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 Jeff Steiner's Americans in France.Resource for people that would like to live or travel in France. |
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PodcastHarriet Welty Rochefort
In this Podcast Jeff Steiner talks with Harriet Welty Rochefort, an American in Paris.
Harriet is the author of three books. Her most recent work is Joie de Vivre: Secrets of Wining, Dining, and Romancing Like the French. Her other two books are French Fried: The Culinary Capers Of An American In Paris and French Toast: An American in Paris Celebrates the Maddening Mysteries of the French.
"You have to take the French as who they are."
Harriet starts by describing her neighborhood, what it's like to be an American in Paris and changes over the years. She then goes on to talk about what brought her to France and first jobs.
Next Harriet summarizes her first two books, French Toast: frustration of not understanding French culture and French Fried: exploration of French cuisine. Then Harriet talks about her latest book: Joie de Vivre, a search to see if the French really are as pessimistic as they seem on the surface and if the French love of life - Joie de Vivre lives on. In Joie de Vivre Harriet focuses on what the French are happy about: their family. She also mentions how the French enjoy a good argument and controversy.
Harriet then talks about French schools, teaching methods, les classes préparatoires (cram schools for grandes écoles - best universities in France) and suggestions for moving to France: study French and take the French as who they are.
Harriet ends with some experiences of culture shock, how the French are private in nature, a trick for appearing to know more French then you really do!, and what she misses from the US: simplicity of life vs French complexity.
