If you’re wondering, I won’t make a video on the Paris attacks this time*.
Even though I received kind questions about this, this is not Charlie. Sadly, similar terrorist attacks happen now everywhere. 9/11 in New York, 11-M in Madrid, 7/7 in London, we can all relate, feel the same pain, I have nothing of value to add to the noise. The Charlie video added some context to help you feel and understand why French people were so quick and spontaneous in joining up: someone had killed our clowns. Here, it easily could have been you, me, a brother, a friend… This is universal pain. And I don’t feel like exposing myself again crying on YouTube if I really have nothing to add.
However, I understand you’d like some quality resources in French about the events, so I compiled a few for you on the blog. Feel free to add more in the comments.
*”this time”: weird to write this. Is it already a habit?
Recent drawings by Joann Sfar
Especially this one
A message from La Mairie de Paris
Un peu d’humour avec la rivalité Paris-Marseille, par Martin Vidberg
Une deuxième image sur le même thème
Récit des attaques (attention, c’est fort)
Le Piège, by Klaire
Marc Trevidic, juge d’instruction au Tribunal de grande instance de Paris au pôle antiterrorisme, interviewé sur France 2
Jean-Pierre Filiu sur France Inter
Comment répondre aux questions des enfants (Astrapi)
Libération a aussi un fait petit site pour les enfants
Parler des attentats et du terrorisme (pour les profs, par Les Zexperts)
A hug,
Géraldine
The people of Paris are in our thoughts and prayers. We stand with France.
My students and I prayed for the victims, their loved ones and France, and discussed the recent events in Paris and the immense outpouring of support. These students, ages 12-14, were truly moved and showed strong empathy and understanding as to why we are so moved and appalled by the terrorist attacks. France represents all that we hold precious and good in life. Thank you for all that you have done for me as a teacher of French in Canada to help me help my students understand the marvels, joys and intricacies of French culture. We are with you in spirit and prayer.
Toutes mes pensées sont avec les Parisiens. Je suis très désolée de ce qui s’est passé à Paris le vendredi. Avant de Toronto, j’ai habité à Moscou, Russie. Nous avons vécu dans la même situation après les attaques dans le métro et au théâtre, où de nombreuses personnes ont été tuées. J’étais choquée. Je me souviens d’abord le désespoir, beaucoup d’impuissance, d’horreur, de colère. Heureusement je n’ai pas perdu de quelqu’un de ma famille et des amis, mais j’ai commencé avoir peur pour mon petit-fils, son avenir. Je scrutais les gens qui étaient en train d’entrer dans le métro avec moi. J’essayais de deviner qui peut être le prochain tueur? C’était de la folie. Bientôt je compris alors que ma peur travaille pour les terroristes. Si je veux résister, je dois continuer ma vie avec toutes mes espérances en notre monde. Et maintenant, Cher Géraldine, je dois te dire Merci mille fois pour ton décision de continuer tes leçons. Ton réponse contre ces attaques terroristes sera ton optimisme, ton énergie et ton amour de la France. S’il te plaît continuer à partager cela avec nous! Vive la France!!!
Thanks a lot for your decision,hoping that these problems will be solved soon.Bon courage pour tous .
Bonjour Géraldine
Comme tu a dit c’est difficile à dire quoi faire? il faut continuer et se battre et ne montrez pas la peur sinon ils ont bien gagnés.
thank you for your great website as always and courage!!
Merci, Geraldine, for keeping us posted and your intimate words. Glad you are keeping on, good decision. Je pense a tu et Paris. Le peuple de France sont forts et résistants. Ils ne seront pas effrayés par ces lâches mauvais. Bon courage, Geraldine! ~Darla
Nous sommes avec vous.
geraldine, merci beaucoup pour votre gentil reponse. I pray for you and the French people at such a sad and difficult time but please dont give up the french lessons for us. I really look forward tothem and seeing you knowing that you want to help us learn about how beautiful and understanding French much love and big hugs, Charlotte xxx
Je suis desolee pour les Francais mais tu as raison on doit continue.
Praying for your broken heart!
Et d’autres victimes – les musulmanes honnêtes, travailleurs, géniales dans le monde. J’ai une élève exceptionnelle de l’Irak et elle a peur et honte d’être associée avec ces terribles crimes.
Hugs and prayers…Vive la France!!
Dear Géraldine,
My heart and prayers go out to the families who lost a family member or friend in this terrible tragedy. I’m glad to hear that you and your family and friends are fine and safe. I can imagine how you feel at this moment of so much pain and sadness. Thank you for keeping us posting. Stay strong. God bless all of you. Vive la France!
