Speaker 1 (Maggie McGregor– Style Mag Daily)
Hi. Melisse, am I catching you at home?
00:18
Speaker 2 (Melisse Brunet– conductor for the NEPA Philharmonic)
No, I mean, weeks very right now at my friend’s place because I’ve been, you know, working here so many years now. I’ve got friends in town.
00:27
Speaker 1
That’s great. That’s great. Melisse, do you have a favorite coffee shop that you like to go to in the NEPA area?
00:37
Speaker 2
Oh, yeah. Uh, II, I discovered it quite recently. I think it’s a new coffee shop. So, forgive me because I’m really bad with names but it’s next to, um, uh, Public Square in Wilkes Barre. I don’t know if you’re aware of that one, but otherwise in Scranton I really love, uh, I think it’s espresso news,
00:59
Speaker 1
espresso news,
01:01
Speaker 2
Espresso News, I think. Is that the name of it? You know, on the main square? Doesn’t ring a bell?
01:14
Speaker 1
Are you thinking of Northern Light?
01:15
Speaker 2
Yes. Yes. Ok. Um, yeah, Northern Light.
Speaker 1
I love their chai tea.. What drinks do you like there?
01:23
Speaker 2
Well, I really love a good espresso, you know. Um, yeah, Yeah, double shot espresso. Um, something I really like, but I love lattes as well as the latte is amazing. So, yeah, really good place.
01:41
Speaker 1
I like it there a lot. I’m a chai-lover. I love coffee too. But, um, yeah.
01:50
Speaker 2
Yeah, and that’s so nice and I love sitting. There are so many people who stay there. It’s just very warm.
01:58
Speaker 1
Mhm. The environment, yeah, that they create. Yeah. Um Well, in NEPA there are a lot of dairy farms. Are you, are you a fan of any local ice creameries?
02:12
Speaker 2
I don’t know many of them. Uh Probably because I’m not present too much during the summer, you know, which is generally when you get
02:24
Speaker 1
…go there. Um Yeah. Um How did you get into music? Were you interested from when you were a young child?
02:37
Speaker 2
I think I was always attracted to the sound of instruments, you know, because I remember as a kiddo running during vacation, running into some jazz groups with my parents and I was always drawn to the drum player generally and I could not move from there. But uh otherwise it’s basically my parents who asked my sister and I if we wanted to play some instruments and then we started to play music.
03:07
Speaker 1
Wow. Have you lived in France for most of your life? When did you come to the United States?
03:15
Speaker 2
Yeah, so far it’s been, um, most of my life in France. I’ve been in the States for 14 years. Um, so, you know, it’s, now it’s home for me and actually, uh, I’m so excited because I’m taking my exam to become a citizen on December 26th right after Christmas at eight AM.
03:38
Speaker 1
Oh, my gosh. Oh, congratulations!
03:42
Speaker 2
I am so excited.
03:44
Speaker 1
Yeah, to hear how you do. I’m sure you’ll do great. What are you looking forward to this Christmas?
03:54
Speaker 2
I uh moved to Philadelphia not long ago and uh I bought a home there and um I did a lot of renovation that I basically contracted myself. So it’s gonna be, it’s, it’s been very busy, but now my home is ready. So I’m looking forward to moving and enjoy every minute in my home and take my citizenship exam and be successful, you know, just enjoy life.
04:21
Speaker 1
That sounds wonderful. That really does. Um,
04:25
Speaker 2
How about you?
04:26
Speaker 1
Oh, well, I’m looking forward to seeing my family. I see my family a lot, on a regular basis. They’re a big part of my life. But um yeah, everyone, all my siblings who are out of town will be in town. So that will be exciting.
04:45
Speaker 2
That’s exciting. Yeah, I see my family. I’m flying back to France in January so I would see them then.
04:54
Speaker 1
Um, how do um the coffee shops? Well, their cafes in France. Uh How do they compare to the ones we have here?
05:04
Speaker 2
Oh, you know, I think the concept is totally different.
05:12
Speaker 2
yeah, um, so coffee is very important in French tradition as it is in America. But it’s, um, it’s so they are called cafe basically and you go basically at the counter and you grab, uh it’s generally espressos. So, you know, single shot espresso and you just drink it quick at the counter at different times of the day. Um So it’s very short coffees almost all the time compared to America where they’re a lot larger and also they are mixed with a lot of very exciting things and tastes. Um So yeah, very different.
05:54
Speaker 1
Do you have some favorite books that you have at your home? You’ll be dwelling there a lot after the commotion of the holidays. So,\ do you have any books or magazines that you’re looking forward to reading?
06:12
Speaker 2
Yeah. Well, I tell you, I’m very much looking forward to open my boxes because my stuff has been in container in a container for three months and I’m dying, so I’m dying to open those boxes because it’s almost, I don’t even remember what’s in there, you know?
06:32
Speaker 1
Yeah.
06:33
Speaker 2
Uh And yeah, I mean, there is a book I really love. It’s Murakami IQ 84 1 Q 84 by uh Auki Murakami. And I really enjoyed that book. I don’t know why it left a very… I almost feel in a different zone when I think about that book that if I can travel in a different space. That’s very interesting.
07:00
Speaker 1
Wow. Are there any magazines or periodicals that you read?
07:04
Speaker 2
Not really. Uh, I read scores on a daily basis which I consider books, you know? Uh, it’s lots of music to read and, uh, it’s really super thick books and that would be my periodicals and all my books that I mostly spend time with.
