This is my response to the daily prompt:

Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

One of my favorite gifts that I’ve ever received is a gilet orange, or an orange safety vest I got from a France Télécom employee almost 30 years ago while I was volunteering in Hérisson, France.

[Read more about my experience Volunteering in Hérisson, France >]

My group was clearing acacia branches next to the road. Since I could speak French, I had been tasked with alerting the occasional vehicle to be careful as my group was working in the area. France Télécom was also in the area working on an overhead phone line. One of the employees had seen me and brought me an unopened plastic bag containing an orange vest. He told me to wear it so motorists could see me better. As it would help them also, I was happy to look a bit more official wearing a hi vis fluorescent orange reflective vest!

After my group’s work was done for the day, I thanked the France Télécom employee for lending me a vest, which I had folded back to the way it was. As I handed it to him, he told me I could keep it (un cadeau – a gift!)

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On July 1, 2013, France Télécom was rebranded Orange S. A., which makes the vest even more special to me because the vest I have has its pre-2013 company name on it!

GT stands for grande taille, or large size

After all these years, I’m glad I have this pleasant memory and priceless souvenir vest. 🦺

Thanks for reading Bonjour: A Francophile Blog!