Guest Post: We'll Always Have Paris
In this guest post, Sybil Sage shares how she brought a taste of Paris into her New York home, and discovered an art form in the process.
It isn't Hermès scarves or miniature Eiffel Towers that call out, "Take me home" when we're wandering around Paris. That's too bad as they're easier to schlep back to New York than the Quimper pottery, Provencal tablecloths, café signs, escargot plates, ceramic Calvados set and other vintage brocante I've squeezed into a suitcase, forced to leave behind jackets and sneakers to make room for my purchases. Bringing back memories of Paris and giving our Greenwich Village apartment the ambiance of a French bistro involves sacrifices.
My husband (Martin in New York, Mar-taan in Paris) and I have adorned our walls with posters -- advertising Ricard, Pastis as well as products I've never heard of -- and stocked up on Sancerre, Lillet and cornichons. In Rome, we're fine to do as the Romans do, but in New York, we do what the French do, starting meals with an apéritif and serving salad after the main course, often accompanied by a cheese tray and baguette.
"Do you wish we lived in Paris?" Martin has asked me. My attempts to learn the language have made that impossible. The way I function in France could be called assisted living. I'm able to shop and order in a restaurant, but for everything else, I depend on Martin, who can direct a taxi driver to a particular street, knows how many meters make up a yard and is able to negotiate with a plumber. Even before I ask, "Où sont les toilettes?" with a distinct New York accent, I have never been mistaken as French. I'm comfortable visiting Paris, but living there would be impossible.
My efforts to emulate the French lifestyle could be seen as an affectation except that my personal style - or lack thereof -- puts me above suspicion. I do not have the joie de vivre or attitude of a French woman. In fact, I do something with a scarf that inspires doormen to point me to the building's service entrance. My fixation with France may account for my fascination with doing pique assiette, the French style of mosaic. It relies on breaking plates (the name supposedly translates to something like "stolen from the plate"). After seeing a picture of a chest of drawers totally covered in blue and white plate shards that was unaffordable, I took a class and learned how to use a nipper without cutting myself.
That started my covering everything that couldn't run from me with pique assiette, often breaking plates
with French writing and images to adorn vases, picture frames, planters, boxes, even our fireplace.
For someone nostalgic about the tip trays presented at bistros back when francs were the currency, I broke one and made it the centerpiece of a vase.
Perhaps concerned that my passion was bordering on obsessive, a friend said, "Why don't you turn this into a business and sell the beautiful things you make?" I hired a designer to create a website, www.sybilsage.com, a name I can remember. A French cousin felt I should have a Facebook page and suggested I post it on compatible pages. I tirelessly put pictures on wedding-related pages of vases I'd designed that include photos of newlyweds and picture frames that would be a special way of displaying a wedding or baby photo, noting that these are ideal gifts for a wedding, new baby or any occasion.
I was surprised to get the equivalent of a Facebook speeding ticket, telling me I'd exceeded their limit, followed by an angry rebuke from someone who accused me of spamming. I apologized and explained that a relative had urged me to do this. "Whoever said that was wrong," was the response. I wrote back to say my French isn't good and maybe I'd misunderstood, which led to the person mellowing, our becoming Facebook friends and his passing along my page to others. I'm not sure that "offend, apologize and befriend," is a viable business plan so I'm now being respecting boundaries, inviting others to visit my site (www.sybilsage.com).
Pique assiette mosaic is a second career for Sybil Sage after a successful run as a comedy writer (for TV and magazines), marriage and mothering. You can visit her site and see more of her work at SybilSage.com.
by Deb Blaz - Although some parts of this book are a bit dated, it's still an invaluable resource for language teachers. I read this book twice before I started teaching (once as required reading for my methods class and then once again the following year). Even if you've been teaching awhile, you're bound to pick up a few (or more) ideas you can use in your classroom.
by Amy Buttner - If you're looking for ways to spice up your lessons and make learning more fun for the students, this is a great read. The best part about this book is that most activities are presented with a number of variations, so you can adapt them to best suit your classroom.
- Many of you have probably already read this, but it's worth another look. This is another book that I read twice before I started teaching. Wong and Wong remind us of the most important parts of teaching.
by Robyn R. Jackson - The title of this book is very misleading. Once you read the book you will understand it, but it's not what you think! This book really helped me change the way I thought about many aspects of teaching. I especially like how Dr. Jackson discourages readers from trying to revamp all their teaching practices overnight, and instead offers suggestions on how to improve practices over time in order to avoid being overwhelmed.
- Dr. Mesnier was the White House pastry chef during five presidencies. What makes this charming memoir appealing to francophiles is that not only is Mesnier French, but he begins his story by sharing his youth in France. If you love France and you love French food, it will be hard not to like this book. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Mesnier at a book signing in Washington DC, and back in 2009, Dr. Mesnier was kind enough to give me an 
by Ernest Hemingway - A must-read for anyone who loves Paris. It's a classic, and it will make you want to get in a time machine and see Paris as it was when Hemingway lived there.
by Olivier Magny - This book is available in English too, but you wouldn't dare! This rather humorous take on the many interests of Parisians will help you retain your fluency in French as well as your sense of humor. CAUTION: This book does contain some adult language. I do not recommend it for younger students.
by Hergé - Why not make your way through a Tintin book? You don't have to be a child to enjoy a band dessinée, especially not if it's in French!
by Jean-Paul Caracalla - This coffee table book will take you down one of the most famous Avenues in the world. Accompanied by text which reveals the rich history of the Avenue, photos from past and present depict the many people and events the Champs-Élysées have seen.
by Jean-Christophe Napias - I love visiting the well-known landmarks of Paris, but sometimes it's fun to explore the lesser know areas. This book will show you a bevy of parks and courtyards where you can escape city life for a bit.
by John Baxter - Travel essays are a dime a dozen these days, but Baxter manages to make his unique by complementing present-day narrative with historical context. Walk the same streets that the great writers of the early 20th century walked and let Baxter be your tour guide.
by Sue Roe - This is a heavier read, but it's a great way to familiarize yourself with the lives and work of the impressionists. I introduce my first year students to several impressionist artists and their styles. This book made me more knowledgeable on the subject.
by Assouline - This 976 page pictorial volume will visually transport you to la Ville Lumière. While not all the photos are top notch, you'll still enjoy perusing the pages, intertwined with famous quotes about the city.
by Daniel Pink - Colleen over at 
by Dave Burgess - Lots of language teachers have been singing this book's praises!
by Vivian Swift - I admit it; the artwork pulled me in! This book's on my radar!
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