The Bilingual and Audio Online Magazine for Expatriates in France, French Students and Francophiles

August-September 2008 6 € Issue Number 14 Page 2 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

From the Editors

France is known for having one of the most far-reaching, equalitarian and humane social protection programmes in Europe. Nearly everyone who lives and works in France is included in the state’s universal health coverage, and unemployment and disability plans provide protection from layoffs and incapacitating injuries. Working mothers can also take advantage of the country’s network of day-care centres (crèches) and nursery schools where their children receive excellent care while parents work. Maternity leaves are among the most generous of any country in Europe. It all sounds pretty utopian, particularly to someone from the United States where the medical insurance industry has pretty much taken over health coverage and left over 40 million Americans without any kind of health insurance. But there is a downside: it costs a lot of money to provide that kind of social protection to its citizens! That is one of the reasons for the high social charges that employers, even self-employed workers, must pay into the system each month, and the seemingly labyrinthine com- plexity of France’s bureaucracy with respect to setting up a business.

Many of the Anglophone newcomers settle in France for the beauty of the countryside, the excellent food and wonderful wines. However, a good number have also set up their own businesses, or have transplanted commercial endeavours they had created elsewhere, and many who are contemplating moving to France have just that goal in mind. We felt it extremely important, therefore, to devote the main series of articles in this issue of French Accent to providing as much information as possible about the steps one must take to successfully establish a profitable business enterprise in France. As many of our readers have testified, the administrative aspect alone, while not overwhelming or im- possible, is often described as an obstacle course, or as the French would say, “un parcours du combat- tant”. We have tried to provide tips on where to go for help, ways to avoid paying more than you really have to in social charges, as well as several interviews with people who have successfully nego- tiated the bureaucratic boondoggle and have made it work. We hope this will be of some service to those of you who are thinking about starting your own business.

On the political scene, President Sarkozy, or the “omniprésident”, as he is frequently referred to in the French media, is not just constantly on the move and on our TV screens, he has also, it seems, been very active behind the scenes pulling strings to influence certain aspects of French television. You will also find in this issue our customary features dealing with the language, the scenarios and audio files and other culturally related articles. And, if you haven’t yet taken your vacation, the entire staff of French Accent wishes you a safe, relaxing and memorable end of summer.

Bonne lecture !

French Accent Magazine

E-magazine, published every two months. Subscriptions

Educational purposes. Printable. One issue (2 months) : 6 €

Editorial team: Céline and Vincent Anthonioz, Annick and Roger Ste- Three issues (6 months) : 15 € venson. Six issues (12 months) : 28 € Copyright: Reprints of the articles are permitted only with full mention To subscribe: click HERE of the title, the date and the web site address.

When you see this symbol: Printable Contacts click on it to print version

Questions to the editor: [email protected] a full column, pdf format, Subscriptions: [email protected] without colours or pictures.

Advertisement: [email protected] Tél.: +33 (0)870.46 .77.81. When you see this symbol: Web site: www.frenchaccentmagazine.com click on it to access the web page with the audio file

Cover photo: (by Paul Robinson). A British expatriate in the village of To download all the audio files of the magazine: Aignan, in the Gers, who started a small business thanks to the help click HERE of SOHO SOLO (see p. 26). © Nancy KRUYVER-CLA d'Aignan Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 3

Sommaire

Interactive French

N’importe quoi…! Plus 2 Scenarios Page 5 Two dictées Page 7 Le coin des branchés: A few useful & interesting expressions Page 8

Interview

Amy Lillard and Matt Kling, wine-makers in the Gard Page 10

Real Life How to Find a Sports Club? Page 13 Tips & Traps Page 16

This is France

Starting a Business in France Page 18 - The Various Types of Businesses Page 19 - The portage salarial : an Easy Solution for a Small Business Page 20 - Interview with the Manager of a société de portage Page 20 - La maison des artistes Page 22 - A Helping Hand from Chambers of Commerce Page 24 - A Few Useful Websites Page 24 - A Scenario: At an Entrepreneurship Fair Page 25 - SOHO SOLO: A Unique Project for Expats in the Gers Page 26 - Brocanthé: a belle histoire of integration Page 27 - Discover the Gers Page 28

French Politics PPDA, Sarkozy and the Media Page 29

Our Planet

French Cities Take Steps to Reduce Pollution Page 32 And What About co-voiturage? Page 35 A Convenient Earthworm-Driven Composter… Page 35

The French Scene

Sylvie Testud Page 36 A Song: Les mains d’or, by Bernard Lavilliers Page 38 A Children’s Song: Zelda l’araignée Page 39 A Selection of Books Page 40 A Literary Text: Aimer c’est agir Page 41

Mots croisés Page 9 Oh la la la la!... Unbelievable but True Stories from France Page 31 Une recette de cuisine: Lasagnes à la ratatouille Page 42 Page 4 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

A highly successful programme among expatriates. Lessons, with a TESTIMONIALS French native-speaking private teacher, are geared to the student’s level and needs and focuses on everyday practical living in “The best method for me France. It offers a wonderful scheduling and location flexibility, as for progressing in the lan- the lessons can be taken at any time and any place. guage. Tired of classes and groups of mixed abil-

ity and searching for • How Does it Work? a more personal, one-to-

Each programme includes a lesson via Skype one contact with a teacher, this was the ideal (www.skype.com) or on the telephone with a answer.” native-speaker French teacher located in Peta, Normandy, France France, Switzerland or North America. After each lesson, the student receives personalised “I really enjoy the lessons homework and has the opportunity to practice and my neighbours and their French via our on-line forum. friends in my village comment on my progress, so • Teachers it's great.” Alana, Aude, France They all have a diploma and have experience teaching French. They are very patient, friendly and encouraging. They understand the frustrations The lessons are very en- and the difficulties of learning a second language. They adapt to their stu- joyable and we laugh dents’ levels and objectives. They make sure that the lesson is performed a lot about the oddities of each other's language and in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. the different ways in which language is used. • Students If you want to make progress with your learning. The French learning programmes are adapted for I'm certainly enjoying expatriates living in France, tourists, students, the experience.” Francophiles, business professionals and for chil- Peter, Northants, UK dren (from 6 yrs. up). So far, hundreds of students have experienced our French learning pro- “I like the flexibility of grammes, and they all enjoy real progress as learning this way because every lesson is personalized. I can have weekly lessons regardless of where I am • Advantages in the world. I am also learning French quicker Flexibility: lessons can be taken from home, the than other methods or office, hotel room, etc. The student can change the lessons because it is eas- date and time of the lesson on a weekly ba- ier for me to schedule them. Even my 9 year old sis. son has commented how Personalized: every lesson is prepared my French is improving according to the student’s level and objec- and he is fluent!” tives. Constant feed-back is given during Paul, Dordogne, France and in between each lesson. Affordable: it is one flat fee per lesson “A brilliant concept and which includes a follow-up homework as- one that I am enjoying signment. There are no extra fees! immensely. The hour long phone call absolutely flies by, before I know it, 5 French Learning Programmes to choose from! the teacher is setting my

homework, which I can Learn French at Home then do at my conve- +33 (0)8 70 40 81 17 (local call cost in France) nience and e-mail to her www.learnfrenchathome.com for correcting.” [email protected] Marian, Essex, England Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 5

Printable Interactive French — N’importe quoi…! version N’importe = any/anything at (Some people translate n’im- WW hen you have your all/ it doesn’t matter porte quoi as “anything” but neighbour over for an apéro it’s doesn’t work. If you wish and you ask him: Qu’est-ce que Example: Tu veux passer me to express “anything” such as tu aimerais boire ? (“What would prendre ou je viens te chercher ? “You can do anything you you like to drink?”), he might N’importe – c’est comme tu veux ! wish”, then you will need to reply: N’importe – ça m’est égal = Do you want to come by say: Tu peux faire ce que tu veux. (“Anything – it doesn’t mat- and pick me up or should I ter.”) This expression and come and get you? It doesn’t N’importe comment ! = badly other variations are difficult to matter – as you wish! done translate literally. You have most likely heard them as they N’importe quoi ! = nonsense/ Example: Tu fais ce travail n’im- are very frequently used, but rubbish! porte comment ! = You’re doing perhaps you are unsure of this job badly! their exact meanings. Let’s Examples: Tu look at a few of them: regardes n’importe N’importe où = anywhere quoi à la télé ! = N’importe qui = anyone The group of n’importe: these You’re watching N’importe quand = anytime are tricky as we cannot literally rubbish on TV! translate all of their different Elle a dit n’importe quoi ! = She forms: said all kinds of stupid things. Cont’d page 6

1st Role Play—Beginner Level

Annie : Je suis furieuse avec mon patron ! Annie: I’m furious with my boss! Robert : Pourquoi ? Robert: Why? Annie : Il m’a dit qu’il ne va pas m’envoyer à Annie: He told me that he’s not going to la réunion à Paris. C’est n’importe quoi !! send me to the meeting in Paris. It’s non- C’est moi qui devrais y aller. sense!! I’m the one who was supposed to go. Robert : Ah oui, je vois ! Mais tu sais, ton pa- Robert: Ah, I see! But you know your boss, tron, il s’en fiche des autres. J’ai une idée : et he doesn’t care about others. I have an idea: si nous on partait quelques jours pendant and what if we went away for a few days dur- cette réunion ? ing this meeting? Annie : Bonne idée ! On peut même partir Annie: Great idea! We can even go anytime n’importe quand à partir du 20 juin. after June 20th. Robert : D’accord ! On peut aller n’importe Robert: OK! We can go anywhere. You où. C’est toi qui décides… decide…. Annie : Ça m’est égal où on va ! Tu préfère- Annie: It doesn’t matter to me where we go! rais quelle destination ? Which destination would you prefer? Robert : Vraiment, ça ne me fait rien. N’im- Robert: Really, I don’t mind. Anywhere! But, porte laquelle ! Il faut quand même rester en nevertheless, we have to stay in Europe, or Europe, on peut peut-être aller en Afrique. perhaps we can go to Africa. We don’t have On n’a pas le temps d’aller trop loin. time to go very far. Annie : D’accord, je vais y réfléchir. Merci, tu Annie: OK, I’m going to have a think about m’as remonté le moral, Robert ! it. Thank you, you’ve cheered me up, Robert! Robert : Il n’y a pas de quoi. Tant mieux si tu Robert: You’re welcome. That’s all the bet- te sens mieux ! ter if you feel better! Page 6 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

It doesn’t matter!/ It’s all the Tant pis ! = Oh well – too bad! N’importe quoi…! same to me! Tant mieux ! = Good for (cont’d) Je m’en fiche/Je m’en fous ! = I you! / That’s all the better!

don’t care!/ I don’t give a Ce n’est pas terrible = It’s not N’importe lequel/laquelle = damn! great! anyone of them Ça ne fait rien ! = It doesn’t (One would think that it matter! / No problem! meant, “It’s not terrible,” but A few more useful expressions J’en ai marre ! = I’m fed up!/ actually it means the oppo- which cannot be translated I’m sick and tired (of it)! site!) literally: J’en ai assez ! = I’ve had Il n’y a pas de quoi ! = You’re enough! J’en ai ras-le-bol ! = I’m fed up welcome! Ça m’est égal ! = I don’t mind!/ (with it)! Céline Anthonioz

2nd Role Play—Intermediate Level

Jean-Claude : Dis, tu veux aller au cinéma Jean-Claude: Hey, would you like to go to ce soir ? the movies tonight? Roselyne : Pourquoi pas. J’en ai un peu Roselyne: Why not. I’m kind of fed up with marre de rester à la maison tous les soirs. staying home every evening. Jean-Claude : Tu préfères voir quel film ? Jean-Claude: Which film would you like to see? Roselyne : Oh, n’importe ! Qu’est-ce qu’ils Roselyne: It doesn’t matter. What’s playing jouent au Central ? at the Central? Jean-Claude : Attends, je vais regarder dans Jean-Claude: Just a minute, I’ll look in the le journal. A 21h il y a le nouveau Indiana Jo- newspaper. At 9 p.m. there is the new Indi- nes. J’ai bien envie de le voir. ana Jones. I would really like to see it. Roselyne : Moi, pas. On dit qu’il n’est pas Roselyne: Not me. They say it’s not very terrible, celui-là. Il n’y a rien d’autre ? J’en ai good. Isn’t there anything else? I’m sick and ras le bol de ces blockbusters de Hollywood. tired of these Hollywood blockbusters. Jean-Claude : Pas vraiment. Mais moi j’a- Jean-Claude: Not really. But I adore Harri- dore Harrison Ford. Je veux vraiment aller son Ford. I really want to go see this film. voir ce film. Pas toi ? Tu aimerais peut-être ? Don’t you? You might like it? Roselyne : Comme toujours, tu dis n’im- Roselyne: As usual, your talking nonsense! I porte quoi ! Je m’en fous de ces films améri- don’t give a damn about these American cains. Et toi, tu ne veux jamais aller voir un films. And you never want to go see a more film plus intellectuel et moins violent. intellectual and less violent film. Jean-Claude : Et maintenant, c’est toi qui Jean-Claude: And now it’s you who is talking dis n’importe quoi ! Je déteste tes films intel- nonsense! I hate your intellectual films. los. Il ne s’y passe jamais rien ! Nothing ever happens in them! Roselyne : Oh, j’en ai assez ! Tu n’as qu’à al- Roselyne: Oh, I’ve had it! You can just go ler voir ton Indiana Jones tout seul. Moi, je see your Indiana Jones by yourself. I’m stay- reste à la maison. Il y a un très bon Bergman ing home. There’s a really good Bergman film sur Arte ce soir. on Arte tonight. Jean-Claude : Eh bien, tant mieux. Au Jean-Claude: Well, that’s all the better. At moins nous serons contents tous les deux. A least we’ll both be happy. I’ll see you later. I plus tard ! Je ne sais pas à quelle heure je ren- don’t know what time I’ll be home. tre. Roselyne : Ça m’est complètement égal. Tu Roselyne: I really don’t care. You can come peux rentrer à n’importe quelle heure, mais home anytime you want. Just don’t wake me ne me réveille surtout pas !! up!

Click here! Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 7

N’importe quoi…! (cont’d) Try this exercise! Fill in the blanks with one of the following expressions: Bill : Veux-tu du vin rouge ou du vin n’importe où, n’importe quand, n’importe quoi, n’importe où, n’importe blanc ? comment, n’importe; y’en a marre (contraction of: il y en a marre), Anne : ______(5), tant mieux, j’en ai assez; ça m’est égal. j’aime les deux !

Anne : Il travaille comment ton plombier ? Anne : Je te sers encore un peu de cassoulet? Bill : Honnêtement, ce n’est pas terrible ! Il travaille Bill : Ah non merci, j’ ______(6) ! je n’ai ______(1). plus faim.

Anne : Ça se passe bien ton travail ? Bill : A quelle heure veux-tu aller faire les courses ? Bill : Oui très bien, je suis très content. Anne : ______(7), j’ai beaucoup de temps Anne : Ah ______(2) ! Je suis heureuse aujourd’hui. pour toi. Anne : Oh la la, il n’était pas très sympa le pâtissier ! En plus je Bill : Tu achètes où ton pain n’ai rien compris à son histoire. Anne : ______(3) ! Je n’ai pas d’endroit Bill : Il a la réputation de dire ______(8). particulier. Ne l’écoute pas. Anne : Je dois immatriculer ma voiture en France et je dois remplir beaucoup de papiers pour l’administration ! J’ ______(4) de l’administration française, c’est toujours trop compliqué ! (Solutions page 39)

Deux dictées au choix

We provide two dictées to chose from, according to your level in French: one for beginners, and another one for intermediate level French. Click on the link below to listen to each of them. Then try and write it without making any mistakes. You can compare it to the original text on page 39.

N.B.: It would be a good idea to read all the articles of this issue of French Accent before doing the dictation, as you will recognize many expressions.

