Humankind’s penchant for continually pushing the limits of creativity, science, and physical achievement never ceases to amaze me. You will find a shining example of this powerful predilection in the diminutive French free diver, Julie Gautier. Gautier was born on Réunion Island, surrounded by the Indian Ocean. She is a…
For a period of 15 days at the end of every summer, Perpignan, France hosts one of the world’s most prestigious photojournalism festivals. Photographers from around the globe come to Visa pour l’Image to exhibit their work and immerse themselves in the work of their peers. Galleries spring up across…
One is hard-pressed to think of a tale as widely known and with as many versions as Little Red Riding Hood. First published in France, in 1697 the story remains popular to this day. It’s difficult to imagine any piece of modern-day writing receiving as much recognition. What is it…
At the end of each month, I select a handful of fun and informative Francophone news items that have come across my screen. Here are my picks for September 2021. It’s a Wrap In mid-September, one of Paris’ star attractions received a new skin. The massive Arc de Triomphe is…
We all love underdogs: the urban breakdancer that one day makes it on Broadway; the business school dropout that becomes a millionaire; the single parent who takes on the school board and wins; the whistleblower who exposes corporate or governmental corruption. Yet few of us have the stamina to undertake…
Six weeks ago, I began reading L’Archipel d’une autre vie, by Andreï Makine, along with Emma at Words And Peace. We invited others to join us and set a schedule to read one-quarter of the book every two weeks. When we were a quarter of the way through, I sent some questions…
As a mother of 3 young adults who grew up with social media, this story provides the kind of anecdote that reinforces my worries about online forums. Since January of 2020, a French teen named Mila has received daily threats against her life as well as thousands of threats of…
Four weeks ago, I began reading L’Archipel d’une autre vie, along with Emma at Words And Peace. We invited others to join us and set a goal to have half of the book read by May 3. When we were a quarter of the way through, I sent some questions to Emma…
