France Archives - Page 2 of 4

Basic French for Travelers

People like to joke about the French often, but the truth is that France is the most visited country in the world with 89 million tourists each year. And there’s good reason for it. If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with all things France and lived in Toulouse for a summer. Knowing a few key phrases for any country you visit is a great practice, and in France, these will come very much in handy. The French are known to be nicer to tourists who at least attempt French. If you’re traveling to France, here’s a quick...

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I’m Moving to France

Currently still in shock. I started my application to teach English in France last October. It has been nearly a calendar year of many anxious months waiting to hear back from TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program in France). COVID has delayed these decisions several times, but yesterday I got the email: I’m moving to the Académie d’Aix-Marseille in southern France to teach elementary schoolers English. And I’m over the moon excited! If you know me personally, you know that these past few months have been rough. Results were supposed to arrive in early to mid April, and the virus kept...

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How to Spend A Day in Paris

I know what you’re thinking. It simply can’t be done. Pas du tout ! Listen here: if a day is all you have, take it and don’t look back. I was on a Europe tour, and France wasn’t on the list. Being the wannabe francophile I am, which shouldn’t come as a shock, I squeezed in a quick trip to the country I consider my second home. We left Brussels in the morning and made it back to our hotel later that night. Here’s a run down of how we saw the City of Lights in about 12 hours....

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Confessions of a France Study Abroad Student

Sitting in an American classroom with a French textbook can only do so much. Sure, it provides the base to succeed once abroad, but touching down on French soil is an entirely different experience. I worked in Toulouse, France last summer but haven’t experienced a traditional study abroad experience. I reached out to Instagram friend, fellow French lover and the blogger behind Girl With A Planner Abigail Nowell. She’s living in Lille, France, this summer to work on her French minor – quelle rêve ! She is taking an intensive French class at L’Université Catholique de Lille. Abigail is working on...

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Maddie Koerner on Solo Travel and Life in Europe

An Instagram picture may be worth a thousands words, but influencer Maddie Koerner knows that’s not enough. “The people that are seeing my pictures aren’t experiencing the excitement I felt when I saw the Eiffel Tower light up or the friendships that I’ve made throughout my journeys,” she said. “This is why I believe traveling is essential for everyone.” Communal travel Maddie spent her summer in Italy as an au pair; she watched the children while the parents were at work and also practiced English with them. Her work-free weekends included traveling to places such as Bologna, Milan, Portofino,...

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16 Things They Don’t Teach You in French Class

From verb tenses to conjugations, sentence structure to grammar, there’s a lot a classroom can teach you about a foreign language. My 13-year-old decision to take French instead of Spanish (because I didn’t want to be just like my older siblings) really was made on a whim, but it was in that classroom, G27, that I began to fall in love with the French language and culture. And without that foundational education and my passionate teachers, my love of travel and French would probably look different; honestly, my life would look different. While I’m grateful for my time in...

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38 Things to Do in Toulouse, France

Located in the south of France, the city of Toulouse offers both the conveniences of a big city and a small town feel. I lived in La Ville Rose, or the Pink City, for a summer and compiled a list of 30+ things to do from eats to sweets, activities to attractions (including the best A/C spots!): Eats: Marché des Carmes + Gwadasel: Get the French farmer’s market experience and pop into this small shop connected to the market for some fresh eats. Crêperie Saint Georges: Prepare. Your. Self. When in France, crêpes are a must! And my mouth...

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9 Things I Learned From My Summer Abroad

Nutella, chocolate macaroons and café au lait. I tasted ’em all during my summer in Toulouse, France. But beyond the good eats and stunning sights, I took in many lessons from this time abroad, ones I’ll hold close to my heart for years to come. Here are nine things I learned from my summer abroad: 1. Routine is the essence of security. I met with a university friend at Chipotle several weeks before my departure for France and knew bigger and better cuisine would be headed my way. I’m eating fast-food “Mexican,” but soon I’ll be sipping on café...

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How to Road Trip Through Occitanie in Southern France

There’s simply too much to see and to experience in France. From the bustling cities to quiet villages, snow-capped mountains to roaring oceans, France truly has more to offer than you could consume in one trip. Taking a road trip allows you to get small tastes of a wide variety of places. And even just driving through the countryside is a sight to see. Maximize your time and money by taking a road trip through Occitanie in the south of France. I spent a summer working in Toulouse, France, and for Bastille Day weekend, we took a road trip...

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