07:24
Speaker 1
Wow.
07:26
Speaker 2
Maybe I can show you one day when I meet you.
07:29
Speaker 1
Yeah, absolutely. I’d love that. I’d love that. Um, what colors have you decorated your home with so far?
07:39
Speaker 2
So I had a lot of not pretty work to be done like pouring concrete in my basement, you know, and, and redoing the electrical. Um, but for example, for the light, I did put recess lights and, and the electrician wanted to put like just random recess lights and I was, uh, uh, no way. Uh I’m gonna, you know, I love wifi connected things. So I did put some Phillips you, uh wifi connected lights and it can create ambiances with different colors. Uh, because I just love lighting and all the options you can get from the lights, um, mixing, you know. Um Now for the, for the walls, uh I chose something that is gonna be like very, um, gonna last a very long time. So it’s a beautiful, bright gray, mostly uh, different grays at, at the different levels of the home. And, um, it’s just creates both a homey and modern atmosphere.
08:44
Speaker 1
Wow, that sounds amazing. Um. I’m into fashion, so I’m very excited about that. Are there, um, holiday traditions that you’re looking forward to?,
09:01
Speaker 2
Uh, well you know, for me, I mean, the holidays times was fantastic when I was a kiddo because it was with all the family and my grandparents were still alive and I adored them and I cannot get over the fact that I will, you know, I cannot see them on, on a daily basis. You know, and I wish I had asked them so many more questions when I was, you know, younger. Um, so I love the magic atmosphere around the holidays with the weather being so cold and having some snow. I mean, we had snow today. That was so exciting and it’s, yeah, and the lights and how everybody there is that tradition of doing things together. Uh, if you are religious or not, not religious, whatever your religion is, everybody is more in communion and, and connected to things. It’s just a very different time and I love that the pace of our crazy lives is changing for that time of the year. You know, and that we can focus on food as well. I adore food.
10:11
Speaker 1
What are some of your favorite foods?
Speaker 2
Oh. My God. I love everything. Um, I don’t know if you, you know, hackle or not.
10:23
Speaker 1
What did you say?
10:25
Speaker 2
Hale? Do you know that meal? It’s a French meal hale. But I know they have, they sell it a lot. Uh, it’s coming from a cheese. It’s called Rale cheese. And you can find it in most stores in America. You know, they have it at 12 months and things and you make it melt basically. And you serve it with baked potatoes and sha and, oh my God, it’s to die for. It’s a very winter meal.
10:51
Speaker 1
I have to add that to my Instacart order.
10:54
Speaker 2
Yes. Yes. Tell me, I’m happy to send you pictures.
10:58
Speaker 1
Oh, my gosh. I would love that. I would,
11:00
Speaker 2
You need a spec, you need a special tools that you can find on Amazon. Actually. It’s called the Rle, uh, tool. You know, and because it’s so cute, actually, it’s adorable. It’s like mini, mini pants on which you put the Rle cheese and it melts in that machine. And when it’s ready you pour it on your baked potatoes.
11:21
Speaker 1
Oh, wow. Yeah, I love a good baked potato.
So they say that, um, our area, our region is the pizza capital of the world. Have you found pizzas you like here?
11:43
Speaker 2
Well, I’m, I’m a big fan of pizzas. Uh, because part of my family was from Italy.
Yeah. So, um, you know, I have Italian roots and, uh, I speak Italian. I went to Italy. I love pizza. I love a good pepperoni pizza. I know you’re gonna hate me for saying that. But I love Hawaiian pizza. I don’t know why. I love pineapple. I love anchovies on pizzas. I’m so sad that nowadays most pizzas don’t have anchovies anymore because I just love that.
12:21
Speaker 1
Um, no, Hawaiian pizza is totally acceptable. That’s an acceptable answer. Yeah. Yeah, pizza is delicious. Um, so pizza, espresso, the holidays …those are all things that Melisse Brunet likes, in addition to being passionate about music, um, she is. conducting, She’s the conductor for the Philharmonic for the holiday concert that is coming up this Friday and Saturday at Scranton Cultural Center and the FM Kirby Center. And I can’t wait to go. I’m going Friday night with my whole family. So we will be there.
13:08
Speaker 2
Oh, my God, I can’t wait to meet you. Please come say hi.
13:11
Speaker 1
Yeah, I certainly will. Um, yeah, there’s so much magic. Um, I feel like downtown right now there’s so much, um, magical and I live in downtown Scranton.
13:25
Speaker 2
Oh, wow, that’s lovely.
13:27
Speaker 1
Yeah, all the shops are really bustling and Northern Lights is bustling and, um, yeah, I can’t wait to…
13:35
Speaker 2
The electric city.
13:37
Speaker 1
Yes! Yes, it is. The Electric City. Yeah. Um, yeah. So, um, that holiday magic is definitely apparent. Um Yeah, and I just I um I’m really looking forward to the to the concert, so everyone listening. Um Thank you for listening and thank you for meeting me. Um such a wonderful person and um. yeah, I think we can leave it there. Thank you so much. Good night. Thank you so much and nice to meet you.
14:15
Speaker 2
Yeah, nice to meet you. I will see you on Friday.
14:17
Speaker 1
See you soon!
14:18
Speaker 2
Take care. Bye bye.