Archive for category French

French foibles: Creme fraiche

Posted by Amanda in French, This-is-Switzerland (TIS) on February 2, 2010

Homemade Creme Fraiche

Creme fraiche from flit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flit/)

For some reason, I assumed that “creme fraiche” was just a fresher, French-er way of saying “sour cream.” Nope. Apparently, it’s akin to “heart attack upon delivery.”

I used it to finish up a yum vegetable and tofu dish last night only to discover this health advisory this a.m.

creme

And I’m no longer feeling *quite* so smug about my healthy cooking.

Next, I’m going to learn that “lardon” doesn’t mean “healthy ham pieces.”

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Oh, Paris…

Posted by Amanda in French, Travels on January 27, 2010

paris

Eating lunch in the Louvre

Favorite things in the city of lights…

  • Sugared lemon crepes
  • Whipped cream crepes
  • Buttered crepes
  • People assuming that I could only speak English (no, really, I liked this)
  • A man puking on the sidewalk without breaking stride while climbing up a huge hill in an, umm, interesting area
  • Cezanne
  • Monet
  • Degas
  • The scam where people pretend to find a “gold” ring on the sidewalk in front of you and then try to give it to you (apparently, Tony looks like their kinda guy)
  • Tony’s umbrella exploding in front of the Arc de Triomphe (as in *literally* every piece of his umbrella separated and jumped in front of the insane traffic roundabout — I don’t think it could handle the shock either)
  • Shoes
  • Marais neighborhood
  • Macaroons

paris2

Eiffel Tower at night


Least favorite things…

  • Fixed menus (onion soup, farm chicken, tarte)
  • Tourist traps
  • Lines (actually, we skipped them all, but still…)
  • Traveling via plane (yes, we were advised to take the train….)
  • Latin Quarter restaurants (sorry!!)
  • The price of macaroons (kid you not…. 3 euros for each little morsel)

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French foibles #12: How much does that cost?

Posted by Amanda in French on October 5, 2009

While I mostly mime things and point and say “s’il vous plait,” I am trying to leap over the hurdle of one-word phrases. Thus instead of saying “combien” (or “how much”) and pointing, I’ll say “How much does that cost, please?”

FRENCH: Combien ca coute, s’il vous plait?

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French foibles #11: I’m out of patience

Posted by Amanda in French on October 1, 2009

Based on my French experiences to date, I don’t think this phrase needs an explanation. “I’m out of patience.”

FRENCH: J’ai plus de patience.

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French foibles #10: Do you have other sizes?

Posted by Amanda in French, Geneva on September 30, 2009

The Bag Lady
Creative Commons License photo credit: clemmac

To date, I’ve never dared ask a sales person for help. I tend to ruffle around the racks until I find something and say “I’m OK” if they offer to help. Thus, a new phrase: Do you have other sizes?

FRENCH: Est-ce que vous avez une autre taille?

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French foibles #9: This is not correct

Posted by Amanda in French on September 29, 2009

I’ve had this string of bad luck where the cashier rings an item up twice or charges me $22 for one pear, etc. My midwestern roots tug at me and I, of course, go back to fix the error, which is  discovered after I’ve paid.

Normally, I point at the receipt and point at my items in the bag, but today, I’ll try something new. “This is not correct.”

FRENCH: Ce n’est pas exact.

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French foibles #8: I have no fricking clue

Posted by Amanda in French on September 28, 2009

Today, I’m looking *very* French. I can’t help it. It oozes out of my pores when I’m not throwing off waves of Americanism.

Or I’m looking very helpful.

Or I’m sitting too quietly so they can’t know that I occasionally still take the wrong bus and just last week forgot my stop and ended up by the airport.

Either way, people keep asking me questions today. In French. About directions.

So, appropriately, I now know how to say: I don’t know.

FRENCH: Je ne sais pas.

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French foibles #7: Yep, I’m in line

Posted by Amanda in French, Geneva on September 25, 2009

Queue outside the Bank for Open House

photo credit: RachelH

I’m not sure of queuing protocol yet in Switzerland. I mean this is an efficient country and it seems that they’re fairly orderly with little numbers from machines (ala government buildings in the US). But I run into the odd situation where I’m waiting outside of a restaurant or similar and someone asks me if I’m in line. THUS, I will say…

FRENCH: Oui, je fais la queue.

Which I *think* means, “yes, I’m in line.” But it could also mean “I make the line.” Seriously, French, why do you hate me?

[16:32:53] Amanda Mark: [16:29] Timo Luege: Oui, je fais la queue.
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French Foibles #6: work plug (warning)

Posted by Amanda in French on September 24, 2009

So let’s pretend you work on a global campaign urging people to protect themselves from H1N1. Let’s say it’s called “Your best defence is you.” How do you say it in French?

FRENCH: Votre meilleure défense, c’est vous

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French foibles #5: I’ll have the same thing as her

Posted by Amanda in French, Geneva on September 22, 2009

andok's lechon manok
Creative Commons License photo credit: jekert gwapo

Let’s pretend that you’re in a restaurant and you cannot pronounce the menu item. Let’s pretend that your colleague has good taste and you always like what she has. AND she can speak French. Well, then, “I’ll have the same thing as her.” is quite helpful.

Thank GOD you have good taste, Kate.

FRENCH: Je prend la même chose.

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