Stepping out from behind the camera: my interview with "My French Life" online magazine


If our paths ever cross in Paris, chances are that you'll see me with a camera in front of my face, squinting my eyes and furrowing my brow while framing a shot. As a rather shy person and the youngest of five children, I'm happy to stay in the background of this blog while Paris takes center stage. After all, she has been a glamourous star for centuries.

When Laura Griffin kindly asked to interview me, however, I had to put the camera down and step to the forefront...but only for today. If you would like to learn more about the blogger behind the camera, click on over to my interview at My French Life, an online magazine and global community of French, Francophone and Francophiles.  While you're there, please take some time to explore this interesting website. It's full of articles on French culture, escapades, gastronomy, mode and design, and the art de vivre. 

Thank you, Laura. Being the interviewee rather than the interviewer was a completely new experience for me!

Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing....nice interview and good to FINALLY see the face behind the blogs! Keep sharing your experiences. I can live vicariously through you as I make my list of "must sees" upon my return.
    nancyb

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  2. Before clicking over, first, I say, "Brave you."

    Now, to consider following the link.

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  3. Thanks, Nancy! That's probably the only time that my face is going to appear anywhere near the blog. When I was taking photos of myself in the mirrors at St. Ouen Flea Market (we were also shopping for a mirror), Stephane asked what I was doing. After explaining that I needed a picture for the interview with "My French Life" and telling him that I was planning to use one with the camera in front of my face, he said that wasn't the idea of the interview. So, I had to momentarily relinquish the camera.

    I'll continue to be on the lookout for places that may be of interest for your next visit.

    Joseph, Thanks - it felt like a big step because I'm a fairly private person. Who knows, maybe I'll end up getting a Facebook account and plastering photos of myself all over the internet!

    So, did you click on the link, or not...

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  4. Mary Kay,

    This is a well-deserved interview. Congratulations! And I love your orange scarf!!

    Christine

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  5. Thanks! :-) Our eyes are drawn to the same scarves, aren't they Christine?

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  6. Aww MK! It's you!!! Love this!!!

    Going to comment on Ma Vie Française now....

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  7. X Bisous X and merci, Mlle Ella! You're a sweetie.

    Unfortunately, commenting on Ma Vie Francaise requires that you first set up an account and it's a rather long process. The good news is that then you'll be able to participate in their forum, comment on other posts, etc.

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  8. Mary Kay, very nice interview. I am glad to learn more about you. I really enjoy following your blog. Of course you are living my dream as well. In the interview you mentioned there were lots of jobs for english teachers. How would one of us go about finding out about those jobs? Anyway to find out about them on the internet? Thanks for any info, Heidi Katt

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  9. Mary Kay, I have not clicked the link, and I don't think I will. I sort of like it the way it is. Maybe one day, I'll take a peek, but as we say in private service, don't go snooping if you don't want to know the truth. (Not that I'd expect to have my opinions changed, it's just sort of, something else.)

    Of Facebook, I do have an account there, for my non-work life, for my friends. I'm adamant about keeping my friends count below 100, cause I really can't keep up with more than that.

    But congratulations on the interview anyway.

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  10. Congratulations on a well-done interview! And I'm glad you decided to go with that friendly, smiling photo. You look great! It's nice to see the woman behind the blog.

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  11. Heidi, One of the best places to check for job postings is FUSAC. They publish a free magazine and there are always schools looking for certified English teachers who are legally able to work in the EU. When you're at the FUSAC website, click on "Current Issue". Contrary to what many people think, the French want to learn English and there seems to be a big demand for teachers. I've also meet some people who teach English at local schools to commercial students. I'm not sure, however, where those jobs are posted. Perhaps through a government website. Guide 2 Paris also has some job listings. Good luck and please let me know if you find something!

    Joseph, I completely understand that feeling. I used to wait until I finished reading a book to look at the author's photo and was occasionally disappointed because by that time I had already created an image of what I thought that the author looked like in my mind. And since I always look forward to reading your comments, I really don't want that to happen. I would miss you if you suddenly disappeared! I do, however, hope that we'll be able to meet face-to-face sometime, maybe in Paris. I could wear a burka if necessary, although it would make it a bit more difficult for me to sip my wine.

    nycgirl, Thanks - from one smiling face to another. Whenever I see photos of you on Any Port, I always find myself smiling back at you because you look so friendly and happy.

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  12. Certainly, a glass of wine in Paris--no burka.

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  13. Bonjour MK
    As a relative newcomer having discovered your blog on TA, when you posted l'Hotêl de Ville link, I sometimes feel like I am intruding but I guess that is the nature of a blog. I keep coming back because we started planning another trip to Paris for Oct 2012. Yes we are planners but once that is done it becomes a guideline since we both love to wander. Your blog has now become part of our research for our next trip. I am always looking forward to your next advice/musings about places and events and really enjoy your insight.

    My first reaction to this blog was to click on the link but for whatever reason I refrained and went first to read the comments from your regular followers/friends. So I have to agree with Joseph the Butler I think i will keep the mystery for a bit longer, so at this time I can only offer my congratulations via your friends offerings.
    A la prochaine;
    Conrad

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  14. Bonjour and bienvenue, Conrad! First of all, thank you for commenting. As any blogger will tell you, comments are what make blogging worth it. In the interview, I mention that I don't do well blogging in a vacuum and really value input from other people. Otherwise, I have the uncomfortable feeling that I'm babbling to myself. And aside from Christine, whom I met while on a "Meeting the French" tour, I haven't met any of the other people who left comments face-to-face, although I like to think that we've become friends through our interactions over the internet.

    After marveling about the weather and the wonderful light in October and November, I think that you've picked an excellent time for your trip. The information provided by all of the location experts on TA is invaluable, but please let me know if you ever have any questions about a place to visit or a post that I've written, etc. And if you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them. In the meantime, happy planning!

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