I don't understand French - but this week I began to learn. I am actually using French Pod101. So far - I love them! I have listened a little to the other podcast I suggested - but French Pod 101 is magnific! Some Vocab –
Ca va?= How are you - informal (no – I have not figured out how to add French accents/marks working on it!)
S’il vous plait (triangle over the i). = Please,
un croissant. = a croissant.
Much more- but for a later post!
Since I have become addicted to un croissant for breakfast from my wonderful Cloud City
– this was the perfect phrase to learn this week. I learned from French Pod 101 that le Croissant is a pastry that is part of the “viennoiserei.” Sweet, puff pastry. (however, there is not sugar added as far as I can tell). Its origin is debated and uncertain. One version is that it was invented in Poland to celebrate the defeat of a Muslim invasion at the Battle of Tours (French City) byt the Franks in 732. Or perhaps it was invented in Vienna in 1638 to celebrate the defeat of the Turkish siege of the city. Yet another and this is my favorite – Marie Antoinette craving a Viennese specialty. I like that one because no war is involved.
My Dog is bilingual. I’m not joking. When I walk him he occasionally get’s distracted. I then must say – “With Me” or “Leave it”. If I say other phrases he ignores me. However, our last walk I was listening to much French, saying it out loud etc. I’m sure the neighbors thought I was mental. I said “Avec Moi” meaning “With Me” and he listened! I said it every time the rest of the walk – not once did he resist. Just to prove to myself he’s bilingual I tried saying other things in French and English. Those phrases did nothing!
Une explication, s’il vous plait? An explanation please? On the days I believe in re-incarnation I profess a couple variations on a theory. Now of course, he was French or a lover of French.. He (unfortunately) loves the smell of cigarettes and approaches anyone who is smoking. He’ll lick the inside of a beer bottle or try to drink Jameson when it’s out. He sniffs out gum like it was a truffle. Seriously, the dog can find chewed gum under dirt next to a bush. He’s amazing. My favorite quirk of his though is this; walking by houses where jazz music is playing or better yet – kids practicing the saxophone or clarinet. He stops, cocks his head, tilts it back and forth. SITS – keeps tilting so he can hear. He loves it. Thus he was either a baseball player or a Jazz musician. Because he knows French I lean toward the latter.
That’s all for today,
Bonsoir!