Beginner level: Intermediate level: French lessons for children!

“Learn French at Home” has a French learning programme in place for children (6-12 years old)!

Children learn quickly and are generally attracted and motivated to learn if the lesson is performed in a relaxing and fun atmosphere. Taking lessons via Skype is exciting because kids love to use the computer and appreciate the real time interaction!

The teacher targets the lesson's objective towards comprehension. Through games, pictures, drawings, short role plays, songs and more, he/she keeps the student's attention in a fun and relaxing atmosphere during the entire lesson. Only needed: a pair of earphones, a webcam and some visual teaching materials.

Every lesson lasts for 30 minutes and after the lesson, the child will receive the vocabulary learned during the lesson via email as well as one or two exercises to do as homework. Lessons can be taken on a weekday or on a week-end at a suitable time for your child.

www.learnfrenchathome.com Page 8 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Le coin des branchés There are few words in French with so many idiomatic uses as the word coup (a Click here blow). Below is just a small sample of the multitude of expressions you can hear all the time.

Du coup = consequently/as a result. A coup sûr = for sure. Sur le coup = immediately. La victime a été tuée sur le coup = The victim was killed instantly. Sous le coup de = in the grip of/under the influence of. Au coup par coup = as the need arises. Tout à coup = suddenly. Tout d’un coup = all at once. Boire un coup = to have a drink. Valoir le coup = to be worth the effort Un coup de fil/de téléphone = a phone call. Faire d’une pierre deux coups = to kill two birds with one stone. Les 400 coups = youthful mischief. Le coup du lapin = whip lash. Un coup de bambou = too expensive. J’évite d’aller dans ce magasin, c’est toujours le coup de bambou chez eux = I avoid going to this shop, it’s always too expensive there. Un coup de pied = a kick. Un coup de poing = a blow with a fist/a punch. Un coup de tête = on a whim. Il est parti sur un coup de tête = he left quickly, without thinking about it beforehand. Un coup d’œil = a glance. Un coup de main = a helping hand. Un coup de pouce = idem. Translate into Un coup de collier = a final effort to finish something quickly. 50 languages Un coup d’éclat = a commotion. Il a fait un coup d’éclat hier soir = He made a big fuss about things last night. in 1 click: here! Un coup de gueule = an argument or expression of discontent. Un coup de sang = a burst of anger. Un coup de foudre = love at first sight. Drawing by Lucques Un coup de soleil = a sunburn. Nisset-Raidon-“101 Un coup d’épée dans l’eau = a useless, ineffective action. French Idioms” Un coup de barre = a sudden fatigue. (Passport Books) Un coup dur = a hard or difficult blow. Accuser le coup = to be obviously bothered or effected by something. Un sale coup = a dirty trick. Un coup de poignard dans le dos = to stab someone in the back/to betray someone. Un coup d’Etat = to overthrow the government in power. Un coup de théâtre = something unexpected that completely changes things. Un coup de Trafalgar = an event which has serious consequences (in reference to the naval battle in 1805 between the Spanish and French against the English. Napoleon was defeated). Le coup de grâce = to put someone/something out of his/its misery. Tenir le coup = to resist, hold out. Un coup de fouet = to spur someone on/to provide a boost. Etre dans le coup = to be in on something, to be aware of what’s going on. Un coup de poker = a gamble, a risky venture. Un coup de feu = two meanings: a gun shot; and the busiest time in a restaurant (expression used by cooks and waiters).

Roger Stevenson Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 9

Click here

Click HERE for a more Mots croisés readable version:

Printable The words for the Crossword Puzzle are taken from the articles in the current issue. version

Vertical

2. sauce blanche 3. une société, compagnie 4. sorte de foire de vieux objets et meubles 5. enfant 7. logement 8. ex-femme du Président 10. contraire d'analogue 11. travailleur manuel à son compte 13. légume vert assez long 14. chanteur rebelle 16. chef d'une entreprise 17. message de promotion d'un produit ou service 20. On paie les ______so- ciales à l'URSSAF 22. Ce qu'on est obligé de payer au gouvernement chaque année 23. partage du même véhicule pour un déplacement 29. magasin 30. formidable, très bon 31. les infos à la télé

Created with ElipseCrossword—www.elipsecrossword.com Horizontal 24. département du sud-ouest de la France dont Aignan est 1. personne qui tient les comptes un village 5. J'en ai ______. J'en ai vraiment ras-le-bol ! 25. un petit coup avant de passer à table 6. auteur de "Bonjour tristesse" 26. sigle du salaire minimum en France 9. action d'un individu qui se met au service d'une cause 27. programme pour ordinateur 12. taxe 28. forme de transport écologique à Paris 15. initiales d'un présentateur de JT 32. on paie les impôts sur le ______. 18. siège administratif d'une commune 33. fleur qui suit le soleil et dont on obtient de l'huile 19. star 34. remplaçante de PPDA 21. frais à payer pour s'inscrire à une association ou à l'URS- 35. récipient dans lequel on fait cuire SAF 36. personne qui a adhéré à une fédération sportive 23. chercher des antiquités 37. personne qui crée son entreprise Solution on page 37 Page 10 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Printable version Interview — Amy Lillard

Advertise with us! and Matt Kling

harvests. Then I moved to AA my Lillard and Matt Kling, two Americans with a California where I worked love of fine wine, have successfully carved out a niche harvests in Napa Valley and for themselves in the crowded realm of French wines. then also in Oregon. After Their experience in purchasing a vineyard and produc- that, I moved to San Fran- ing organic wine is an example for those who long for cisco where I worked for a simpler, more satisfying life far from the noise, pollu- Kermit Lynch, one of Amer- tion and congestion of large cities. One of the secrets ica’s premier French wine im- of their success: they both speak fluent French! porters for 3 years. Click HERE C.A.: What were some of Céline Anthonioz: Where C.A.: You own a winery the challenges you encoun- are you both originally close to Uzès in the South tered when you set up your from and how long have of France – How big is your business? you lived in France? vineyard? What motivated you to start a winery? Did A.L.: The challenges are Amy Lillard: I am from you have any prior experi- never ending. We bought the Colorado (Colorado Springs ence in the wine industry? vineyards in December 2004, to be exact) and Matt is from in 9 months we had to learn Minnesota. We have been A.L.: We own about 15 acres how to prune the vines, farm living in France since 2001 of vineyards which is quite them organically, transform when we moved to Paris. In small by local standards. I part of our house into a win- the fall of 2002 we moved to have been working in the wine ery and learn how to make Saint Quentin-la-Poterie, but business for 15 years, I started wine. It was quite an adven- we didn’t purchase the vine- out in Burgundy working in ture and it still is. On the lo- yard until December 2004. the vineyards and doing grape cal front we were very lucky;

The day we bottled our first wine and had the finished product in our hand had to be one of the best days of our lives. Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 11

day. Since we have a small op- eration, it only takes 6 days to pick all of the grapes, so it’s not really that hard in the end.

We have lots of fun, great lunches under a tent we set up in the vineyards and everyone keeps coming back, so it must not be that bad!

C.A.: What influenced your decision to produce organic wine? Is the process of production complex and challenging? In 9 months we had to learn how to prune the vines, farm them... A.L.: We farm organically be- Interview (cont’d) A.L.: It varies widely. Lately cause that’s the way we live. I’ve been getting up at the We buy organic food and try most everyone was very nice, crack of dawn and working in to drink only organic wine, so and quite open, offering to the vineyards until about it was a natural choice for us. help if they could. I think noon. Then I come home to It is more challenging, but we that’s because we chose to in- paper work, shipping orders, would never consider using vest in vineyards at a time labelling bottles and all kinds chemicals, after all, we’re the when the market for southern of various tasks. Then ones doing the work out there, French wine and vineyards there’s the spraying and other spraying the products, neither was not doing so well. That, vineyard work which is done of us wants to jeopardise our and I think they were amused every ten days or so. We personal health! at seeing a young blond farm organically so we only woman on a tractor!! use copper and sulphur as C.A.: How would you de- well as some biodynamic scribe your wine? Where C.A.: What are the joys and preparations such as nettle, can we find it? frustrations of being a wine horsetail and chamomile teas. maker? That means extra work too! A.L.: Our wine is a blend of Since we can’t use weed kil- Grenache, syrah and mour- A.L.: There are constant chal- ler, we spend more time on vèdre, it’s big and rich with lenges, mostly due to the fact the tractor using our new me- lots of peppery spice followed that we have no formal train- chanical weeding machine by black cherry fruit. It’s full- ing as winemakers or as farm- called the “Weed Badger.” bodied and quite powerful ers. Matt’s grandfather was a with medium tannins which farmer in Indiana, so luckily C.A.: In France, the grape are now starting to round out he knew how to drive a trac- harvest time is known to nicely. It will age for 4-8 more tor, hook up a plough and he be physically difficult but years. Unfortunately, we don’t knew what a PTO was! I had also a fun experience. currently have a distributor in some experience making What is your experience Switzerland. wine, but never by myself, al- like during that time? ways with other people telling Our wine is imported to the me what to do and when. So, A.L.: Harvest at our winery is United States by Kermit it was pretty tough the first lots of fun. We are lucky Lynch Wine Merchant*. year trying to figure all of that enough to be able to pick our out. But the day we bottled grapes with only the help of C.A.: Amy, you are a con- our first wine and had the fin- friends and family, so far we tributor for books specialis- ished product in our hand haven’t had to hire anyone. ing in wine. How did you had to be one of the best days This makes for a great atmos- become such a professional of our lives. phere, it’s very festive and no and who do you write for? one feels over worked – tired Click HERE C.A.: Today, what is your yes, but it’s a good tired, you A.L.: I write for Michel Bet- typical day-to-day life as feel like you’ve accomplished tane & Thierry Des-seauve, wine producers like? something at the end of the for their guide Le Grand Guide Page 12 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Interview (cont’d) did this while living in San years and spoke French all Francisco too, but it’s even the time, which really made des Vins de France. It is pub- easier now with 3 markets a the difference. I am very lished annually and I am re- week. lucky to have a good ear for sponsible for the southern languages and that helps me Rhône. It’s quite a big job, C.A.: Could you see yourself with my accent. and pretty amazing that they staying many more years to trusted an American woman come in France? C.A.: What suggestions or to do it. I have known Mi- advice would you give to chel Bettane for almost 15 A.L.: Well, since we now own someone who is contem- years and spent lots of time vineyards it won’t be easy to plating moving to and learning from and tasting leave, but no, we have no starting a business in with him. Bettane is one of plans to return to the US. The France? the world’s most respected lifestyle here has become part wine tasters and journalists, of who we are and I can’t en- A.L.: First of all, you MUST so I am very lucky to have vision moving back. learn the language; you can’t the job. come here and hope to navi- C.A.: Amy, you speak im- gate the French bureaucracy C.A.: Have you both ac- peccable French, how did without being able to com- quired any new habits you learn it? municate. More and more since you’ve been living in British and Americans are France? Which ones? A.L.: It all started when in ele- moving here and they have a mentary school, one of the very hard time integrating and A.L.: Our French friends of- kids’ grandmothers was getting settled in without ten say that we are more French and she volunteered to speaking the language very French than they are! We come in after school to teach well. Of course, if you both love to cook, although us the colours, and numbers, choose to, you can make Matt tends to cook more and a few songs. After that I friends who speak English than I do these days. We do always took French in school. only, but the experience our grocery shopping ONLY In college I had a summer job would be much less fulfilling. at the local markets, prefer- leading luxury bike tours in ring to eat locally grown sea- France and that helped a lot. I _____ sonal organic produce. We then moved to Burgundy for 3 * www.kermitlynch.com

Our wine is a blend of Grenache, syrah and mourvèdre, it’s big and rich with lots of peppery spice followed by black cherry fruit.

Contact: www.lagramiere.com Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 13

Printable Real Life — How to Find a Sports Club? version versity, and the number of portantly, discount rates for young people who are good ski lift passes. GG etting involved in your enough to play at the profes- favourite sport is not only sional level is really small. Joining a club is usually quite great for your well being but easy, and most clubs welcome also an excellent way to meet In France, it is possible to new members. For some new friends and mix with the participate in the sport of sports where there is consid- locals. That is especially the your choice for as long as erable physical exertion in- case in France where the possi- you want and are physically volved, such as cycling or bility of participating in any able through the various judo or karate, you will most number of sports activities is sports clubs. To join, you often need a medical certifi- really great. must also register with the cate from your doctor certify- national federation and pay ing that you are in sufficiently Contrary to what is the case in yearly dues, but they are quite good health to engage in the other Anglophone countries, minimal. As with other as- sport in question. You can particularly the United States, pects of life in France, these get the medical certificate participation in almost any clubs are all included under form from the local club and sport is not part of the local the umbrella of the French have your doctor fill it out education programme in Ministry of Sport. And and sign it for you. France, but is done through whether it be football, cy- the clubs that are all part of the cling, skiing, badminton or national federation of the sport pétanque, there will be a local 1) The Ministry in question. There is definitely chapter of the federation of Sport not the same school spirit that somewhere close by where develops around a school bas- you can become a licencié and The sport clubs are listed on ketball or football team, where play on a competitive level the website of the ministère the school’s reputation, par- against other teams. Even if français de la Santé, de la Jeunesse ticularly at the university level, you are not the competitive et des Sports (French Ministry is often based on the victory sort, you can simply practise of Sports), under Fédérations record of its sports teams. your preferred sport, such as uni-sport non olympiques (Single However, the French system skiing or tennis or hiking. Sport Federations for non- has many advantages. In the There are, for example, nu- Olympic sports). US, it is really difficult for merous ski clubs that organ- someone to continue playing ize weekly excursions to a va- Note: Fédérations are the na- at a competitive level once riety of different resorts, pro- tional umbrella organizations they leave high school or uni- vide lessons and, most im- of the local clubs.

