There's something oddly charming about these rainy days leading into June. The air feels fresh and invigorating, and the sound of raindrops tapping on windows is like a lullaby that soothes the soul.  No rush, the hot summer days will come soon enough.At the Alliance, we'll humbly beg the...

May is a time of celebration, with Mother's Day and Memorial Day bringing us closer to our loved ones and reminding us of the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf. It also brings the excitement of "May the Fourth be with you" and the absurdity of National Lumpy Rug Day.At the Alliance,...

April is a time of year where the flowers bloom, the birds chirp, and you have to keep a keen eye out for any suspicious looking rubber chickens or whoopee cushions. So if you're looking for a good laugh or a weather forecast that's about as accurate as a coin flip, April is the month for...

If you live in North Carolina and were hoping for an early spring this year, you are getting your wish. In opposition to what the groundhog predicted, trees are starting to bloom out of nowhere and the pointy noses of bulb sprouts are pushing up in full confidence of warm days ahead. We may...

Dear Members,February is a time of the year that some say would be best spent in the southern hemisphere. The (relative) excitement of early winter is long gone, yet spring is nowhere in sight. But there are benefits to cozying up to February. For a start, there is World Nutella Day and National...

Here we are at the turn of the calendar. It is a time for fresh starts and new horizons, and possibly a glass or two of champagne.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for participating in our programs these last twelve months. We look forward to many more opportunities to meet you in person...

Dear Members,As we dust off the Christmas lights and unearth the holiday recipes, the Alliance Team would like to take a moment to thank all of you who contributed to our Online Auction and Giving Tuesday appeal. Thanks to your generosity, we reached our goal and raised $4,600 in total! We would...

Dear Members,November has a poetic soul: moist, moody, and draped in the mesmerinzing hues of fall. It is both a contemplative and busy month - being the kickstart of the holiday season, as well as the time to reflect on everything we are thankful for. Whether curled up by the crackling fire, or...

Dear Members,Happy October! It is officially autumn, which means cozy apparel, your favorite pumpkin spiced recipes, beautiful foliage and... the occasional hurricane. October is also packed with interesting celebrations - including Halloween, of course, for the fans of all things gloomy. There...

Dear Members,There is a definite split in September between the "It's finally fall!" people and the "It's still summer!" people. And somehow, in North Carolina, everyone's wrong. The days are still long and hot, but the very palpable back-to-school jitters seem to impact your workload even you...

Dear Members,August is known for many things, including the dog days of summer, Back to School time, National Watermelon Day (Aug. 3) and National Smile Week (Aug. 5-11). But there are many other fun facts associated with summer’s last full month. National Wiggle Your Toes Day (Aug 6) is...

Dear Members,Did you know that there are more independence days in July than any other month? In addition to the 4th of July, Canada Day (July 1st,) and the French Bastille Day (July 14,) there are 23 other countries around the world celebrating their respective national / independence days this...

Dear Members,Whether you call them fireflies, lightning bugs or glow bugs, the first time these little critters light up the sky is a sure sign that June has arrived. Hello long days, cookouts and flip-flops! While turtles and snakes can't wait for the temperatures to continue their steady...

Dear Members,You may know that May 1st is Labor Day in most of Europe. What is less known is that this year May 1st is also ...International Laughter Day! What better way to start the month than with a good, healthy chuckle? Whether you laugh at a joke, at yourself, or at nothing in particular,...

Hello Members!Happy April Fool's Day! No one really knows where the tradition of pulling pranks on April 1st comes from. The story most often cited takes us back to 1582, when French King Charles IX switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. By selecting January 1st, the King...

Dear Members,You may have noticed some changes in our website and in the emails you have received from us in the past few weeks. We have changed our IT platform for a greater level of integration of all administrative tasks - and, importantly, a reduced cost. Depending on your browser, this may...

Dear Members,February is an interesting month: short and sweet, packed with celebrations. Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, Black History Month, President's Day and Chinese New Year - there is something for everyone. February is also National Bird Feeding Month. No wonder; it's not...

Dear Members,As we enjoy a few more days of downtime before moving into 2022, we would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year to come, full of new adventures and many more shared francophile moments together. May international travel be easy and safe again - or just plain possible - and may...

Claire BARTHELEMY

November 29, 2021

Dear Members,Here we are, at the dawn of the Holiday season, when Thanksgiving leftovers are but a memory and front yards start twinkling in red and green. This month will be short and artistic at the Alliance. Short because the last part of December is traditionally spent celebrating and...

Claire BARTHELEMY

November 7, 2021

Hello Members,November at the Alliance will mark the (much anticipated) return to some kind of normal, with several in-person, outdoor events. In addition to Pétanque and Hike in French - which paved the way last month - we'll resume our guided tours at the North Carolina Museum of Art with a...

Hello Members,Everybody loves October. The morning air is crisp, the colors are spectacular and the smells are rich. Shorter days take us slowly but surely towards the holiday season, but not quite yet, and that's the beauty of it. You can feel the slight celebratory anticipation in the air, but...

Hello Members,No matter how long you have been out of school, September always seems to feel like a new beginning, a gentle push on the reset button before a fresh start. For some it is the end of the lazy days and a bit of a back-to-busy schedule bummer. For others it's a quieter house -...