Useful French phrases for 2014

[alibi_18]

[QUOTE=sophie;5179449]

I am pushing to send my daughter to Montreal for college (McGill, Concordia…). I love that city. And I love Quebec French! To hell with the “purists”! lol

I have friends from Quebec and everyday we learn of new differences between our languages…the latest being “galère”, which in slang French from France means that you’re having a hard time or that something is a pain in the neck (quelle galère! C’est vraiment la galère!) But in Quebec, it means a good party! (Il y a une galère ce soir?)[/QUOTE]

I’m from Montreal’s south shore and went to Concordia to perfect my english! Awesome school.
One of my friend went to McGill and really enjoyed it as well.
Two really good schools! And Montreal life is…so…interresting!

As for the “Galère” word used to mean a good party…never heard of that…I might already be too old, or I don’t party enough…but I highly doubt so!! LoL.

And I went to Normandie, on the nicest eventing farm ever in Martinvast owned by the Legoupil family. They were the ones behind the latest edition of the ‘Grand Complet’ newly relocated at the Haras du Pin. http://www.legrandcomplet.com/
They will probably be behind the next WEG xcountry!!! And I’ll try to visit them once more! I should volunteer!

Ce sera nickel!

[gully_s_pilot]

Apparently I spell French like a Spanish cow as well…

[Tiki]

And the answer (pardon if my spelling is incorrect) Trois cher!
Trop cher? (Too expensive?)
Ah, is that how you spell it?? I used to use it when I went to the antique auctions in Metz when I was stationed in Landstuhl. Got me some good prices there!

[sophie]

@alibi_18;5182314

I’m from Montreal’s south shore and went to Concordia to perfect my english! Awesome school.
One of my friend went to McGill and really enjoyed it as well.
Two really good schools! And Montreal life is…so…interresting!

As for the “Galère” word used to mean a good party…never heard of that…I might already be too old, or I don’t party enough…but I highly doubt so!! LoL.

Good to hear about the schools!

Hmmm I’ll have to ask my Québécois friend about the galère thing…maybe he was pulling my leg? Haha! Then again he’s younger than I am and not from Montréal but another town that I can’t remember.

I’ve only been to Normandy once, years ago as a teenager, when a few friends and I did a one week “trek” in a roulotte pulled by a very placid Percheron mare. It was nice but I’m used to wide open vistas and the narrow roads with hedges on each side made me a bit claustrophobic! Oh well, nothing that a good cider couldn’t fix.
I may be French but I don’t like runny, smelly, strong cheese. Camembert is ok if not too old. But Maroilles (from Northern France)…EWWW! My Picard grandpa loved it and used to have it in his fridge and I hated the smell every time we opened that fridge!
Now a good Reblochon, or Comté, or very young Munster with cumin…yum. And of course any type of goat cheese. Even sheep cheese, such as Brebiou! As long as it’s not too “ripe”. I can find some imported sheep cheese here in the US but it doesn’t seem to travel very well

I’d love to go to the WEG tho. I am hoping my best friend will still live in Normandy by then…

[ksbadger]

[QUOTE=FalseImpression;5182237]
But I am partial to cider myself… and I don’t like calvados.

But Normandy to me is always an apple orchard and cows, with a thatched roof farm house in the background!
http://tinyurl.com/2abcwbn

typical “haras” http://tinyurl.com/26z6p48
and another one: http://tinyurl.com/2duxqvv

our b & b
http://tinyurl.com/26ku3v9 house
http://tinyurl.com/24yy68f barn and fields[/QUOTE]

FI,
I was born about 100 miles north in the similar countryside of Devon (with cider on the family farm - and a Norman name - the Nancekeville’s of Ottery St. Mary came over with William in 1066). My dad traveled to Normandy on D Day +1 courtesy of the US Navy in a Churchill tank - I was always sorry we never got to go there again together. He ended up going through the Bocage in a refueled King Tiger & a return in 2014 is definitely required.
A bientot!

[JER]

sophie, I’m curious – does your husband say septante and nonante like a proper Belge or has he caved in to the antiquated French versions?

(I learned Belgian French. It’s still my preferred version.)