L'équipe amateur du Rodez Aveyron Football au stade Paul Lignon contre la réserve du Football Club Nantes Atlantique (CFA). ©Sanguinez Page 14 French Accent, August-September Issue Number 14

Advertise with us! Sports Club (cont’d)

On the Ministry’s webpage1, Use the first search box and choose your sport among those listed. Then when you have the contact details dis- played, you can chose between two ways to find a sports club:

-Click on the website of the Club de cyclotouristes de Grenoble. Click HERE fédération which appears on the page. On each of the fédérations websites you will have to chez vous (find the club close for example). Then, the list search a little on the home to your home). There, you of sports appears and you just page to find where the list of will find the contact number need to click on one to get all clubs is. For example, in the of the regional or departmen- the contacts for the sports website of the Fédération fran- tal chapters that you can visit clubs. çaise de cyclotourisme2, the list of or where you can telephone clubs appears on the left col- to get more precise informa- If you click on cyclotourisme umn, under Rechercher. Click tion about the local clubs. you have a list several pages on Club, département, ligue, and long. It is, however, much you will access a map of 2) Annuaire sportif less user friendly than the one France with all the depart- given by the Fédération de cyclot- ments. There are several online an- ourisme. nuaires sportifs (sports directo- Then, click on your depart- ries). One which is rather 3) Local lists ment and you will be directed complete is Noomba3. to the list of all the clubs de You can also always find a list cyclotourisme, with contact All the various disciplines are of the local clubs of every ac- names, phone numbers and listed in the column on the tivity at your local mairie. websites (when there is one). left. You have to click on Some of them also give these the type of discipline cover- listings on their website, -Or click on the website and ing the sport you are inter- when they have one. you will see on the left-hand ested in (sports terrestres, if you side a link trouver le club près de are looking for cyclotourisme, Roger Stevenson

1 www.inet.jeunesse-sports.gouv.fr/fedes/federations.asp 2 www.ffct.org 3 www.noomba-sport.com Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 15

A Scenario: Before Signing Up

To prepare you with some questions that you might need when signing up as a new member for a sports club, listen to and read the following scenario:

Laurent : Bonjour, j’aimerais m’inscrire dans Laurent: Hello, I would like to sign up for votre club de karaté. Avez-vous encore de la your karate club. Do you still have some space place pour cette année ? open for this year? La secrétaire : Bonjour. Avez-vous déjà pra- The secretary: Hello, Have you already done tiqué le karaté ? any karate? Laurent : Non, jamais. Laurent: No, never. La secrétaire : D’accord. Nous avons encore The secretary: OK. We still have some space de la place pour les cours débutants. in our beginners class. Laurent : Ah, très bien ! Quels sont les jours Laurent: Oh, great! What are the days and et horaires de ces cours ? times for this class? La secrétaire : Les cours pour les débutants The secretary: The classes for the beginners ont lieu le lundi de 19h à 20h et le mercredi take place on Mondays from 7pm to 8pm and de 18h à 19h. Wednesdays from 6pm to 7pm. Laurent : Très bien. Et quelles sont les mo- Laurent: Good. And what is the subscription dalités d’inscription ? process? La secrétaire : Vous devez remplir un for- The secretary: You must fill out a form and mulaire et nous fournir un certificat médical provide to us with a medical certificate and a et une photo d’identité. photo. Laurent : Et quel est le prix de la cotisation ? Laurent: And what are the subscription fees? La secrétaire : Le prix est de 150 euros pour The secretary: The fees are 150 euros for the l’année ou 50 euros par trimestre plus 30 eu- year or 50 euros per semester, plus 30 euros ros pour la licence. for the licence. Laurent : Est-ce que la licence est obliga- Laurent: Is the licence compulsory? toire ? La secrétaire : Oui, Monsieur. The secretary: Yes, Sir. Laurent : Est-ce qu’il y a des compétitions Laurent: Is there any competition during the dans l’année ? year? La secrétaire : Oui, mais seulement pour The secretary: Yes, but only for those who ceux qui sont ceinture jaune. Vous passerez have a yellow belt. You will take the exam for l’examen pour ce niveau après 6 mois. that level after 6 months. Laurent : Tout cela m’intéresse bien ; pouvez Laurent: That interests me a lot; could you vous me donner le formulaire à remplir ? give me the form to fill out? La secrétaire : Bien sûr, le voici. The secretary: Of course, here it is. Laurent : Est-ce que ça va si je le ramène Laurent: Is it alright if I bring it back in one dans une semaine ? week? La secrétaire : Oui, mais n’oubliez pas le The secretary: Yes, but don’t forget the medi- certificat médical et la photo ! cal certificate and the picture! Laurent : Pas de problème, je vous remercie. Laurent: No problem, thank you. La secrétaire : Merci à vous et bonne jour- The secretary: Thank you and have a nice née ! day! Laurent : Pareillement, au revoir. Laurent: You too, good-bye.

By Céline and Vincent Anthonioz Page 16 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Tips & Traps Looking fee, except for the vide-greniers for on several internet sites held in the street. It is best to (see below). for antiques get there early in the morning of the first day if you want to find the best pieces, but it is TT he end of summer in the same in every country… France is a very active time, not necessarily in economic And there is also information terms (as almost everything is on internet about the best closed in July-August, it’s a fairs (brocante, foire à la brocante, good time to think of other salon de la brocante, salon des an- things) but for antique hunt- tiquités, etc.). Or, you might ers. You can find antique or also find what you are looking brocante fairs, or other sales of second-hand objects or furniture in almost every season, A Few Useful Websites but September-October is a busy time of the year (like More and more brocante and antique fairs are announced on March to May) all over the the web through various websites. But don’t totally rely on country. Even in the smallest them, as many events still aren’t listed on them, simply be- villages, there are vide-greniers cause the organizers may not be very familiar with the inter- (sort of small flea markets) net. A few of the most popular websites: once or twice a year. In our issue Nr 4, March 2007*, we www.info-brocantes.com devoted the full main feature The most important listing for such events in France. But to explaining the differences still, the list is not complete. between antique fairs, brocantes, vide-greniers and other http://vide-greniers.org bric-à-brac, what you can ex- Another calendar for brocantes too and also for smaller events pect to find at each type of like vide-greniers and flea markets. event, the language to use, how to negotiate, etc. Si vous www.ebay.fr aimez chiner (if you like to hunt Almost unknown a few years ago, the ebay auction site has for antiques and second hand spread rapidly and is now used nearly as much in France as in objects) as the French say, the UK or the USA. The French website often has a very you will have a lot of fun at good selection of antiques. The most difficult, at least for these popular events where furniture, is to get them delivered, and sometimes you may you can find nearly anything, need to find a vendor who lives not too far from your home and sometimes find a good so that you can pick up the table or desk you intend to buy. deal for a very cheap price. Most sales are by auction, but some are also sold at a fixed Watch out, though, because price for immediate purchase. you may find very expensive objects too! www.vivastreet.fr A competitor of ebay, but the sales are not by auction. Information about these events in your region is avail- http://1001objets.com able in the press or on posters Idem. But the description of items is not as complete as on stuck on walls or lampposts. ebay or vivastreet. Usually they take place on a week-end (between one to www.la-brocante.info three days), and you usually A blog full of info, advice and tips for brocante lovers. Too have to pay a minimal entree bad, there is no English version…

* Interested readers can order it, at the price of 4.50 €, from French Accent Magazine’s website: (www.frenchaccentmagazine.com) by clicking on the cover of this issue, left column. Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 17

Tips & Traps (cont'd) faction is high. Now, the If this formula is especially at- website covers 144 countries tractive for students, it can be A new type of and has been translated into used by people of any age three languages. who are curious about learn- Click here accommodation: ing more about the culture of “bedycasa” If the idea is principally to the country through sharing stay with a family, there is in the life of a family for a while, Spending the night in hotels fact a total of 45 types of and who wish a more authen- and B&Bs while travelling is various accommodations, in- tic welcome than what a chain one way to go. There is an- cluding: homestay guest of international hotels can of- other called tourisme alternatif rooms, B&B, independent fer! (alternative tourism), which room for rent, host families, consists of staying at some- chambres d’hôtes and gîtes (in _____ one else’s home. This system France), casa rurales (in Spain * www.bedycasa.com of renting a chambre chez l’habi- and Portugal) guest houses, (with an English version) tant (a room in a private resi- homestay, farm-inn, pen- dence) for a short stay is be- sions, riads (in Mo- coming very popular among rocco), mishukus and the French. There are possi- ryokans (in Japan), bilities for all the regions in exchange of houses France as well as internation- and apartments, etc. ally. The best organized sys- And the proposals tem is Bedycasa*, which has are classified in 43 been a real success since its different themes: creation just a little more than family holidays, un- a year ago, in July 2007, by a usual places, cycling, young French woman, Magali hiking, romantic Boisseau. While it began as a stay, relaxing, hu- very modest start-up, 5,200 manitarian, safari, Magali Boisseau, the young founder people all over the world health, culinary, lin- of bedycasa have used it already to find a guistic, luxury, envi- room, and the level of satis- ronmental, etc.

NEW!

A 90-page e-book with French-English scenarios on daily life in France, vocabulary and grammar tips, with audio links. Selected from past issues of French Accent Magazine

Price: 18 euros. Special price for subscribers of French Accent: 15 euros.

To order: click HERE! Page 18 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Printable version This is France — Se mettre à son compte Starting a Business en France

cant. In this issue, we offer ou le département où l’on a II n our last issue, we pointed some information and advice, DD ans notre précédent nu- choisi de s’installer. Et ceux out that in the Department of and we have asked expatriates méro, nous avons vu que non qui y sont parvenus se décla- Dordogne alone, there are no who have already gone down moins de 600 expatriés britan- rent la plupart du temps très fewer than 600 British expa- this path to talk to us about niques avaient créé leur propre satisfaits. Mais ils disent tous triates who had created their it. We focus more on the entreprise dans le seul départe- qu’ils n’auraient jamais imagi- own business there. Among means of avoiding excessive ment de la Dordogne. De plus né au départ combien cela those who have chosen to social charges, such as joining en plus d’Anglais, parmi ceux serait difficile. live in France, there are in- a portage salarial, or, for those qui ont choisi de vivre en creasing numbers of English who have an artistic activity, France, envisagent, comme Car, hélas, se mettre à son expatriates who dream of the advantages of registering eux, de se mettre à leur compte, quelle que soit l’acti- starting their own business by with the Maison des artistes. compte en ouvrant un gîte vité choisie, est toujours un opening a gîte d’hôte (sort of We also provide lists of web- d’hôte ou une boutique, en incroyable parcours du com- B&B) or a shop, starting an sites full of useful advice, and créant une ferme bio ou une battant en France. Et les dé- organic farm or a winery, that we highly recommend entreprise de production vini- penses à prévoir, surtout les breeding dogs, selling the that you consult. We also cole, en élevant des chiens de charges sociales, sans parler products of their arts or feature examples of institu- race, en commercialisant les des impôts, sont loin d’être handicraft activity, creating an tions that are willing to help produits de leur activité artisti- négligeables. Dans ce numé- online sales, graphics or mar- you, such as the superb initia- que ou artisanale, en ouvrant ro, nous vous offrons quel- keting company, etc… The tive SOHO SOLO in the un atelier d’art ou d’artisanat, ques informations et conseils, ideas are numerous, and the Gers, launched especially by en donnant des cours d’anglais et nous avons demandé à des hopes are great when one re- the local Chamber of Com- ou autres, en créant une entre- expatriés qui ont déjà fait alizes how much the small merce to help newcomers prise commerciale, de gra- cette expérience de nous en company one wants to create who plan to settle and be phisme ou de marketing par parler. Nous mettons plus would be beneficial to the vil- self-employed in the depart- internet, etc… Les idées sont particulièrement l’accent sur lage, the city or the department. nombreuses, et les espoirs les moyens d’éviter de payer ment where one has chosen sont grands lorsqu’on réalise à un excès de charges sociales, to settle. And most of the In any case, before you make quel point la petite entreprise tels le portage salarial, ou, time, those who have suc- your final decision, we rec- que l’on envisage de créer se- pour les personnes ayant une ceeded say they are very satis- ommend that you seek as rait utile dans le village, la ville activité artistique, l’adhésion à fied. But they all la Maison des artistes. Nous say that they vous donnons des listes de would never sites internet remplis de have imagined conseils utiles que nous vous how difficult it conseillons vivement de would be. consulter, et nous vous pré- sentons des exemples d’orga- Because, unfor- nismes prêts à vous aider, tels tunately, starting la superbe initiative SOHO a business, what- SOLO dans le Gers lancée ever the chosen spécialement par la Chambre activity, is always de commerce en faveur des an unbelievable nouveaux arrivants dans le obstacle course département qui souhaitent in France. And s’y établir et y travailler à leur then there are the compte. expenses involved, especially Dans tous les cas, nous vous social charges, recommandons, avant de not to mention Debbie and Alastair Johnston who have successfully created a gîte d’hôte vous décider, de prendre le taxes, that are far (www.demipiste.com) in Chamonix, where they have joined many other British plus de conseils possibles from insignifi- business people, such as pub owners… © Richard Mouillaud auprès de professionnels de la Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 19

Starting a Business French get confused. In or- Se mettre à son voir effectué toutes les dé- (cont'd) der to eventually understand compte (suite) marches administratives re- everything and complete all quises, parfois incroyable- much advice as possible from of the required administrative branche, de discuter avec d’au- ment compliquées, il vous other professionals in your formalities, which are some- tres expatriés ayant fait la faudra beaucoup de patience. branch, that you speak with times unbelievably compli- même expérience, de faire de Et, si possible, il est aussi other expatriates who have cated, you will need lots of longues recherches sur les sites vivement conseillé de com- had the same experience, that patience. And, if possible, it internet d’information aux mencer par apprendre le mi- you do intensive research on is highly recommended to expatriés et sur les forums en nimum “absolument vital” de the information websites and start by learning the ligne, et, surtout, de faire appel français. online forums for expatriates, “absolutely vital” minimum aux services d’un comptable and especially that you obtain French. français qui pourra vous Avec patience, persévérance, the services of a French ac- conseiller sur la meilleure et volonté, vous devriez y countant who will be able to With patience, perseverance, structure juridique à choisir arriver ! Et vous aurez alors la advise you on the best legal and determination, you dans votre cas particulier. satisfaction de devenir un structure to chose for your should make it! Then, you Vous trouverez aussi sur inter- membre actif de la société particular situation. You will will have the satisfaction of net des comptables qui parlent française, d’être respecté par also find on the web a few ac- becoming an active member anglais et sont prêts à se met- vos pairs, et d’avoir le senti- countants who speak English of French society, of being tre à votre disposition. Car les ment d’appartenir à une com- and who are ready to be at respected by your peers, and types d’entreprise sont très munauté. Autant de manières your disposal. Since there are of feeling like you belong to a nombreux, et même les Fran- de réussir pleinement une so many different categories community. So many ways çais s’y perdent. Avant d’espé- intégration. of companies, even the to successfully integrate. rer avoir tout compris, et d’a- Annick Stevenson The Various Types of Businesses The general categories - Entreprise individuelle: a one- mon structure for larger busi- -Check the name of your person business, self-employ- nesses, with a minimum of business for uniqueness with Artisan: manual, skilled pro- ed, artisan expecting a mod- seven shareholders and capital the Institut national de la professions: building trades, but est revenue). of around 37,000 €. priété industrielle (INPI)3. also bakers, mechanics and -Deposit the initial capital for even hairdressers and handi- - Entreprise unipersonnelle à res- Where to get your business. crafts creators. ponsabilité limitée (EURL): sin- information? -Publish a notice of incorpo- Profession libérale: all legal, gle person limited company, a ration of the company in a medical and paramedical, “one shareholder company”, It is best to visit your local journal approved for legal an- technical professions, and although up to 50 partners Chambre de commerce et d’industrie nouncements. This will cost teaching. Also includes archi- are allowed. This is a cheaper (CCI) or Chambre des métiers et you around 150 euros. tects, accountants and insur- and less complex system than de l’artisanat (CMA). You will -Register the company with ance agents, as well as artists, the SARL. find their address at your the tax administration. authors, web designers, illus- mairie, or the general website -File a request for the com- trators, musicians, painters - Société en nom collectif (SNC): of the CCI1 and the CMA1. pany's registration with the and interpreters. another type of limited liabil- Centre de formalités des entreprises Commercial and industrial: ity company, a bit simpler A few tips for starting (CFE)4. This will cost you more general business activi- than an SARL, with 2 per- a business in France around 40 euros. ties; if you want to open a sons minimum. -See our articles on pages 20- shop, a café, a restaurant… -Learn as much French as you 23 for tips on dealing with but also real estate agents and - Société à responsabilité limitée, can before you leave the UK, URSSAF. other types of commercial ac- better known as a SARL especially legal and business tivities. (limited liability company): a terms. Excerpts from information Agriculture: self-expla- common structure for small -Make sure your UK tax af- by French entrée. More on: natory… and medium-sized businesses fairs are in order before leav- with between 2-50 share- ing Britain for France. Which legal structure? holders. -Approach your local mairie ___ with your business ideas at an 1 www.cci.fr There are various types of - Société anonyme, better known early stage of your plans. 2 www.artisanat.fr structures. The most current as an SA (equivalent of a plc -Find a good French account- 3 www.inpi.fr for small businesses are: in the UK): The most com- ant. 4 www.cfe.ccip.fr Page 20 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Portage salarial: An Easy Solution for a Small Business

