Le Cercle Français welcomes new members at its meeting on February 3, 2015. From left: Rex Lambert, Claudia Gouronc, Marlene Lenstra, Bernard Chirent and Patrice and Bob Cole
Betsy Crosson
Bonne Année means Happy New Year in French and 22 members of Le Cercle Français celebrated together in February with a get together at the home of Allen and Betsy Crosson.
Perfect PebbleCreek weather allowed members to sit poolside and practice their conversational French and taste various appetizers from the group including ratatouille and sip different wine selections. The featured wine this month was a crisp white called Piquepoul de Pinet from the seaside Languedoc region of Southern France. The name Piquepoul or Picpoul literally translates to “lip stinger!”
Club members discussed the possibility of forming a petanque group. Petanque, or boules, a game similar to bocce ball, is a popular pastime all over France. Unlike bocce ball, players do not run up to throw, but play with both feet fixed. Balls are also tossed palm down to get a backside spin. Member Bernard Chirent has offered to show interested members how to play this game in March.
The club welcomed new members this month—both ex-pats and intermediate level speakers from the United States and Canada who want to practice their French. Club members are an interesting mix of ex-pats, people who have studied abroad and those who studied French in high school or college. Due to the different levels of French and dialect, meetings are quite fun and interesting! Open to any PebbleCreek residents who speak French, more information about the club can be obtained from Deborah Legan at [email protected].