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WOMEN & WORK

anni

POSTED: Sat, 09/26/2009 - 11:22am

Students?

Are there any other students? I moved to Vienna to study art here. How do you integrate the French lifestyle in your every day life?

mati

POSTED: Sun, 04/11/2010 - 8:22pm A student and full-time worker I have a lot on my place since I am a full-time worker and part-time student. Working full-time doesn't challenge me mentally so I started working towards my law degree two years ago. I find it difficult with time, but always seem to try and make my own food - I plan cooking in with my study breaks and there's no better stress relief than that! I go for a walk a few times a week, and always have a good book on the go. I used to find that I'd leave everything to the last minute, but now whenever I think about not doing something, I think about how stressed I used to feel and it motivates me to do it. Good luck to everyone with their studies!

meneia

POSTED: Sat, 01/15/2011 - 8:02pm Time How much time does being a part time student actually take up? I'm considering starting to study part time, but I'm not sure how to fit it in around working full time.

Katrin

POSTED: Sun, 02/14/2010 - 10:32pm I'm also a student. I found I'm also a student. I found that being a student was much easier before I was a wife and mother...I also found a "French" lifestyle easier while I was living in Germany. Back here in the states, I do my best. I park the car as far back as I can safely from stores, I try to shop locally. I cook almost all of my family's meals. Etc. I'm looking forward to moving closer to my little city's at the end of this year, so that I can be within walking distance to the little shops and summer markets.

tia

POSTED: Mon, 02/08/2010 - 5:02pm Hello =) Well, I made my Hello =) Well, I made my Leek-Weekend and I am proud of myself that was able to withstand. I guess because I drank so much herbal tea =D. But today I realzied other issues. Like I metioned before I am moving in with a friend. We painted the walls and everything was fine, but we will get our oven in a week... means no cooking for the first time and she always eats sweets next to me and asks me so many times if I want. Any solution for the cooking problem? Tia

Jeanette

POSTED: Tue, 02/09/2010 - 1:33pm Salads with crumbled cheese Salads with crumbled cheese and meat in it. You can get those microwaveable steamer bags at the store to steam some fresh veggies in the microwave. Super yummy, super healthy sandwiches loaded with veggies. Get a rotisserie chicken at your grocery store. You can heat it up in the microwave, make said sandwiches out of it, put some in the salad. Hope that helps! Bonne chance!

tia

POSTED: Thu, 02/11/2010 - 4:51am Hey, thanks for your Hey, thanks for your answers! Well, we don't have a microwave yet, but I tried with veggies, salads and a lot of yogurt and fruits. Now I can say that I am totally in love with yogurt =). It's a great breakfast, a delicious dressing, and an fantastic dessert. My friend with those sweets has been this week to her family. Means there was no chocolate disaster =). And I had a lot of tee, trying to reduce the number of coffee I always drink. I tried with nuts. Took some with me to university and I did great in my exams. I was even the best in our group. So eveything has beeing fine with the french way of live and that's awesome =D.

Marilyn

POSTED: Thu, 02/11/2010 - 11:52am Tia Have you tried Couscous. All you need is the couscous and hot vegetable or chicken stock to cover. Once the grain has soaked up the liquid you can add any veggie and/or cold meats to make a nutritious and filling dish. Keep up the good work, Marilyn

JSB

POSTED: Mon, 02/08/2010 - 8:14pm Hi tia great job on the leek weekend.You have every right to be proud. No stove for a week....ouch and someone who eats sweets.....double ouch.Try to go the fruit and veggie route and if you have a Microwave you can heat things in that.Good thing it is temporary.Let us know how it goes,please.Jean

tia

POSTED: Wed, 02/03/2010 - 5:57pm Student Hey there! I am a student, too and I study architecture in Germany. I just read the book and haven't started integrating the french lifestyle in my life. But I wanted to start this weekend even though I don't know how. Right now it is very hectic with tests and I am moving out this weekend. Any idea how to handle that?

tia	POSTED: Thu, 02/04/2010 - 4:23am Thank you Danielle an Jean. I Thank you Danielle an Jean. I am totally pleased by your kindness and I'll try to handle my problem with your tip, Danielle. And thank you for your kind motivation, Jean. =)

Username

POSTED: Thu, 02/04/2010 - 12:26am My best tip would be... Hello Tia, nice to have you here! When I'm stressed and have loads of stuff to do I usually find myself having a feeling of a hunger that won't go away no matter what I eat! I think it's just the stress playing tricks on your body, so my best bet would be to drink loads of herbal tea - it doesn't have caffeine to make you go all crazy and als, you can choose herbs that calm you down. Have a nice day!

