Getting a French Start on December 2017

JOE START STARTS…AND FINALLY GETS A “FRENCH LICENSE”

Joe Start aka JoJo, moved to Paris and all hell broke loose when he needed to get a French driving license. He’s a marketing and communications professional with a great sense of humor — a good thing considering the trials and tribulations it takes to get a driving license in France! He has a California license like I do, but fortunately, I rarely need to drive a car in France. He did…and wished he didn’t. His book, “French License,” isn’t only about this one conundrum in which we Expats find ourselves…it manages to take you through one obstacle after another that he confronted, all of which you likely butt heads with, too, if you are an Expat in France, and if you’re not, then soon-to-be-Expats, beware!

There are a few US states that have a reciprocal arrangement with France and I know of some people who actually rented an apartment in one of those states for the simple reason of getting the license! That was easier and less expensive than getting the French version on their own. If you read “French License,” you’ll clearly see why. The states with the reciprocal deal are: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. (See franceintheus.org/ for more information.)

I opened the book while getting a manicure, laughed out loud through the first few chapters and then I hated that my manicure was over because I had to leave and close the book. We’re hoping Joe will agree to come speak at an upcoming Après Midi, but meanwhile, buy the book and laugh out loud. 

Note: My California Driving License has had five addresses on it, three of which are NOT in California…and they don’t care!

BOSOM BUDDIES…BARACK AND EMMANUEL

Wouldn’t you have loved to have been a fly-on-the-wall during Barack Obama’s private lunch meeting with Emmanuel Macron this weekend (Saturday) at the Elysée Palace? It was hushed up so that our illustrious “Number 45” (what I politely prefer to call Donald Trump) wouldn’t get bent out of shape. This elicits a chuckle out of me…since his personality is so predictable.

In a report this past weekend France24.com’s Douglas Herbert interviewed psychiatrist Bandy Lee. Lee talked about her new book, “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President” and how “Trump’s ‘mental impairment’ poses danger to the world.” (No joke.)

Obama came to Paris because he was scheduled to speak at the bi-annual “Napoleons” summit, a network of communications professionals, held at Radio France, on the theme of “Fear Less, Innovate More.” (Wish I were a member!) He also met with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on climate issues and former French President Francois Hollande (I wonder why? Maybe just for “old time” sake?). Meanwhile, Barack scored €400,000 for the appearance at the four year-old organization’s summit, made up of top media professionals. (He’s at least laughing all the way to the bank, if not crying his heart out at what his successor is doing to reverse everything he accomplished.)

I am wondering what they REALLY talked about over lunch! Some media pointed to the Climate Agreement to be at least one of the topics, and maybe the Iranian nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration that Number 45 “decertified.” (But, we can guess that Emmanuel wants help from Barack on how to deal with the psycho in the Oval Office.) We do know that Obama is a big fan of Macron and that he openly endorsed him for president during the election this past year. (Watch the video) And FYI, Number 45 wasn’t invited to the December 12th climate summit here in Paris…for the obvious reasons.

IMPRESSIVE IMPRESSIONISTS AT THE MUSEE JACQUEMART-ANDRE

Impressionist lovers, don’t miss the small, but impressive exhibition of Impressionist works “Le Jardin Secret des Hansen: La Collection Ordrupgaard,” open until January 22nd at the Musée Jacquemart-André. Assembled by a Danish couple in just two years (between 1916 and 1918), the body of more than forty Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by such artists as Corot, Cézanne, Matisse, Monet, Pissarro, Sisley, Renoir, Morisot, Gonzalès, Degas, Manet, Gauguin and Courbet will leave you wanting for more. This is the first time Paris has seen this work, but other museums in Europe and other parts of the world will host it, including the National Gallery of Canada, in Ottawa.

Before you see the exhibit, be sure to dine at the Café Jacquemart-André — one of Paris’ most treasured “secrets.” It is the most beautiful tea room in Paris with wonderful light meals and a wide range of delicious pastries cooked by the best pastry chefs in Paris: the Pâtisserie Stohrer and Michel Fenet’s Petite Marquise. Get there early to avoid the long line (no reservations).

(The Café Jacquemart-André is open from 11:45 a.m to 5:30 p.m from Monday to Friday and from 11 a.m. on weekends. The brunch is served each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Late night opening on Mondays until 7 p.m. during exhibitions. And good news: the Café is accessible independently of the Museum, so go any time you like!)

A la prochaine…

Adrian Leeds
Adrian Leeds Group

(at Café Jacquemart-André)

Respond to Adrian

P.S. Don’t miss December’s Après Midi, December 12. Joanne and David Burke will discuss their latest documentary, “PARIS NOIR, African Americans in the City of Light.” Deatails on our Après Midi page. See you there!