Transcript

Hello everyone, I'm back today with Mathieu. We're going to do some dialogues together. We're going to talk together today. I've prepared questions with a dozen or so topics that we're going to tackle together. Mathieu doesn't know any of these subjects, so we'll be able to have natural conversations, just like we do in everyday life.

I'll display key words or important phrases throughout the video, depending on our discussions, depending on what we're saying. If you need full subtitles, feel free to activate them directly in YouTube.

Let's start right away with the first theme, which is a very important one when learning a language. It's about introductions. So Mathieu, would you like to introduce yourself? I'm going to ask you a few questions. Can you tell us your name? How old are you? Where are you from? Do you have an accent?

So my name's Mathieu, I'm 36. I come from the south-east of France, in a village near Marseille. So I have an accent, an accent from the South of France.

Can you tell us a little about your career path? Can you tell us a little bit about your professional life?

So my professional life. So I started a company when I was 18. That's how I started my professional life. After that, I set up another company. After that, I did a bit of traveling around the world. After that, I worked for a company in Paris, where I was marketing director and head of the company. And then... Well, with Elisabeth, I help you do what you need to do on Hellofrench.

He helps me a lot, a lot. We don't often see him on screen, but it's true that he does a lot of work. And do you have any passions in life? Do you have any day-to-day hobbies?

Yes, I do a lot of sport, a lot of running. I've run several marathons and all that. I've also done a lot of weight training. And then, apart from that, normal passions, watching films, documentaries too. We really enjoy watching documentaries together. And travel too, travelling.

It's great that you're talking about travel, because that leads us straight to the second theme, which is travel. We're going on our honeymoon very soon, to the United States, and I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about where we're going and especially what... The visit or the city you're most looking forward to visiting or going to if it's a city.

So we're going to the United States. What we're planning is a road trip, so we're going to arrive in San Francisco, we're going to pick up a car in San Francisco, we're going to stay a few days there too, obviously in the city. From there, in fact, we'll take the car and go to Yosemite Park. We'll stay a few days. Then we're off to Vegas, to go to Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon too. After that, we'll head back down to San Diego. We'll be staying in San Diego for a few days. Then we'll head back up to Los Angeles and do the whole coast to get back to San Francisco, where we'll leave the car we rented beforehand. And from San Francisco, we'll take a plane to Chicago and stay there for a few days. And that's it.

So the city... That's what I'd like to do, the one I'm looking forward to the most. I think it's San Diego because I've been to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. I really want to go back there because they're wonderful cities. There's a lot to do. Lots of things to see. It's a real change of scenery compared to Europe. And I don't know San Diego at all. So it's going to be a place to discover together.

Especially since we're going to a baseball game. Yeah, we are. We're really looking forward to it because, in Europe, it's not really a sport we're used to seeing. After me, it's true that my brother used to play baseball, but it's not common, it's pretty rare, so I think it's going to be really great. The atmosphere is going to be... Well, we're going to discover that atmosphere.

And also in San Diego it's great because we took an AirBnB in a... It's a bit like a caravan, a bungalow. So it's quite original, it's really pretty. It looks really cute. I'm really looking forward to going to San Diego too.

And it was you who took care of all the reservations for the car. Wasn't that too complicated? It wasn't too expensive?

Well, when it comes to cars, there are several options. Either you rent the car from a professional player. Like Hertz, like Avis, or something like that. Where it's quite expensive. Or there's the second option, which is to use one-to-one car rental platforms.

So there's Getaround and the one I took is called Turo. So "T" "U" "R" "O" where in fact there are cars, it's more developed on the North American market I think this site. And here we've taken a fairly good, fairly comfortable car, a Subaru, because we're going to be doing a lot of driving, and so I said to myself, I still want a car... Without taking an SUV, which is gigantic, I still want a fairly large car. Firstly, because I think it's safer. If we ever have an accident or something, I want to have something that's... solid enough. And more comfortable too, because we'll be driving, I don't know how many... But maybe... I've calculated, I think, around 3500 miles. So that's about 5000... Maybe even a little over 5000 kilometers.

It's true that the United States is very spread out, we have... So we're doing this roadtrip on the West Coast. But then, as Mathieu was saying, we go to Chicago. And for us, going from San Francisco to Chicago is still the United States. It couldn't be that far, but in fact, it's 4 hours by plane, which is huge.

In Europe, 4 hours by plane... You're out of Europe. If you start from Paris, it's really far away, 4 hours. So we didn't imagine that the distances were... well, if you can see it on the map. But it's true that between seeing it and actually doing it in terms of hours by plane or hours by road, there's quite a difference.

