"Joie de Vivre"

“Joie de Vivre”

By: Halle Garrus
Edited by: Bryan Weary

I had the privilege to listen to Harriet Welty Rochefort, the author of 3 books that give the inside scoop on the French culture. Her first publication “French Toast” is a humorous account of what it feels like to be the only American in a French family, and similarly for her husband what it’s like to be married to an American through the eyes of a French native. Her second publication “French Fried” is an ode to her French mother in law and describes the culinary cavorts of an American in Paris. Rochefort says that while in the process of writing this publication she was a firsthand witness to watching her French Mother in law whip up a 4 course meal in her minute Paris kitchen like it was an everyday routine. Also while writing “French Fried” she speaks of her experience getting to explore the wonderful world of French cuisine by tasting numerous cheeses and whines, as well as champagne tasting at the glamorous Ritz Carlton (hard work right?).

Her latest publication “Joie de Vivre”, which in English translates into the joy of life, is what she describes as a guide to “Wining, Dining, and Romancing like the French.”  Rochefort explains that the French are the masters of “Joie de Vivre” because they take pleasure in the small things. This is why when she states “don’t compare America to France” makes a lot sense. If you compare this to the bigger is better notion that we as Americans live by, or the “everything is bigger in Texas” theory, it seems you have more joy and a better quality of life when you take a liking to the little things that life has to offer.  For instance, while I walk around the streets of Paris and take in the Parisian lifestyle as an American bystander, I notice the small cars that are parallel parked on the narrow streets, none of which are Ford F150’s that are oh so popular in the great state of Texas and across America for that matter. You notice that we as Americans take pride in our big homes and big cars and our plates with enormous portion sizes, along with our refrigerators and pantries filled with so much food more than half is bound to go to waste, or our closets filled to the brim with clothes that still have the price tags attached. While the French drive small cars and live in a simple apartment with a small refrigerator most likely filled with just what they will be able to consume over the next couple of days and closets that contain a few staple pieces. For example a Paris woman might own a few pairs of pants and tops and the ever so famous “little black dress” brought to life by Paris’s own Coco Chanel. Why so little? Is the question many Americans including myself will ask.  personally don’t think that we as Americans will ever understand why or how they do their less is more lifestyle but I also believe that through these comparisons of “Joie de Vivre” it is clear, and Rochefort says it herself The French take life as it comes to them and enjoy the beauty in every situation, where we as Americans have this expectation of happiness, we feel that we must have all our needs satisfied at that time.

Rochefort was such a wonderful speaker at the International Media Seminar she gave a very informative presentation about how the French live and how they embrace every aspect of life. It was a great introduction to the first full day of the seminar!