Dear Geraldine,
Thank you for your post and update on your situation in Paris. I am so glad to hear you and your loved ones are O.K. My wife and I just got back from Paris on the 5th of this month after spending three weeks all around Paris. This was our first trip there and we both fell in love with France and it’s wonderful people. One of the great places we stayed was in Bayeux at a bed and breakfast home. We loved the area and people and thought it would be a great place to purchase property for a summer home. Maybe some day. 🙂 Our thought and prayers are with you and France. I am so enjoying your French classes and look forward to continuing to attempt to learn to speak French.
May God bless and protect you.
Allen Wilkerson
Thank you for writIng. I just received on email. I think it’s great to keep on with living to get through the sadness. My thoughts are with the French people and for all of humanity
Chère Géraldine,
Désolée! Il n’y a pas de mots pour m’exprimer. Le monde est fou. Courage, Géraldine. La plupart des gens sont bons. Ces sauvages ne sont pas humaines. Il est temps pour la justice ! Vive la France !!!
That is the best I can do in French. My prayers are with you and your countrymen and women. It is not the first time that our two countries have stood together, and we shall be victorious in this battle we did not choose.
I am happy that you and your family were not harmed and hope that you find comfort in the knowledge that your friends are thinking of you.
With love,
Karen
Karen
Bonjour Geraldine
Glad to hear that your family and friends are safe . Just returned after a month in Paris . My son daughter in law and granddaughter live in the 16th they are all safe thank god . It’s terrible what’s happened an assault on the French way of life. These terrorists must not be allowed to win their war of hate against the west . Thank you for deciding to continue the blogs they are fantastic . Stay strong best wishes to you and yours Regards Larry
Un message de l’Australie: ces événements de vendredi soir m’ont tellement attristée. Toutes mes pensées vous accompagnent.
sorry i have no words
yet
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Dear Geraldine,
Sorry for the mistakes I made in the previous email, & they were even in my own language!
I meant to write ‘Australia’, also ‘Tricolour.’
Love Rosemary
Dear Geraldine,
My thoughts and best wishes come to you all the way from Audtralia, where I live. We are all at one with our sharing of the pain & sorrow of the people of France, & people suffering everywhere. I don’t know whether you saw our Sydney Harbour Bridge lit up with the colors of the French Teicolours, like many buildings are, all over the world. And thank you for your wonderful lessons… I do look forward to Tuesdays!
Much love,Rosemary
Bonsoir Geraldine,
Je suis tellement désepérément attristé par cet act de barberie. Mes pensées sont avec le peuple de France et à Paris en particulier.
Please forgive me, Geraldine, I must continue in English, you have certainly made the right decision by carrying on, we must all rise above their hatred and stand together to uphold our beliefs and way of life or they will win. I WILL be returning to Paris in March, until then please accept a hug from me, for all in France.
bonsoir Geraldine 🙂 c’est Aussie Bronwen la … and thank you so much for taking the time, under these dreadful circumstances, and writing to us and putting together these resources … i am, we are thinking of you and the French people … together in solidarity …
Bronwen
Geraldine, Please accept my sincere love and condolences to you and the French people. Keep on going with your business, it will help you keep positive throughout this tragedy. The whole world is behind you.
Best wishes, Emerson
A translation ( I hope !)
Full of tears and sadness at what should have been just a nightmare …
Let there be Peace
Let there be Love
Let there be Joy, happiness .. .. laughter .. Cry, Smile … continue to LIVE and grow from all the sun that there is in our hearts ..
Take special care of yourself 🙂
Je suis très désolée de ce qui s’est passé le vendredi. Je ne sais pas ce qu’on peut encore dire pour exprimer nôtre douleur, tristesse. Nous sommes avec Vous.
This by Clio Pajczer of “L’equipe matin” sums up I believe the feeling in France.
Pleine de larmes et de tristesse devant ce qui devrait juste être un cauchemar…
Soyons Paix
Soyons Amour
Soyons Joie.. Bonheur.. Pleure.. Rire.. Sourire… Continuons de VIVRE et propageons tout le Soleil qu’il y a dans nos cœurs..
Faites attentions à vous
Thank you for writing, Géraldine, and sharing your grace and courage. We stand with you, and the center will hold.
Thank you for your post and for your decision to go on as planned with your lessons, Geraldine. We will look forward to them. My husband and I are Americans living in Paris. We spent today, Sunday the 15th of November, walking from our apartment in the 7th to Place de la Republique, past two of the cafes where people were murdered and the Bataclan Theatre. Parisians were quietly, reverently placing flowers, lighting candles and paying their respects to those that were slain. We did not sense a feeling of fear or anger, only deep sorrow. It was a brilliantly sunny Paris Sunday so difficult to equate with such sadness.