And about food, is there a type of food, or is there a type of restaurant that you're really looking forward to doing in the U.S.?

Yeah, actually, I really like eating hamburgers. So I'd already heard a lot about it, I'd tried it once, a fast food place in the United States. I don't know if it's only in California, sorry not in California, but in California and I think also around Las Vegas, it's called In-N-Out.

I thought they were really good burgers, and I can't wait to try them again. And then... well, just the food, you know, the road food. So not three-star restaurants, not crazy stuff, but burgers and fries. So there you go.

I really look forward to breakfasts too. It really is my favorite meal. And every time, in American TV shows and movies, you see that they always go to restaurants where there are pancakes and waffles that look really good and where you can get as much coffee as you want.

I'm really looking forward to that, and also to Donuts. I love Donuts and it's true that in France, well, you can sometimes find them in supermarkets, but not in all supermarkets. And they're not very elaborate donuts. And it's quickly... Here it's precisely... If it's specialized donut stores, well boutiques, it's going to be very, very expensive. They're not available everywhere, so it's less expensive. There are far fewer Donuts in France than in the United States. There isn't, for example... What's the name of that chain? Dunkin Donuts doesn't exist in France. There are other countries in Europe where they exist, but I don't think there are any in France. It's true that I'd really like to eat Donuts.

Yeah, me too. Donuts are really, really good. Every day.

So now we're going to tackle another subject on a completely different theme. I wanted to know what you thought were the three most important values to have as a human being and, above all, the three values you'd most like to pass on to our children.

Ah! You can think a little. Yeah yeah...

So the three values... I feel like.... The values that matter most to me are loyalty. In other words, when you put your trust in someone, when someone puts their trust in me, I don't betray them. So I think that's a value that's pretty important to me.

The second value is determination. It's... when you have a goal in mind, you give your all to get there. In other words, you don't give up at the first sign of difficulty.

And then, the third value is... The third value... Respect, I'd say. I knew you were going to say that. Yeah, respect is important. Respect for the people around you, respect for the elderly. Respecting people is really important. When there's a queue, you get in line, you don't get passed, you don't overtake, obviously. You respect the environment in the true sense of the word, you respect nature and all that, and at the same time, you don't disturb the people around you, you don't shout at them. We don't do that kind of thing. I know I was brought up with these... with these values. But what about you?

Personally, I'd say... I think tolerance is important. Before being... To accept... To accept people with their differences. Tolerance is really... I think it's important because there's also an element of kindness, of benevolence, of... Also a little... Taking care of each other.

I agree with you about determination. I think it's super important and it's a great value to inculcate, to always, always surpass yourself, not to... Well, if you fail, it doesn't matter, you just bounce back and try again. That's really very important in life. It's a value that really helps you move forward, and that's really important. And what was the first value you mentioned?

Ah loyalty!

And I'd say... You're all about honesty, aren't you?

Yeah, honesty is super important.

Because she didn't tell you something, but when she finds a bill on the floor, she doesn't pick it up.

But that's not even honesty, it's that I'm afraid it'll bring me bad luck if... Actually, in French there's an expression called "bien mal acquis ne profite jamais".

And so, this means that if we... well, for example, if we steal from a store or take something that wasn't, wasn't ours, wasn't meant for us, bad things will happen to us, a bit of karma. And it's true that if I see money on the ground, I tell myself that it doesn't belong to me, and above all that someone surely needs it more than I do. So it's true that twice I've seen a €50 bill on the ground and I didn't take it.

Well, one time I gave it to someone and another time I held it up in the air and asked whose it was and of course two seconds later someone told me it was his. Well, I don't know if it's true, after that it's his conscience and once a 20.

That's where we're a bit different. I mean, I'm not going to... Obviously, I don't steal. But it's true that if I find a bill on the ground, I'll take it and go. Except if, really, if I see a bill falling out of a pocket, I'll pick it up and give it back. But if there's a bill lying around, I'll pick it up and put it in my pocket.

Let's move on to the next topic. We've talked a bit about your professional life, but we haven't talked about your studies. You studied marketing, you went to business school. And if today you had to go back to school, if I told you you couldn't work anymore, you'd have to go back to school. Would you go back to school or would you do something else? Oh yeah... If today, now they tell you you're obliged, you have to go back to school.

Oh yeah, that's a good question. In fact, I think that if I had to go back to school, if I had to go to school, I think I'd really like to study law, to be, I don't know, a lawyer or try to defend people a bit, find loopholes in the law, all that.

