My Italian is probably better than my French. I tried learning Arabec, but after the 5-th "H" sound, which was like trying to expectorate some mucus from the back of my throat, I gave up. I just know: "Asalam Alecum!"
That seems to be plenty. I have found that people are just happy when you show an interest in their language and their culture. I try to learn a little bit from every country I travel to and also try to learn from my foreign clients and even from the restaurants I go to regularly (I know how to say Thank you and Good bye in Japanese and I used to know a few words in Korean).
Pardon, Mademoiselle Mirela!
By the way, I had a BLAST in the mountains..the weather was great and I think my customer is going to buy.
How was your weekend?
I spent a couple of hours in the Atlantic today and the rest of the day on the sand. It was simply gorgeous!
I'm licking my wounds from my break up and I've been a bit down. I just wanted to be alone today. I hate breaking up! It's very painful. Three and a half years of together.... poof! Gone in one day!
We were really close and he's doing some stupid things right now and there is nothing I can do to help him see clearly. It pains me!
You are on the right path, pal! Spending time alone is good, regardless of what some people think. It's a wonderful time for enlightment, enrichment and let's face it...our bodies need a break from the constant bombardment of stimulation. The mind and spirit thrive in quiet environments.
It's natural to worry about this fellow...after all...you loved him. But I can tell you love yourself too. From art to music (and all beautiful things in between), you indulge yourself in all that life has to offer.
You even blog with passion!
Do continue this practice and rest assured that your love and zest for life will always attract new relationships...and that pain you feel in your heart today will soon dissipate.
:)
Keep writing!
Mirela: You travel quite a bit. Maybe you should look into a membership with WorldVentures. We have great trips coming up in the following 12 months.
www.newtravelbusiness.com
Chris: I came back just before getting into bed.
That's wonderful about having a great time in the mountains AND making a sale while at it!
Thank you for the words of encouragement! I sincerely appreciate them and I appreciate you! I know and understand what you mean, but nothing seems to dilute the pain. On a cerebral level I understand the process, but from an emotional level my whole being is still stirred.
The ocean helped. It always soothes me. The sun and water can certainly make some magic...
:)
uuu uuu (uuuuu): :) right back!
Ou est La Dame Dragon???
I think she left us for good, Chris.
((((( NON )))))
I have more questions...oh well.
By the way, I saw a picture today that reminded me of you...it was Bosch The Garden of Earthly Delights .....It was in a magazine article about the Prado.
Interesting contrast.
I would love it if my Garmin had a male speaking English with a French accent. I wouldn't mind when I made a wrong turn and he says "recalculating" a hundred times.
I'll be reading you,
Lisa
French is a beautiful language and I believe they have the finest pastries in the world, not to mention their incredible food!