4.5 hours a day of private French instruction is a lot, but it gives
us the chance to explore a bunch of topics and vocabulary that are new
for us. Like today, when we had a free ranging discussion about words
for people's occupations, hobbies, and lives. Some interesting words:
- flâner
- To wander or loaf around. A neutral term, not negative. Baudelaire
coined the noun flâneur for
someone who spends their life wandering around the city and
experiencing it.
- epanouissement
- To blossom. A positive term, used to describe someone who has
finally found an occupation or vocation that is perfect for him.
- oisiveté
- Idleness. A negative term used to describe someone lazy, inactive,
a bum.
- Violon d'Ingres
- Idiomatic expression meaning "hobby" or "second avocation". Ingres
was a famous painter, but on the side he was also an accomplished
violinist. Also the title of a lovely
piece by Man Ray.
It's fun to learn subtle words in different languages. I don't think
there's exact synonyms for any of these terms in English, particularly
epanouissement. American culture has a very different take on how one
spends one's days.