Like Saul Goodman.

Like Saul, that's it, like Saul Goodman. I think that would be it. Or studying, let's say more computer science. Code and all that. But the problem with these studies is that they require a high level of mathematics. And it's true that in math I'm not really... I'm not very good at it. So in my opinion, I'd go into law and be a lawyer. After that I don't know what type, because there are several types of law, but I'd say... I'd have to look into it. But in any case, yeah, the law is something that interests me. What about you?

Well, frankly, I loved my studies. I went to a communications and journalism school, but it was very practical. We had a lot of photography courses, radio courses, television courses where we filmed, did newscasts, things like that. And I really loved studying there.

And I also loved the jobs it led me to, either in journalism or in communications and marketing. So frankly, I think I'd do the same thing all over again. In any case, I have no regrets about my studies.

Often when you choose your studies at 18, you don't really know what you want to do, so you either listen to your parents' advice or you don't really know. It's difficult, I think, to be sure you really know... When you're 18, you're basically choosing the job you're going to do for the rest of your life. But I don't think I made too many mistakes. I hesitated a lot when it came to choosing. There were other professions that really interested me.

But... Then you also met some very important people in your life during these studies.

Who's that? Well, all your friends.

Yes, not me.

I didn't understand the implication.

Well yes, you've met lots of friends.

It's always like that when you're studying. You meet a lot of people who afterwards are... Remain friends and are very important in everyday life. So the next topic I'd like to discuss with you is I think you'll like it.

My question is, what's the best advice anyone's ever given? Or that you've had. Ah! It could be an anecdote, it could be something to someone. It could just be a phrase that was memorable for you, or it could be... Well yes, something someone did for you that was a bit decisive in your life, for example.

So and I'm not doing this at all because it's a video with Elisabeth but, one of her best... It's true! One of her best pieces of advice, the best that, right now, frankly is helping me.

Because in fact, it's difficult, because there's advice I would have been given before, which was very good at the time. And now maybe they resonate a little less with me. But there's one good piece of advice you gave me. It's the story of the little horse. And you can find it in the little notebook that Elisabeth made.

In fact, it's the story of the little horse. So it's... I don't know the whole story, but to sum it up, it's in a village or an old village, well in the old days... Do you want me to tell it?

Yeah, go ahead and tell it. No... But maybe explain the moral.

So it's an old man who lives with his son and... they have a horse and the horse escapes. That's all they have. One horse, that's their... All their wealth is that horse.

And then the neighbor says, "Oh dear, you're out of luck, your horse is gone". And the man replies, "Luck or bad luck, we'll see. We don't know yet". And then, in the end, it turns out that the horse that left is actually coming back, he's made lots of friends along the way and he's coming back with lots of other horses.

Yeah, he's coming back with a dozen wild horses he's actually lured.

And then the old man and his son. They have plenty of horses and potentially more wealth.

They've become the richest in the village.

The richest people in the village. And then something else happens. Anyway, then something bad... Something bad happens again. And then, like he says, luck or misfortune, it bounces back. Anyway, that's the whole story: something happens. At first, you might think it's something bad, some bad news.

Or something good. Or something good. And then, finally, it turns around. And so, the moral of the story is that... in fact, we mustn't just focus on what's happening today. You have to try and figure out if something is happening. Maybe tomorrow, in the end, that something might turn out to be good news. So that means you must never give up hope, and it's not a good idea to overdramatize or be too sad when something happens.

Yes, it's to put into perspective the misfortunes that can happen to you or the difficulties of life. For example, if your car breaks down, you'll be late for work. But maybe on the bus, you'll meet the woman of your life or the man of your life. In other words, you need to see the whole picture, not just a small part of it.

So that's a tip you gave me that I use a lot.

It's true that it's a good philosophy of life that we like a lot. A friend of mine told me about it, and it made an impression on me. I told it to a friend who was doing her job. And it really put things into perspective. She said yes, it's not that serious. Something better happened to me afterwards.

Well, excuse me, I'm just a little hot. It's hot and I'm hot, so I'm sweating. And what advice did you find most useful?

Well, one day you said something to me, and it's going to sound like it's just the two of us, but it's true that you said something to me. It's true that I often think about it, and I often say it to people who are reluctant to quit their job to make a living from their passion or to do something different. You told me... I'm trying to find the exact phrase, but that while you weren't building your own dreams, you were building the dreams of others.

And it's true that when you're an employee, that's kind of what happens. You're helping to build someone else's project, to make their dreams come true to a certain extent, and not... Whereas this time is so precious, and we could be spending it on our own projects, our own dreams. That's what struck me when you said that. What's the phrase exactly?

