Ce matin, il pleut encore! Mais, hier faisait très beau! En français c’est ce qu’on appelle les giboulées – d’habitude en mars mais aussi avril – quand le temps change très rapidement d’une minute à l’autre. Il y a du soleil ou il pleut.

Google Translate is ok, but far from perfect. Some of what I type in French is poorly translated to English for several reasons. Sometimes, there just isn’t a literal translation, and sometimes a word when used in an expression has a completely different meaning, and Google Translate doesn’t always know that.

So, it’s raining AGAIN, not still, for example. And les giboulées is more like showers, certainly not “sleet.” End of lesson. 🙂

I’m getting excited for my next two courses at Alliance Française. Advanced Grammar (strictly grammar), and an Oral Workshop – both of which are semi-intensive (not 20 hours per week). These will most likely be my last classes here, as I start to plan for my return home. I may squeeze in one short atelier before leaving, but we shall see.

My new friend from the Theatre Class and I will still hang out, and we are already making plans. Irene will be returning from Spain after Easter, so we’ll be catching up again soon, too. And one of my friends from the States may visit me in May, too, so I definitely need more free time to be a tourist.

Yesterday, I did some walking for errands and whatnot. Picked up des chantilly pour mon café, du pain, des fruits, etc. Then, I popped into the Sephora on my block and had a little makeover. THAT was fun! I felt so chic. The gorgeous young woman who worked with me spoke a little English, but we kept it French, sprinkled with some English so we both could practice. In my little take-home bag, there were some gifties – perfume samples, and a lip stain in the PERFECT shade of red. (I’m going back to buy it!) Anyone who knows me knows I wear red lips every day – or I DID – pre-Covid and masks. With this « stain » I can wear it beneath my mask because it doesn’t smear or come off. It literally stains.

Back to mixing it up with French/English, when I went to my favorite neighborhood fruit stand, where the guys know me now, they started to ask me for the English words for the various fruits. That was so cool.

In the coming weeks, I plan to take a few runs through le Jardin Luxembourg. I’m not in running shape (I haven’t logged so much as a mile since arriving in January), but I have kept my Peloton exercise streak going. I’m currently at 125 weeks. No I didn’t pack my Peloton “bike” but I use their “app” to do strength exercises and light arm weights dans mon petit appartement tous les deux jours environ.

À tout à l’heure, mes amis! XO

I had NO idea I’d be getting a makeover when I left my apartment. I didn’t discover the lip stain till this morning!