Whenever I visit France or Quebec, I make it a point to visit as many bookstores as I can squeeze into my packed travel itinerary. Compared to the United States, the brick-and-mortar bookselling business is still thriving in France. The French people are not only buying books, they’re selling their books…
I recently came across an interesting documentary on YouTube, produced by and starring Gad Elmaleh, the famous French comedian. You may have never heard of Elmaleh, but in France, he’s a superstar. Born and raised in Morocco, Elmaleh has played in more than 30 films, many of them American. He’s…
For the last several summers, I have traveled to France, in part because I love the country and culture, but also to boost my French skills. In 2015 and 2016, I took French classes while staying with a famille d’accueil. These were rewarding experiences that definitely improved my French. This…
For Father’s Day, yesterday, I thought I’d write a letter to my father rather than fall back on a pre-fab, Hallmarkian, sentiment. Dear Dad, Throughout my life, I have been able to rely on you for so many things: inflating bike tires and straightening handlebars; tucking me in at night…
On Sunday, May 7th, the French elected a new president, Emmanuel Macron. After a 1-week transition period, Macron took office on May 14th. Since the election, Macron has been busy. Almost immediately, he named his prime minister, the center-right politician Édouard Philippe, and met with Angela Merkel, completing his first official foreign…