I think that was it. It was the time you didn't spend making your dreams come true, you spent making your boss's dream come true. But then, it's true that... Yeah, I've never been a fan of salaried work because it's in my temperament. But on the other hand, I know that there are plenty of people who are salaried, who are very, very happy. It's something that suits them too. It's a fulfilling job and all that.

And I gave this advice to Elisabeth because she was going through a period when she didn't really see herself in what she was doing, and so, in this particular case, I had the impression that it was true. But then, of course.

Yes, it's not for everyone.

There is room for everyone. There is not one way that is perfect and the others that are...

Yes, that's why it's a piece of advice we... Well, the question was a piece of advice we gave you. To me, in fact. But in any case, in my case, it was very good advice. It's true that it was the driving force behind a lot of things.

And from Hellofrench...

So let's move on to another theme. We're going to talk about history, a little time travel. If you could spend a week... In any era...

OK.

What would you choose? It could be... It could be. A time when you were already born, but you'd live through the week at the age you are now. It's not reliving memories. It's getting into a time machine and choosing to live a week in another era.

So... A week in another time. It's a complicated question.

In fact, it's complicated because sometimes we tend to... how shall I put it... overvalue certain eras. To say, let's say... In the age of kings, it was great, all that. But in reality, me, as I am now, at that time, maybe I would have worked in the fields and suffered enormously. So I'm not going to take that period.

And you can also choose in which area of the world.

In fact, I'd like to... I know there was a time when I really liked it. It was when I discovered what the Internet was all about. In fact, I grew up when the Internet arrived, and I thought it was completely crazy, so I got into it right away.

But then, I'd love to go back to the United States when Steve Jobs launched Apple. There was a lot of excitement around computers and all that. To really see that start-up, that's something I'd be very interested in. I'd love to see it.

I think I'd like to go back to that time in the United States. So in the years I'd say... 70s - 75s around there.

Oh yeah, was it that long ago?

Well, I think so.

Maybe I'm wrong... No, I think that's it.

Yeah, it's the computers, there was no internet... Yeah. What about you?

Well, I had more or less the same answer as three years ago, but earlier for me it was more like the early... to mid-80s, early 90s. Also, for the same reason, I didn't realize just how big the Internet, all these new technologies and cell phones were going to be. When I remember the first cell phones we had, the first computers, we had Encarta software, I know if you had that, it was a kind of software with encyclopedias....

Things like that, the first video games. It's true that I didn't realize how big it was going to get, and it's true that it would be fun to revisit the beginnings, like... And above all, to be able to compare everything we can do today. And at the time, it seemed normal and already extraordinary.

A little comparison, how it evolved. I would have said that. And if not... And also because I like a bit the... When I see photos again, I like the styles of dress, I think it was... I like the state of mind of that era, the music of that era, and I think it's... Well, it suits me.

And if not, maybe I would have said... Maybe in the 20s and 30s, like in the movie Midnight in Paris, which is a pretty exciting time. There was going to be a lot going on. I mean, there are parties...

It sounds impressive, to see a bit of the era and, above all, to get a feel for the atmosphere. So now let's talk a little about reading. What was the last book you read, and can you tell us a bit about it?

So actually, it's not a book... It's not a novel or anything. It was a book about running. So it was a book which, in fact, enabled you to make the right plans to train correctly without injuring yourself, and to progress over the long term. It's by an American author called, I think, Jack Daniel's, who has a formula for marathons.

It's true that you can believe it's the whisky guy. It's really... I think it's Jack Daniel's. It really is. And it's really interesting because he's a great trainer and he's trained a lot of athletes and he gives a lot of advice on how to progress in the long term. It's... it's a sports book I've read.

And then, as a novel or something... It's a book... Yes, it's a book. You're right, it is.

What about you?

The last book I read was "La mythomane du Bataclan".

It's a very gripping and interesting book. And in fact, it's an investigation, but it's real, it's real facts. It's actually... I think you must have heard about the attacks that there were in Paris on November 13, 2015. And there were attacks in bars or restaurants.

But there was also an attack in a concert hall called "Le Bataclan". As a result, a fund was set up to compensate the victims, and associations were created so that the victims could get together and talk things over.

And in fact there are several, but this book is about a lady who actually lied. She said that one of her friends was at the Bataclan and created a whole story around that and also for the State. She did say, however, that she was a victim... And we follow the story of this woman. In French, mythomane is an illness: people who can't stop lying, but who actually believe their own lies.

