Goat Cheese (& Crackers) My Greatest Weakness

Dear friends, family, colleagues, strangers, soon to be friends, etc. Today I must admit that my greatest weakness here in France is goat cheese. Goat cheese because I am lactose intolerant and when it comes to goat cheese I need not suffer the horrid pangs of sorrow that lactose brings me. Goat cheese because it's a cheese that works for me and brings me cheesy happiness. I've purchased 4 different kinds thus far, and I have only just begun on this journey. I hope you all will bear with my cheesy goatiness, and I hope that you too can one day indulge in the wonders of goats. Sincerely, Lover of chevres.

Parleez vous ingles?

Where in the world are the English speakers? They're everywhere apparently, and this program is helping me to realize that. The English speakers of the world hail from Scotland, Ireland, Britain, Trinidad, and elsewhere, as well as from my old homeland. I'm encountering people from different countries in THIS country, and you know what? It doesn't feel like I'm meeting people from different countries. It just feels like I'm meeting people. People. We're the ones who are important, we're the ones who count, we're who make our countries what they are. The people. So where are our differences? Our differences are partout, our differences are here and there, but at the core, at the beggining, middle, and end of the day, were are the same. Because we are people. No matter where we hail from. No matter what language we speak. 9/2

Ce que j'ai remarqué (What I've Realized)

The reason why I can read and write French and yet have trouble when I speak it, to the point where I feel like I don't know anything, and other assistants I've spoken with are in the same boat, is because we learned French backwards. We learned to read and write French from textbooks before we learned to speak. We still don't know how to speak. I still don't know how to speak. I can look at the verbs on paper and know what they mean, I know how to use them when I'm writing an essay (for the most part), and yet, when it comes to speaking out loud, I stumble, I fumble, I stutter, and the right verbs elude me. My vocabulary is small. At times I choose silence over attempting to express myself. A good solution? I think not. This experience is serving to dissuade me from wanting to become a language teacher. I don't want to teach language the way I've been taught. It doesn't work. The method is fallible. It's backwards. One must learn to speak before one learns to read and write. Just the same as we crawl before we walk, so on and so forth. Such is the way the brain works best. 9/26/12

Cergy, Soit!*

(This phrase is best understood in reference to the Bible where God says "Let there be light!" which in French is "Que la lumière soit!" So here, Cergy is basically being commanded into being, and since Cergy, Soit is the name of the festival, Cergy also refers to the aspects of the festival.)

 The Squams are straining on their leashes and I'm looking on in confusion, wondering if this is legal, asking Lisa, my companion for the day, what exactly is going on. We follow them out of curiosity, as do the rest of the people in the square, because we are all wondering who the Squams are, why they're on leashes, and who are the officers blowing at them on their whistles. This is Cergy, Soit! a free festival being held in Cergy for the weekend, and these are the Squams, incredibly talented actors, who very convincingly play the role of… Squams. Ape-like creatures who strain against their chains of captivity, and resist being put back into their cage, creatures who stare at the audience with wild eyes, looking at us out of curiosity, wondering what kind of creatures are we. Cergy? Soit! And so, Cergy was. A center for the arts for that weekend, showcasing talented acrobats, and actors, musicians, comedians, and what have you. And thankfully Lisa had learned of and invited me to the festival that took place on a gorgeous weekend in September. We ate baguette for lunch in a Cergy square, wondered about the presence of a group of people who wore red and white outfits that I endearingly nicknamed the coneheads because of their cone shaped hats. We sat on the grass and watched Dora the Explorer escape from her captive balloon existence and float off into the distant blue sky, to explore new lands. We assisted an incredibly strange marrionnette play in which the queen, justifying our quiet suspicions, turned out to be a man. We were party to a cabaret show in which an incredible comedian brought me to tears, and an incredible dancer passionately acted out the story of a heartbroken love. The people said "Cergy?" and Cergy said "Soit!" And thus the people were. The people were out in full force, living, laughing, playing, enjoying life, and we were there. As for the Squams? There was a sign on their cage that said don't feed them, so who knows what became of them? Let's hope the gamekeepers kept their best interests in mind. 9/26/12

