The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
We're Jalen and Maria, two Americans who live and work in France. We make videos about life in France, learning French, the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF), master’s degree studies in France, working full-time in France, our travels, and more! You can also find us on our blog, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Welcome to the world of a French-loving American couple!
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
French phrases that describe our 2025 so far ⬇️
🤒 Attraper la grippe – To catch the flu
🛌 Être en arrêt de travail – To be on sick leave
📦 Donner congé à son locataire – To give your tenant notice to vacate
🔑 Louer un appartement non meublé – To rent an unfurnished apartment
In short, we’re just taking things day by day, and would love for the next portion of the year to be a bit more serene! How’s your 2025 going?
9 months ago | [YT] | 15
View 0 replies
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
We took a break from the Paris region and spent some time exploring sunny Valencia. Reading by the sea, trying horchata de chufa and paella, seeing the purported Holy Grail, discovering Europe’s largest aquarium...see the city through our eyes here. 🇪🇸 https://youtu.be/vyoKttaur5U
1 year ago | [YT] | 8
View 0 replies
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
As the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics come to a close, we are reflecting on our experience attending two games of wheelchair basketball (« basket fauteuil » in French) last week. Come with us to shop at the megastore and watch the Paralympics in Paris! 🏅 https://youtu.be/msu0fY0CnJQ
1 year ago | [YT] | 3
View 0 replies
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
We have always loved a good trip to the « cinéma » (movie theater), and the experience in France is definitely different than in the United States! To come along with us to see a movie in Paris, watch our latest vlog! 🍿🇫🇷 https://youtu.be/UUF_Vqf6Cqs
1 year ago | [YT] | 6
View 0 replies
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
Jalen is very « myope » (nearsighted) and I am slightly « hypermétrope » (farsighted), which means we both wear glasses! As Americans who live in France, we benefit from the French healthcare system. Get an inside look at how it works here! 🥸🇫🇷 https://youtu.be/iNavWWndhl8
1 year ago | [YT] | 12
View 0 replies
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
19th arrondissement shenanigans 🧑🚀🪐🥩🍳
Last weekend we spent the day in Paris filling our brains at the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie and our bellies at the Bistrot Botza. For us, it’s hard to think of a better way to unwind on a Sunday! Come hang out with us! https://youtu.be/u1hNIQGpTns
1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 5
View 0 replies
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
Recently we’ve been…
☂️ Strolling in a very rainy Paris
🥞 Brunching at Maslow
🌈 Making bracelets at My Nice Bracelet
🧸 Browsing the Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen
❄️ Trying out some “American” food from Picard
…and lots more! We are thinking about starting our vlogs back up by filming next weekend. Anything in specific y’all have been wanting to see?
Have a great day! 😇
1 year ago | [YT] | 22
View 1 reply
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
From us, with love 🖤
💌 Just popping in to say that Jalen and I hope you had a joyeuse Saint-Valentin, featuring one love-filled cappuccino, my homemade thumbprint cookies, a heart-shaped garden gate, and our festive lollipops! We hope your day was filled with lots of love from those you care about.
💝 We’ve been a bit more absent than usual online, mostly because Jalen’s current obsession with language-learning has taken over his free-time (¡Hola!) and my tendency to work around the clock (I know, shocker) has been eating into mine! You’ll have to wait just a little bit longer for some new content, because we’re also hosting some guests very soon, so we’re even busier than usual.
💓 Until then, don’t hesitate to tell us what you’ve been up to lately and what you’d most like to see from us in the near future! We have some interesting blog posts planned about working in France and are still enjoying taking you along on our weekend adventures in our vlogs. Let us know if that’s exactly what you’re looking for, or if we’re missing the mark in a comment.
1 year ago | [YT] | 13
View 1 reply
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
French IKEA Checklist 🇸🇪🇫🇷
✔️ Smell candles 🕯
✔️ Incorrectly pronounce product names 🇸🇪
✔️ Cuddle plushies 🧸
✔️ Grab a cute bedding set 🛏
✔️ Eat meatballs 🧆
✔️ Imagine redecorating our whole apartment 🛋
✔️ Struggle to fit everything in one bag 🛍
https://youtu.be/j64mV_jpvtQ
1 year ago | [YT] | 10
View 0 replies
The Francofile | Jalen & Maria
Some of the most famous French art of all time can be seen in Parisian museums, but did you know that you can also enjoy American art in Paris? The Bourse de Commerce currently houses an exhibit called “Mythologies américaines” that you've got to see! 🇺🇸🇫🇷 https://youtu.be/ov1Hn3HFvEo
1 year ago | [YT] | 8
View 2 replies
Load more