way you can continue to bene- you have a legal status and you HH ave you heard the story fit from all the advantages of are not taking any risk, you can about the self-employed person being employed in France (an test the viability of your busi- who registered at the URSSAF overall social coverage, contri- ness. In most cases, you can use office and shortly after started bution to retirement pension, the letterhead of the portage salar- receiving invoices for fees even paid holidays, sick and preg- ial company as well as their before he had signed a single nancy leave, unemployment business cards. All you need to commercial contract? It hap- do is concentrate on the prod- pens all the time and can really uct you’re selling and finding discourage many of us from the clients. And above all, you spring-board before officially becoming self-employed. In or- won’t be receiving monthly bills launching their business, or a der to register your profes- A simple and viable from URSSAF for fees payable senior manager older than 50 sional activity officially and ob- solution to avoid regardless of your income. who wishes to take on a few tain legal status, you have to fill the headaches odd jobs. out a form at the URSSAF, The portage salarial concept be- which is easy enough to do, but of heavy gan in the 1980’s but remained Again, if you have an interest- it can quickly turn into a night- administrative rather low key until 2000. To- ing business idea but feel dis- mare when you begin receiving and financial day, about 10,000 salaried work- couraged by the burdensome invoices payable almost imme- constraints ers are using them mainly in the bureaucratic paperwork and diately even though you have communication, teaching/ the heavy financial commit- not yet earned one euro. Many training and marketing fields. ment, then you should seri- individuals don’t make it The typical profile of someone ously consider going through a through the first year or two and health insurance). Once who uses a portage salarial is ei- portage salarial. because of the high “social you have completed a contract ther a man or woman, 35-45 charges” which must be paid . for a translation, let’s say, the years of age, who uses it as a Céline Anthonioz portage salarial company will bill How can one avoid the head- your client and will in turn aches of such heavy adminis- send you a check for the trative and financial con- amount equal to from between Interview With a Manager straints? The portage salarial is a 48 to 52% of the total of the simple and viable solution. invoice sent to your client. Someone who would like to The portage salarial deducts all of a société de portage work as a free-lance worker or the social charges from the to- as a consultant, and would like tal amount. Therefore, the no need for them to set up an to test the viability of their cheque you receive as a form HH elena Fenn-Summers official and independent busi- business field can do so of salary is the amount you can is the Manager of Challenge ness (or to close one down through a société de portage or actually deposit in your bank and Co, a Société de portage when they stop work) which portage salarial that will take care account and spend. salarial in Saint-André-des- is a considerable responsibil- of all the administrative, legal Eaux, Loire-Atlantique. She ity, especially in a country and billing aspects of the activ- Of course, nothing is free, and has kindly agreed to give us where one may not be fluent ity, and pay the social charges! the portage salarial does take a this interview. in the language. Of equal im- percentage on the benefits of portance, is the fact that con- the client's invoicing (depen- How does it work? Céline Anthonioz: Can you sultants don’t have to worry ding on the portage salarial, it about calculating social can vary, but it’s usually tell us the benefits of choos- Let’s say you are a translator ing the portage salarial op- charges (cotisations) or receiv- and that you are not officially around 7% to 10%). In order tion? ing an unexpected bill, as employed by anyone and that to give you an idea of how these charges are “pay as you you wish to accept a translation much you would make from a go”. Each time a client settles job which was offered to you. job, see our interview below Helena Fenn-Summers: Per- Instead of registering with with a portage salarial company haps the main benefit of the an invoice, social charges are URSSAF, you could contact a that has an English staff. The portage salarial is that it allows calculated by the portage in its portage salarial company that will main advantage of working workers to concentrate on role as employer and paid to establish an employment con- through a portage salarial is that their activity without the stress the appropriate authorities be- tract for you, the same as if you you can focus on commercial- that can accompany being self- fore the consultant’s wage is were an employee of the com- ising the product you are creat- employed in France. Since it calculated. With regard to pany. At this point, you’re ing or reselling without worry- acts as the employer for ad- taxes, in France, all employees working as an employee of the ing about the administrative, ministrative purposes, the port- are responsible for signing portage salarial, rather than as an legal and financial sides of the age takes on the bulk of the ad- their own tax decal-rations official business owner. This business. With this option, ministrative tasks and there is once a year and paying their Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 21

Portage salarial (cont’d) freelancer without taking on H.F-S.: In order to predict a have your social security num- own impôt sur le revenu, but the responsibilities of acting as wage, consultants need to ber, then this section is left declarations for employed an employer. have an idea of what they will blank and you can apply for persons (which is the status be charging for their services your social security number held by portage workers) tend C.A.: What is the minimum and also what their costs will once you start working to be much simpler than for amount they should be be (for example, hotel, fuel, through the portage via a sim- those running their own busi- making in order to be legi- portion of home internet used ple application form. The in- ness. In essence, the portage ble to sign up for your port- for business etc.); these fig- formation you give will be salarial allows a great deal of age salarial? ures can then be input into used to declare you as an em- freedom to workers – both a our salary simulation pro- ployee of the portage and in- freedom to work legally in H.F-S.: We don’t insist on a gramme which can be found form URSSAF that you are France and freedom from minimum amount, but we do on our website* and this will working through us. If you admin worries. prefer that consultants have calculate the approximate have been offered a contract confirmed economic activity wage. Additional expenses for work at short notice, this C.A.: Can you describe a before we employ them. For can sometimes be deducted isn’t a problem. As long as typical case of a person example, if you are considering by consultants working from you have the right to work in who chooses the portage offering translation services or home offices, for example, France, we can usually declare salarial option? hope to offer interior design and this would increase the your employment within 24 consultation, it’s best to wait amount earned. hours. If you come from out- H.F-S.: First of all, the work until you have a definite offer side the EC, you need a visa activity the consultant plans of a contract before actually C.A.: What is the process that would permit you to to undertake should fall under signing up with us. The portage from the time a person work before applying. the category of “intellectual salarial can assist once you are signs up for your portage services” (for example, a de- ready to start work, usually it salarial to the time they ac- C.A.: At what point, would sign consultant, translator, takes just 24 hours to sign up, tually receive the cheque in you advise someone to ac- software engineer, editor or so once you are ready to go – their hands? tually sign up with the copywriter). Work such as we’re here to assist! chambre de commerce and gardening or other similar ser- H.F-S.: Wages are paid either the URSSAF system? vices are actually far better C.A.: If the person signs up at the end of the month or at suited to the chèque emploi with the portage salarial, are the beginning of the next H.F-S.: URSSAF is a more scheme. We have consultants they automatically covered month following payment by suitable option for builders working across a broad range with the French health insu- the consultant’s client de- and other trades people as of services from wedding rance system? pending on when the client they need their own private planners to writers. How- settles their invoice. insurance and they need to in- ever, a “typical” consultant H.F-S.: If you don’t currently vest in special and expensive might be a software engineer have a carte vitale, then you will C.A.: If someone wishes to tools which are not possible working on a contract need to work a certain number sign up for your portage to claim for under our system. through a recruitment agency of hours per week or earn a salarial, how does it work? SARL is a preferable option or a design consultant work- certain amount before a carte for companies that sell and ing remotely from a home of- will be issued as a result of H.F-S.: The process is very buy goods rather than people fice in France, perhaps visit- paying into the system. At easy – if you have EU citizen- offering intellectual services. ing sites in the UK from time present, CPAM [Caisse primaire ship and therefore the right to On the other hand, people to time. Sometimes clients d’assurance maladie] requires work in France, you must fill wanting to offer gardening include previous employers or workers to do 60 hours of paid out a short enrolment form services or people working for clients from the UK. The work in one month or 120 which asks for date of birth, individuals rather than large portage is also an attractive op- hours over a three month pe- address, social security num- companies are often better off tion for clients, as they are riod and the wage must be ber in France etc.; bank de- using the chèque emploi scheme able to engage the services of equal to or higher than SMIC tails are also required so that rather than a portage. The outside consultants like a (which is the minimum wage your wages can be deposited chèque emploi service can also in France). With regard to pro- directly into your bank ac- have tax benefits for the cli- fessional insurance, our work- count. If you are newly ar- ents of these workers. ers are insured from the min- rived in France and don’t yet ute they sign up.

Challenge and Co’s English website: C.A.: How can a person cal- www.freelanceinfrance.com culate how much they will English language helpline number : 0870 469 811. actually earn once they’ve given you an invoice for one _____ of their clients? * www.freelanceinfrance.com/wage-simulation.htm Page 22 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

La maison des artistes owners, especially when their Registration Next steps FF or artists or handicraft income is still very small. creators who want to open a The first thing to do is to A list of all the steps to follow gallery in France to sell the The Maison des artistes was cre- download the registration is available on another web- products of their art, what- ated by artists 50 years ago form (formulaire) which is page3. Click on Les 4 étapes ever it is (painting, glass work, “in the spirit of solidarity and called Déclaration en vue de l’im- d’inscription to get it. They are knitting, wood sculptures, friendship”, as explained on matriculation des artistes auteurs, basically: pottery, etc.), a very good so- the front page of its website1, fill it out, and send it to the lution to avoid paying the of- and is recognized by the Maison des artistes. The form is -Taxes: Once you are regis- ten exorbitant social taxes to French Government as the available on another webpage2. tered and before you actually URSSAF (to cover disability, body responsible for the ad- Of course, it is only in French, start your business, you have retirement, etc.) is to register ministration of social secu- but you can certainly find a to declare your activity to the with the Maison des artistes. rity for artists. And it also French person who will be Tax Office (Administration fis- Doing so can be a very im- acts on their behalf in many ready to help you fill it out if cale) of the city where you portant factor, as the URS- areas, such as: mutual help, you can’t fully understand. live, or if you live in a village SAF is a nightmare for all information, training and the office is probably in a lar- self-employed people in free advice on legal and ac- An important thing to keep in ger city near by. The mairie France, and the charges sociales countancy matters. mind is that you can register should be able to give you the (total amount you may have only after you have started to address. As an artist, you will to pay to URSSAF) are as To benefit from its services, sell your products. This seems be in the fiscal category of high, if not more so, than in- one has to register, receive an rather strange, because you are BNC (bénéfices non commerciaux, come taxes, a difficult burden official number and then ap- supposed to be covered by the such as other members of pro- to bear for small businesses ply to become a member. French social security as soon fessions libérales) – as opposed as you start a business… to BIC (bénéfices industriels et Other readers have told us commerciaux, that concerns that this has been a real puzzle commerçants and artisans). for a few expatriates. Don’t worry if this seems confusing or unclear to you, it And finally they have found is exactly the same for all the solution: all you have to do French people who start a is sell one piece (a painting, a business. The best is, always, glass, a piece of pottery, to ask advice from a special- etc…), and to have printed a ist, and, preferably someone copy of an invoice, whatever who can speak English. See the amount (20 to 30 € should the contacts lists on the web- even be enough), to be able to sites listed on page 24. register. You just need to add a copy of the invoice to the -Complementary retire- form. The sale can be totally ment: It is also compulsory informal, to a friend for exam- to register with a Caisse de re- ple. You don’t need to have traite complémentaire: IRCEC. actually opened the gallery to Only a telephone number is the public. given on the web. Here is their address: 21 rue de Berri, Once you are registered (be 75403 Paris CEDEX 08. patient, it may take from one to two months), you will re- -Becoming a full-fledged ceive a registration number member of the Maison des (numéro d’ordre) from the Mai- artistes association, which is son des artistes, that you will different than simply register- Marion and John Stonehouse, who have successfully created their have to use on all your admin- ing with them: this is not artist gallery in the Cévennes region (see French Accent Nr 8, istrative documentation and compulsory, but it might be August-September 2007), have registered with the Maison correspondence (invoices, useful if you want to benefit des artistes. contracts, etc.). from legal or financial advice,

Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 23

Artists (cont'd) contre l’incendie des établissements there are also such commis- to give a few lessons to stu- ouverts au public). A few indi- sions at the commune level dents or lead workshops. for example. The member- cations are provided on (Commission communale). And ship is only 25 € a year. To Wikipedia4. The type of regu- the Commission also checks On the Maison des artistes web- become a member, you have lation depends on the type of the access for the handi- site it is clearly indicated that to fill out the bulletin d’ad- business and setting. Going capped. The commission will art teachers cannot be regis- hésion, which you can down- through the legal documenta- examine your safety plans and tered with the Maison des ar- 3 load on the same webpage . tion (Code de la construction et de will visit the site to determine tistes. This is the easiest part. l’habitation + a lot of décrets if it is OK to open it to the d’application) would be much public. If you live in a small However, we checked with Fire and safety too fastidious and won’t community, you should start them, and found out that an control probably tell us more! asking your mairie, especially artist can still animer des ateliers as the authorisation to open is (lead a workshop), or even Once you open a gallery The most interesting thing on given by the mayor by arrêté give lessons, on the condition which will be open to the this page is that the inspec- municipal (sort of a local de- that it is not his or her main public, you will have a few tions are made by the Safety cree). professional activity and that more constraints, such as fire Commissions of each depart- revenue earned from such ac- protection, for example. ment (Commission consultative Can an artist give tivities doesn’t exceed 4000 € départementale de sécurité et d’ac- per year. lessons? The regulation is rather strict cessibilité) composed of a few for fire protection of spaces officials, including a desig- We also recently had the case open to the public (protection nated fireman (pompier). And study of an artist who wanted Annick Stevenson

1 www.lamaisondesartistes.fr 2 www.secuartsgraphiquesetplastiques.org/site/documents/formulaires/form01.html 3 http://ns352222.ovh.net/~artistes/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,28/Itemid,66/ 4 http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89tablissement_recevant_du_public Basic Words and Expressions Une entreprise = a business, a company. Une société à responsabilité limitée (SARL) = a small busi- Les affaires = business. ness with at least two associates/partners. Une compagnie = usually implies a big business or an indus- Une société anonyme (SA) = the equivalent of a plc in the try, much less used in France than “entreprise”. UK, the most common structure for larger businesses. Un établissement = another word for company, mainly used Une petite et moyenne entreprise (PME) = a small and in administrative language. medium sized business. Démarrer une entreprise/créer une entreprise = to start/ Une micro-entreprise = a very small one-person business. create a business. Un artisan = an independent worker, usually doing skilled, Se mettre à son compte = to start one own’s business/ to manual work, such as plumber, electrician, carpenter, baker... become self-employed Un commerçant = someone who owns a commercial busi- Etre à son compte = to be self-employed ness, such as a shop, a café, a restaurant. Se lancer dans les affaires = to start doing business. Un industriel = someone who owns an industrial business. Un créateur d’entreprise = someone who starts/creates a Une profession libérale = independent workers in certain business. domains, generally in the law, education and medical fields. Un entrepreneur = someone who has created his/her own Un magasin = a shop. business. It can also mean someone who always has a lot of Une boutique = a shop. Used more to designate clothing or ideas and puts them into practise. decoration shops than food. Un travailleur indépendant = someone who owns a small URSSAF (Union de recouvrement des cotisations de sécu- one-person private business, generally working from home, rité sociale et d'allocations familiales) = the organization not registered as a SARL or any other type of private com- which collects the charges sociales from business owners. pany. Les charges sociales/les cotisations sociales = the fees Un travailleur freelance = a freelance worker. In France paid to URSSAF to cover disability and retirement, and family you can work freelance as the owner of a one-person business social benefits (allocations familiales). or as a salarié (salaried employee); this is often the case for Le portage salarial = a good way to reduce the social charges journalists, writers, designers, etc. by going through an intermediary company (see articles page Une entreprise individuelle = a single person company. 20-21). Une entreprise unipersonnelle à responsabilité limitée Les impôts sur le revenu = income taxes. (EURL) = a one-shareholder company. Un comptable = an accountant. Une société en nom collectif (SNC) = a two-person minimum company, a bit simpler than the SARL. Page 24 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

A Helping Hand from Chambers of Commerce

NN ot all of them are quite as welcoming for English- speaking entrepreneurs as the Chamber of Commerce of the Gers (see page 26), but it is important to know that most Chambres de commerce et d’industrie (CCI) organize meetings or even training sessions for people who intend to start a business, whether they are French or foreigners. Such initiatives are called: 5 jours pour entreprendre (5 days to start a business), mardi de la création (Tuesday of creation), etc. These events are announced on a specific website : Entreprendre en France*

