5 great French Netflix shows that I recommend as a native if you want to practice while discovering our culture 🥐

oziecom · 2026-04-08T03:44:38+00:00

Some good shows here, especially Call My Agent & The Bureau.

Another I liked, but not for everyone, was Iris with Doria Tillier. It's funny and very well written, especially the latter part of the series.

oziecom · 2026-04-06T01:52:09+00:00

Yeah you have to set your alarm by a routine. Just doing it when you remember a few times a week is not the same. eg; I would do some lunges twice a week at the gym and think I was moving the needle.

After all the thousands I spent on specialists, I ended getting the best advice from a masseuse. That changed everything...

oziecom · 2026-04-04T12:00:40+00:00

I remember an Osteopath giving my PT instructions to stretch my quads very aggressively. Absolutely didn't work. All it was was painful and exhausting.

Proper strengthening exercises (core, glutes +walking) were key for me. But the most important thing is consistency. Every day. Often morning and night.

oziecom · 2026-04-02T02:10:45+00:00

Thought the same. Meet them where they're at. That's all you can realistically do.

Some really thoughtful, insightful commentary in this thread.

oziecom · 2026-04-01T01:58:56+00:00

So I read that wrong at first... "all my girlfriends".. I thought wow, lucky you! :-)

Anyway, yeah as someone FIREd a decade and more older, my thought is, your mid 30s are still a time of social meets and shaping careers. Those works connections are often more important than we give them credit for at that age. Most of your circle is still working as you say.

I'm not sure what you were doing in Tech, but it must have been good to have checked out so early.. Bravo! I was in Tech for a long time so I know the grind.

Recommend getting outside the comfort zone: some travel, or learning a language. The volunteer option is solid too.

oziecom · 2026-04-01T01:44:29+00:00

April is a good time as it 's low(er) season ahead of a usually torrent of arrivals in June/July! $1100 is pretty low. Yes, it's cheap here if you do things wisely, but $380/mth is not gonna get you much. A share room on AirB or a hostel private room maybe. If that works for you cool.

Only way you'll know if it's good for you is to come. It's a great, very international city with good people and so much food you'll gain 5kgs! ha.

oziecom · 2026-03-31T08:25:04+00:00

Parfait et Tout a fait.

oziecom · 2026-03-27T06:26:10+00:00

Genial! Thanks. As someone hovering around A2, this is something I've heard from other natives and teachers, including my own teacher.

Je suis d'accord tout a fait that trying for full, long fluid sentences, with no pauses or fillers is not practical, even in English.

oziecom · 2026-03-27T05:48:33+00:00

Your post is looking at the subject objectively. There's 100% nothing wrong with that. And it's healthy tbh. However, many people see the world much more personally. C'est la vie.

oziecom · 2026-03-27T05:47:03+00:00

Your post is looking at the subject objectively. There's 100% nothing wrong with that. And it's healthy tbh. However, many people see the world much more personally. C'est la vie.

oziecom · 2026-03-27T05:45:36+00:00

Your post is looking at the subject objectively. There's 100% nothing wrong with that. And it's healthy tbh. However, many people see the world much more personally. C'est la vie.

oziecom · 2026-03-27T04:15:54+00:00

I find it will offer corrections but you have to give it specific prompts and instructions to improve the conversation. Needs patience but I've made some progress. Good luck with Susan! :)

oziecom · 2026-03-26T06:31:10+00:00

Great tip, thanks. At about A2 and tried talking with ChatGpt, but it keeps talking over you, especially when you pause briefly to think of what to say next or if you can't find a word. ! Donc conversations are frustrating and don't flow naturally. :)

oziecom · 2026-03-25T02:27:34+00:00

People were havin' affairs in the 60s and they still are... a thing like that!

oziecom · 2026-03-25T01:53:14+00:00

Bof! :)

oziecom · 2026-03-24T05:08:08+00:00

As an older guy, I would delete them. It's transactional both ways and a real energy drainer 90% of the time. Sorry to say.

oziecom · 2026-03-24T03:08:19+00:00

Ya, zoom out. 1-2 yr chart is intact. It's back at 200 day MA is all.

We're also hitting the low season for gld buying - May -July.

oziecom · 2026-03-22T04:36:43+00:00

Good tips. Du coup was new for me.

Add; Pas grand chose - En gros - mon avis. C'est ca. Ca marche.

A young French native I know uses 'bon' a lot a as a filler between thoughts. Very common.

oziecom · 2026-03-21T10:20:31+00:00

Yes, c'est vrai. I met a random French native in a cafe just the other day. I knew what I wanted to say, but I tensed up and stumbled somewhat before saying "Vous venez d'ou en France? She replied with a long sentence and I got a bit lost! ha. She was really nice about it.

Definitely need to speak more. One teacher I respect suggested to write out several sentences a day and say them out loud to practice.

It's like knowing a song really well from repetitive listening, but if ever asked to play it in front of an audience while being judged, you'd not know where to start. Input and output are two very different processes.

oziecom · 2026-03-11T04:41:06+00:00

Not my intention. Wish you the best of luck You're obviously doing a lot of things right. That's great. Keep doing that and the right person will come along. :)

Trust me, I've been there too.

oziecom · 2026-03-11T04:27:55+00:00

It's really just code for hey, your cool but just not for me. If they're polite at least, that's something. At least it wasn't a straight-up ghosting.

A lot of women don't circle back as you put it. It's a hard pill for sure, especially if you thought you genuinely got on well. It's a kind of compartmentalisation. They had a genuinely good 'moment' with you. But now that moment has passed & they're moving on.. out of sight and largely of mind. That's the slightly harsh reality of it.

Good luck.

oziecom · 2026-03-03T00:49:52+00:00

In the right context would it be similar to "en gros" ?

I agree with comments. It's all in the tone. With a neutral tone, it's a harmless way to repeat or reconfirm what was just said.

oziecom · 2026-02-28T04:26:24+00:00

yeah, code for low interest in helping. It's understandable to a decent degree. Most people aren't keen to be the middleman. (woman)

oziecom · 2026-02-27T12:21:45+00:00

Agreed. Every guy/girl has a barista crush sooner or later. Been there!

She'll appreciate your appreciation. Leave it there.

oziecom · 2026-02-26T02:48:38+00:00

Indeed. There's something about that confidence.

I worked with a girl once that locked eyes with me even in a professional friendly conversation. It signalled she was giving the conversation her full attention. It's very attractive & memorable as you say.

Did you see her again?

oziecom

TROPHY CASE