Book Review: How to Be French by Janine Marsh

Being French is a dream of mine. Not necessarily *actually* French like in giving up my American citizenship, but French in the way I look, act, etc. There's just something about the French that I deeply admire and I want that for me too. I saw How to Be French on Amazon one day, and I knew this was the book for me. I've read plenty of books on being French, but this one was the best I've read. I loved it!

Here's a synopsis from Goodreads: "Delve into the are of loving and living in every moment.

What does it mean to be French?

Is it pausing to enjoy a glass of good wine or a spread of cheese? Being a flâneur down laneways steeped in history? Knowing just how to dress so you always look effortlessly chic?

This book is a celebration of the French lifestyle - an education in drinking to savor the moment, travelling indulgently, and cherishing food and culture. A lesson in the joy of taking things slowly. We may not all live in France, but anyone can learn how to be un petit plus français with this guide by Janine Marsh."

Honestly, that is so much what I want me to be, minus the drinking. I have felt freer to be myself when

Photo Credit: Goodreads

I'm in France than I do at home. Here, there's so much pressure to fit a mold, to look and act the same way as others. I can't do that. I will never look the way I'm supposed to and I will never be what I'm supposed to (mind you, this is "supposed to" as in what is expected culturally, not my own views). I really needed a guidebook in how to be authentically me. In my case, that looks like being French. Also, I realize how ironic that sounds - not fitting into one mold, but trying to fit in another. I accept the weirdness.

One thing I really love about the French way is the idea of being effortless. Life really isn't that complicated over there. I know, because I have actually lived there, as opposed to being solely a tourist (which I have also done and loved). Normal people seem effortless and real. There are expectations there (no going to Wal-Mart in your pajamas), but they're not insurmountable. 

I think what I love most about the French way is the desire to live life and enjoy it. I am guilty of getting caught up in the details, and stressing out over things that maybe I don't need to be stressed about. The French way is taking time to savor the things around you, whether it's food or an experience. I want that in my life.

Janine Marsh has done a fantastic job of setting out the French way in a manner that is accessible for the most part. Too bad we can't take 2+ hour lunches here. Can't have it all. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to be more authentic, and not just those wanting to live a French lifestyle. Use the tips and tricks to be your best self no matter where you are. That's what I'm trying to do.

5 stars for this lovely book!

Am I back?

 It's been over a year since I last updated here. I came pretty close to just deleting everything and giving up entirely. I'm glad I didn't, because I feel like I'm ready to start back up. Like me, it'll be eclectic and quirky. Book reviews, recipes that I like, musings, school...basically whatever I feel like.

To start, I've started my eleventh year of teaching. It's my ninth year in 4th grade. My group this year is made up of really nice kids. Chatty, but nice. They're adjusting to being back in school, and I'm adjusting to being with people all day long. We've come up with some systems to curtail the chatting when it's inappropriate, and I think we'll be successful. So far, I've noticed that they WANT to learn. That's half the battle right there. We're going to have a great year!

Working my way backwards, at the end of July, I went to Disneyland with my brother Lynn and his family, and my youngest sister Shelley. We were supposed to go as an entire family last Christmas, but our flight got canceled because of thick fog. We rescheduled for July, but things didn't work out then either. We ended up having to split. We still had a fantastic time though, and I was so happy to get to spend time with my siblings, niece, and nephews. It was so much fun! The rest of the family is going at the beginning of November, and GUESS WHO IS GOING WITH THEM. Yep, me. I'm going again! I can't wait! I love Disneyland.

Going further back, on the last day of school in May, I took off right from school and headed to the airport. I was supposed to be flying to Denver, then Frankfurt, and then PARIS!! After 24 years, I was finally headed back to my beloved France. Things didn't work out with that flight, and it got canceled because of bad weather in Denver. UGH!!! When I finally got to Denver several hours late, I'd missed my connection to Frankfurt, meaning I wasn't going to get to Paris as scheduled. I spent the night in Denver, then flew to Washington DC, then on to Paris. I got there a day late, but I got there! I immediately acclimated back into French life. It was just as I remembered it, just as beloved. I was so happy to be there!

I got to do some of the things that I'd done as a missionary, plus some things I didn't get to do. I loved revisiting the Louvre, Notre Dame (under construction because of the fire, but they have bleachers set up outside where you can sit and watch), Sainte Chappelle, the Conciergerie, Sacre Coeur, Place du Tertre, and walking along the banks of the Seine to visit the bouquinistes. I had my favorite crepe (sucre citron) at my favorite creperie (I don't know what it's called, but I can tell you where it is), a delicious quiche near the Eiffel Tower, and pastries. Oh, the pastries! No one does pastry like the French.

I got to do some new things! As a missionary, I didn't get to go up the Eiffel Tower. We just walked around the area. This time, I went up! The very top was closed due to mechanical issues, but we went up to the middle stage. It was incredible! The views are spectacular. I was surprised that it was so windy, because it hadn't been on the ground. It makes sense though, because it's still very high up, even though it's not clear to the top. Air currents would be different up there. I loved walking around and looking at Paris from so many different angles. I loved seeing landmarks that I know so well.

I was brave and visited the catacombs! The catacombs are tunnels deep under Paris that go for miles. They're lined with the bones of thousands. Maybe hundreds of thousands. Centuries ago, the graveyards were overflowing and there was nowhere to bury the newly deceased. The answer was to exhume all the bodies and rebury them in the catacombs. The tunnels already existed, so it was just a matter of transporting the bones and organize them. There are bones that are hundreds of years old. It's creepy and eerie, but also fascinating. They line the walls and are even fashioned into designs. There are message placards all along the way, telling where and when the bones came from. I learned that back in the 1800s, they used to hold concerts down there! They'd bring an entire orchestra down and play creepy music. That's hardcore!

I finally got to go to the Musee D'Orsay. It's the museum I was on my way to when I blew my knee on my mission. That derailed everything. I was so happy to be there! I started at the top with the Impressionists. So. Many. Masterpieces. It was glorious! I saw paintings that I've admired my entire life, paintings I'd never seen before, and the best part, my favorite painting in the entire world: Coquelicots by Claude Monet. I stood in front of it for probably 15 minutes just weeping with joy. Honestly, it was transcendent for me. I also got to see Olympia by Edouard Manet. There was a huge long line to get into the exhibit, but I got to bypass the line because of my cane (If I'm going to be walking or standing for long periods of time, I have to use a cane due to fibromyalgia). I wasn't going to turn that opportunity down!

There's more to the trip than Paris, and I'll get to that in another post. This was truly the best summer of my life. I can't believe it all actually happened. It seems like more of a dream than anything. Now I'd like to go back and just soak it all in.

As I go along, I'll try to be more consistent with posting.