Swimming in Alphabet Soup

I feel like I'm floundering in a sea of verbs and articles in which I struggle to find the right ones when necessary. They're always there, but not within the close reach that I need them to be. I'm looking forward to the day when speaking doesn't feel like such work anymore. Not that it usually does, but you get my gist, especially if you've been in my boat! 9/19/12

An Inconvenient Truth

Saying a word with a french accent doesn't make it anymore french than it isn't. Conditioner, and vegetables aren't french words, and saying them with a french accent has only gotten me confused looks and responses such as "quoi?" The correct words, which I've since learned, are "après-shampooing" and "lègumes". 9/19/12

A Bit of Satire

My fellow Americans, you're not going to like me for saying this, and you're going to think me quite prejudiced, but in my opinion, everyone sounds so much smarter in French. I'm quite enjoying hearing Indians and Asians speaking French. Tis quite awesome. I'm still a hesitant little non-Frenchie learning the French ways. They're not so different from us. Humans really aren't that different the world over. Yet we have all these funny preconceived notions about each other. Born of not knowing and all. Well, there's my opinion about French. (I'm being ionic of course.) 9/15/12

Eplucher les Aubergines!

This weekend, I learned a new verb "éplucher", which means "to slice". Aubergines are eggplants. But aubergine sounds so much more beautiful than eggplants… I've been using my new verb often. For one thing, I like the way it sounds: eh plu cher. It sounds like a splash of sound. Pluch. It's difficult to convey the sound to you, my fellow Americans, but I guarantee you, this is a nice sounding verb. My neighbors kids are both sick with colds, so I gave them my famous recipe with onions (oignons) and brown sugar/honey (sucre rouge/miel) to help them feel better. I told the youngest to "Eplucher un oignon" and let it rest covered by some sugar or honey in a container in the fridge and to drink the resulting syrup. One of my favorite and best tasting recipes to help get rid of colds and sore throats. (It's best with honey.) Well then, my fellow Americans, being as how it's back to school season and you've probably caught cold from your fellow sickly classmates, Allez eplucher des oignons! (Go slice oignons!) and try that recipe and I hope you all will feel better. As for les aubergines, let me know how you like them best. I prefer them thinly epluchée (sliced) and baked, so I can enjoy their slight sweetness. Did you know that aubergines are actually REALLY big berries? 9/18/12 Corrections: 9/19/12 "Eplucher" does not in fact mean "to slice", but it does mean "to peel". "To slice", one would say "couper", or "trancher". My bad!

Tongue Tied!!!

I find myself tongue-tied in French, especially when it comes to the smaller, faster exchanges. I find myself quickly wondering whether to use "tu" (for the younger kids and peers and friends; informal) and "vous" (people that you don't know/are older than you; formal). In those moments I hope that I won't appear completely bête, but for the most part I'm sure that I don't I think that I just seem… tongue-tied. Which is okay. Because in English I am often tongue-tied as well. Remembering that makes me feel a lot better when I'm feeling slightly inadequate about my language skills! I feel like I'm a foreigner, especially when I have to speak to others, or when others are saying something that I don't understand. But that's not a bad thing. It's a good experience. A necessary experience. Back home, speaking with people who had heavy accents made me feel unsure if they understood me. For the most part (half the time) I understand what people say to me the first time they say something. But for explanations of broader ideas, I find myself asking for repetitions and always always listening very hard to make sure I catch everything! I watch a lot of TV, hoping that le French will install itself in my head more quickly that way. I also am better able to work on my listening skills that way. This experience reminds me of how I gave a friend who had recently come from Haiti advice about watching a lot of TV and looking for children's books and getting as much exposure to English as she could right before I left. We're in the same boat her and I, she in America, myself in France. It's true that the only way to truly learn a language is to submerge yourself in it/the country/the culture (at least in my experience and others who I've spoken to). If you only try to learn from books, you won't learn everything that you need to know. Especially because language is so fluid, being as how it's always in use. I've got my work cut out for me here, and I'm quite looking forward to it! I'm looking forward to getting my library card so I can get my hands on a dictionary and on some children's books so I can expand my vocabulary further. Wish me luck, my fellow Americans, wish me luck!

