Working with Ben

On a gloomy Sunday afternoon, Benjamin Tankersley visited us and we spent the day sitting on a sofa, looking at his website. I look forward to working on it , I think he is a great photographer and should be published in many more magazines...
So Soon To Come... Benjamin C. Tankersley updated website... Look for his blog also.

3 french words he needs to know when travelling:
Rain: Pluie
Chilly: Frais
Chili con carne: chilie con carne

--
Charlotte Vazquez
www.spellsoup.com

End of Summer

Yes it is the end of the summer, the days are shorter, but still quite hot and humid.
If anyone is still following me ... learning a just few words here and there... thank you!

I read a blog yesterday talking about The Certification of Graphic Designers...
The comments were very funny, and I think everyone agreed on the end results:
It really doesn't matter if you are certified because a bad design will unlikely kill anyone,
whereas a poorly built structure could very well fall on your head... and kill you.

So Graphic Designers, rebel and if your future employer asks for a degree... he/she should ask to
see your qualities, capabilities, knowledge, team work, flexibility, and if you show up at work!


My 3 French words for the day are:

Yesterday: HIER
Graphic Designer: GRAPHISTE
Show up at work: SE PRESENTER A SON TRAVAIL

Cheers, I'm off to work.


--
Charlotte Vazquez
www.spellsoup.com

A long time away...summer is around the corner

Hello world!
I am back and updating this blog. Travelling to France this year will not be possible however tickets are affordable and it is very tempting to take off.

--
Charlotte Vazquez
www.spellsoup.com

Spring break

Finally some time off! A vacation at home....just thinking about my next project, and what the future will bring. I think more about the flowers popping up everywhere than about looking for work! This state of mind is due to the current financial crisis. I am avoiding the issues like the plague, but sooner than later will have to focus entirely on finding more work! This vacation at home is also the time to do my taxes, organize my office (again) and battle the laundry. I'm pushing for "Less is More" and hope to win!

Today I will add a bit more to my 3 french words: sorry no pictures this time.

My vacation: Mes vacances [note in english it is singular while in french it is plural!]

My taxes: Mes impots

Look for work: Chercher du travail

Find work: Trouver du travail

Let it snow.....

I think snow storms create a unique atmosphere of "Happy Happy Joy Joy", everything is quiet and serene... I love it.Unfortunately I did forget to bring in some wood, so no sitting by the fire watching the flakes go by.... But I will still dream and wish to be on top of a steep mountain, with skis, blue sky, and a fast lift back up this very long slope. At the end of this great day of skiing, the last slope ends with an irish coffee near a fire with my husband and our friends, wondering when we go back up.....

In the real world, I am in love with my husband, and the snow covering my yard waste! The ski trip is for another time.....

My 3 words are:
Blue sky: Ciel bleu [sky is ciel]
Mountain: Montagne
Husband: Mari or Epoux

..a few weeks later

First there was sleet, then snow. I love snow, I love walking in snow, and mostly how everything looks so different in snow. The dirty, grimy outdoor table suddenly looks pleasing...my pile of yard waste, sitting in my driveway, waiting to decompose, suddenly looks a little bit neater! Thank you Snow for covering all those things and many more

...wouldn't it be nice if it could also cover my school payments!

so the words for the day are described in my pictures.
Hello / Snow / Cold

The daily grind

Do animals feel the daily grind? One that comes to mind is the lioness, fetching and gathering and hopefully receiving something in return for her work. So as I start my morning commute, sitting in my bus with the same daily passengers, I stare out the window and read:"Pimpin aint easy" on the back of a dump truck. I wonder what possessed anyone to think this, let alone display it in large bold letters on the back on this truck? What does this really mean? Although the scenery never changes, I'm happy to still discover something new everyday.

The 3 words of the day are inspired by the daily grind!
The French would call it: METRO BOULOT DODO!

Winter's beauty

February always seems to be a very long month... despite the number of days! So if I lived in France today, I would be planning my winter vacation. This is almost mandatory in this culture... everyone has the right and should take a break during the long winter month. Most kids go skiing with their schools, or relatives, some go to sunny Morocco, and some just hope they didn't forget to shut off the water to their outdoor faucet.



3 words of the day are:
winter vacation: Vacance d'hivers
shut off: Fermer
faucet: robinet

Paris in the summer

While travelling to France this summer, I realized how easily one can forget a language when not using it all the time, even your mother tongue... a very sad realization. Anyway, my endearing daughter and myself decided to go to France, just the two of us, a girls expedition.
This may have been one of my most memorable and lovely trip I ever took. Two weeks I will cherish for the rest of my life. However, I noticed she was fairly quiet, and avoided any contact with the waiters, store clerks, our wonderful baker..... the list goes on. She speaks French, but not fluent, and English really is her mother tongue. Finally under much pressure, she was forced to talk to the clerk if she was ever going to buy that "must have" pair of shoes. Yes, mother would not help, knowing perfectly well if she got lost in Paris she would be able to find her way, so I sat at a coffee shop in front of the store, and waited.
The shoes fit perfectly, and suddenly the quiet teenager was chatty again, and her French improved dramatically. While in High School, she's planning to spend a year in Paris with my sister !


Today's 3 words are:
Daughter: Fille
Baker: Boulanger
Shoes: Chaussures

.........et voila!

SMART

The Smart Car.... yes, it's very popular on parisian streets where parking is almost impossible. I love small cars, but I can't imagine living here with such a small car and a bunch of kids...and dogs. I gave up my motorcycle when I was pregnant, I bought a Jeep Grand Wagoneer... and loved it and eventually gave it to a charity... years pass, now my teenagers use public transportation, long boards, bicycles and I long for a Smart Car.....

today's 3 Words:
Smart Car: Smart Car
Streets: Rues
Public Transportation: Transport Public (metro, bus, train)

Cole, a skateboard, a video

Cole is a dear friend of the family. His mother is among my dearest friends. Just like his skating skills, Cole's french vocabulary is amazing, everyday gets better.
That's all I have to say about that! enjoy his movie...
My 3 words for the day are:
Great friend forever: Meilleurs amis pour toujours! (mapt)

BONJOUR

SPELL SOUPE is here to help..... , with this blog I give you a blink of France, and 3 very useful words on each post, with a little extra.

I grew up in a very international setting, I am half Spanish by blood, but France is my native country. French is my mother tongue, and I believe I'm fluent in English. Some years ago I moved to Spain, figured one more language would be a good asset, and not too difficult to learn! HA... was I fooled! Not knowing the language means not being able to express any thought, opinion, converse for more than a minute, it defines who you are.....silence in a noisy room.
Advice of the day: learn as many languages as you can.
While traveling you may ask for directions, so here are 3 simple directions, but very important ones!
take a right : Tournez a droite
take a left: Tournez a gauche
go straight: Allez tout droit


Photo courtesy of Jojo-bean.
When learning new words, you may want to also learn classic recipes:
Creme Brulee can be topped with fruits, whipped cream, or your own distinctive creation.
These are the basic ingredients:
whipping cream, vanilla bean, lots of egg yolks, and sugar.
In French: Creme, Batonnet de Vanille, plein de Jaune d'oeufs, et du Sucre.