Posted in Notes on English

“flotsam and jetsam”

In his recent article on the global “placeless,” Anand Giridharadas used these terms. I admit I had to look them up myself. This is what I found …. floating on the sea …

flotsam and jetsam.

Adopted.

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Posted in Cross Cultural Comments

The Struggle of the Global Placeless

This is a very well-written and interesting article entitled : The Struggle of the Global Placeless with sincere new insight into an old problem among many individuals living globally and multi-culturally.

Congratulations to Anand Giridharadas and the International Herald Tribune for publication.

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Posted in Notes on English Cross Cultural Comments

Adopt a new word today!

One of the remarkable things in our highly possessive society is that no one “owns” words … we just adopt them.

There are those words that are our friends: we like to see them from time to time, they smile at us, we smile at them. They talk to us, we talk back, small talk, a little lunch chat … maybe more.

There are those words we read, those we think we understand, those too abstruse for our time, too.

And … there are words and expressions that we take a fancy to, that we really like. In the same way, we like to wear these jeans or that sweater or those funny socks or that old scarf … When you come across a word or a phrase you really like … why not adopt it? You’ll be giving a whole new life to those few letters who’ll make life for others more colorful!

Adopt a word today! They’re everywhere … just waiting for a little TLC.

TLC ? TLC = tender loving care … (something like love)

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Posted in Popular sayings, proverbs & quotes

What goes up …

What goes up … must come down.

So observed Issac Newton when he threw an apple into the air. Gravity.

And the saying persists: “What goes up must come down.”

[audio:http://test.paris-savannah.com/wp-content/uploads/ex18057e1.mp3|titles=what goes up must come down]

Our world has its rules, its laws. Even if we do succeed in defying gravity … at least for a while!

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Posted in USA

The Frugal Traveler

Anne Sophie told me that she and her boyfriend were planning a trip to New York in May …and wanted to do it ….  frugally.

Frugal … Thrifty … Budget … Inexpensive … even … cheap . These are all words describing the relative low cost of something.

Matt Gross is a specialist about travelling around the world – alone or with his wife and children – without spending a fortune.

This is the New York Times site about travelling on a budget! The Frugal Traveler.

Start packing.

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Posted in France Paris

Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme

We all know the Louvre … and Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame and the Institut du Monde Arabe …

Here is the programme and information for the Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme.  So many interesting things are taking place here. Look at the programme. There may be something which interests you.

When we talk about cross-cultural understanding, I hope that we’re talking about trying to appreciate and understand each other.

Site in English and French.

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Posted in Notes on English

Good news !

Isabelle S. sent me a nice message saying … “It’s a good news.” That, in fact, sounds a little like ssomething one of the Marx Brothers (or even my grandmother, may she rest in peace,  would have said:  … “Itsa good news …”

Nowadays, we’d probably just say: “Good News!” “What good news!” or “That’s good news!” or “Happy to hear such good news …”  and I am too, Isabelle. Because of the good news you sent along in the message:

Mark, I got a ‘Salon du livre’ ticket  for you … I’ll let you know…

Thanks, Isabelle!

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Posted in Cross Cultural Comments Paris

Nouvelles de la Société des Explorateurs Français

 

Société des Explorateurs Français Société de Géographie

184 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6e – Tel : 01.45.49.03.51

 

“En terminer avec les graves erreurs climatologiques contemporaines” Conférence donnée par Claude COLLIN DELAVAUD, Professeur  émérite de géographie.

Intervenant:  Alain TIXIER, auteur et réalisateur de films sur les sciences de la Terre.

 

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Posted in Savannah

A Savannah square

One of Savannah’s squares … shady, sunny … take a break and feel alive !

more about Savannah’s beautiful squares >

(This is clickable …) Savannah’s squares are colorful, bright, historic oases that cater to pedestrians even as they slow down traffic on the city’s busy streets.

and … I wonder who lives here:

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Posted in Notes on English Cross Cultural Comments

success – what it means … to you.

In discussing the similarities and differences between cultures, one of the concepts that often comes up is this one: success.

In my many years in France, there are those who dream of “success” in the image of the American Dream: attaining wealth and status and whatever you might want to do with it.  There are those who adhere to the “work” ethic and suggest that the path to success is paved with work – usually hard work.

Related to the concept and word success is that of achievement.

Can the measure of success be a feeling of satisfaction? And what about achievement? Isn’t achievement more related to an objective standard: reaching a certain level?

What does success mean to you? Share your comments!!

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