JSB

POSTED: Wed, 02/03/2010 - 8:35pm Welcome Tia Glad to see you here.You are certainly busy.Lots of stress,I'll bet.I am far past my student days.I have learned to include the French way ,slowly.Have to unlearn so much crazy North American eating.The students who have posted here,have some great ideas and I find them helpful in sorting through the stress in my life.Best of luck.Please keep in touch.Jean

Username

POSTED: Tue, 01/12/2010 - 2:20am Studying continues.. My christmas holidays are over now, and yesterday I attended the first class of 2010. Today I will be spending the entire day at campus, so a lunch box and a french attitude will be required :-) How about you other students?

madameboux

POSTED: Sat, 01/09/2010 - 1:09pm Student, too. I just began my Masters of Divinity program this past fall, but I am part time due to work commitments and family as well so perhaps it is easier for me to integrate the french lifestyle into my student life. Walking as much as possible, eating 3 meals a day (still struggle with wanting to snack, however!), drinking tons of water while I'm on campus etc are the little ways I integrate it all.

jamilajamison

POSTED: Tue, 12/08/2009 - 2:09am Another Student I'm in the 2nd year of a PhD program in Sociology in Santa Barbara, CA. I've always loved France -- I studied abroad in Oxford, UK in 2007, and while I was there I traveled to Paris and spent 4 days there with my mom. It was such a fantastic experience; by our last day there, we were walking through Paris, seeing the sights, and relaxing by the Seine, drinking wine and eating French cheese, bread, and strawberries (I've never had strawberries like that in my life - sweet and smooth and delicious). I haven't had the opportunity to travel to Paris since then, but I've been inspired to do what I can to keep the 'French spirit' alive, especially since I've started reading FWDGF. I love French country decor, which has been the inspiration for my apartment. I'm also getting back into taking walks, listening to French jazz, and cooking tasty but healthy meals for myself. I'm also a great lover of fashion, so pulling myself together every day with the right accessories, makeup, and outfit is another focus for me. Definitely helps to keep to de-stress from the demands of my grad program!

frenchy

POSTED: Sun, 11/01/2009 - 10:32am Does it count if you are about to become a returning student? I am looking for an appropriate English programme that I can work on whilst working myself. I am going for a Bachelor's in English as there is no Masters programme that will let me in with only a Bachelors in Education. :( I love being in the classroom. My opinion on you question is to enjoy what it is you are doing while you are in the midst of doing it. Stay in the moment.

mireille

POSTED: Mon, 10/26/2009 - 11:01pm Vienna and French lifestyle Dear Anni, Just ignore all the pastry shops (and if you love sweets make it an occasional indulgence like French women who dont get fat do), eat yogurt instead and walk in that lovely city.  If you can cook where you live , go to the market and prepare your food...always much better than the prepared kind. Enjoy art and music...great diversions from the food scene. Cordially, Mireille

johanne

POSTED: Fri, 10/16/2009 - 8:10am Ma chere Anni, i am a first year 'thésarde' (Ph.D student) at the Université de Strasbourg (NE of France) in Francophonie-Linguistique des Caraibes and in the heart of Capital of Europe. to stay fit, i walk...endlessly. to remain healthy, i simply make the conscious effort- and make sure all my friends know of my eating preferences so it will be no shock to them if i refrain from eating a lot of patisserie or the good old Alsace foods. bonne continuation! J.

Alena

POSTED: Wed, 10/14/2009 - 3:00am Working student Hi, my name is Alena.I am from Prague - Europe. Since this september i become a working student. The year before i was "just" working so to keep the main rules about french life style was quite easy. But now when i work and also go to university i feel really weak and confused. I can hardly have one calm meat a day etc. According to this fact, i decided to stop for while and think. I decided to eat calmpy at least once day, or in two days. Buy the best quolity food i can find, and once a week make beautiful slowly and full dinner with friends or family. It is not perfect, but i am working on:) ciao Alena

mireille

POSTED: Mon, 10/26/2009 - 11:04pm Working student Dear Alena, Keep it up.  You do what you can and it's a good start.  Don't feel guilty about what you can't do and enjoy what you can.  Peu à peu, little things count and add up. Quality time is precious and your once a week experience should be treasured...if every one could/would do this it would be a great beginning. I love Prague...and can't wait to go back. Cheers, Mireille

Leahrose

POSTED: Thu, 12/30/2010 - 8:54pm student Dear Mireille, Many people may say that I am too young to be interested in what you do - i am 15 - but I say no. I absolutely love this kind of stuff and I am so interested in what you do. I feel that it is important to learn about all this at an early age so that you can make the right choices when you are an adult. You learned it all as a child from your mother; I too will learn it now. I want to study the science behind food and learn to be a chef when I go off to college (in fact, I already am having a go at it and have been quite successful, in fact). I just feel out of sorts, however. I get up in the morning at 6, get rushed about to be at school by 7, come home at 3:30, spend at least 3hrs doing homework, make a healthy dinner (I actually do that every night - I am the only one who can cook), finish any homework that wasn't finished earlier, go to bible study or private flute lessons on some days, the other days I use that hour to relax after the hectic days, then I have to get to bed by 9:30 or 10 if I want to be able to do it all again tomorrow. My question for you: when can I fit in the exercise? Also, what can I do to be able to make healthy AND BALANCED meals for school when all I do is homework and school? I hope this isn't too many questions. I am so inspired by your work. Best Wishes, Leahrose