And so, we see a bit of this woman's journey. It's a journalist who investigated and it's really very very very interesting and we see until she's actually revealed as a liar. So we follow her journey, how she came up with the lies, how she does it and... Really it was super interesting. It was very gripping. It's true that it always takes me a while to read a book. I forget that I've started one book, and I start another, but here, in three days, I'd finished it. I really, really recommend it. It really is!

I'm going to read it too. I have to read it because it looks really good.

Yeah, it's really good.

So it's a bit of a theme like... Quite close to values. But it's more about qualities. In your opinion, what's your greatest quality?

I'd say my greatest quality is empathy. I'm really good at putting myself in people's shoes. I can usually understand them. As a result, I can give them good advice... Well, I hope it's good advice!

Giving advice. It's something I think... I think it's a quality for me. Sometimes it can get in the way. So it can... how can I put it... It can go to my own emotions because to the extent that I understand people well, sometimes, it can impact me what.

And that can be negative for me. But otherwise, I find that being able to put yourself in people's shoes is a good quality that also resonates with what I was saying before about respecting others. Because I know that, let's say I'm on a train, I'm going to understand that the people around me might not want to be disturbed. So I'm careful.

So I think that's my quality. It's... At one point I was working... I said I was working, I was an employee in a company and I had to manage people. As a result, this quality was really, really useful, because it enabled me to understand when someone was having a problem, when someone was blocked, when they felt they were experiencing an injustice. So it was very useful in helping him to the best of my ability.

Here you go. How about you? I'd say it's my determination. It's true that I often go ahead without... It's okay if a few things don't work out. I keep going, I move forward, I ask myself questions, but I don't stop at little details.

I'm pretty efficient, I think, in what I do. After that, it's more of a useful quality... Oh no, it's useful at work, but even in life, because in general, when you're determined, you're quite... Quite positive, I think, about things that can happen to you. There you go. That's all right. We're making progress and it's a bit in line with the philosophy of the story you told about the little horse. I'll say that frankly.

Yes I see it, I know I see it because... If only you see it on the channel. Determined what! She will post a lot of videos, she will write a lot. She made the little notebook. It took her a lot of time.

And at the same time, it didn't stop him from continuing to make lots of videos. So... great determination. On the professional side, and a little personal too, yes. When you've got something on your mind, no one can take it away from you.

It can also be a flaw if it's too much, but...

No, but it's the middle ground, it's the middle ground.

And your biggest flaw? Well, I'd say my biggest fault is that sometimes I'll overreact emotionally and be impatient. I'll be a bit impulsive... Yeah, I'll be impulsive. But then people sometimes say that people from the South are a bit more impulsive, a bit more nervous.

So it's true that sometimes I'll be impulsive, and that's never good. In general, when you make a decision about something, they say you should never make it on the spur of the moment. It's better to let the night pass. They say you should sleep on it. And that's really important.

Sometimes I have a tendency to get angry quickly, to make decisions on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the moment, and it's very rare that they're big decisions. So yeah, I'd say that's my biggest flaw. What's your biggest flaw?

Your hunger perhaps?

In fact, when she doesn't eat... it's not really a fault!

When you don't eat you're... You become...

It's true that when I don't eat, I go completely crazy. I have a really hard time managing my emotions when I don't eat. It's true that more and more I try to always have some food in my bag.

It's true that I really struggle... I can't manage my emotions, it's true, when I haven't eaten. But that's not an intrinsic flaw. It's not a fault in me... It's more... Well, I think sometimes I'm a bit too... I'm... I don't want to create conflict. And I try to be as diplomatic as possible. Well, that can be a quality, but it can also be a... a flaw when it's too much, I think.

Because it's not good not to say... Not to say exactly what our needs are or what we really think. All the time, trying to... Yes, I think that can be a fault if you don't know how to put it...

If we're not assertive enough? That we don't say no enough?

In any case, for... Well, for myself it's a fault because if I don't assert myself enough, if I don't say exactly what I don't like or what I don't like, then I'll take it, I'll keep it to myself... I'll get frustrated and then I'll explode.

Yeah, it's like a pressure cooker. That's it. You take it all in and then suddenly... And then I can't... I can't handle it... I get super nervous. Yeah, I'd say that's about it. What would you have said?

Yeah, I'll... Yeah, I'll say that and then... I know what you'll say...

No no no, you can't know... Why? I don't know...

That I'm making a bit of a mess... No, no... It's better, really, it's fine...