Currently on the agenda:

8-10 September: 3 jours pour tout entreprendre, Lille Journées régionales de la création en Bretagne. Photo DR (Nord), the second Créer fair, the annual entrepreneurship event, which will take place in the Grand Palais. As explained to assist British visitors. It is a major event in Brittany for on the fair’s webpage (in English too), this fair, which is open anyone who wants to start any kind of business. More than to all, welcomes all project initiators. Visitors will find a real 7,500 visitors are expected, and there will be many confer- network of professionals to assist them, guide them and help ences and workshops — in French only, unfortunately. them turn “even their most highly-developed ideas into real- www.jrce.org ity.” www.saloncreer.com/en Note: don’t forget to regularly consult the website of Entre- 16-17 October: Journées régionales de la création in Bre- prendre en France as more events will be announced all through- tagne, Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine). The website is in French out the year. only, but among the 300 experts present at this fair, there will _____ certainly be English-speaking persons present who will be able * www.entreprendre-en-france.fr

A Few Useful Websites

There are many more websites for expatriates than those listed below. They are not only full of practical and specific information on starting a business, but they have links to other sites offering more specialized advice.

www.frenchentree.com The guide to property, holidays and life in France gives a lot of concrete information, in English, on the various types of businesses and legal structures, the registration, all the other the formalities involved, taxes, social security, banking and insurance systems, etc. A list of useful organizations is listed there: www.frenchentree.com/france-employment-work-jobs/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=20545

http://france.angloinfo.com/ This website also gives very practical information on starting a business and all the necessary formalities. For each region there are also lists of English-speaking accountants, auditors and bookkeepers who are ready to provide their services to expatriates. Click on the direct link below: http://france.angloinfo.com/tax/french_tax_finance_banking.asp and then, in the box “Financial Advice in France”, click on the region of interest. And then, on top of the regional page, you can click on the lists of accountants, banks, etc., to get the full directories.

www.francobritishchambers.com The website of the British Chamber of Commerce gives you market information in France, and also a very useful list of members who can provide assistance to companies both in the UK and in France. Click here to get the list: www.francobritishchambers.com/members.asp?id=41 Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 25

Among excellent initiatives taken by local authorities was the “Success in the Dordogne” exhibit organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the city of Périgueux on April 4th and 5th, 2008. Its objective was to provide information to the many British who face administrative problems when they want to start a business in this department, which has the largest number of expatriates in France.

An event where local administrative offices, banks, notaries, legal, insurance and social security experts, tax services, etc., were present to answer any questions. We were there, too...

A Scenario: At an Entrepreneurship Fair

Jim : Bonjour Monsieur, est-ce que vous pouvez m’aider ? Jim: Good morning Sir, could you help me please? L’expert : Bonjour. Peut-être, il faut voir, quelle est votre The expert: Good morning. Maybe, but we’ll have to see, question ? what is your question? Jim : Voilà, je vais créer un business en France. Est-ce que… Jim: Well, I am going to start a business in France. What about… L’expert : Oh, mais vous êtes étranger ? The expert: Oh, but you are a foreigner? Jim : Oui, je suis Américain. Jim: Yes, I am American. L’expert : Alors là, il faut voir si je peux vous trouver quel- The expert: Well, we’ll have to see if I can find someone qu’un qui parle anglais… who can speak English… Jim : Ce n’est pas la peine, je parle un petit peu français. J’a- Jim: Don’t bother, I speak a little French. I just had a ques- vais juste une question… tion… L’expert : Attendez, je vais vous donner une documentation. The expert: Wait, I am going to give you some document- Je crois qu’on a des documents en anglais. Véronique ? tation. I think we have documents in English. Véronique? Véronique : Oui, Monsieur ? Véronique: Yes, Sir? L’expert : Vous auriez une documentation en anglais pour ce The expert: Do you have any documentation in English for monsieur, c’est un Américain qui veut créer une entreprise en this man, he is an American who wants to start a business in France. France. Véronique : Quel genre d’entreprise, Monsieur ? Véronique: What kind of business, Sir? Jim : Un online business. Jim: An online business. Véronique : Vous voulez dire une entreprise d’informatique ? Véronique: You mean a computer business? Jim : Oui, quelque chose comme ça. Je crée des software on- Jim: Yes, something like that. I create online software. line. Véronique : Des logiciels ? Et vous les vendez ? Véronique: Software? And you sell them? Jim : Oui. Je voulais juste savoir… Jim: Yes. I just wanted to know… Véronique : Attendez, je vais chercher ce que nous avons en Véronique: Wait, I am going to see what we have in English. anglais. Jim : Mais non, je voulais juste savoir si je dois m’enregistrer Jim: No, I just wanted to know if I need to register for Social pour la Social Security. Security. Véronique : La sécurité sociale ? Oh la la, ce n’est pas ici… Véronique: Social Security! Oh dear, it is not here… L’expert : Non, nous ne faisons que du conseil en gestion The expert: No, we just do company management coun- d’entreprise ici. Allez voir le stand de l’URSSAF, ils vous ren- selling here. Go to the URSSAF stand, they will give you all seigneront. the information. Jim : Le stand de URSS… de quoi vous dites ? Jim: The URSS… stand of what, did you say? Véronique : L’URSSAF. Je vais vous accompagner, suivez- Véronique: The URSSAF. I’ll take you over there, follow moi. me. Jim : Merci beaucoup, c’est très aimable à vous. Jim: Thanks a lot, this is very kind of you. L’expert : Good bye ! Et bonne chance. The expert: Good bye! And good luck. Page 26 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

SOHO SOLO : A Unique Project for Expats in The Gers

ward helping the English to employed people feel most welcome in the de- who can work from partment. home in the coun- SS ituated in the heart of try. Southwest France, near the What does SOHO SOLO Pyrenees and not far from the mean? As Franck Cazalas, The concept Atlantic Ocean, the Gers is coordinator of the project, one of those special places explains, “Soho” stands for Opting for a better where many people dream of “Small Office Home Office”, quality of life and living, as you will see from covering a wide category of greater independ- our photo report page 28. self-employed people ence, an increasing Those who settle in this very (including free agents, e- number of people pleasant department often fall lancers, telecommuters, or are choosing to in love with the traditional other independent profes- move to and work stone farmhouses that dot the sionals) who work at least in the countryside... large open fields and gently partially from home – or Thanks to modern rolling hills. People come to somewhere else. An example technology, these the Gers in a quest for the is the woman pictured on the individual entrepre- “real France” and often en- cover of this issue of French neurs are able to counter leisure and relaxation. Accent, a British expatriate work partially from The welcome committee of the village who lives in the small village their homes. They of Aignan. The Gers Chamber of Com- of Aignan, in the Gers, and are SOHO SOLO © Franck Cazalas merce has recently created a who took advantage of the workers. particularly interesting and project. And the English in their work. Bringing with dynamic initiative designed who live in London will also SOHO SOLO was a Euro- them new skills and technolo- especially to help new foreign, appreciate the allusion to the pean project co-financed until gies, the SOHO SOLO work- self-employed entrepreneurs Soho part of London… 2006 by INTERREG IIIB ers contribute to the wealth in the Gers Department to ‘Atlantic Area’ whose main of the local economy and start their business through “Solo”, of course, refers to objective was to attract new help to revitalise rural areas. the use of information and self-employed people of all working population to rural communications technology. nationalities. Thus, SOHO areas using information and With the support of the Gen- The project is also geared to- SOLO appeals to self- communications technologies eral Council of the Depart- ment of Gers and the Midi- Pyrenees Regional Council, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the CEEI (European Business and In- novation Centre) of Gers have been directing the project to encourage this new generation of entrepreneurs who run their businesses in- dependently from their customers’ locations to settle in the countryside, and facilitate their integration through support services.

The services provided

It is a whole department which mobilizes to welcome SOHO SOLO entrepreneurs. All British and other foreign- The village of Beaumarchès started by installing ADSL in the whole community. ers working in “solo” and © CLA Beaumarchès/CEEI Gers Gascogne who are already established in Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 27

SOHO SOLO (cont'd) available accommodation and geted at local and national better quality of life, far from local services. businesses. urban stress, don’t hesitate to the Gers and would like to contact the SOHO SOLO promote their activity, or who -Access to the SOHO SOLO -Participation in regular team! The Gers really wants are planning to settle in the intranet: more than 185 peo- SOHO SOLO meetings (Club to help individual entrepre- Gers and become a SOHO ple are registered in its net- SOHO SOLO) and regular neurs in their businesses and SOLO worker, can benefit work (www.soho-gers.net). newsletters. in their lives. This is not al- from any or all of the follow- ways the case everywhere in ing services: -The SOHO SOLO Passport, “Welcome to Gascony, France, as some of our read- providing easy access to a your new working space!” ers know. No doubt that the -An experienced team to as- service network. Gers deserves a special sist their start-up or help de- If you are interested in relocat- “bravo”! velop their business: consult- -Free access to 8 telecentres ing to the countryside, in finding, mentoring and informa- and their facilities (coming a better way to work and a A.S. tion services. puters, broadband, telephone, fax, photocopier) – the tele- More information at: www.soho-solo-gers.com -“Welcome committees” in centres can also be used as Contact: Franck Cazalas more than thirty villages to meeting rooms. Gers Chamber of Commerce: facilitate their relocation and [email protected] integration in the Gers, where -Free inclusion in the SOHO Tel: 05 62 60 16 12 or give us a toll-free call at: they can find information on SOLO online directory tar- 0800 000 132 – and you will be able to talk in English!

“Brocanthé”: a belle histoire of integration

“What do we like here? Eve- they like the idea of rything! The beautiful coun- drinking tea instead of tryside, the trees, the good wine,” while admiring the food, the fact that life is still very nice selection of not too expensive.” Nancy used and authentic items Kruyver, a Dutch mother of on display in the little six, decided several years ago shop. to settle in Aignan, Gers. She met her second husband The family lives in an old there, a Dutchman too, Inge house in the countryside, In’t Hout; “It was love at first “surrounded by horses sight,” she says. Three years and vineyards”, and they ago they opened “Brocanthe – grow their own organic La belle histoire”, a coffee and fruit and vegetables. tea shop where they also sell antique objects and furniture, As this is her second like in any other brocante shop. shop (the first one was All the teas, coffees and fruit only a brocante), Nancy is Nancy and Inge opened the shop three years ago. juices that Nancy and Inge very much aware of all the serve to their visitors are or- necessary formalities required has been helping out a bit people,” which is encouraging ganic, and/or imported from to open a business in France, with the SOHO SOLO pro- for the future of the region. fair trade producers. “You and after 20 years in the ject, as she thinks the idea of won’t find any alcohol or country, she speaks excellent “helping expatriates to work If you should happen to Coca-Cola here!”, says Nancy. French. But she knows how from home” is excellent. It travel through the Gers, don’t “And more and more French difficult it is to start one’s offers them “the chance to hesitate to stop by! Nancy customers are coming, and own business in France, and settle down away from big and Inge are most welcoming, cities.” and the quiet and warm atmosphere of the shop in itself Brocanthé – La belle histoire, Place du Colonel Parisot, She notices than more and is an invitation to visit it. 32290 Aignan. Tél. : 05 62 08 15 26. more English and Dutch peo- And their example is a belle [email protected] ple are coming to the Gers, histoire of integration. and “more and more young A.S. Page 28 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

The famous Marciac Jazz Festival, “on” (above) and “off” (right), takes place every summer Spectacular nature… and good wines. (August 1-17 this year). Above: le lac d'Ager © Francis Vernhet © CEEI Gers Gascogne, Office de Tourisme

Discover the Gers

From a castle (left: château de Lavardens), to a cloister (right: cloître de la Romieu), an amazing architecture. © CDTL Gers

Lovely and lively communities: Right: the flower market of Fourcès, one of the 148 most beautiful villages of France, in the north of Gers. Below: the “Maison du tourisme” of Auch. © CEEI Gers Gascogne Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 29

Printable version French Politics — PPDA, PPDA, Sarkozy Sarkozy & the Media et les médias

To what extent should a sitting president be able to in- Dans quelle mesure un président en exercice devrait-il fluence the media? That seemed to be the question on influencer les médias ? Il semble que ce soit la question nearly everyone’s mind as of late in France because of que chacun ait en tête en France depuis peu en raison de two separate but closely related issues involving French deux événements, séparés mais étroitement liés, qui ont television. The first and potentially most serious was a frappé la télévision française. Le premier, et potentielle- declaration by Nicolas Sarkozy that there would no ment le plus grave, a été l’annonce par Nicolas Sarkozy longer be ads on public television (France 2, 3, 4, 5, de sa décision de supprimer la pub sur les chaînes de France Ô & RTO); the second and most spectacular in télévision publique (France 2, 3, 4, 5, France Ô et RTO) ; many ways was the replacement of Patrick Poivre d’Ar- le second, et le plus spectaculaire à bien des égards, a été vor as anchor for TF1’s nightly news by Laurence Fer- le remplacement de Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, présentateur rari. vedette du JT de 20h sur TF1, par Laurence Ferrari.

mendous uproar that Sarko- multe causé par cette annonce II n January of this year, zy’s announcement triggered EE n janvier 2008. Sarkozy a de Sarkozy ne porte donc pas Sarkozy announced his inten- was not at all over the pro- rendu publique son intention du tout sur ces améliorations tion of creating a public ser- posed improvements to the de créer en France une télévi- proposées dans la program- vice television in France with- programming, but rather sion de service public sans pu- mation, mais sur la manière out advertising and one that about how it would all be blicité, ce qui permettrait une dont elles seraient financées would offer a more interest- paid for if there was no programmation plus intéres- puisqu’il n’y aurait plus de re- ing and culturally varied pro- longer any revenue from ad- sante et plus variée sur le plan venus tirés de la publicité. gramming. The rationale vertising. culturel. La justification de ce given for the change is cer- changement est certainement Le 19 février, Sarkozy a cons- tainly laudable: more high- On February 19th, Sarkozy louable : davantage de pro- titué une commission de soi- quality cultural programmes formed a commission of so- grammes culturels de qualité disant experts dirigée par in prime time rather than pro- called experts that was aux heures de grande écoute à Jean-François Copé, ancien gramming dictated by audi- headed by Jean-François la place de programmes dictés ministre de plusieurs gouver- ence ratings. And, the tre- Copé, former minister in sev- par les taux d’audience. Le tu- nements et actuellement dé-

Patrick Poivre d’Arvor has been the undisputed star of the nightly news programs on French television, and his caricature is also the principle figure on the highly popular Les Guignols de l’info on Canal +

Photo Etienne Chognard Page 30 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

