Posted by Chanda
La France d’outre-mer (French overseas territory) includes the DROM or les Départements d’outre-mer (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and La Reunion) which are subject to French law and therefore their citizens have the exact same rights as mainland France citizens; the COM or les Collectivités d’outre-mer (Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis Islands and Futuna Islands) which have certain autonomy and are a bit separate from the French state; the POM or les Pays d’outre-mer au sein de la République (French Polynesia and New Caledonia) which are regions that will quite possibly gain independence in the future; and the administrative districts known as TOM or les Territoires d’outre-mer (Amsterdam Island, Saint Paul Island, the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen islands and Adélie Land). It is worthy noting, however, that French soveriegnty is not recognized internationally in Adélie Land.
La Reunion is a small island of about 970 square miles and a population of approximately 827,000 that lies right in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The people of La Reunion obviously speak French as that it is the national language, but the Creole language also exists. Today, I’m going to give you 6 Creole proverbs from La Reunion and see if you can match them up with an English explanation.
| 1. Couler la peau la pas couler lo ker. |
A. When the boss isn’t happy, watch out. |
| 2. Quand gros bèf y charge, sorte devant! |
B. To hear, but not want to show you heard. |
| 3. Faire z’oreilles cochon. |
C. There’s no going back. |
| 4. A pa sa ka travay plis ka manjé plis. |
D. You shouldn’t judge people by the color of their skin. |
| 5. Dlo pa ka monté mòne. |
E. People always want more. |
| 6. Ba yo pyé yo ka pran men. |
F. The richest are not necessarily the ones that work the most. |
Posted by Chanda
While I was studying in Paris, I went home with a friend for a weekend to Montpellier and it was really a beautiful city. Montpellier is located in the south of France on the Mediterranean coast and is the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon. Its name refers to the fact that it sits up on hilly ground. The hills make for beautiful pictures of the city from different altitudes. It is not a huge city (approx. 300,000 residents), but that’s probably part of what makes it so appealing. It is a popular destination for language programs and exchange students perhaps because of the openness of the locals, the fact that one out of every two residents are under 35 and also because its University is one of the oldest in the world.
When I visited, the city was undergoing several infrastructure projects including the tramway, which is now in full operation and makes it much easier to get around. There are many things to do in and around Montpellier besides enjoying the beautiful beaches. You can tour the University, Saint-Pierre Cathedral, huge centuries-old private mansions that were built by noblemen, the Arc de Triomphe (which is quite similar to the one in Paris), a 13th century Jewish bath, the Montpellier follies (castles) and violin workshops as it is the violin-making capital of the world. My two favorites are the squares - the Peyrou royal square and la Place de la Comédie which is the city’s egg-shaped main square featuring a magnificent Opera house and one of the largest pedestrian areas in Europe. The official website of the Montpellier Tourist Office can be found here in English and French. There you can get more information on what the city has to offer and book hotels and vacation stays.
Right now and until July 4th, it is hosting the International Dance Festival during which over 300 dance troupes from around the world put on 3-10 shows daily. Later in July, it will host the Radio France and Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon Festival when it will be the site of over a hundred concerts featuring all genres of music. There are more than a dozen museums to take in around the city and around the same number of large parks, including the Botanical Garden, which is one of the oldest in Europe. The city’s restaurants offer excellent food and wines. Montpellier can also be your base for touring several World Heritage sites including le Canal du Midi, the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard and the medieval city of Carcassonne.
Finally, it is interesting to note that many cities around the world have been named after Montpellier, including the capital city of Vermont in honor of the French, who were very highly regarded in the United States after the American Revolutionary War because of their assistance in the struggle against the British for independence.
Posted by Chanda
Today I came across this expression ‘conducteur du dimanche‘ which is the same in French as English…the ‘Sunday driver’ and I began thinking back to my time living in the outskirts of Paris and how I loved to take the car on Sunday or go with a friend on a Sunday on a drive to Versailles or Saint-Germain-en-Laye or another such history-filled place and just stroll around. One of my very favorites was Fountainebleau. I’m not sure if this is because the royal grounds are so very charming or because I was always on the lookout for Charlotte or Caroline of Monaco as supposedly that is where they reside most of the year (at least at the time) and where the children went to school. In any case, it always seemed as we had our coffee at a café in the town center or walked up to the gates of the residence that you could really feel the history there despite all the people walking about in their very modern and fashionable clothes.
For some, Fountainebleau, which is located about 34.5 miles to the southeast of Paris and is home to one of the largest royal châteaux (castles) in France, evokes the palace. Others quickly think of the dense woods and yet others, of the horse competitions. It is a remarkable place really and one where you can quickly become lost in thoughts of being invited to a great royal hunt or a glamorous royal ball.
The Castle was lived in by all French Queens, Kings, Emperors and Empresses from François I to Napoleon III. The state apartments are open daily to the public except on Tuesdays. On certain days, there are tours of the small apartments which house the Napoleon I museum. The five main courtyards, gardens and parks are open every day and I recommend taking a horse-drawn carriage ride around them. Despite the somewhat kitschy commentary, the feeling you get is quite majestic. Click here for some panoramic views of Fountainebleau.
Posted by Chanda
Yesterday, the people of Quebec headed to the voting booths for their provincial elections. Due to the extremely cold weather, voter turnout was not great, but a majority liberal government was elected. Besidesthe independent candidates, candidates from 9 different political parties could be found on the ballot. These parties are Action démocratique du Québec, Parti durable du Québec, Parti indépendantiste, Parti libéral du Québec, Parti marxiste-léniniste du Québec, Parti québecois, Parti république du Québec, Parti vert du Québec and Québec solidaire. As can be seen, many of the parties are quite liberal and you even have separatist parties as is often the case with provinces or regions like Québec that have such strong cultural roots that are not very much in line with the rest of the country.
Québec was founded in the Royal Proclamation of 1763 after France ceded the colony of Canada to Great Britain through the Treaty of Paris, thereby ending the Seven Years’ War. The only official language in the province of Québec is French and just like France, it has a civil law legal system. Civil law legal systems as opposed to Anglo-Saxon common law systems are often found in Europe as they derive from Roman law. And nationalism plays a very large role in its politics. The Canadian House of Commons has officially recognized the province as ‘a nation within a united Canada”.
Posted by Chanda
The members of the Royal Family of the Principality of Monaco celebrated their November 19th national day today in Monte Carlo. It is also known as The Prince of Monaco Holiday as it commemorates Prince Ranier III’s coronation as the 30th ruling Prince of Monaco on November 19th, 1949. Although many events have taken place and are planned for the entire month to celebrate, today’s main events included a military parade which took place in the palace courtyard and an invitation-only mass with various royals in attendance including His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince Albert of Monaco, HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, her children Andrea, Pierre and Charlotte Casiraghi and Princess Stephanie of Monaco. An invitation-only Gala Evening is to be held at the Palace this evening.
The small sovereign city-state is the smallest French-speaking country in the world.
Posted under Geography, History, News, People
Tagged with Casiraghi, Monaco National Day, Monte Carlo, Prince Albert, Prince of Monaco, Prince Ranier, Princess Caroline, Princess Stephanie, Principality of Monaco |
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