The webzine for English speaking Parisians
AAWE – Guide to Education Choosing a proper school anywhere is challenging under the best of circumstances. When a family is relocated overseas it can be even more daunting because of the myriad issues and unfamiliar choices involved. The basic (K-12) school choices in France fall into the following categories:
Continue reading “How to Choose the Right School for my American Child?”
An Overview of the System In France, the centralized public school system is under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education, Research, and Technology. It is for all intents and purposes the same everywhere, including overseas (some 410 overseas schools located in 125 different countries), except for minor differences due to local conditions or constraints. Continue reading “Understanding the French Education System”
America has its strip malls; Hong Kong, its streets lined with vendors till dawn. But nothing beats Paris for the variety and originality of its shopper haunts. Spring is the perfect time for an escapade to the numerous “villages,” the city’s self-contained terrains dedicated to antique objects and art, in particular that of shopping.
For the past two seasons, the biggest trends to march down the catwalks from Paris to Hollywood have been elegant and sophisticated. It’s the kind of look inspired by Alfred Hitchcock divas like Kim Novak or Grace Kelly, more than a half century ago. Back then, the designers who epitomized French couture were Dior, Balmain and Givenchy. However, the man considered to be the master in this domain was Cristobal Balenciaga. Continue reading “Cristobal Balenciaga… Master of Style”
Following in the footsteps of the great classic 35mm photographers Meredith Mullins has just come out with a new book on Paris, which captures the city in timeless tones of black-and-white. The book is an artfully presented collection of photographs and stories that capture the essence of Paris.
Continue reading “In a Paris Moment”
Enter the world of Olivier and Madison Malin, the glittering inhabitants of Paris’s most exclusive neighbourhood, the Left Bank. The Malins’ life together with their daughter is the stuff of dreams – and carefully-selected celebrity magazines. Madison is an American film star: her beauty, talent and perfect accent hiding her Texan roots, and the fact she’s just turned forty (although that actually happened several years ago). Her husband, Olivier, is the darling of the sophisticated Left Bank: philosopher, gourmand and media personality, he craves adoration (and is a little too willing to return it). Everything seems perfect – if a touch pretentious – right up until the moment a new English nanny, Anna, appears at the imposing doors of their Rue du Bac apartment. Gamine and artless, Anna unwittingly sets in motion a chain of events that will gravely endanger the Malins’ daughter, and their charmed lives – in ways no-one could have foreseen…
Moulin Rouge: Instants Volés by Vlada Krassilnikova (Editions du Collectionneur) Based on a striking series of black and white pictures, this book chronicles the artist’s voyage from aspiring dancer to full-fledged performer, to nostalgic photographer – via photo documentation focusing on women at today’s Moulin Rouge. The first Russian to join the troupe back in 1993, Krassilnikova combines first-hand anecdotes with a personal look at the showgirls as they prepare for a performance. A mix of “truth and fantasy,” her work penetrates the spectacle of this world-famous landmark, portraying the real individuals inside it, through behind-the-scenes images.
This book is for anyone contemplating a serious relationship, with… France. Essential reading if planning to live or work in that country, it is the most up-to-date source of practical information available about everyday life there. Guaranteed to hasten your introduction to la vie française, and most importantly, to save you time, trouble and money.
To buy the book from Survival Books
What makes fashionistas willing to pay a small fortune for a particular designer accessory? Why does a special occasion only become really special when a champagne cork pops? Why are diamonds the status symbol gemstone, instantly signifying wealth, power, and even emotional commitment? Writing with élan, one of the foremost authorities on 17th-century French culture provides the answer to these and other fascinating questions in her account of how, at one glittering moment in history, the French under Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style and glamour that still rule our lives today. Joan DeJean takes us back to the birth of haute cuisine, the first appearance of celebrity hairdressers, chic cafés, nightlife, and fashion in elegant dress that extended well beyond the limited confines of court circles.
Essential reading for anyone who imagines themselves living “the good life” following the footsteps of Peter Mayle out to the French countryside. This book gives a realistic view of the pleasure and pain of actually attempting it while providing comprehensive practical advice on everything from buying property, to keeping livestock to meeting the neighbors. True to the publishers name the book is chocked full of practical information on all things French including the country’s legendary administration. You won’t want to leave home without it. To buy the book from Survival Books
Stephen Clarke keeps the punch lines coming in this sequel to his best-seller, “A Year in the Merde.” The adventures of British expat Paul West pick up where they left off, exposing with no little hilarity the agony and the ecstasy of living among the French. Clarke has a keen eye and a keener ear for their quirks, foibles and irrationalities, and although the story could be tighter and the jokes funnier, the characters never disappoint. As pleasant a way to while away an afternoon as its predecessor!