10 Comments

Bonjour, Margaret. So glad to have found you. I'm moving to Marseille this summer, so it helps to read about your experiences! And I love your writing - the 2 timelines are wonderful. Following your instagram, too - Lyon looks lovely! Will need to check out your Spotify list, too. Right now French music is my only form of studying.

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Merci! Both for reading and subscribing 🙏 And congrats on your upcoming move. How did you choose Marseille? Have you been before? I’ve only passed through by train, but would love to explore someday. I just checked out your newsletter - I love the dual languages.

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I finally got a chance to listen to your Spotify list, that Pomme de Terre track is quite charming! Thank you.

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My partner’s work is sending us to Marseille. It’s a bigger city than I would choose, but there’s so much to be excited about - the weather, the culture, being close to the sea, the food, so much to see and do. I have been a few times on very short trips and it’s beautiful.

And thank you! I’m hoping that writing in French will improve my skills. I saw that you have a French post with Yann- I’m looking forward to reading it!

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Mar 23Liked by Margaret Hedderman

I can so relate to this! I’ve let my Italian lapse over the years but worked diligently for over a year re-learning all I could before a recent trip to Italy. I was a decent tourist but conversations eluded me and I felt so defeated. I haven’t tried to learn more since then, but your post makes me want to give it a go!

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As cheesy as it sounds, learning to enjoy the process (or the journey) over the end goal of fluency (the destination) was a big shift. I think it made all the difference!

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Mar 22Liked by Margaret Hedderman

Many years ago, before Zoom and YouTube, I tried to teach myself French from a textbook. One day I met a French person and I bravely asked, "Comment allez-vous?" She responded with a blank stare and finally replied "I think you will need to work on your pronunciation!" I had said Kaa-mint Aleez-Voos!

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Hopefully she appreciated you trying - even if she didn’t express it!

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So lovely hearing other tales of lost in translation. Moving to another country is brave and exciting - I wish you all the best for it!

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Thanks Daniela! Your note is encouraging and much appreciated... as I am currently surrounded by immigration paperwork :)

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