Bonjour April! Poisson d'Avril!

Finalement c'est le premier avril! Savez-vous que le "poisson d'avril" du premier avril n'est pas uniquement français mais aussi une manière européenne sachant que ce n'est pas toujours le symbole du "poisson"... par exemple en Allemagne et aux Pays-Bas, on appelle ce jour "Aprilscherz" et en Angleterre "April Fool's Day".

Have a nice day!

Sorry, do we know each other?

She walks down the floor, not minding the busy students around her. She grabs her ID in her pocket, holding it up to the guard. He nods and let her enter the gate. She looks up, gasping by the thought she needs to get up to the fifth floor. Her steps echo on the grey marble. A long line of some students in white tunic wait impatiently in front of the closed metal door, the elevator. She stares on the display beside the door. The number five is blinking. She stares then on the tunic in front of her. She slightly tilts her head to the right. She figures out a "521" in blue penmanship on the fabric. The person in front of her turns around. Her stare falls on his chin, before moving her eyes up to his dark brown eyes. "Oh. Salut!" (= Hi!), he said with a big smile. She slightly frowns, and utters a prolonged "Saaalut." A bit too prolonged as he seems to notice her slight confusion. Hey it is really nice to be nice. But then he continued with the chat to her surprise. "Ta journée s'est bien passée?" (=How was your day?). A simple "Ouai... bien. Merci... et toi?" (=Yes... good. Thanks... and you? - "Bien" he smiled. Wow, aren't we a bit personal, monsieur?, she thought. Pause. She frowns for a second. He still looks at her after rearranging the box with glasses in his two hands. She blushes bashfully. Yeah right, is he expecting me to start a conversation with him? She looks at the display beside the elevator. Second floor. Come on. He looks at the display. "521"... what could that mean? After full five seconds, the elevator bell rings. A crowd of students gets out of the door like ants. She pushes herself through them, almost stumbling over a foot, and finds herself at the very left corner of that little enclosed room. Gees, I cannot breath. Her heart beats faster. She hears voices, a key chain falling, the rattling of coins, breathing. "Salut.", a masculine voice giggles from her left. Same guy. She takes courage and whispers in a semi loud voice: "Pardon, on se connaît?". She looks up into his face. The door of the elevator makes a ring. - "Pas encore.", he whispered back. A smile. She startles. The elevator door closes.

Vocabulary:

Pardon --- Excuse (casual)
On se connaît? --- "we/he/she know(s) each other?". "On" means we or she or he. "Se" is a reflecting verb, so its talking about what the person does. "Connaît" means know (it is derived from the verb connaître.

Pas encore --- not yet. "pas" is a general negation form in French

Thanks Ms. Jane Austen!

During a five minute break at work, I can get lost in books. This time, I find myself somewhere in the 18th century... full of white high mansions, carriages and green meadows, and the four o'clock tea time. It is ridiculously amazing how happily perfect Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy can be. Never mind, books exist for that very reason. Great buy! Thanks Ms. Jane Austen for giving the world Mr. Darcy!

Trois mots: Tu me manques.

Eleven letters in three words can mean a world. Let your affections be heard. It feels good to say, I miss you. It keeps us grounded. It makes us good humans that seek love, happiness and the presence of another dear person.

Vocabulary:

trois = three

le mot = the word (les mots = the words)

tu me manques = i miss you (derived from the pronominal verb 'se manquer')

Bonjour!

I finished the first work day of the year. Right now, I feel like I missed colors today. Everything seems black white. Yet, a simple flower can turn an ordinary saying into some poetry. Bonjour mes amis! Have colors in your day!

Happy new year, my nightingale!

It is the first day of January! Happy New Year, my nightingale! One day down and many more to follow. Stay positive and full of hopes!

Bonne = good (feminine form of the adjective 'bon')
l'année (fem.) = the year
mon = my (masculine, possessive pronoun)
le rossignol = the nightingale