The SunBreak » mindyjones

The DSK Debacle Uncovers a Cultural Divide on Rape

mindyjones — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:35:29 +0000

The French and the Americans are at odds thanks to the arrest of “The Great Seducer,” Dominique Strauss-Kahn, now-former head of the IMF. I feel required to mention Strauss-Kahn since I’m the SunBreak’s beleaguered correspondent in the Paris hot zone, but it’s not easy for me. For one thing, typing the words “The Great Seducer” up there made me feel dirty and angry. For another thing, I usually write humor, and after examining this story from all angles, I’ve determined there is not a smidge of humor to be found in it.

Discovering the Foodie Appeal of France’s School Lunches

mindyjones — Tue, 03 May 2011 22:15:37 +0000

Knowing there is an intense focus on “the right food” at school creates anxiety in a foreign non-foodie like me. Once I had to pack Lucien a sack lunch for a field trip and I lost sleep for days beforehand. In this country of refined palates and toddlers who eat foie gras and duck gizzards, I had no idea what to put in a sack lunch that wouldn’t earn me a reproachful look and a talking-to from the teacher.

Six Things I Won’t Miss About Mass Transit in Paris

mindyjones — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:00:45 +0000

In the hottest days of summer, metro trains and tunnels become ovens where people lose their minds and turn on each other like rabid dogs. I once passed an angry, sweaty American woman in a metro tunnel in the middle of August. She was screaming after her husband, who was twenty steps ahead carrying all their bags, "WHY CAN'T WE JUST TAKE A F@#!!*G CAB AND STOP LIVING THIS GODDAMN F@#$!!*G NIGHTMARE YOU F!@#!!*G MORON!!?"

The Reluctant Parisienne is Full of Stories and Holiday Cheer!

mindyjones — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 22:53:00 +0000

Our correspondent Mindy Jones is a Seattleite living in Paris for two years. When she’s not busy trying to figure out what the French are saying, she’s busy trying to figure out what to say to the French. She posts frequently at An American Mom in Paris. Forget April in Paris; December in Paris is best. There are lights strung between buildings down the lengths of narrow streets. Tartiflette and vin chaud are consumed in large quantities at outdoor holiday gift markets. The frosty air makes stopping at a crepe stand for a hot oozy Nutella crepe all the more magical. [...]

The Reluctant Parisienne’s Franco-American Thanksgiving

mindyjones — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Pro tip: A laptop aids in the pounds-per-hour to kilograms, and Fahrenheit to Celcius conversion. Our correspondent Mindy Jones is a Seattleite living in Paris for two years. When she’s not busy trying to figure out what the French are saying, she’s busy trying to figure out what to say to the French. She posts frequently at An American Mom in Paris. Holidays abroad can be lonely. When a holiday rolls around, we ache a little and talk about home a lot. We put on happy smiles for the Skype session involving every relative we have, plus a few we didn’t know [...]

The Reluctant Parisienne Visits the Paris Aquarium

mindyjones — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:19:00 +0000

Our correspondent Mindy Jones is a Seattleite living in Paris for two years. When she’s not busy trying to figure out what the French are saying, she’s busy trying to figure out what to say to the French. She posts frequently at An American Mom in Paris. Seattle has a fine aquarium. We’ve spent many hours of family fun on Pier 59 and we were happy to hear we wouldn’t have to give up the fish when we moved to Paris; Paris has an aquarium, too. It wasn’t long before we jumped on the metro to go visit, joking that the [...]

The Reluctant Parisienne Survives Strikes, Wrath of Penguins

mindyjones — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 23:29:00 +0000

Mindy Jones is a Seattleite living in Paris for two years with her husband and two kids. Her daily life does not include romantic walks along the Seine, champagne picnics on the Pont des Arts, or five-star gourmet dinners. For a realistic take on life in a fantasy place, visit her blog, An American Mom in Paris. France is mad as hell and blah blah blah something about not putting up with this crap anymore. The country known for its strike culture is knocking itself out with daily manifestations and ongoing disruptions in metro/bus/plane/boat/hot-air-balloon/bobsled service. Walking service will be reduced [...]

The Reluctant Parisienne, Confronted by Socialist Health Care, Freaks Out

mindyjones — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0000

Mindy Jones is a Seattleite living in Paris for two years with her husband and two kids. Her daily life does not include romantic walks along the Seine, champagne picnics on the Pont des Arts, or five-star gourmet dinners. For a realistic take on life in a fantasy place, visit her blog, An American Mom in Paris. Our troubles enrolling in the French health care system happened at the same time the health care reform bill was being angrily debated at home. If anyone from the States asked us how that dang socialist health care was treating us, we responded, [...]