FV 130: Wonder Betty, the life of an inspiring woman (Part 1)

French Voices Podcast | Learn French | Interviews with Native French Speakers | French Culture

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Betty Levanqué really is an incredible woman, I would even call her a wonder woman. I’m truly in awe at everything she’s done so far in her life, her stamina, her strength; she’s an inspiration to work hard, be present for your family, love people, give back to others when you can. Betty studied hard, even while becoming the other of a very premature baby with a disability and later on resuming her studies and taking up three courses in three different universities the same year at age… 40. She founded an association to help orphans in Vietnam (where her background is), the food bank of New Caledonia where she lives (banque alimentaire de Nouvelle-Calédonie), owns a real estate agency (Le Café Immobilier) as well as a popular café in Nouméa (Boops Café), and is the president of the APESA, an association supporting business managers burning out and at risk of committing suicide.

The least we can say is that Betty is profoundly humane and committed to making a difference in people’s lives. This is a long, inspiring, feel good interview.

In this episode we’ll start with Betty’s Vietnamese background – this is essential to understand the values of merit, work and endurance that are ever present in her life story. Betty’s name and identity changed when she was 6 years old. Learn interesting facts about Vietnamese names.

Vocab List

au chevet (de qn) = at [sb]’s bedside
avoir plusieurs cordes à son arc / avoir plus d’une corde à son arc = to have more than one string to one’s bow
dépayser (qn) = be a break of [sb]’s routine, be a change of scenery
doudoune (nf) = down / winter / puffa jacket
guichetier, ière (n) = ticket salesperson
hypokhâgne (nf) = intensive foundation degree in literature
khâgne (nf) = literature foundation course
métissé,e (adj) = mix-race
parler à bâtons rompus = to talk about this and that, to jump from one topic to another
patronyme (nm) = surname, family name
prépa / classe préparatoire (nf) = preparatory class
sauter / passer du coq à l’âne = to jump from one subject to another
trame (nf) = outline

Links

• Le Café Immobilier (Facebook)
• La Banque Alimentaire de Nouvelle-Calédonie
• Boops Café (Facebook)
• Apesa NC
• Follow my Dream

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