Insights into the French way of life and European travels by an Australian living in the Loire Valley
Header photo: Blois in spring, 2016. All photos on website copyright by Rosemary Kneipp unless specified otherwise. All rights reserved.Sign up for the latest posts below and don’t forget to click the confirmation email link:
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Category Archives: Australian customs
An Aussie in France Makes History!
I believe that I reached a turning point in my history as an Aussie in France today. The butcher gave me exactly what I wanted. An entrecôte, well hung (the best meat is always a dark red colour and not … Continue reading
Posted in Australian customs, Food, French customs, Lifestyle
13 Comments
Santa Climbing up the Wall
I love the Christmas decorations on individual homes in the French countryside. It’s amazing how many Santa Clauses (père noël) you see climbing up the walls! I don’t know how they explain it to the kids. Apart from the Father … Continue reading
Posted in Australian customs, French customs
Tagged Father Christmas, père noël, Santa Claus
1 Comment
My Christmas Cake
Yesterday, I was just cutting up the dried fruit for my Christmas cake, which always takes me back home to Townsville of course. I’m using my mother’s recipe, that she got from her mother, written in Mum’s lovely copperplate writing … Continue reading
Universities in France and Australia
When I enrolled at Dauphine University in Paris to do my post-graduate translation diploma at ESIT many long years ago, I was rather shocked at the environment. It was located in a high-rise building (and the toilets were disgusting). When … Continue reading
Australia: A Culture Shock
Leonardo’s now been in Sydney for a month and has started a new job. He’s finding the situation in the workplace very different from France. The thing that bothers him most is that people don’t take time to socialise. He … Continue reading
Posted in Australian customs, French customs
Tagged working France, working in Australia, working in Paris
6 Comments
Things that Disappear and Reappear
Are you one of those people (like me) who has a problem with things that mysteriously “disappear”? I wouldn’t say I actually lose them. They just don’t seem to be where they should. The gold bracelet Relationnel gave me when … Continue reading

Posted in Australian customs, French customs
Tagged finding jewellery, losing jewellery, lost and found
5 Comments