French TV

I heard that French commercials were a lot more abstract than American ones, but I haven't found that to be true at all. I've found a lot of American TV shows here, especially on the Disney channel, that have been dubbed over by marvelous (no exaggeration, think about the work that goes into voice acting for a completely different actor!) actors. They're shows that I wouldn't normally watch because they had no appeal for me, but being as how I'm listening to them in French now, that helps my French skills. Which makes the shows somewhat useful (I'm so harsh when it comes to American TV. There's so much uselessness therein.). But one fabulous thing that I've noticed recently, et exuse-moi si je me suis trompée (excuse me if I'm wrong) but there are no commercials during the programs! I thought that the shows I was watching were shorter, but then I realized that the commercials are only before and after the programs. How cool is that?

On Being a Foreigner

What stands out most about being a foreigner is the frequency with which I say "Comment?" That means "what?" I also ask people to repeat things. I try to pinpoint exactly what I would like them to repeat by repeating the last thing that I heard and understood, but what usually happens is that the whole sentence is repeated. There are also sometimes the small explanations that follow. I think it's an incredibly valuable experience to be a foreigner. I don't think I have an American accent, but if I did, I wonder if people would speak to me differently. I'ec always felt a bit timid to speak with people who have accents because I'm not sure that I will understand what they're saying and then I wonder if they'll understand what I'm ssaying. There are plenty of accents around here of course My main point is that being a foreigner makes me feel nervous, because I wonder if I'm doing things "the way I'm supposed to" as in the way the french do them. But no one can tell I'm a foreigner if I don't tell them anything. I mean, just today as I ordered my crepe, the lady told me the price in English and I said "Comment?" and she repeated in French. Talk about victory!

les differences entre les francais et les americans

               I've only been in France for 5 days, and yet it feels like I've been here for much longer. I think that the fact that I've been here twice already has much to do with it. I'm feeling more comfortable here than I felt my first two times, which is good. It's nice to feel comfortable in a foreign country. Here, one usually has to pay a few extra cents for a plastic sack when one goes shopping. For those who've lived here all their lives, I'm sure it seems common place and is seen automatically as a way to be conscious of one's effect on the environment. People commonly carry their own sacks with them when they go to the market. But to a foreigner like me, it seems like an ingenious way to get people to think about the fact that their actions do have consequences. And things here are smaller in general. The elevators for example. In the apartment buildings that I've been to, the elevators are tiny. It creates a more intimate environment in which strangers are encouraged to speak with one another. For friendly old me, and for people in general who like such things, it's refreshing.
            I visited the Opéra Garnier with two other assistants today. I also had my first crêpe since I've been back in France. It was a bit too sweet for me, being as how I've laid off sugar in the past few months. But it was delicious. I had a staring contest with some beautiful, brightly colored macarons today as well, in the same place where I got my crepe. They tempted me, sorely. But I decided that the crepe was enough sweet for one day. I was right. I bought a pair of boots today. They cost me about an arm and a leg, but I worked for that money in America and I will spend it here in France! Wisely, of course. Oh, and back to things being smaller. Space is more widely used here, in general. A square in the floor and a second floor to get to? Why, how about add a circular staircase that wraps around a pole to take care of that level difference? A tiny space in which to live? Why how about a tiny washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher to help you with your daily activities? And the cars! They're just downright cute! I'm particularly in love with a bright blue one owned by a handsome man living down the block. (My future cuddly French husband who smells of croissants?)

Bored in France

So I've been craving internet access lately as if it were my next fix. Wifi to be more specific. And now I've got it and... and. It's as though I depend on it to feel connected, but it's just the feeling. It's not as if everyone I want to speak to is available all the time when I'm on the internet, but it sure does feel like it! At least not having wifi for the time being will give me the chance to detox from my over dependence on the internet. Over dependence is common among Americans, do you other Americans agree? This will also have me spending less time online feeling like I'm doing something when in reality all I'm doing is browsing random pages. I find myself bored at times. I need more things with which to amuse myself. Like... television... and ... movies. Haha jk. I'm gonna look for something with babysitting so I won't be poor. And enjoy France. Tomorrow, I shall go to the American Library in Paris! I was headed there today, but luckily changed my plans. Apparently it's closed on Mondays. Oh les French.

