I CAN'T WAIT!!! To see London, to see Megan, to see Drew (he's been there all week), to hear English, to wear feathers in my hair, and to once again have a complete understanding of sandwich choices.
Today I said goodbye a class... the rest I will see next week. It's really sad. Note to self: buy more kleenex.
Yesterday a class (my favorite one) began singing Happy Birthday as soon as I walked in the room... they made the cutest cards!! It's even better that they are a few weeks late. Why do the little monsters become sweet now when it's the most difficult?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Language Woes
A quote from 'My Fair Lady' I find to be true:
As Ascot looms this weekend, I thought it was time to revisit an old favorite (who remembers the scene where Eliza goes to the races?). Somehow, according to every English person I can find to ask, this movie is practically unknown in England, despite the fact that the musical has run in the West End for decades. Perhaps English people don't need a film to see their culture. Regardless, the movie just gets better the more I see it and recognize bits of culture and glimpses of the city.
This Saturday is Ladies Day at Ascot--the most important one--the one of monumental hats. The Queen will be there! And so will I! Although I couldn't afford a hat, just a brown hair clip with feathers, I should pass muster. Caroline, Drew, Megan and I are going with some other people. I'm really excited about seeing Megan (Australian roommate Megan) after two months!
Anyway back to the quote. Lately, I've been reflecting on my french language skills. At some point, a few months ago, I hit a plateau and in crept laziness. Comprehension and speaking on a basic level are alright, but I haven't mastered an elevated form of address. When I arrived in September, I spoke like a 5 year old. Maybe now I'm an 11 year old. But that's still far from expressing myself like a refined adult. This frustrates me, because now I'm leaving too soon to work on it much more. Pronunciation still gets me every time. I avoid using certain words because they sound too similar to gross mots (bad words).
The French don't care what they do actually
As long as they pronounce it properly
As Ascot looms this weekend, I thought it was time to revisit an old favorite (who remembers the scene where Eliza goes to the races?). Somehow, according to every English person I can find to ask, this movie is practically unknown in England, despite the fact that the musical has run in the West End for decades. Perhaps English people don't need a film to see their culture. Regardless, the movie just gets better the more I see it and recognize bits of culture and glimpses of the city.
This Saturday is Ladies Day at Ascot--the most important one--the one of monumental hats. The Queen will be there! And so will I! Although I couldn't afford a hat, just a brown hair clip with feathers, I should pass muster. Caroline, Drew, Megan and I are going with some other people. I'm really excited about seeing Megan (Australian roommate Megan) after two months!
Anyway back to the quote. Lately, I've been reflecting on my french language skills. At some point, a few months ago, I hit a plateau and in crept laziness. Comprehension and speaking on a basic level are alright, but I haven't mastered an elevated form of address. When I arrived in September, I spoke like a 5 year old. Maybe now I'm an 11 year old. But that's still far from expressing myself like a refined adult. This frustrates me, because now I'm leaving too soon to work on it much more. Pronunciation still gets me every time. I avoid using certain words because they sound too similar to gross mots (bad words).
A new challenge
Word of the month:
résiliation
Principal Translations/Principales traductions
résiliation(d'un bail, d'un contrat, d'un marché - en cours) nf cancellation
This is the tricky part where we write passive-aggressive letters to companies to try to get our deposits back. Everything needs to be done in a particular order so the electricity and gas stay until we leave, yet the bills arrive before we cancel our bank accounts(and leave exactly enough money in the account to pay!).
résiliation
Principal Translations/Principales traductions
résiliation(d'un bail, d'un contrat, d'un marché - en cours) nf cancellation
This is the tricky part where we write passive-aggressive letters to companies to try to get our deposits back. Everything needs to be done in a particular order so the electricity and gas stay until we leave, yet the bills arrive before we cancel our bank accounts(and leave exactly enough money in the account to pay!).
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A whirled traveler
Still haven't forgotten about you beautiful readers. Please forgive these short and sporadic posts. Our internet quit working the day after it started again (as a result I've read 3 books in the last week). And life has been rolling!
Since the last post I:
-found the bravery to receive a french haircut
-fell in love with the basement of the Marmottan Museum and that area of the 16th arrondissement in Paris
-turned 24 with a picnic in the park, a surprise brownie cake with a serenade from Celia and Jeanne, and a great skype conversation
-went to Charleroi to see where my grandpa's brother was stationed in World War 2 and Liege of international waffle fame in Belgium
-rode a bicycle 50 kilometers across Luxembourg with Jen and Drew
-danced the Cha-Cha Slide about 20 times in English class
-learned the introdcution to 'Heal the World' by Michael Jackson
Friday, June 6, 2008
The Sound of Silence
Hello dear readers, contrary to what you might be thinking, I have certainly not forgotten about you... things have just been hectic. Because not much happened for the last four months, many things happen now in order to even the stakes.
This list of things includes
- losing internet for 5 days (and a battle with France Telecom)
- roadtripping to the Champagne region
- being a translator for a group of British people descended from WW1 soldiers who died in a battle near my town, who came to dedicate a road in their honor and tour memorial sites
- finding out about and attending an amazing concert in Paris with my friend Megan
- riding the Pompidou Center's great glass escalators
- oversleeping the next day
And now it's back to Paris for Birthday Weekend Part II. (Last weekend was Caroline's, this Monday the birthday kids are me and Drew.) We have Winnie the Pooh party hats.
I promise pictures next week (my camera's been dead since Saturday).
This list of things includes
- losing internet for 5 days (and a battle with France Telecom)
- roadtripping to the Champagne region
- being a translator for a group of British people descended from WW1 soldiers who died in a battle near my town, who came to dedicate a road in their honor and tour memorial sites
- finding out about and attending an amazing concert in Paris with my friend Megan
- riding the Pompidou Center's great glass escalators
- oversleeping the next day
And now it's back to Paris for Birthday Weekend Part II. (Last weekend was Caroline's, this Monday the birthday kids are me and Drew.) We have Winnie the Pooh party hats.
I promise pictures next week (my camera's been dead since Saturday).
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