Comments on: Looking French, perhaps — Avoir l’air française, peut-être

By: boomslang

boomslang — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:28:44 +0000

It’s an expression in the face;the eyes are very soft and open and kind at least for the men.

By: pessy

pessy — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:10:00 +0000

but why, you do look so french. and i think it is a compliment. i think french women have this special beuty, maybe its what they call “bien dan ca peau” when i lived in paris, sometimes people thought i was french, and i loved it! anyway, i love le petit accent francaise, that i can actually hear, when i read your site in english its perfect but especially when youa retalking about something french, the french use much more elegant words to express everything. so when translated its a more elegant english. i think..

By: steph

steph — Thu, 24 May 2007 04:59:52 +0000

I am 100% French (means my parents and grandparents are French) and I spent the last 10 years abroad… people keep telling me I must be Italian for sure… Now, I do feel weird indeed!

By: Béa

Béa — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:59:36 +0000

Delphine, I guess it is true. Le cameleon linguistique, pas toujours facile. And glad to hear you enjoyed the soup! Merci encore.

Tanna, thank you! Don’t think it would survive well a plane ride, I am afraid!

Nan, thank you. It is required daily work to speak a language well, isn’t it? Every day. I started when I was twelve or so, but then what really made the difference was to leave in an English-speaking country. The best way, besides being married to an Irish/American

Jeana, i have to check Peter Mayle. I have not read his writings.

By: Jeana in Miami

Jeana in Miami — Tue, 15 May 2007 01:32:11 +0000

When an American comments that someone looks French, this is most surely a compliment! As an American, I have been trying to create a French look for myself for years.;) But you know it is something you see in France all the time, feminine, stylish, confident woman of every age and socioeconomic group.Women who seem to look fabulous without having obsessed over it or suffered to obtain it. And of course you know there are so many authors that mused about this- Peter Mayle and Mireille Guiliano to mention the most well known.

By: Nan

Nan — Sun, 13 May 2007 15:31:43 +0000

Bonjour Bea!
Well, I will venture to make a general statement to you: that in the U.S. when someone says you “look French”, they are complimenting you. In traditional American culture, looking like or being a French woman has long been held to be something positive, not negative.
I confess I’ve actually been asked for years if I’m French (of French descent) and it’s so peculiar to me, because I have no French blood AT ALL (I wish!). But I DO ask people why they think that — and they always say something complimentary to explain it. I used to find it rather odd but now I think it’s the nicest compliment I get. Not that I’m boasting…
(really — I’m not — I don’t think I look French, myself).

As far as English goes, you have a very, very good grasp of the language. I’m envious. I am trying to learn French and my biggest problem is that I’m studying it alone and have no French-speakers or tutors (which are so expensive, unfortunately) to help me so I sound like a demented toddler.
I’m curious: Bea, when did you first begin to study English…?

By: MyKitchhenInHalfCups

MyKitchhenInHalfCups — Wed, 09 May 2007 02:17:14 +0000

The tartine is so beautiful. Could this soup be served cold? It looks so beautiful and I wonder if it would work for a plane trip lunch!

By: Delphine

Delphine — Tue, 08 May 2007 08:02:58 +0000

Béa, I guess this is one of those things you get used to, being told you look French. Most times it is sort of a compliment anyway. I know I still sound foreign to many, sort of British to anglo-Canadians, north American to Brits here, and oddly enough Québécoise to French friends and family members Dur, dur d’être un parfait caméléon linguistique!

I got tired of this in Dublin when I heard it about my baby who was not even three months! She was in pyjamas (not petit bateau ones) all day, and her language skills were well, a work in progress. I guess, it all depends who tells you so, and how it is done.

Love you soup, tried it a few days ago after a short trip to Paris. I have given up subscribing to Elle à table and Cuisine & Vins de France, I get them as a treat when I travel instead.

By: Béa

Béa — Tue, 08 May 2007 07:16:22 +0000

Sara, thank you. I think it is a life long learning experience, isn’t it? We are so many in this situation!

Alhya, merci encore une fois.

Lisanka, tiens marrant de lire qu’il n’y a pas d’accent quand un francais parle polonais. Et tu as raison, il y a tant de fois ou je ne trouve pas les mots!

Bergeou, thank you.

Estelle, oh yes, I sometimes play this game too to try to spot the French (when it is not me, I can oddily enough). Just being back to France on a flight, and I could so easily tell who was French As to the magazines, I wanted to subscribe to Regal but it does not seem that they do so internationnally. I tried and never got a response. Encore une autre de ces choses You are brave not cancel the subscription. I tried but got so frustrated with it! For example, there was a fun chocolate contest that I heard of when it was over. See the point??

Kat, ahah, you are funny. I think you are great the way you are!

Nika, thanks for your kind words!

Ellie, thank you! Well sometimes you can tell if someone comes from a specific country. This is what this woman meant, I suppose. I myself can guess quite accurately for some countries that I know well, but not for others. This has always fascinated me. You will enjoy the fall, it is a nice season too! Especially in Melbourne I am sure!

Mary, this is so nice to read this from you. I was not aware you were teaching French. Did you read Nancy Huston’s Nord perdu? I loved the book!

Tammy, ahah, indeed! I agree.

Mrbunsrocks, ah oui, je ne me plainds pas, mais je suis parfoid juste frustree de ne plus savoir ni parler anglais ni parler francais. Alors je parle franglais

Yoyo, thank you.

Jennie, oh no, I do not think this woman meant it as it is a bad thing. But just an observation, which I think is quite interesting.

Sophie, ahah, tu es trop mignonne. Merci!

Gracianne, good. That is a good thing then!

Aurelie, completement d’accord, les vetements et le visage sont des indications.

Joey, yes I think she did, I have no doubt. Thank you!

Brilynn, oh I was not aware you spoke French. Nice. And yes I guess it is only practice. Thanks for your encouragements.

Rosa, P. my hubbie is born in the US but his parents are Irish and he grew up between Dublin and the US, so this also gives another dimension!

Adeline, merci beaucoup! Ah oui, quand j’etais a la fac, on voulait aussi qu’on parle l’anglais de la BBC!

Christina, oh yes, I know exactly what you mean and describe. How to no longer be able to write well in one’s mother-in-tongue. It comes back, but it is like a rusty machine.

Fabienne, merci.

Kim, oh yes, I have heard about this bread. I have not yet tried. I actually baked a country style loaf yesterday with spelt to make sandwiches for the plane. P. can eat now the leftovers.

Tarzile, merci. Tu vois, je n’etais plus sure, le coup de la soupe et de la tartine.

Ninnie, ah oui, c’est vrai, je n’avais pas pense au foulard Merci, il faut absolument que tu goutes au vinaigre balsamique blanc. Je le trouve plus leger. mais aussi bien quand tu ne veux pas “colorer” ton plat avec la couleur du vinaigre. Ca reste neutre et c;est pratique.

So I guess, here I am in France, waiting for my next connection.

By: Ninnie

Ninnie — Tue, 08 May 2007 00:26:32 +0000

J’allais dire comme Tarzile. J’ajouterai que ton petit foulard noué serré a ce petit quelque chose d’européen, français donc peut-être un peu oui. Quant à tes recettes, je dirais plutôt qu’elles me font beaucoup voyager chaque fois, et pas seulement en France ou à Boston, mais un peu partout dans le monde. Ta passion des voyages se reflète dans ta cuisine aussi.
Je ne connaissais pas le vinaigre balsamique blanc. Ça goûte bien différent?