PPDA (cont'd) PPDA (suite) radicalement, et probable- ment pas à son avantage. eral governments and cur- puté à l’Assemblée na- rently a deputy in the Na- tionale et président du Dans tous les secteurs de la tional Assembly and president groupe UMP de l’As- société, on soupçonne surtout of the UMP group of depu- semblée. La commission que la réelle intention du Pré- ties in the Assembly. The Copé s’est vue confier la sident français est d’affaiblir Copé commission was given tâche de définir une la télévision française et, par the task of defining the new nouvelle télévision pu- là, de renforcer le partage du public television and identify- blique et d’identifier des marché global entre les chaî- ing sources of funding to fill sources de financement nes de télévision privées telles the gap from the lost adver- pour compenser la perte que TF1, M6, Canal +, etc., tising revenues. The commis- des revenus tirés de la qui, pour la plupart, sont diri- sion first let it be known that publicité. Elle a fait d’a- gées et gérées par des amis they would recommend an in- bord savoir qu’elle re- très proches de Nicolas Sar- kozy. La suggestion la plus crease in the annual TV taxes In 2006, glamourous Laurence commanderait une aug- controversée émise par le paid by all viewers (la redevance Ferrari had just done the reverse: mentation de la rede- Président au milieu de l’été a télévision). To everyone’s sur- leaving TF1 for Canal +, as vance télévision payée été de nommer personnelle- prise, President Sarkozy an- this people’s magazine reminds. par tous les téléspecta- nounced, apparently without teurs. Puis, à la surprise ment le directeur de la télévi- consulting with his commis- de tous, le Président Sar- sion publique, affermissant sion, that there was no ques- television and thereby streng- kozy a annoncé, apparemment ainsi son influence pas seule- tion of increasing the TV then the overall market share sans consulter la commission, ment sur les questions de taxes. This seemingly pre- for private television channels qu’il n’était pas question programmation, mais sur la li- mature intervention on like TF1, M-6, Canal + etc., d’augmenter la redevance. gne éditoriale. Un sondage a Sarkozy’s part sent the com- most of which are owned and Cette intervention très hâtive révélé que sept Français sur mission back to the start to operated by close friends of de la part de Sarkozy a obligé dix étaient fermement oppo- come up with other solutions. Nicolas Sarkozy. The most la commission de retourner à sés à ce que le Président controversial item to be pro- la case départ pour trouver prenne ainsi radicalement le In the meantime, the adminis- posed mid-summer was to d’autres solutions. pouvoir de la télévision publi- trators and employees of give the president the right to que. France’s public television ser- personally name the director Entre temps, les administra- vices are up in arms over the of public television, thereby teurs et employés des services Le choc entire situation and fear for ensuring executive influence de la télévision publique ont the very survival of public over not just programming is- exprimé leur vive opposition Patrick Poivre d’Arvor est la television as we know it to- sues, but also over the edito- contre toute cette situation, et vedette incontestée des pro- day. How, they ask, can they rial stance. Seven out of ten leurs craintes que la survie grammes d’information télé- produce quality services with people polled on the issue même de cette télévision telle visés du soir. Son émission a a severely reduced budget? were strongly opposed to the qu’on la connaît aujourd’hui toujours eu les taux d’au- While nothing has been defi- president having such sweep- soit mise en question. Com- dience les plus élevés des nitely decided at this point, ing powers over public televi- ment, demandent-ils, peut-on journaux télévisés français, et some compromise proposals sion. produire des services de quali- les débats politiques entre les have surfaced, such as pro- té avec un budget sévèrement candidats lors des campagnes gramming ad-free only after 8 A tremendous surprise réduit ? Bien que rien n’ait en- électorales, ainsi que les inter- p.m. and levying a tax on core été décidé de manière dé- views présidentielles, sont internet service providers and Patrick Poivre d’Arvor has finitive, plusieurs propositions presque toujours animés par mobile phone operators to been the undisputed star of de compromis ont fait surface, PPDA, comme les Français provide additional income. the nightly news programmes comme des programmes libres l’appellent affectueusement. Whatever is ultimately de- on French television. His de publicité seulement après Sa caricature est aussi le prin- cided, the wide-spread fear newscast had the highest rat- 20h, ou l’imposition d’une cipal personnage des très po- remains that public television ing of all the evening news taxe sur les fournisseurs de pulaires Guignols de l’info de will definitely be changed and broadcasts in France, and services internet et les opéra- Canal + chaque soir de la se- most likely not for the better. televised debates with politi- teurs de téléphone mobile maine. Cela a donc été une cal candidates during election pour fournir un revenu addi- surprise considérable lorsque There is, however, consider- campaigns and also presiden- tionnel. Quelle que soit la dé- la nouvelle a circulé que la able suspicion in all sectors of tial interviews are almost al- cision finale, la crainte large- nouvelle direction de TF1 French society that Sarkozy’s ways conducted by PPDA, as ment répandue demeure que prévoyait de virer le très po- real intent is to weaken public he is affectionately known. la télévision publique changera pulaire PPDA et de le rem- Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 31

PPDA (cont'd) However, the reasoning went PPDA (suite) observateurs politiques et des that he was getting older, had médias bien informés ont been there for the past placer par la bien plus jeune, senti très nettement la main His caricature is also the prin- twenty-one years and that et sexy, Laurence Ferrari. La de Nicolas Sarkozy dans l’é- ciple figure on the highly TF1 needed a new face to im- raison ? Le taux d’audience de viction de PPDA, et ce ne se- popular Les Guignols de l’info prove the ratings and, conse- son journal télévisé est passé rait pas la première fois que le on Canal + each weekday eve- quently, income from adver- de 31,4% à 27.2% l’année Président intervienne ainsi ning. It was, therefore, a tre- tising. dernière. Mais cela a aussi été dans les médias. Il avait aupa- mendous surprise when news le cas des informations sur ravant réussi à faire remplacer leaked that the new manage- At least that was the official France 2. Et la cause princi- le directeur de Paris Match ment of TF1 planned to axe TF1 line. Many astute politi- pale en est certainement l’in- après que le magazine ait pu- the popular PPDA and re- cal and media observers sense troduction en France en 2007 blié des photos de son épouse place him with the much very clearly the hand of Nico- de nouvelles chaînes numéri- d’alors, Cécilia, avec son younger, and glamorous las Sarkozy in PPDA’s evic- ques de TV, bien davantage amant Richard Attias. Mais Laurence Ferrari. tion, and it wouldn’t have que la performance de pourquoi PPDA s’est-il attiré been the first time that the PPDA. Mais d’autres argu- les foudres du Président ? La The reason? Ratings for the president had meddled in the ments se sont ajoutés : qu’il raison la plus évidente est la evening news broadcast had media. He had earlier suc- prenait de l’âge, qu’il avait été question qu’il lui avait posée dropped from 31.4% to ceeded in having the director là pendant vingt et un ans, et durant une interview télévisée 27.2% of the audience in the of Paris Match replaced after que TF1 avait besoin d’un en juin 2007, lorsqu’il lui a de- past year, but that was also the magazine published pho- nouveau visage pour amélio- mandé si, durant sa participa- true for the evening news on tos of his then wife Cecilia to- rer les taux d’audience et, par tion au dernier sommet des France 2. The blame was gether with her lover Richard conséquent, les revenus de la G8, il n’était pas “excité placed on the new digital TV Attias. Why was PPDA feel- publicité. comme un petit garçon qui channels that were introduced ing the president’s wrath? est en train de rentrer dans la in France last year, and not Telle est du moins la ligne of- necessarily on Poivre d’Arvor. (Cont’d page 32) ficielle de TF1. De nombreux (Suite page 32)

Oh la la la la ! ! ! … Unbelievable but True Stories from France… BEARDS — On July 14th, LA BARBE ! — Le 14 juillet, A MISTAKE? — Le Canard ERREUR ? — Si en un an activists from the feminist les militantes du mouvement enchaîné reports that where- le trafic sur autoroute n’a group “La barbe” (com- féministe “La barbe” (se as traffic on the motorways augmenté que de 1,7%, le plaining that men always plaignant que les hommes has risen by only 1.7% over chiffre d’affaires des socié- hold the positions of power) occupent toujours des postes the past year, the profits of tés autoroutières a augmen- stuck brightly coloured de pouvoir) ont collé des the companies that manage té de 7,88%, a découvert Le beards on the statues in the barbes colorées sur les them have gone up 7.88%. Canard enchaîné. Cherchez place de la République in statues de la place de la Where’s the mistake? l’erreur… Paris. They plan to continue République à Paris. Elles doing so until there is a recommenceront tant qu’il PHOTO — There was a PHOTO — Il y avait foule woman president of France. n’y aura pas de femme huge crowd around Ingrid autour d’Ingrid Bétancourt We should point out that “la présidente de la République. Bétancourt when she was fi- lorsqu’elle a enfin été libé- barbe!” in French means, A noter que “la barbe !” en nally liberated after six years rée après avoir été six an- “How boring!” or “That’s français signifie aussi “quel as a hostage of the FARC in nées otage des FARC en enough!” ennui !” ou “ça suffit !” Colombia. They all wanted Colombie. Surtout pour fi- to be in the photo. When gurer sur la photo. Lorsque LONG LIVE THE ARMY! VIVE L’ARMEE ! — 128 Sarkozy learned of her lib- Sarkozy a appris sa libéra- — 128 mayors from Moselle maires de Moselle ont eration, he rushed to the tion, il s’est précipité à l’E- threatened to resign if Nico- menacé de démissionner si Elysee Palace and called a lysée et convoqué la télévi- las Sarkozy, who wants to Nicolas Sarkozy, qui veut press conference. But he sion et les photographes. eliminate 54,000 positions supprimer 54 000 postes dans made the TV cameras and Mais il les a fait attendre from the army, confirms his l’armée, confirme sa décision the photographers wait pour laisser le temps aux plans to close the military de fermer la garnison de while Bétancourt’s two chil- enfants de l’ex-otage de le base in Dieuze. And 1,000 Dieuze. Et 1000 personnes dren could be summoned, rejoindre pour que cela people demonstrated in ont manifesté à Mourmelon, you know, for a better photo fasse une meilleure photo. Mourmelon (Marne) for si- dans la Marne, pour la même op. We have stopped count- Et on ne compte plus le milar reasons. Without their raison. Sans leurs militaires, ing the number of photos in nombre de photos d’Ingrid soldiers, these small cities ces bourgs se retrouveront the press with Ingrid in his dans ses bras depuis qu’elle would be almost empty. quasiment vides. arms since her return. est de retour... Page 32 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Our Planet — French Cities Take Steps Printable version to Reduce Pollution

terranean coast, was (and still Velo’v, Velib, etc. stations. For a minimal fee or II t took them some time to is) another major source of subscription, you can take out realize what was going on. air pollution in the area. All this has totally changed. a bike at any one of the 340 Ten years ago in cities like Now the highly successful stations spread all over the Lyon, for example, you could But still, ten years ago, if you city-wide bike rental system city, and you can leave it at hardly breathe in the summer wanted to travel across the created by Lyon, Velo’v, any other station. because of the polluted air city on your bike, you took which was started in 2005 un- and your eyes were constantly your life in your hands, and der the Socialist mayor The success of Velo’v took the burning because of the toxic you looked very much like an Gérard Collomb, is being city by surprise. It quickly had matter in the air emanating oddball. It was difficult to imitated by other cities, in- to double the number of bikes from the so-called vallée de la find a bike path in the city, cluding Paris where a similar (4,000 now), and the number chimie (valley of chemicals): and if by chance there was Velib system started in 2007. of subscribers is more than the industrial complex south one, you could be almost cer- But what is Velo’v? It’s name 60,000. And still, it is some- of Lyon with its high concen- tain to find a car parked on it is a play on words combining times difficult to find a bike tration of chemical plants. (there was very little enforce- the common French word close to the place where you ment at the time), or else it for bike, vélo, and the English want to use it. Of course, the The huge increase in vacation ended abruptly in the middle word love, of course. The new system necessitated the traffic during the summer of an intersection. Cyclists system, which is very well ex- construction of additional bike months, both in the city, the were among the most ne- plained on the website1 (with paths, and car drivers had to 3rd largest in France, and on glected and least protected an English version), is a very get used to parking elsewhere the A7 motorway, which is commuters in the city where successful program providing (they are reminded with high the main access from the the car was the king of the well-equipped bicycles for fines so that they don’t for- north of France to the Medi- street. rent at computer-controlled get).

PPDA (cont'd) PPDA (suite) dignified farewell to his faith- devant le Parlement européen The most obvious was the ful viewers and collaborators cour des grands”. Sarkozy après qu’il ait annoncé qu’il question he asked Sarkozy at TF1, but not before one fi- n’avait pas aimé du tout, et participerait à la cérémonie during a televised interview in nal jab at the vindictive presi- l’avait fait savoir. d’ouverture des Jeux olympi- June 2007 where he asked the dent: a sequence showing ques en Chine. newly elected president if, Sarkozy being criticized Ceci, ajouté à la vive opposi- during his participation in his rather harshly by Daniel tion de Patrick Poivre d’Ar- Patrick Poivre d’Arvor avait first G8 summit meeting, he Cohn-Bendit before the vor après la nomination d’un établi un rapport très étroit didn’t feel something like “a European Parliament over proche ami du Président au avec ses auditeurs, et il leur little boy playing in the big the president’s announce- poste de directeur de l’infor- manquera lors des informa- kids’ sandbox”. Sarkozy was- ment that he would attend mation de TF1, a apparem- tions du soir. Mais en n’t at all pleased with the the opening ceremony of the ment joué un rôle majeur concluant son très émouvant question and let it be known. Olympic Games in China. dans son remplacement. adieu à son public, il a pro- mis : “Et je suis sûr qu’on va That, on top of Patrick Poivre Patrick Poivre d’Arvor had Le jeudi 10 juillet, le dernier se revoir très vite.” d’Arvor’s firm opposition to developed a very special rela- journal de PPDA, qui fit un the nomination of one of the tionship with his viewers and très élégant et digne au revoir president’s close friends to the will be missed on the nightly à ses fidèles auditeurs et à ses position of director of news at news. But, as he concluded collaborateurs de TF1, lui a TF1, apparently played a ma- his touching farewell to his valu une audience de 49%. jor role in his replacement. audience, he promised, “Et je Mais il ne s’est pas privé d’un suis sûr qu’on va se revoir dernier coup de griffe à son PPDA’s final newscast on très vite.” rancunier de Président, en Thursday, July 10 drew 49% passant une séquence mon- of the audience and was trant Sarkozy durement criti- capped with an elegant and Roger Stevenson qué par Daniel Cohn-Bendit Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 33

