Tag Archives: cultural exploration

This week at the library: sheikhs, airplanes, and VW vans

Posted on March 16, 2013 by smellincoffee

This past Thursday, some friends drove me three hours into the woods, dropped me off in the midst of some 70 strangers, and left me there. They called it “Cursillo”, and it was a spiritual retreat which I liked enormously … Continue reading →

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Germany

Posted on October 3, 2012 by smellincoffee

Germany: Unraveling an Enigma© 2000 Paul Nees236 pages If you follow European news, chances are good that you’ve heard the name Angela Merkel in recent months. Chancellor of Germany, her nation is the economic heart of Europe and essential to … Continue reading →

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Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong

Posted on July 18, 2012 by smellincoffee

Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong: Why We Love France (But Not the French)© 2003 Jean-Benoît Nadeau & Julie Barlow351 pages France stymies Americans. They eat what they want, but seemingly don’t get fat. Their government is happily involved in … Continue reading →

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Bringing up Bébé

Posted on July 14, 2012 by smellincoffee

Bringing up Bébé: One Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting© 2012 Pamela Druckerman304 pages When Pamela Druckerman moved to Paris to start a life with her new husband, she noticed something rather odd about French children: they behaved. Long … Continue reading →

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French Lessons

Posted on July 11, 2012 by smellincoffee

French Lessons: Adventures with the Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew© 2001 Peter Mayle227 pages Peter Mayle is to be envied. Some people’s work involves overseeing hundreds of people and managing the affairs of a business that skirts bankruptcy other day. Some … Continue reading →

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