You can't see her, but she leaves teacups everywhere. But it's cute, so it's okay. No, but yes, no, but it's true, yes, I confirm what you're saying. Sometimes you're a bit afraid of disturbing or I don't know of... Yes, asking questions, really yes, asserting what you need or what you want.

Yeah I'm not assertive enough.

But then, on the other hand, it's still... You're doing it! On the one hand, even if it's a fault you have. I have the impression that you force yourself a little and manage to get past it. Yes, yes, yes. You still manage to do it.

Then we'll talk about the weather. Okay. Or rather seasons. What's your favorite season of the year? Why or why not?

So... I'd say... I hesitate between spring and autumn. First of all, I don't like winter because here, we're in Paris, it rains all the time, well it's... It's not good, really? Plus, I come from the South of France, where it doesn't rain much. So it's true that, frankly, that's it.

Then there are the Christmas decorations in winter. In fact, I'd say that in summer it's much too hot and I can't stand the heat. That's something that doesn't work either. So I like autumn.

Because what I really like about autumn is the temperature, the climate. And then it's the colors on the trees. I think brown is really pretty. And then, of course, there's Christmas coming up, which is an atmosphere I really like. So, for me, it's autumn.

What else is there in autumn?

And autumn is Elisabeth's birthday. And, in fact, that's why autumn is my favorite season. So forget everything I said before, it's because it's Elisabeth's birthday.

Then... Unfortunately, you're out of luck because my opponent is.

Ah!

It's not going to be a very good season...

Yes, it's winter, you.

So what's your favorite season? You know it. Well, I do, but we need to talk.

Well, it's summer for me. It's summer. In fact, I hate being cold, I really do. I mean, even in summer, I'm often cold.

Even in summer, she puts on little ones, plaids and all...

It's true that I'm afraid all the time... I'm afraid of being hungry and I'm afraid of being cold. So I often go out with a jacket and it's actually 30 degrees, so I'm really hot.

But yeah, it's true that spring is too cold for me. Autumn's okay because it's still warm in early fall. Winter's too cold, it rains.

As Mathieu said in Paris. Even in Belgium it's cold! In fact, I find that summer is objectively the best season because... there are already two months of vacations when you're smaller.

Yes, that's true.

It's a bit of a yes. The season, we're going on vacation, the travel season, everyone's having drinks on the terrace. You can eat in the park, you can have picnics. In fact, I think there's so much more to do in summer than in other seasons. You can go to the beach, whereas if you want to go to the movies in summer, you can also go to the movies in summer.

But in any case, you can do all the activities in the world in summer, apart from skiing. As I said, I hate the cold, so you can imagine that I don't do anything involving snow or cold. So for me, summer really is the best of all seasons.

I'm super happy... Already, for example, in winter, I hardly ever go to nightclubs because in Paris, you arrive, you have a coat, you have to go to the checkroom. You can't lose the checkroom number. It's pretty complex logistics. It's enormous logistics!

Whereas in summer, you go out as you are, you don't have to worry. It seems so much simpler to me. I really think that in summer, there's... People are happy because it's sunny, I think it really puts people in a good mood. And I'm super happy, we got married in summer, the weather was great. It was... It was the end of June. So in France, it's one of the longest days of the year. And it's really nice when it's light in the evening, whereas in winter or even autumn, when it gets dark at 6 p.m. here, I find it... It depresses me a bit, yeah.

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's true that it's depressing not to have any sun. In the long run, it's really not cool. Yeah, it's... well, in the long term... Yes.

You see when you don't have sun. Yes, during...

And for two weeks, you always have clouds and gray skies. You don't have that blue sky with the sun beating down on your skin. Anyway, I find it depressing.

Yes, it's nice to feel the sun on you. And it's true that I did an Erasmus in Italy, in Rome, and in fact, even in winter, there was still sun, it was still nice. We used to dry our washing on our balcony.

And when I came back to Brussels afterwards, I didn't really understand, I was annoyed all the time, I was irritated, I got annoyed very, very quickly. But then I realized it was the lack of light, the lack of sun. Really it... I find that the sun has a power to put people in a good mood, but really.

Yeah yeah that's right, I agree.

Are you convinced? Do you change your favorite season?

No. In autumn, there is also sunshine and... and your birthday!

So the next question is about technology. There will be two questions. Okay. First question, what's the application you use most on your phone?

The application I use the most is Twitter, I think.

Oh yeah Twitter?

Yeah, I think it's Twitter because I actually get a bit of information from that. I mean, I subscribe to the right accounts. I follow the media a bit, I follow people who... Journalists and stuff. And so it's true that when I'm in a bit of a slump, when I've got nothing to do, I have the reflex - the bad reflex, in fact - of picking up the phone and going like this, scrolling and refreshing my Twitter feed. And so, yeah, I think I spend a lot of time on that, a lot of time on Twitter, it's the number 1 application.