Pollution (cont'd) tives, like Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon, that has cre- In Paris, Velib 2 (a play on ated a cyclo-pousse system, like words combining vélo and lib- in Asia: a bike with a little erté) was also an immediate cart attached to it in which success, far exceeding the So- one to two persons can sit. cialist mayor Bertrand De- The system is for use by the lanoë’s expectations. The retired and elderly, and one number of bikes is now over can only hope that the idea 16,000, and one can rent one will be picked up by many at more then 1,200 stations. other communities, as the The average number of rent- transport of the elderly is so als per day is 70,000. By the often a major problem. end of 2008, there are plans to increase the number of bikes Electric Car Rentals Velo’v in Lyon… © Frédéric Bonifas to 20,000 and 1,450 stations, and the system will also be ex- La Rochelle in the Charente- panded to include many of Maritime was a pioneer in the surrounding suburbs of many other environmental Paris. There is even a Mich- initiatives. For example, cars elin guide for Velib. are banned at certain times along the harbour and down- Other cities followed suit in town section of the city, es- 2007, such as Aix-en- pecially at night and on week- Provence: V’hello3, Marseille: ends. And it takes the lead in Le Vélo4, and Toulouse: Vélô- terms of alternative, collec- Toulouse5. And others will un- tive transport systems. For doubtedly follow, especially in example, city residents can light of increased concerns rent electric cars, Liselec, over air pollution and the high which is also another way of … was followed by Velib in Paris. © Rcsmit cost of petrol. reducing pollution in the city. There are a total of 50 cars However, the first city to have available that can be taken partage where one can rent a rental spot). In keeping with started a bike rental pro- from any one of seven differ- car for a short period of time. this trend, several major rental gramme in France was La Ro- ent stations, and returned to Auto-partage is available in sev- companies like Avis and Hertz chelle in 2006 (the same city any of them. eral cities, including Paris, are also starting a policy of that inaugurated the country- which has the lowest number short-term rentals at a reduced wide programme of La journée In Lyon, a private association of cars per capita of any city rate. sans voiture, which takes place called La voiture autrement, has in France since it is much every 22 September in France, started, with the support of easier to get around the city Other initiatives, in other cit- but with an uneven success). the city, a rental scheme by subway or bus than by pri- ies: Autocomm10 in Bordeaux, Called the agglomeration maillot called Autolib, which is al- vate car. You can sign up for Alpes Autopartage11 in Greno- jaune (in reference to the yel- ready a major success in spite these new systems on inter- ble, Lilas12 in Lille, Autopartage low jersey of the Tour de of the drawback of having to net. They are called: Caisse Provence13 in Marseille, Modu- France), it has 350 yellow bikes return the car to the same commune7, Mobizen8, and lauto14 in Montpellier, and for rent (the 2 first hours of place you rented it. Renters Okigo9. The cars are not elec- Auto’trement15 in Strasbourg. use are free), and another set can reserve their car in ad- tric either, but they are sup- of 110 bikes libre service (free vance on the internet6. And posed to be economical mod- The Return use), for a modest subscrip- with your rental fee you are els. And the city of Paris is of the tramway tion fee, in 11 different spots also entitled to a half-hour also looking at Lyon’s Autolib around the city. It has also free use of Vélo’v. Contrary system and is considering Many of the other large cities created a total of 2,800 bicycle to La Rochelle, the cars aren’t putting in a similar pro- in France are also trying to parking places in the city cen- electric, but they are small gramme by the end of 2009. think electric instead of gas tre and has established 150 and economical, and some The city is still hesitating over when they purchase new km of bike paths. are hybrids. the choice of cars (electric or equipment for the local public hybrids) and over the for- transit systems, and they are And some other cities have There are also some privately mula (leaving the car at the adding bike paths along many started other original alterna- operated programmes of auto- same place or in any other streets. And the tramways, Page 34 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Pollution (cont'd) “Cristal” Buses systems. “Cristal” should help consid- in Strasbourg erably to reduce which were an integral part of pollution, noise, th city life at the end of the 19 Other innovative ideas are and traffic jams. A century, but dismantled in the constantly coming to light. few Swiss cities are 1950s, are experiencing a real One such scheme will soon seriously thinking renaissance. There are now be put in place in Strasbourg, about adopting the new and very environmentally another pioneering city in al- same system. In- friendly, quiet and reliable ternate forms of transporta- deed, we will con- public transport trams in tion. Strasbourg has long centrate on how Strasbourg, Lyon, Bordeaux, been considered the most Switzerland deals Paris, Marseille, Grenoble, Le bike-friendly city in France with the environment in our “module”, half bus, half car, Mans, Mulhouse, Montpellier, and is at the forefront of next issue, which will focus al- totally autonomous and non- Nice, Nantes, Reims, Valen- what is now called in France most entirely on “Settling in polluting, which will be able ciennes and Orléans. With écomobilité. Through encour- Switzerland”. more to follow: Angers in aging bicycle use, the city has to carry up to 6 people. 2010, Brest and Le Havre in managed to reduce by an esti- Thanks to a GPS system, the Annick Stevenson 2012, Dijon, Tours, Lens and mated 50,000 the number of vehicle will adapt to Béthune in 2013, Besançon in cars that criss-cross its centre traffic density. Dur- 1 2014… each day. ing rush hour traffic, www.velov.grandlyon.com 2 the modules will be www.velib.paris.fr 3 They are all modern, stylish As a supplement to the tram- able to couple to- www.vhello.fr 4 and colourful. Although in way, which has become the gether to form a sin- www.levelo-mpm.fr 5 the beginning, many city most highly used transport gle convoy, like a www.autolib.fr 6 dwellers were rather sceptical system downtown, the mayor small train, which www.velo.toulouse.fr 7 as they feared the tramway (now a Socialist, but his will be able to carry www.caisse-commune.com 8 would take up too much predecessor was from the up to 25 passengers. www.mobizen.fr 10 space on the streets and in- UMP right-wing majority) is Riders will be able to www.autocomm.org 11 crease traffic jams, they have going to initiate a totally new use them without http://alpesautopartage.eileo.org 12 now embraced their new means of transportation, reservation but order www.lilas-autopartage.com 13 trams with pride, and most of which won’t be operational them on a need basis www.autopartage-provence.com 14 them are jam packed during until early 2010. Called similar to calling a www.modulauto.net 15 rush hours. “Cristal”, it will be a small taxi or the bike rental www.autotrement.com

And What About co-voiturage?

AA nother excellent idea to reduce pollution and the high Don’t forget that co-voiturage is also an excellent way to meet cost of driving is to share the same car for the same trip. French people and to have a chance to chat with them, to While not a very new idea, the French have been very slow in learn more about a part of French society or about a city or changing their commuting habits. Car sharing initiatives region, and to improve one’s French! don’t usually come from city administrations, but from indi- A.S. viduals, private companies and associations – or, of course, from fellow employees at the same company, parents of children in the same school, etc.

Most of the time, information about car sharing is only available locally and, as usual, the mairie is the best place to go for www.covoiturage.fr information, together with bulletin boards found in many www.covoiturage.com store and shops. www.123envoiture.com www.easycovoiturage.com There are, however, several co-voiturage web sites where one www.tribu-covoiturage.com can check out possibilities and even make a reservation http://covoiturage.radiofrance.fr online. Some are more or less visited and not all of them of- www.aide-covoiturage.com fer many possibilities, but still, it may be worth while to see … and many more, on a city or region scale, that you can what they have to offer* easily find by browsing a little on the web.

Gardening: A Convenient Earthworm-Driven Composter...

FF or those of you who don’t have a compost heap in the garden and have limited space for such things, a relatively new product from Australia may be just the answer. It is called Can-O-Worms, is made from recycled plastic and uses large numbers of earthworms to rapidly digest your kitchen scraps and organic refuse to a readily useable compost for plants or gardens. It’s about the same size as a regular family garbage can and has several compartments piled on top of each other where the worms transform any organic material into compost. There is even a small spigot in the very bottom where the liquid produced from the process can be drained off and used as fertilizer for household plants. It can easily be placed on a balcony or in a garage, is reputed to be odourless and can produce up to a kilo and a half of compost per day. There are several variations that can be purchased from Wiggly Wigglers or Amazon in the UK, as well as from several internet sites in France, and lots of blogs sing the praises of this convenient system.

www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/foundoption.lasso?findit=Can-O-Worms.com www.amazon.co.uk/JUST-GREEN-CAN-WORMS-COMPOSTER/dp/B000NKZXMC www.verslaterre.fr/particuliers http://fr.jardins-animes.com/ecologie-environnement/compostage-recyclage/composteur-vivant-le-lombricomposteur- canoworms-p-125.html http://perrone.blogs.com/horticultural/2008/02/can-o-worms-upd.html Roger Stevenson

Page 36 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Printable The French Scene — version Sylvie Testud Paris (where she studied act- Nothomb, is the partially-true ing at the Conservatoire d’art story of a young Belgian dramatique), has played in woman who, after having nearly 50 movies since 1991. spent her early childhood in Her first “important” movie Japan, returns and tries to was Karnaval by Thomas Vin- adapt to Japanese society and cent (1999). Her mischievous the cultural labyrinth of a looks and fine acting helped Japanese corporation. make the film a big hit and was the stepping stone to her One of the reasons the own personal success. She French like Sylvie Testud so was nominated for a César for much is that, in spite of her most promising actress – a numerous successes, she re- prize that she received later, mains very humble and in 2001, for the film Les bles- down-to-earth. They identify sures assassines, by Jean-Pierre easily with her as she comes Denis. from a modest background: her mother is an accountant However, Testud’s renown of Italian origin and her fa- grew considerably after her ther abandoned her when she remarkable performance in was 2 years old. And also be- YY ou may have seen her the 2003 film Stupeurs et trem- cause she is close to the pub- picture this summer on the blements (Fear and Trembling in lic, friendly and has an excel- cover of numerous magazines the English version) by Alain lent sense of humour. This or newspapers. Sylvie Testud Corneau, for which she re- past June, she agreed to be has been featured because of ceived the best actress César the “editor-in-chief” for Le her outstanding performance and several other prizes. The Progrès, Lyon’s largest daily in a new film: she took the film, based on an autobio- newspaper, for one day, and risk of playing the very chal- graphical novel by the cele- was highly appreciated and lenging role of French writer brated Belgian writer Amélie warmly received by the staff Françoise Sagan in a movie simply called Sagan, by film- maker Diane Kurys. And she Left: © Laurence Malraux. Below: succeeded so well that her © Charlotte Schousboe-Alexandre films performance has been com- pared to that of Marion Cotil- lard who played Edith Piaf in La môme (La vie en rose in the English version) by Olivier Dahan, and who was the first actor/actress ever to win an Oscar for a performance entirely in French. She also won the César award for best actress for the film. Sylvie Testud also appeared in the Sylvie Testud (right) same Edith Piaf film in the playing Françoise role of Mômone and was Sagan. The real nominated for a César for best Sagan (above) in a supporting actress. recently published biography, “Sagan Born in 1971 in the Croix- à toute allure” by Rousse section of Lyon, Syl- Marie-Dominique vie Testud, who now lives in Lelièvre (Denoël) Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 37

Sylvie Testud (suite) Her role in Sagan has been Sagan, who was a brilliant widely recognized by the crit- writer, also had an extraordi- and the public whom she in- ics as exceptional. She totally nary personality: she was very terviewed. She is a fervent immersed herself in the char- intelligent, literally sparkling, supporter of the candidacy of acter of the French “new lively, generous, sometimes Lyon as “European Capital of wave” writer (born in 1935 adorable and sometimes to- Culture” for 2013. and who died, almost alone tally insolent, but always sin- and destitute, in 2004). cere, sometimes very moving, She is also a writer and has and very fast – one could published two novels and an Not an easy role, as Françoise hardly understand her when autobiography, and she occa- Sagan, who became famous she spoke. Sylvie Testud suc- sionally writes for the theatre. after the publication of her ceeded wonderfully in por- She became the mother of a first novel, Bonjour tristesse in traying all these various and young boy, Rubin, in 2005 1954, had a very eccentric contradictory aspects of Sa- and shares her life with a personality and lived her life gan. One can only assume computer specialist whom to the fullest, including al- that this young actress’s career she met when she was 15. most every excess possible – she is only 37 – will con- And she is also politically ac- (she had a weakness for beau- tinue to flourish. We just tive and publicly supported tiful cars, alcohol, drugs, hope she will remain as down- Socialist Ségolène Royal dur- mixed sexual relationships, to-earth and lovely as she is ing the presidential election and spending more money now. campaign of 2007. that she could earn!). Annick Stevenson

Solution from page 9 Page 38 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Bernard Lavilliers - Les mains d'or Un grand soleil noir tourne sur la vallée Travailler encore - travailler encore Cheminée muettes - portails verrouillés Acier rouge et mains d'or Wagons immobiles - tours abandonnées Plus de flamme orange dans le ciel mouillé J'peux plus exister là J'peux plus habiter là On dirait - la nuit - de vieux châteaux forts Je sers plus à rien - moi Bouffés par les ronces - le gel et la mort Y a plus rien à faire Un grand vent glacial fait grincer les dents Quand je fais plus rien - moi Monstre de métal qui va dérivant Je coûte moins cher - moi Que quand je travaillais - moi J'voudrais travailler encore - travailler encore D'après les experts Forger l'acier rouge avec mes mains d'or Travailler encore - travailler encore J'me tuais à produire Acier rouge et mains d'or Pour gagner des clous C'est moi qui délire J'ai passé ma vie là - dans ce laminoir Ou qui devient fou A committed protest singer Mes poumons - mon sang et mes colères noires J'peux plus exister là and a rebel with a worthy cause. Horizons barrés là - les soleils très rares J'peux plus habiter là Comme une tranchée rouge saignée rouge saignée sur Je sers plus à rien - moi l'espoir Y a plus rien à faire

On dirait - le soir - des navires de guerre Je voudrais travailler encore - travailler encore Battus par les vagues - rongés par la mer Forger l'acier rouge avec mes mains d'or Tombés sur le flan - giflés des marées Travailler encore - travailler encore Vaincus par l'argent - les monstres d'acier Acier rouge et mains d'or... J'voudrais travailler encore - travailler encore Forger l'acier rouge avec mes mains d'or Album “Arrêt sur image”. 2001.

solid body and a strong per- singer, an itinerant rocker and likable singers. Today, he is in TT his song is about a sonality, the young Lavilliers a rebel with a worthy cause. his sixties and he continues to worker who has spent his felt that he was born to fight travel. His eighteenth album, entire working life in a steel – he picked up boxing as a A passionate traveller and Samedi soir à Beyrouth, was re- factory that has just shut hobby at age 13. After occasional reporter, Lavilliers corded in studios in Kingston, down. He feels that he is too spending a year in reform lived for long periods of time Jamaica and Memphis, Ten- young to stop working. The school, he joined his father as in different South-American nessee. He began writing ma- chorus says: an apprentice in the steel mill (especially Brazil) and African terial for this new album in Je voudrais travailler encore - train 1962. Three years later he countries, always bringing 2006 during a visit to the vailler encore = I would like to was fed-up with factory work back songs (and sometimes Lebanese capital, inspired by be still working - still work- and flew off to Brazil, work- musicians) with him. He the strange atmosphere that ing. ing there as a jungle truck wrote about important social reigned in the war-torn city. Forger l'acier rouge avec mes mains driver. Back in France in themes such as violence, pov- The title track of the album d'or = Forging the red steel 1967, he was incarcerated for erty and social inequity. La- Samedi soir à Beyrouth commu- with my golden hands. failing to do his military ser- villiers' songs are accompa- nicates his observations on a Travailler encore - travailler encore vice. nied by reggae, Salsa, bossa typical Saturday night in Bei- = still be working - still be nova, Latino or African rut. working. With his muscular body, his rhythms… He was one of Acier rouge et mains d'or... = good looks and his low, sen- the first French singers to be Vincent Anthonioz Red steel and golden hands... sual voice, Bernard Lavilliers involved in “world music”. rose to stardom in France and Bernard Lavilliers, who was in other Francophone coun- After many successful songs Lavilliers is currently touring born in 1946, comes from a tries in the mid-'70s and be- such as San Salvador, La Salsa, France until November. Con- lower-class working family. came an icon of the free- On the road again, Betty, Noir et cert details are found on his His father was a steel worker, thinking singer-songwriter. blanc, Stand the ghetto, Traffic, personal website: unionist and his mother was a He then earned a reputation Pigalle la Blanche, etc., he has teacher. Endowed with a for being a committed protest become one of France’s most www.bernardlavilliers.com

To listen to the song: www.dailymotion.com/video/x2pvqj_bernard-lavilliers-les-mains-dor_music Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 39

Deux dictées

Beginner Level

Quand nous sommes venus pour la première fois dans le département du Gers, on a vraiment eu un coup de foudre. On a trouvé les gens tellement sympa et gentils et le paysage si beau qu’on s’est dit tout de suite : « Il faut qu’on s’installe ici. » Et du coup, en l’espace de deux mois, nous avons trouvé une maison à acheter et avons réussi à créer une petite entreprise. Depuis, nous n’avons pas eu un seul regret.

Intermediate Level

Autrefois, les cas de dopage dans le Tour de France étaient dérisoires et les exploits des coureurs énormes. Depuis presque vingt ans, les dopages sont énormes et les exploits dérisoires. Prenons, par exemple, le Tour 2008. Déjà pendant la pre- mière moitié de la course, trois cas de dopages et un seul véritable exploit : celui de Ricardo Ricco dimanche 12 juillet. Et on apprend, quatre jours plus tard, que lui aussi est dopé. C’est la désillusion totale !

