34 Comments
User's avatar
Jenny's avatar

Hiya, Alaskan expat living in Annecy. I'm not sure if it's verlan, but just last week I learned a newish expression well known to younger generations but not so much to older folks: "Je suis en PLS." It literally translates to, "I'm in the Position of Lateral Security," which is a reference to the position in which emergency/healthcare workers might put an unconscious-but-breathing patient. It's a more emphatic way of describing how exhausted ("épuisé/e) one is. :)

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

J’adore ! And I had never heard of this, so merci merci for sharing ❣️

Expand full comment
Tamara's avatar

Love the socks! Do you remember the name of the shop in Lyon? Heading there soon. Merci!

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Hi! We think it was Cigoire, but also, the name of the socks brand is "Félicie Aussi" and they do have a website where you can find all the names and locations of the stores :-) Make sure to go to les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse--just a great indoor market with wonderful stands and fun ambiance. Bon séjour !

Expand full comment
maryse's avatar

I’m fluent in French but not always well versed in slang or verlans so thanks for the lesson. 😂 I have a pair of those saucisse socks brought back to me from a friend. I don’t think she meant to call me a dummy though. 😂

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

She must just know that you (like me) love charcuterie 💕😊

Expand full comment
maryse's avatar

That she does. As do I.

Expand full comment
Betty Carlson's avatar

Oh no, not Hawaiian shirts! Why, oh why?

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

I can’t think of a single reason haha

Expand full comment
The Mister B's avatar

Exactly. Hawaiian shirt is not appropriated for Bossa Nova or Swing! If you're singing the Bossa- Nova you should wear some more Brazilian clothing! 💃🩱👙

Expand full comment
Meghan's avatar

I just loved your last little bidding farewell part helping others along with their dreams. I am so lucky I found you here. We have a lot in common. Yes I’m from Ohio as I said before but I’m also writing a memoir. The undercurrent is following your dreams piggyback’d onto a love story. There’s a whole lotta French in it too but of the Québécois variety. And there’s the solo travel road trip part searching for Monsieur Droit but finding a t-shirt and a magnet stating in French to follow your dreams and its never too late (I was 40), now 52. My working title is The Greatest Love Story…That Never Was. 🤞🤞🤞

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Yay YAY hello and salut my dear fellow Buckeye!! T’es la bienvenue ! Wishing you bonne continuation for the book 😘

Expand full comment
Maddie Burton's avatar

The tarte au soleil is absolutely gorgeous! Best of luck on your tryout, Karen 🤞

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Merci merci ! The encouragement is much needed and appreciated. If you make the tart, let me know how it goes 😊

Expand full comment
Maddie Burton's avatar

I actually just moved to Paris (temporarily) myself…so if I can figure out how my little countertop Moulinex oven works, I definitely will! 😅

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Awww you made my day!! 😘😘

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Little by little, you’ll get there! Just bring a bag with you and in most supermarkets you’ll find things (for the most part) organized in a similar way

Expand full comment
Maddie Burton's avatar

You can't have known this, but your YouTube videos have already given me a huge leg up...so I'm adding this advice to my growing list of lessons from you!

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Bienvenue à Paris ! It's so fun to be in a new world where we're almost like toddlers again, just trying to figure out the light switches in the stairway hahaha

Expand full comment
Maddie Burton's avatar

Thank you, Karen—I feel so seen! Figuring out the stairway lighting was literally my task yesterday. 😮‍💨 (Today is figuring out how to grocery shop. Onward!)

Expand full comment
Vicki Winslow's avatar

Chante doucement!

Expand full comment
Vicki Winslow's avatar

Wait. Will you need chaussettes pour chanson?

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Yes, they'll go great with the Hawaiian shirts!!! bah-ha!

Expand full comment
Vicki Winslow's avatar

Oui! Avec sandales.

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Oui oui ! En fait, en français on dit "claquettes chaussettes" which means exactly that hee hee

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

C'est gentil merci. Je vais faire de mon mieux 🎤🎶💕 Greetings from Paris

Expand full comment
David Gemeinhardt's avatar

Bon courage!

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Merci bien ! On croise les doigts 🤞😂

Expand full comment
Dannys's avatar

Impressive.

Expand full comment
kim weissenborn's avatar

You could wear a coconut bra to complement the Hawaiian shirts. Lol.

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Also Monsieur B (my husband) said the same thing 🤭

Expand full comment
Karen Bussen's avatar

Tee-hee!!

Expand full comment
Debbie's avatar

Bonjour, Karen

J'ai beaucoup apprecie ta lecon de francais.

The Women's Retreat in the South of France, is it an organization that sponsors it?

A la prochaine

Debbie

Expand full comment
AMS's avatar

I dunno, if you decide to go forward with the band a vintage Hawaiian shirt could be cool, although with two brothers who live in HI perhaps I've become acclimated to them. But come to think of it, I've never seen my SIL, a true native Hawaiian, in one. That can be your excuse ;) Love the sock slang!

Expand full comment