Les Generalizations on How the Other Half Lives + Why I Love French So Much

Generalizations are everywhere. French people don't care much for deodorant. Americans love big things and everything's huge in America. Especially the Americans/ They're obese. All French people are tiny and they don't eat a lot, but exercise much. Things I've heard about America, and generalizations I've believed or have heard about the French. And of course, all they are, are generalizations. Stereotypes. Not facts, not truths, just conceptions widely believed about each other. Some of my Frenchies are absolutely convinced that these are true, despite what I try to tell them otherwise. That's okay. Seeing and living it is believing it. That's the best convincing anyone can give. I think the reason I love French so much is because it's so close to Creole, my mother language. My mother's language. The language that comforted me even before I came out into this world, the language that let me know that all was well and that convinced me that life on the outside would be fine when I was untimely ripped from my mother's womb. This language sounds so comforting to me. I find myself surprised at the ease with which it flows from me, when I hear myself having a conversation with someone else. Of course, there are times when I feel completely stupid, that can't be helped. Then there are those other times when I feel I can express myself well. That makes me happy. I love this language, if it were a person, it would be my husband. My cuddly, sweet amazing husband who smells like crossants. Oh, and did I mention I can see the Eiffel Tower from the apartment where I live? And that there were fireworks in Paris yesterday? 9 12 2012

Au revoir mis gentes! Allo France!

9/7/2012 Today, I set sail (fly) for that far away land (France) that I fell in love with a few years ago (in 2010). I knew I wanted to go back when I returned from France last year. I knew I wanted to be a Teaching Assistant from the first day I heard of this program (TAPIF.org) back in 2008 when I was still a young college freshman. I'm now older (and wiser) and I'm heading off to France, and it's not a dream. O.O I shall miss my people (mis gentes) but of course, I shan't be gone long. My fellow Americans, it has been a pleasure sharing la vida de Nueva York with you all. 9/8/2012 I have arrived! Here is my contact info: I can be called at 06 60 16 90 54 if you are in Europe or 33 6 60 16 90 54 if you are in America. Once I have regular internet access in the apartment where I'm living I can stop feeling so maladroit with this French keyboard, lol. On Monday I interview with a babysitting company, and next week I will see to opening my compte bancaire and getting a regular mobile plan. My plane ride fascinated me of course, my love of airplanes is no secret! However, I'm feeling almost half deaf at the moment as my right ear has yet to pop from the air pressure. My ears hurt a great deal on our descent into France, that's never happened to me before, and I'm sincerely hoping that it's nothing serious. My English already feels different because I'm trying to think in French, so I have no doubt that it will sound a bit weird to my readers for which I apologize in advance. I have been having a completely lovely time thus far, everyone has been quite friendly. Hopefully in about a month my brain will be more French because I feel a bit like I have trouble understanding simple things right now. P.S. I haven't eaten any croissants yet!!!

Updates!

The Birth Certificate situation almost turned into a fiasco! It turns out that the Office of Vital Records had not even printed it and I'd been waiting these 4 weeks for something that wasn't coming! It usually takes 3 weeks for it to arrive so I wasn't too anxious at first and then the fourth week came and still nothing. Thankfully I went down to the office yesterday and met some very helpful people and I will be able to pick it up Tuesday morning. I'll be there at 9 am, then I'm off to the County Clerk to have it notarized, and then back to the Apostille office to get my stamp. Please wish me luck! I hope the process goes smoothly! In other news, I just applied for a second job with babyspeaking.fr, hopefully they will be able to place me with a babysitting or tutoring job, because I would really love to work with children while in France. (I'll be working with high schoolers at my job.) Things seem to be falling into place, please wish me all the best so that things will go smoothly!