[FalseImpression]

@ksbadger;5183622

FI,
I was born about 100 miles north in the similar countryside of Devon (with cider on the family farm - and a Norman name - the Nancekeville’s of Ottery St. Mary came over with William in 1066). My dad traveled to Normandy on D Day +1 courtesy of the US Navy in a Churchill tank - I was always sorry we never got to go there again together. He ended up going through the Bocage in a refueled King Tiger & a return in 2014 is definitely required.
A bientot!

I have been to the landing beaches 4 times IIRC. The first times, I went to the US cemeteries, but the last visits I went to the two Canadian cemeteries and the Canadian Memorial at Juno Beach. Since it was a first for my husband, we also went to the US cemetery and I was amazed at the changes since my previous visits. The trees have grown and “cut” the view a bit. The area does not look as huge as it did the first time. The beach has been restored. There is a big building with all kinds of pictures/videos, etc. La Pointe du Hoc is beautifully maintained and really impressed my husband. It sure is a humbling experience to visit the sites. I also visited the Caen Memorial twice.

I think visitors to the 2014 WEG will have a lot to discover in Normandie!!

[Beverley]

@gully's pilot;5181897

One important note about shopkeepers: in France, it is very important that you look the salesperson or shopowner in the eye and say something polite (“Bonjour” works fine) before you start shopping. It’s basic manners over there, and when we Americans violate it we get their backs up before we’ve even opened our mouths–often before we’re aware of it. Say good-bye when you leave, too.

If you really want to be correct, ‘bonjour’ should never be solo- always accompanied by ‘monsieur’ or ‘madame’ or ‘mademoiselle.’ This may have relaxed somewhat over the years, as I haven’t spent as much time over there in the past decade or so, and do perceive that baby boomers and younger are more relaxed about the use of ‘tu’ instead of ‘vous’ in social settings with newly met people than WWII generation, for example.

When leaving shops after browsing, I’ve always used ‘merci monsieur/madame/mademoiselle’, instead of ‘au revoir…’ As in, thanks for letting me browse.

As for food, in addition to the cheese and the beef in that neighborhood, I would observe that The Best Lobster I ever ate was in Normandie, my host and I picked the fellers up near St. Mere Eglise. I want to say pricey but then I think of this year’s WEG ticket purchases, so maybe less so.

[vineyridge]

One thing Normande to remember–ask me how I know this–is never leave a Camenbert to ripen in the same container with clothes, especially if they are the only clothes you have.

[sophie]

JER - my husband doesn’t (he never really lived in Belgium - he was born in the US and then his parents moved to France) but his parents do, especially his dad. For huit (“8”) his dad also says “ouit” instead of “uit”, and he says “souliers” instead of “chaussures” (shoes) . It cracks me up.

Viney - When my sister visited me with her family and her son’s friend, the son brought Maroilles. It was well packed in a tin box amongst his duffle bag, but I really wonder HOW he ever passed the US airport customs with that!! I guess the dogs are not trained to the “Maroilles” scent…ROFL.

My nephew discovered Fluff when he was over here. He asked me to bring some back when I visited last summer. Well…not a good idea. The thing EXPLODED in my suitcase (actually, in hubby’s suitcase, haha!)

As for the stores…I routinely say “Bonjour” and “Au revoir” without adding Messieurs-dames" and it’s fine.

[Liz_Steacie]

I am really hoping to go to Normandy in 2014, it is one of my favorite places on Earth - I was there in 1976 at the old school in Saumur to ride and learn - the new stables were just then being built. It was total immersion in French as no-one really spoke English back then in that town. And, although I grew up in a francophone section of Montreal, my French was not fluent, although after a while it became fluent enough to get by most of the time.

European manners are, as has been mentioned, vital - greetings, please and thanks, patience :-).

The food: OMG the food. Fantastic. The wine. Even a simple country wine (vin de pays) that you fill your own bottle at the local grocery store - superb. The wines from Saumur and the Loire Valley are lovely, light and refreshing, excellent with the aforementioned moules.

I did get teased alot about my archaic French terminology and accent (from Quebec), but it was gentle teasing.

It was a proud day when I was able to go into a store and ask for something and they didn’t switch to English (even here in Canada, it still makes me proud if I can “pass” in a shop in Montreal!).