Exercise with n’importe and other expressions : Solutions from page 7

1. N’importe comment 5. N’importe OR ça m’est égal 2. tant mieux 6. j’en ai assez 3. N’importe où 7. N’importe quand 4. J’en ai marre 8. N’importe quoi

Zelda l’araignée

Zelda l’araignée Ne va pas à l’école Elle préfère s’envoler Sur une feuille d’automne Emportée par le vent Qui siffle une chanson Zelda l’araignée Ne fait pas ses devoirs Elle préfère se cacher Dans une meule de brouillard Et glisser sur les flaques Quand la pluie est tombée

Children’s song written by Frédéric, from Carambole Chosen and sung by Alexandra Page 40 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

A Selection of Books Le Guide des meilleurs Petit prince du désert aliments bio This is the latest novel by TV This guide to the “best or- news anchor Patrick Poivre ganic food” is the result of a d’Arvor (PPDA), about whom comparative investigation of we have devoted our article 25 categories of products on French politics this month conducted by several experts (page 29). Not only is he a who tested them and classi- famous journalist, but he is fied them according to a set also a lover of books and an of criteria. The best ones excellent writer himself. He have been given a grade, the has published some 15 novels, others have been éliminés plus several others co-written (removed completely as they access to university. It was with his brother Olivier, es- are not recommended at all). created by Napoleon Ier in says, poems, children’s stories, All the products are listed by order to organize the univer- illustrated books… more than name. It is very instructive sity and limit access to higher 40 books to date. and it might be useful to have level studies. The first year, a look at it before shopping. 31 students passed it. This This new novel is a take-off Organic food is relatively new year, 517,000 succeeded, a on the Petit Prince by Antoine in France, as we explained in success rate of 83.3%. A de Saint-Exupéry — one of our issue Nr 12 of April-May high percentage, but for his great inspirations. It re- 2008, and some manufactur- those who don’t pass, life will lates the story of a 12-year-old ers have a tendency to add be much more difficult as boy, Jacques, the son of a pi- the word bio (organic) to they won’t be able to get into lot who is a friend and col- products that don’t meet all university, unless they try league of Saint-Exupéry. the requirements. again the following year. Jacques is desperate because This is why passer le bac (going his mother has disappeared through the examination to and he is trying to find her. try get the baccalaureate) is This moving story, nicely writ- always terribly stressful. The ten, would make a good intro- expression used in the title is duction to French for an Eng- very significant: Passe ton bac lish-speaking reader. And an d’abord! = Get your bac first, intriguing echo of the Petit and then we can start talking Prince which was written by about your future! Saint-Ex while he was living in New York. On the occasion of this anni- versary, a little book has been By Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, published, rather easy to read, Ed. Albin Michel, 12 €. full of anecdotes, figures, short notes and information, songs, and quotes from famous French writers or intel- By Hélène Le Héno and lectuals, some of whom seri- Laurence Wittner, Ed. Le ously criticize the continued Cherche midi, 2008. 15 €. use of this “fossile” diploma. It includes humour, jokes and Passe ton bac d’abord ! even a reminder of the best ways to cheat. At the end, The French baccalaureate there is a little game that exam (baccalauréat, a.k.a. le bac) French people like to play celebrates its 200th anniver- together: le petit bac... sary this year. The bac is the diploma which marks the end By Jean-Noël Leblanc, Ed. of secondary school and gives Horay, 2008. 7,50 €. Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 41

Aimer c’est agir

SS ince part of the focus of the article on the political scene in France was about Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, we felt it fitting that we present a brief excerpt from one of his latest books, Aimer c’est agir : mes engagements. PPDA writes passionately about his profession as journalist and news anchor, but also about his involvement in many of the causes that he has championed over the years. The following excerpt is from the introduction where he talks about the importance of political activism, of being involved, in short, ses engagements, in his personal life.

“J’en suis sûr désormais, “Des années durant, j’ai que je recherche dans la notre existence se résume à cherché un sens à cette conversation, dans le travail, la somme de nos engage- course que je mène, dans le dans l’amour, dans la cons- ments. bonheur et la douleur, l’insa- truction de soi et de la so- tisfaction et la passion. J’ai ciété. Je la trouve chez mon “Engagements politiques, passé une grande partie de voisin, de l’autre côté de la professionnels, déontologi- ma vie à poser des questions rue, qui lutte contre son ques, vis-à-vis de la société, à d’autres qu’à moi-même. handicap, contre la discrimi- du pays, engagements senti- C’est le lot des intervie- nation, le racisme, comme mentaux, familiaux, engage- weurs. Le temps qu’il me dans les bidonvilles de Port- ments intellectuels face à un restait, je l’ai consacré à ex- au-Prince, Calcutta… Si monde désemparé, en mal plorer le monde : à travers vivre c’est agir, alors s’enga- de solidarité, de paix, de les enquêtes sur le terrain, ger c’est construire sa vie. justice, d’égalité. Libres les dépêches d’agence qui Belle vie qu’une vie engagée, choix qui donnent du sens à ont défilé si souvent devant engageante. Qu’une vie en- une vie terrestre, trop terres- mes yeux, les voyages en treprise, entreprenante ! tre. Qui, plutôt que de nous France comme dans plus de Gandhi a raison de dire que distinguer façonnent la cent cinquante pays, à tra- nous devons être le change- trame simplement humaine vers les rencontres, intimes, ment que nous souhaitons d’années vécues parfois trop lointaines, si nombreuses. voir dans le monde.” vite. Engagements qui nous Accomplissant chaque ac- extraient de nous-mêmes. tion de ma vie comme si La volonté parle en eux. c’était la dernière. Peu à peu, Nos engagements de chaque j’ai compris qu’une existence instant. J’aime ces liens lé- se construisait, la mienne, gers et essentiels, fragiles autour d’un certain nombre mais déterminants. Qui d’engagements qui consti- n’engagent que soi, mais qui tuaient ma relation au engagent tellement à travers monde. soi. Le regard d’autrui, amoureux ou fraternel, peut “S’engager, c’est d’abord être engageant. Le regard tenter de s’adresser aux au- sur soi, dans le miroir, ne tres. C’est se mesurer empi- Click HERE ment pas : il dit la qualité de riquement à un peu plus l’engagement, la sortie de d’humanité… L’engagement Patrick Poivre d’Arvor soi, ou trahit la tentation de des autres me bouleverse Aimer c’est agir : Mes engage- la fuite, le repli sur soi. toujours : c’est cette qualité ments. Fayard, 2007.

Click here! Page 42 French Accent, August-September 2008 Issue Number 14

Printable version Une recette de cuisine : lasagnes à la ratatouille This dish is one of our own crea- Ce plat, de notre invention, est as- tions. It takes a bit of time to pre- sez long à préparer. Mais il est dé- pare, but it’s delicious! It’s a great licieux ! Et c’est un excellent way to use those wonderful sum- moyen d’utiliser ces savoureux lé- mer vegetables. gumes d’été.

Ingredients (for six servings) Ingrédients (pour 6 personnes)

For the ratatouille: Pour la ratatouille : - 1 large onion - 1 gros oignon - 5 or 6 ripe tomatoes - 5-6 tomates bien mûres - 2 zucchini squash - 2 courgettes - 2 medium-sized eggplants - 2 aubergines (pas trop grosses) - 1 red pepper - 1 poivron rouge - 1 or 2 branches of rosemary and other dried, crushed herbs - 1-2 branches de romarin et autres fines herbes broyées (thym et (thyme and bay leaves) laurier) - 3 or 4 garlic cloves - 3-4 gousses d’ail - 1 tablespoon olive oil - 1 cuillérée à soupe d’huile d’olive - salt and pepper to taste - sel, poivre

For the lasagna: Pour les lasagnes : - 8 pieces of lasagna pasta (depending on the size of your lasagna - 8 lasagnes (selon leur taille et celle du plat à gratin), de préfé- dish), preferably a good quality Italian pasta. rence des pâtes italiennes de bonne marque - 1 tablespoon sunflower oil - 1 cuillérée d’huile de tournesol - 2 tablespoons flour (20 gr) - 2 cuillérées à soupe de farine (20g) - 2 gobs of butter (40 gr) - 2 morceaux de beurre (40g) - 1 litre of milk - 1 litre de lait - salt, pepper and ground nutmeg - sel, poivre, noix de muscade en poudre - grated parmesan cheese - parmesan râpé

Preparation of the ratatouille Préparation de la ratatouille

Place the tomatoes in boiling water for 2-3 minutes so you can Faire bouiller 2-3 minutes les tomates dans une casserole d’eau remove the skins. In the meantime, dice the onions, chop the pour pouvoir enlever facilement la peau. Pendant ce temps, cou- garlic very fine, cut the pepper in small chunks and slice the zuc- per les oignons en fines tranches, l’ail en toutes petites miettes, le chinis and eggplants. poivron en petits morceaux, et les courgettes et aubergines en morceaux ou en tranches selon leur taille. Remove the skin from the tomatoes, cut them in small pieces and remove the seeds. Ôter la peau des tomates, les couper en petits morceaux et enlever les graines. Pour the olive oil into a large saucepan or fry- Verser l’huile d’olive dans une large sauteuse, ing pan, add the onions, then the tomatoes, placer d’abord les oignons, puis les tomates, et then the other vegetables in successive layers. les autres légumes par couches successives, en Add salt and pepper to each layer. Add the salant et poivrant chaque couche. Puis ajouter garlic and other herbs. Cover and cook over a les fines herbes et l’ail. Faire chauffer à cou- low heat (be careful that it doesn’t burn) for vert et à feu doux (attention de ne pas laisser roughly 45 min. to an hour. When the vegeta- brûler). Lorsque les légumes sont presque bles are almost fully cooked, remove the lid so cuits, retirer le couvercle pour laisser un peu that some of the liquid will evaporate. These évaporer car les légumes produisent beaucoup vegetables give off a lot of liquid. de liquide. La cuisson prend environ 45mn- 1h. Note: For those who like spicy dishes, you can add a little paprika or Cayenne pepper, Note : Les personnes qui aiment les plats as- according to taste. sez épicés peuvent rajouter un peu de paprika ou de poivre de Cayenne, à leur goût. Preparation of the lasagna Préparation des lasagnes Fill a large cooking pot with water, add salt and a tablespoon of oil to prevent the lasagna Faire bouiller de l’eau salée (additionnée d’une pasta from sticking together. Bring the water cuillérée d’huile pour éviter que les lasagnes to a boil and then add the lasagna pasta one collent) dans une grande casserole. Puis verser Issue Number 14 French Accent, August-September 2008 Page 43

Recette de cuisine: lasagnes à la ratatouille (suite) by one. Cook for about 10 min. (check the cooking time on the les lasagnes une à une. Faire cuire 10mn environ (vérifier la durée packaging). While they are cooking, occasionally separate the de cuisson sur l’emballage des pâtes). Durant la cuisson enfiler pieces with a flat wooden spatula. As soon as the pasta is done, une grande spatule plate en bois entre les lasagnes pour les sépa- remove them from the boiling water one at a time being careful rer. Dès qu’elles sont cuites, les sortir une à une avec la spatule not to break or tear them. Place them side by side on a dish en faisant attention de ne pas les casser, et les poser côte à côte towel to cool off. sur un torchon posé sur le plan de travail.

Preparation of the béchamel sauce Préparation de la sauce béchamel

Heat a litre of milk in a sauce pan, stirring Faire chauffer à feu très doux un litre de lait constantly over a low heat. It should not dans une casserole en le remuant constam- come to a boil. ment. Ne pas laisser bouillir.

Place the butter and flour in a saucepan or Mettre le beurre et la farine dans une casserole non-stick pot. Melt the butter over a low heat ou cocotte qui n’attache pas, et faire fondre le and mix it together with the flour. Then, beurre à feu doux en le mélangeant à la farine. slowly add the heated milk, stirring constantly Puis verser lentement le lait chaud, en mélan- with a wooden spoon or a whisk to avoid any geant avec une cuillère en bois ou un fouet lumps. You have to keep stirring, preferably pour éviter les grumeaux ; et il est essentiel de in the same direction, so the béchamel sauce tourner constamment la béchamel (de préfé- doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the rence dans le même sens) pour qu’elle n’atta- pan. The whole process can take as much as che pas à la casserole et ne brûle pas. La cuis- 20-30 minutes. Once all the milk has been son peut prendre 20-30 mn. Une fois versé added, keep stirring until the sauce thickens tout le lait, continuer de tourner jusqu’à ce que and forms a smooth coating on the spatula or la béchamel soit moins liquide et nappe légère- spoon. Add salt, pepper and ground nutmeg ment la spatule ou le fouet. Ajouter le sel (à (to taste) and stir it in thoroughly. votre goût), le poivre, et la noix de muscade, et bien mélanger. Note: While this dish does take a bit of time to prepare, it is fairly easy to make. You Note : Ce plat est très facile à faire mais de- should be patient and take your time and pro- mande une assez longue préparation. Il est ceed step by step (You should count on donc conseillé de prendre son temps (compter roughly two hours in all). First of all, prepare bien 2h en tout) et de procéder par étapes : the ratatouille, then while it is cooking, boil préparer d’abord la ratatouille, puis tandis the lasagna pasta. Then start your béchamel qu’elle mijote, faire cuire les lasagnes. Et atten- sauce when the other two are ready. dre que les deux soient prêts pour commencer la sauce béchamel. Putting it all together Préparation du plat Butter an oven-proof cooking dish. Put a shallow layer of ratatouille in the bottom (try Beurrer un plat à gratin. Verser un peu de rata- not to get too much liquid) and then place the touille (en évitant de mettre trop de liquide) first layer of lasagna pasta. Add a thicker layer pour couvrir le fond et placer une première of ratatouille, followed by some of the bécha- couche de lasagnes. Mettre une bonne couche mel sauce and a second layer of lasagna. Re- de ratatouille, recouvrir d’un peu de béchamel peat the process. On top of the final layer of et d’une seconde couche de lasagnes. Recom- ratatouille, add the remainder of the lasagna mencez l’opération. Terminer par une troi- pasta (the third layer) and pour the remainder sième couche de lasagnes, et verser dessous of the béchamel sauce over the top. It should tout le reste de la béchamel, qui doit totale- cover the entire dish. Sprinkle a thin layer of ment recouvrir le plat. Verser dessus une fine grated parmesan cheese over the top. couche de parmesan râpé.

Bake in the oven at 180-200 degrees Mettre au four chaud (180-200 de- C for 30 to 40 min. and until it has a grés) pendant environ 30-40 mn jus- nice golden colour to it. qu’à ce que le plat soit assez doré.

When serving, cut into portions and Pour servir, couper chaque part avec serve with a large spatula to avoid une grande spatule plate pour éviter breaking the lasagna in small pieces. d’abîmer les lasagnes, et présentez du Provide grated parmesan cheese for parmesan râpé que les convives peu- your guests to add, according to vent verser sur leur assiette, à leur taste… goût... Bon appétit ! Bon appétit! Annick Stevenson Are You A British Ex-Pat In France Considering A Move Back To The UK? Are You In A Dilemma About Whether To Return?

If so, ITV1 are making a documentary series about expats who are weighing up the merits of returning home.

It is the great British dream to find a place in the sun which offers tranquility and a better quality of life. It is no surprise then that many people turn to France with its stunning weather, cultural heritage and fiscal benefits. Yet despite this, one in three people who leave Britain are returning home every year.

In many cases this has nothing to do with their adopted country but more to do with personal cir- cumstances. Upon making the decision to return, some find they fall back in love with the country and decide to stay for good, but others are surprised about how much has changed since they left and end up ruing their decision to return.

So how can you be sure the Britain you left offers you the opportunities you crave? How can you reconcile so many factors such as career, property and schooling decisions whilst abroad?

We are offering expats the opportunity to be flown back home to see what the UK has to offer them. They will spend a week back in the UK with a relocation expert who will show them some of the things they have missed about Britain whilst also highlighting the reasons why they moved in the first place.

We hope by the end of the week our contributors will have either developed a new appreciation for what their adopted country offers them, or been inspired to return home.

If you would like to find out more, please contact us on [email protected] or call 0044 207 4285752.

Click here