When discussing the French lifestyle, it’s far too common to focus on the trends, habits and behaviors of Parisians as though they represent those of the entire country but to truly understand France, it’s important to look beyond the navel-gazing capital. One of the first sites I turned to for the southern perspective was author Kristin Espinasse’s long-running resource French Word-A-Day.
The Arizona native’s story mirrors my own – study abroad student falls in love, makes the leap to construct a life in France and discovers blogging along the way. Her site and newsletter have been invaluable resources, brimming with poignant stories about Provence told through words and phrases. My first memory of Kristin dates back to 2009 when she spoke at the American Library in Paris and read an excerpt from her Words in a French Life, the published incarnation of her widely-read blog – I was hooked. With her second book Blossoming in Provence, she tackles integration, French in-laws and overcoming seemingly insurmountable expat obstacles for charming and humorous read you won’t be able to put down. Get to know her a little bit better below…
Describe what you love about France in…