Do you also tweet or read?

No. Do you ever tweet?

No, I don't tweet. I just read and look. Sometimes I put a little like or something. But I never tweet. I don't say anything... I figure I've got something really interesting to say on the network. So I might as well let people who have something to say do it.

I like to tweet when I'm watching a show on TV, for example. A show that's on live and see what people have to say about it. For example, Top Chef, which is a cooking show in France, I think exists in other countries too.

It's true that we like to check out people's jokes on Twitter. For example, if there's an event that makes us laugh. We think about what people are going to say on Twitter, and it's true that we like to check it out.

Yeah, we like to do that. We look at memes, which are images with text and a photo that's a bit funny. When there's a TV show on. Once we watched Pékin Express. I don't know if you watch Pékin Express, but it's a show where teams hitchhike across a country on less than 1 $ per person per day.

And so, I don't know, there was a candidate who was making jokes and so we were looking on Twitter to see what kind of montages there were of that and it made us laugh a lot.

And also, for example, if we don't like someone on a show or think they've behaved badly, we immediately think "ah what are people going to say about this person, on Twitter?" Are they going to think like us that what she did was wrong? It's true that we like to check things out.

Yeah, we like it. And it's true that people are very funny. Yeah, they are.

Because Twitter means that... if there are a lot of likes, the tweet will go up very, very high and then you immediately have the best ones, the funniest ones. They really are funny. People are creative

And then... Which application do you prefer?

The problem is... The application I prefer... Ah yes, in fact, there are two applications I prefer. Let's say... the healthiest one, in a way, is Strava.

I don't know if you know what Strava is. It's a running and cycling application. Well, sport in general, where when you do a session, you post it on Strava and then Strava will tell you where you went fast. Where you were slow. It'll compare you with the others. It'll give you a progression curve.

Well, it's an app that's super addictive when you're working out, so I think it's the healthiest. And then the second is TikTok. But TikTok is a drama because it's... You waste a lot of time on it.

Yeah, TikTok is really... It's really addictive actually. I often say to myself "ah, I'll just watch ten minutes of TikTok before I go to sleep" and then I look at the time. And in fact, it's an hour and a half later.

Because yeah, it's TikTok you like... It's more and more I feel... TikTok compared to before.

Yeah, I used to spend a lot more time on Instagram. And it really depends on what I'm looking for. If, for example, there are personalities I like, and I want to see what they're up to, then it's more Instagram. Because it's more that type of content. But if I want to be entertained, I'll go to TikTok. But after that, the application I use the most... I look at it. What do I use a lot?

Bah. YouTube too! I forgot to mention it.

Only for the videos we already watch them.

Yes, it's true that YouTube is where we are all the time. But after that it's more for the... Yeah YouTube I'd say we're on YouTube all the time, all the time.

After that, it's true that I'm on WhatsApp very, very often. As I have a lot of friends who are in Belgium, my family who are in Belgium. I really spend a lot of time doing vocals on WhatsApp, actually.

Yeah, you do a lot of vocals.

I often hear you talking to your girlfriends.

Or I send pictures of what I'm eating or... Yeah, WhatsApp and then... Yeah TikTok. TikTok is a bit... Addictive.

Yeah, you shouldn't go on TikTok. Because then it's... We waste so much time on that... But there are some funny things on TikTok. It's true that there are some... there are some creative people, you know. Like on Twitter.

We laugh a lot on TikTok, we can laugh a lot too.

But what about my favorite... or most practical app? Ah yes, we don't know says the most practical apps. Yeah, the most practical.

Practical...

Or you more practical for example, what would it be? Citymapper?

Citymapper yeah... Citymapper is a bit like Google Maps I think, which is in every city. But it's really handy in Paris, because when you're on the metro, bus or streetcar, the app tells you exactly where you need to be in relation to where you're going.

For example, if I go to the other end of Paris and have to take three different metros. The app will say "place yourself at the front, place yourself at the back, so that for the connection, you're in the best possible position to take the next metro and save as much time as possible. I really like this app.

In good app there is... Shazam. Ah yes Shazam. Shazam.

Now that's a classic. It's a classic, Shazam.

It's a classic, but it's still good. It's... it's true that it's... you don't use it every day, but when you need it, you really need it. Yeah. And Spotify too, that's true. Facebook or Spotify.

Yeah Spotify.