Leahrose

POSTED: Thu, 12/30/2010 - 8:58pm I did think about walking to I did think about walking to school, but it is 3 miles and I completely do not have the time to do it. I would have to wake up much earlier (loosing precious teenage sleep), and go to bed later if i have to spend homework time walking. I would love to be able to do it, but it just won't work:(

JSB

POSTED: Thu, 10/15/2009 - 7:03pm Dear Students Alena and Dana...welcome to you both.You efforts to be "FRENCH" are comendable. It is really nice to hear from young women , from all over the world.The differences are fascinating.What we share alike is comforting. Best of luck to you both and keep in touch as time permits.Jean

Marilyn

POSTED: Wed, 10/14/2009 - 7:47am Alena You live in a beautiful city. My husband and I visited for a short while in June 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Your municipal building is amazing with all the stain glass. It was usually our last stop for coffee and cake on the way back to our hotel, we then visited the American bar in the basement for a drink before dinner. You are making a good start in stopping and thinking calmly. As you say buy the best quality food then stretch the family dinner to more days gradually and before you know your lifestyle will be back on track. Try to take a break each day to enjoy some peace. I know it's easy for me to say that sitting at my computer in England looking forward to retirement but I gave the same advice to my daughter 9 years ago when she went to university and remind her of it now when she phones with tales of a hectic work schedule. Good luck with your studies and life and we look forward to hearing how you get on. Marilyn

dana

POSTED: Tue, 10/06/2009 - 9:36pm Another student Hello! I'm a graduate student in early Christian studies; a sort of interdisciplinary history/theology/language program. I know I got very tired of "student" life after all these years (I'm working on the Ph.D now) and I'm sure the usual student would benefit from some mindfulness. Now I have the advantage that I own a house and have a cute husband :-) who is also a grad student. I am not very consistent with my French-ness but I do make sure to cook a nice dinner and sit and eat it together almost every night. When I rented a house with other girls we tried to do this at least once a week as schedules permitted. We also used to make special Saturday breakfasts, as it was the only time we could all be guaranteed to be home. We would walk to the coffee shop a block down and buy coffee, and come back and make pancakes (gingerbread with applesauce and yogurt were the favorite; also poppy-seed with macerated tangerines). -Dana

mireille

POSTED: Mon, 10/26/2009 - 11:06pm Cooking Dear Dana, Bravo...and I have a feeling you'll enjoy my FWDGF Cookbook next Spring...we might compare pancake recipes. Cookingly yours, Mireille

Alena

POSTED: Thu, 10/15/2009 - 1:03pm To Marilin Hi Marilin, thanks for your nice words about Prague and also about life. Yes, always there is chance to make small break and think.

annabee317

POSTED: Tue, 10/06/2009 - 11:16am Another Student! I'm a sophomore studying French and Art right now. I think that the choice of my majors really had a lot to do with the whole pleasure concept... I decided to just do what I love and then the money will come later... rather than choosing a "smart" degree like my parents wanted me to. It's really tough trying to stay balanced and such at school... I also work about thirty hours per week at Dairy Queen! (ick) Anyway, I too try to make time for myself every day. Something that I really enjoy is napping and free reading. It feels so luxurious to read a book that isn't for school.

Jeanette

POSTED: Mon, 11/09/2009 - 4:07pm Bravo to you annabee317! I Bravo to you annabee317! I unfortunately listened to my high school professors and chose the more "reliable" education path rather than going after what I loved (which at that time was the fashion industry). I received a bachelor's degree in marketing, went on to Corporate America and HATED every minute of it. I didn't go after what I loved until I had a bout of cancer (I'm healthy now!) and celebrated my 30th birthday. Currently, I do work in the industry that I love-fashion (I'm a freelance make-up artist). And I'm with you! If you are doing what you are passionate about, the money will come. It may take a little longer, but it will also last longer than a job that you hate (by the way-JOB stands for Journey of the Broke!).

dana

POSTED: Tue, 10/06/2009 - 9:40pm you are so right to be doing you are so right to be doing what you love regardless of the money. Money comes and goes even for the most "practical" degrees. You are also right that it is hard to stay balanced even doing things you love. I think the student lifestyle is difficult in this way because we have to do SO MUCH of what we love all the time on such tight deadlines that it's hard sometimes to remember that we love it. I almost tend to like my program more when I have to describe it to other people who don't understand "the point" of an ancient history or liberal arts degree, because then I'm forced to remember what is really so compelling about it to me, outside the daily grind.

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