bonjour mes amis - insert exclamation point here -
the keyboard i am using is a little different than the american ones .... alas, i left my charger at sarah`s and must purchase another one here soon... only problem is - everything closes on sundays so... zut alors.
i will update soon with picture i have taken of this crazy cool buddhist dude who lives in the woods and fed me flowers and gave me roses --- yaaaaay
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Pre-departure
Bonjour mes amis, ma famille, ma petite cherie,
I am currently sitting in Sarah's house in Philly, freshly turned, spitted, and seasoned with graduation galore, a small sum of congratulatory monies, and a few extra pounds gained from a series of celebratory meals comped by the recently departed parentals.
I'm leaving for France in 4 days, and I'm scared shitless, considering the fact that I forgot (procrastinated/didn't try) to obtain a student visa, have not yet made contact with my host family/host Rotarian, and have no idea how I will get from Paris to Tours to my place of stay.
Why am I going to France? I'm going through Rotary International through the Ambassadorial Scholarship Program
Originally, the reason for my going was to produce a short documentary about the racial relations between African French peoples/African immigrants and "locals," to speak to Rotary Clubs in France about the happenings in American Rotary Clubs, and to take language classes at L'Institut de Tours.
Problems with these goals:
1) I'm going to be in Tours, not Paris - where I believe the race issues are most evident...is there even this issue in Tours? I don't know...good job Jean, good job.
2) I suck at French
3) I don't have a student visa
4) I have no idea what local Rotary clubs in America are doing (prob not that much, considering the current economic crisis)
5) I suck at French.
6) My name belongs to half of France's male population and, for pronunciation, requires a nasal grunt. Attractive.
7) I don't have a phone or a bank account.
Those high school French classes look mighty appealing now - Monsieur Jeorger and his wife standing up front, holding hands and singing Parisian school children songs as I dozed off or nibbled on a piece of cheese...
So I've been trying to brush up with a book that was part of this wonderful little package entitled A Quick Guide to learning French that I borrowed from the CA Mission Viejo Library in 2005 - complete with audio tapes, etc...unfortunately, when I returned said audio/literary package to the library way back when, I forgot to include the book...which remained in my suitcase...and is now in my lap...
The book is filled with the most helpful phrases, expressions, and dialogues.
Most useful sentences so far:
1)Je donne le livre à l'enfant : I give the book to the child
2)Je ne veux pas y aller : I don't want to go there. (used in place of rape/murder whistle)
3)Donnez-vous de l'argent? : Do you give money?
4)Plus jambon, s'il vous plait : More ham, please.
I hope to share notes, pictures, and video clips of my adventures in Tours with those whom I love in CA, Philly, NY, and everywhere else in the big wide world as post Penn winds have driven them so. Ultimately, I hope to make my experiences sound so deliciously irresistible, that you will feel compelled to drop everything, and rush to me in Tours! (Faites-le aussi vite que possible - Do it as quickly as possible) And keep me company..and fight off, what are sure to be.. millions upon millions of pigeons *shudder*
But until then, I will tantalize you with French delicacies and decadence until toi aussi (you too) will feel the same as I hope to feel...
Tours, Je t'aime.
je t'adore, je t'embrasse,
Jeanette
I am currently sitting in Sarah's house in Philly, freshly turned, spitted, and seasoned with graduation galore, a small sum of congratulatory monies, and a few extra pounds gained from a series of celebratory meals comped by the recently departed parentals.
I'm leaving for France in 4 days, and I'm scared shitless, considering the fact that I forgot (procrastinated/didn't try) to obtain a student visa, have not yet made contact with my host family/host Rotarian, and have no idea how I will get from Paris to Tours to my place of stay.
Why am I going to France? I'm going through Rotary International through the Ambassadorial Scholarship Program
Originally, the reason for my going was to produce a short documentary about the racial relations between African French peoples/African immigrants and "locals," to speak to Rotary Clubs in France about the happenings in American Rotary Clubs, and to take language classes at L'Institut de Tours.
Problems with these goals:
1) I'm going to be in Tours, not Paris - where I believe the race issues are most evident...is there even this issue in Tours? I don't know...good job Jean, good job.
2) I suck at French
3) I don't have a student visa
4) I have no idea what local Rotary clubs in America are doing (prob not that much, considering the current economic crisis)
5) I suck at French.
6) My name belongs to half of France's male population and, for pronunciation, requires a nasal grunt. Attractive.
7) I don't have a phone or a bank account.
Those high school French classes look mighty appealing now - Monsieur Jeorger and his wife standing up front, holding hands and singing Parisian school children songs as I dozed off or nibbled on a piece of cheese...
So I've been trying to brush up with a book that was part of this wonderful little package entitled A Quick Guide to learning French that I borrowed from the CA Mission Viejo Library in 2005 - complete with audio tapes, etc...unfortunately, when I returned said audio/literary package to the library way back when, I forgot to include the book...which remained in my suitcase...and is now in my lap...
The book is filled with the most helpful phrases, expressions, and dialogues.
Most useful sentences so far:
1)Je donne le livre à l'enfant : I give the book to the child
2)Je ne veux pas y aller : I don't want to go there. (used in place of rape/murder whistle)
3)Donnez-vous de l'argent? : Do you give money?
4)Plus jambon, s'il vous plait : More ham, please.
I hope to share notes, pictures, and video clips of my adventures in Tours with those whom I love in CA, Philly, NY, and everywhere else in the big wide world as post Penn winds have driven them so. Ultimately, I hope to make my experiences sound so deliciously irresistible, that you will feel compelled to drop everything, and rush to me in Tours! (Faites-le aussi vite que possible - Do it as quickly as possible) And keep me company..and fight off, what are sure to be.. millions upon millions of pigeons *shudder*
But until then, I will tantalize you with French delicacies and decadence until toi aussi (you too) will feel the same as I hope to feel...
Tours, Je t'aime.
je t'adore, je t'embrasse,
Jeanette
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