Yes, especially now I love it because there's the feature... Well, it's not so new, but the feature where you can display the lyrics of the songs in a big way on the whole screen. It's true that when I'm on my own, I like to put it on and... I sing in secret.

You can sing. Then for other apps... no, yes, that's it... TikTok. Yes, it's true that I don't have... I don't have 200 apps on my phone.

Yes, we don't use a lot of them. Anyway...

I have a bit of everything that's classic. An application for scanning documents is really handy. Yeah, I don't have many apps.

Then you don't play games, like Candy Crush... No, not at all.

I don't. No, no, I don't play those games at all. I prefer to do crossword puzzles with a real book.

A real notebook.

I prefer to do it before I go to bed, as it helps me relax a bit. But no, I don't play games at all. And neither are you.

No, I don't play... I used to play a lot of games when I was younger. But not as an application, more as a video game.

Yeah, not on an app, on a console. Playstation, Super Nintendo, all that. Computer too. Counter Strike and all that. But then, on the phone I don't know, I can't do it.

Then even now I can't play video games anymore. I tried again at one point and I don't know, maybe it's just old age. I don't have the patience to sit in front of a screen and play anymore.

Since we've been together, I've never seen you play video games.

No I... I don't have that anymore yeah. I'm not really excited about games anymore.

But then, we're going to tackle a final theme on the five senses. The five senses are touch, smell, sight, hearing and taste.

Yes. If you were to lose a sense, would it be worse to lose touch or smell?

Smell. Frankly, if I had to lose one sense, it would be that. Touch is important because... Well, smell too, obviously. But no, while I'm saying that, I'm thinking. And it's true that smell...

Just now I smelled something that brought back an old memory from when I was little.

What is it?

Well, I don't know, it was a smell that reminded me of when I was at a friend's house when I was... I don't know... ten years old. It's true that there is a memory.

Yes, olfactory memory is enormous. But still, touch is so important. I'd say that if I had to lose one, obviously reluctantly, but... it would be my sense of smell.

Because... then yeah... on the other hand, the sense of smell, when you're cooking, it's true that the smell of things is also important.

Besides, you didn't get the Covid, so you can't... You don't realize what it's like to lose your sense of smell. The problem with the sense of smell is that it's... in fact, the sense of smell and taste are very closely linked.

Because... then maybe I'd lost the taste too. That was during the first confinement. I'd had the Covid and Mathieu hadn't. Or at least Mathieu hadn't had any symptoms. Or at least, Mathieu hadn't had any symptoms. But it's true that... well, we realized that I'd lost my sense of smell because Mathieu had cleaned the bathroom with vinegar.

Household vinegar.

And it's true that it normally smells very, very strong. I don't know, he says "I'm sorry, it smells very strong". And I tell him "no, it's okay, I don't think so". And he said "wait, come on, put your head in the bathtub".

I say "no, it doesn't smell". And then we realized there might be a problem. At first, you thought I was joking. But it's true that afterwards, we did some tests.

Mathieu had blindfolded me and was making me smell things and I had to guess what they were. And at one point, he'd taken some washing-up liquid and he was actually pressing down and I just smelled air.

So I thought he was making a joke and blowing on me. And in fact, no, it was dishwashing liquid, which normally smells pretty strong too. And it's true that I didn't smell. But when we were eating, I couldn't really taste it.

But had I lost both my sense of smell and my sense of taste? Or just the sense of smell? I don't know. But it's true that they're linked.

Yeah, I'm hesitating. I can't decide.

Touch is a bit of a hassle.

Yeah, clearly, losing the term touch... even to hold stuff.

You can't what. So what about you?

No, I'm still losing my sense of smell.

You'd rather lose your sense of smell than...

Yes, losing the sense of smell. Some people live without a sense of smell. It's limiting. But... in any case, it's less restrictive than the other senses.

Yes, but then you have senses... Sight, hearing, all that and it's a real constraint in your everyday life. After that, it's a real handicap.

Yeah, the sense of smell.

But yes, the sense of smell. But yes, the sense of smell. Touch though... yes, touch is important. You wouldn't even feel it if I held your hand. Yes, it's horrible. Well, definitely not touch.

Well, that's that. That's it for today. We hope you enjoyed this video. That thanks to this dialogue, you've been able to learn some new vocabulary, but also really immerse yourself in the context of real French conversations.

We tried to speak as naturally as possible. If you have any questions about vocabulary, don't hesitate to leave a comment, especially if you like this format and this type of video.

Of course, put a "like" and tell us about it in the comments. So we can make more videos like these. See you soon.