I was for a while teaching alot in Quebec, in French, and there were many moments of hilarity when I would use the wrong term for something equestrian (for example - “balance” instead of “equilibre”, “scale” instead of “balance”), and many many grammatical errors - it was hard to teach in French because by the time I had sorted what to say, it was sometimes too late! Demi-arret, demi-arret!!!

But going to L’ecole nationale d’equitation had it’s advantages in that I did learn alot of French words for things horsey! Hope I will be able to remember as it has now been a while since I have had the chance to use much French.

If you get the chance, go, it’s a lovely part of the world and the competition should be wonderful.

Liz

[FalseImpression]

lol Sophie… a friend of mine brought back Munster cheese from Alsace. It was before trained dogs at the airport thought and when asked what the smell was… she replied… “my husband’s shoes”… They never looked. I know better than to try and bring any cheese/saucisson, etc., back now though. I have seen the dogs in action!!! and no, not around my suitcases…

Another thing that cracks me up about French from Belgium. The use of “Je peux” and “Je sais” ie “Je ne sais pas lacer mes chaussures/souliers” What do you mean “you don’t know”??

In the stores in my mother’s town, people only nod and say “messieurs dames” or “madame”, but in other stores, yes “Bonjour, au revoir”… is sufficient!

Liz, I went to Saumur several times too. Had a great tour of the stables. Also attended the Carrousel in 2002. I felt really bad for the horses then. It was SO hot, people in the audience were dropping like flies!!

[sophie]

False impression, that’s too funny about the Munster and shoe smell!!! And they fell for it?!

We were sent some saucisson once, by mail…the package arrived opened with no saucisson and a not-too-nice note from US customs… and after that ALL our packages were opened for months. We were on the Black List I guess, haha! (This was way before 9/11).

More recently the airport dog came to sit by my daughter, who was 8 at the time, as we were waiting for our luggage in Boston. She had a banana and a kiwi in her bag. Big no-no!

My in-laws live in Tours and every time we visit them I make a point to go to Saumur. I would have LOVED to ride there. When I was a kid I learned to ride with the military (Dad was in the Army), and most of my instructors had been through Saumur, one was even a Cadre Noir. Tough instructors! After that I took lessons with “civilian” instructors and they always commented how nothing they said to me, or did to me (i.e, give me the toughest horse to ride), would phase me. lol I was trained to just obey orders!

[vineyridge]

Saumur is a lovely town. I have a slide that I took of the old stone bridge that could have been used as a travel poster. I remember it very fondly, even if I was only a tourist and out of horses at the time.

[Beverley]

Speaking of Saumur, I would hope (hint to organizers) that the Cadre Noir would be performing in or near Caen during the games (which, I’m thinking, we should be practicing n’est-ce pas, we should be referring to as the JEM, jeux equestres mondiaux).

Sophie- I had a Cadre Noir instructor in France, yes indeed, tough as nails. But excellent in both dressage and jumping.

He used to make us mount w/o stirrups, basically jump, press up w/arms and swing right leg over- ALWAYS when I drew the biggest dang school horse!

[BEARCAT]

[QUOTE=sophie;5188512]
My in-laws live in Tours and every time we visit them I make a point to go to Saumur. [/QUOTE]

That’s where I’m from!

[FalseImpression]

And my mom lives near Angers!!!

I am originally from the East of France but I love the Loire area. Saumur is lovely (although my kids will never forget the castle and its ever lasting tour!!). I was not taking lessons or riding when I was growing up (it was too upper class at the time! sigh), but I always loved horses!

My daughter’s best memory of all her trips to France: her ride on the beach at La Baule. She did it twice, the first time was a flop as the instructor had taken the wrong horse for himself. The mare was so spooky at everything that he never dared do more than walk/trot and so did the group. The second time, it was just my daughter and the instructor. They had a lot of fun and galloped quite a distance (even though they were reminded that it was not the time of day when horses were allowed on the beach!!)

She was quite surprised though that, upon arrival at the stable, she was told to go and get KitKat! Nobody around and she is supposed to go into the stall of a horse she has never met… and said horse is pinning her ears!!! Hum… but a groom came by and told her to just take her out and groom her! ok then, but I could not help but think of the liability issues we would have encountered in N. A. lol

And Sophie, yes, I even got to taste the munster!!!