Merci Geraldine ❤️
We live in a small village in Brittany and the mood is very sombre. However, having lived for years through the IRA atrocities in England, I can tell you that your colleague is right. Don’t let the cowards win by changing your plans or stop you from following your dreams. They can take our lives but not our hearts or spirits.
Je pleure pour Paris mais Paris existera finalement en bonheur.
#noussommesunis Life goes on. It has to. Even through all the death, pain and suffering. We make ourselves stronger by the simple act of learning another language, another culture so we can communicate our thoughts and feelings and discover our similarities as well as our differences. To that I would like to know what are some common French phrases that are the equivalent of “Life goes on” etc. I see all the hashtag phrases of #JeSuisParis #NousSommesUnis which are easy to understand as I’m barely on an A1 level of French language understanding. This helps me greatly as I have a daughter who lives in Paris and I’m due to visit her next week. Help me please with some simple words of sympathy and condolences that are appropriate to share with the everyday French people I come into contact with.
Je suis desolée … c’est ne pas le moment de flancher
Thank you for posting. We have been thinking about you all. On both our visits to Paris we stayed in the 11th so it is shocking to have walked those same streets. It must be immeasurably more painful for you all. Don’t feel bad about your decision to keep going. I think it’s courageous and optimistic. I love your posts. Arohanui from New Zealand.
My blogger-friends, like you, Geraldine, have been in my thoughts and prayers since I first read the alert about the attacks on my computer screen Friday afternoon here in the Pacific Northwest of USA. I am thankful you and all of your friends and family are safe. Wearing the french colors, my PARIS pin and beret yesterday invited discussions in many places that I was yesterday. Je suis Parisienne.
Thanks for this – it’s much appreciated. I was in England at the time but my wife was was at home in Paris. As far as we can make out none of our friends and family were directly involved but are all extreemly upset but these appalling events. My wife has spent the weekend at home but is worried about getting the metro and RER to Nanterre on Monday.
Je l’ai écrit en anglais comme, aujourd’hui, je ne voulais pas faire une erreur en français. Biz à tout la monde.
Felt your shock and pain here too,love your country.myself and my son were in that very area on a visit to Paris.Take care.x
Thanks for this – it’s much appreciated. I was in England at the time but my ife was was at home in Paris. As far as we can make out none of our friends and family were directly involved but are all extreemly upset but hese appalling events. My wife has spent the weekend at home but is worried about getting the metro and RER to Nanterre on Monday.
Je l’ai écrit en anglais comme, aujourd’hui, je ne voulais pas faire une erreur en français. Biz à tout la monde.
OOPs – bad typing – see below for a corrected version. I should have written in French after all!!
Even though it’s so American, and not so French, to hug, I send you and yours much loving support. May you always be safe.
Dear Géraldine,
No words can express how we feel about what has happened, but our love and thoughts go out to you and the people of Paris – of the beautiful, beautiful France. Please stay strong, restez fortes! Love from St Petersburg, Russia. Vive la France!
From the moment I heard the news I knew I had a choice – either to watch all the TV reports and read all the newspaper articles day after day, or just read enough to be informed then remember to walk outside, read books, hear music and carry on. Let’s show the buggers and just carry on being us.
Dear Geraldine,
Terrorism is terrible…I am very sad for Paris people .I really understand your pain.It’s in my heart.Because inTurkey we lived similar attacks that last one was in Ankara.101 people have been killed by İŞID.Before this one lots of carnages….And since 30 years because of the PKK (kurdish) terrorism we lost 30.000 persons.All countries in the world must be unity against to the all kind of the terrorism..I hope humanity will win. “Je suis Paris”
Ceyhun
Sending hugs to you from your friends in the US.
Thank you for the posting. I live in France, about three hours from Paris, and like everyone am shocked, sad and angry. I feel that you have made absolutely the correct decision in continuing. These evil murderers want to disrupt our way of life and damage our values. They must not do either. I love your videos and lessons. Thank you.
I echo your thoughts Paul. Well said.
Thank-you for writing Géraldine. Bless you.
I agree with Paul – I’m glad you have decided to continue; I agree that it feels like the right decision… the “monster” feeds on fear, so in effect you are “starving the monster” and helping us have the courage to do the same. Merci.
Il n’y a pas de mots pour exprimer toute la colère, la tristesse et la peur ressenties… Merci de nous faire savoir que toi et tes proches êtes sains et saufs. J’allume une bougie à une fenêtre polonaise en pensant à mes amis les Français avec tout mon coeur… Grosses bises, Géraldine
Je pense à vous et vos amis. Merci pour toutes vos pensées. Bon courage
Bonjour Géraldine,
I’m glad you and your family is OK, and it’s terrible what just happened. anyway I just wanted to tell you that you count with me for everything you or any other person may need.