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Dreaming of a French life
By Ann | January 13, 2010
Once upon a time, about five years ago, I used to stare out my office window, through the layer of grime that covered the pane, and gaze at a smog-filled sky, the filled parking lot below, and a series of Communist cereal box buildings, each blockier than the last. I was living in Beijing at the time and, though I appreciated the vibrant, futuristic hum of China, I dreamed of living in France.
One day, surfing the web at lunch, I found a blog, French Word-a-Day, which offered delightful French vocabulary lessons in the form of vignettes. The writer, Kristin Espinasse, shared her stories of life as an American in the south of France so charmingly that each post felt like a cyber-vacation. I shared Kristin’s blog with an editor friend at Simon and Schuster and I was thrilled to bits when her blog became a book, Words in a French Life!
Of course, at the time, I never dreamed I would move to Paris, or have the opportunity to become fluent in French. But five years later, my French dream has become a reality. Like many fantasies, the reality hasn’t turned out quite the way I expected, but one of the biggest highlights of living here has been meeting Kristin and her husband, Jean-Marc, and tasting the silky wine they produce at their vineyard, the Domaine Rouge-Bleu. Recently, Kristin plugged Kitchen Chinese on her blog and her lovely post, along with the comments from her loyal readers, moved me to tears.
I sometimes think how lucky I was to live in China, to be inspired by a cuisine and culture that is ethnically my own, and to have the opportunity to write Kitchen Chinese. But living in Beijing gave me some unexpected gifts — it taught me how to be a better visitor in a foreign place, and introduced me to my first internet friend. And for that, and so much more, I will always be grateful.
P.S. Kitchen Chinese is now shamelessly promoting itself on Facebook. Become a fan!
Topics: Book, Kitchen Chinese: a novel |
7 Responses to “Dreaming of a French life”
Comments
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January 13th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I can hardly wait to read your book so that I can
tell my blogging friends all about it. The best of luck to you!
January 14th, 2010 at 4:14 am
wow Ann! That’s so cool, I didn’t know you had that connection to Kristin and her book (which, I might add, my writing coach recommended to me).
How lovely of her to write you up — but so logical since your book is clearly so good!!! Can’t wait until I can actually read it!
January 14th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Chère Ann,
I keep looking for words to respond to your post. I so enjoyed reading the behind the scenes of our eventual meeting.
And then meeting you in person–in Paris… where your words once again mingled with my own destiny (I made split-pea soup today for all of us who participated in the wine bottling here at the farm. … And I received cheers for the soup! I could not help smiling to myself, and knowing that my friend Ann believes in me!)
Along with Kathleen and Kim, I cannot wait to read your book.
With warmest regards,
Kristin
January 15th, 2010 at 12:22 am
What a touching little vignette of global communication with language forming a bond rather than a barrier.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:35 am
My first foreign fascination, when I was little, was with France, thanks to Charlie Stuart’s shiny blue Peugeot and my friend Chris Halverson’s French family. I suspect Kristin’s blog is helping many, many people discover their inner Francophone! Mille mercis!
January 15th, 2010 at 9:05 am
Kathleen — You’re so sweet. I would be honored for you to share the book with your blog readers! And I really hope to meet you one day soon!
Kim B. — Kristin’s blog is so charming — and her fan base so dedicated — that sharing her blog with my editor friend was really a no brainer! I’m just happy it worked as these things so rarely do.
Kristin — I knew it! You are a natural in the kitchen! So glad your soup won raves, but not at all surprised. Btw, how does one say “split pea” in French?
Dad — You, along with other oenophiles, might enjoy the blog of Kristin’s husband, who produces wine at Domaine Rouge-Bleu: http://www.rouge-bleu.com/
Chris — I couldn’t agree more!
January 24th, 2010 at 3:13 am
I went into Barnes & Noble today to look for your book only to find out that it isn’t even out yet!! How did I miss that?
You and I are both blessed to have met Kristin personally. She is a real sweetheart and I’m so glad you helped her book to get published as that is the way that I met her … at a signing in a Seattle bookstore.
I look forward to your book.