A French Thanksgiving
So I obviously got some pictures posted from my trip to London, but for some reason blogger will only let me put up so many at a time, and then it stops posting them. So... I will try to post the rest soon as well as some from this weekend.
On Thursday, the foyer did an honary Thanksgiving dinner for us. It was really cute b/c they lined all the tables up in one row, had candles, festive decorations, wine, cider etc... It was really a nice gesture, and I think everyone had a good time. I only had mashed potatoes, but whatever. They did a "pumpkin tarte" which was a custard tarte with slices of fresh pumpkin on top... couldn't help but laugh at that one. The best part was it was a really nice way for us to open up, have ppl approach us a little more freely, and get to know some of the ppl we live with. Jesse, Louise and I ended up going out afterwards to hang out with some of them.
Friday was tough since I had been out so late, but the good thing is, by Friday, I have the lesson mastered since I've had all week to get it down. Plus we were just doing the alibi game, which didn't require much effort on my part. It was Sandra's 21st birthday celebration, and we'd been invited to pre-party with all of them downstairs and then head to a dance club. I can't express how nice it is not to feel this ackwardness around all of the frenchies, and I imagine it's the same for them. I actually got to practice a little Spanish that night b/c Atis (a Colombian girl who used to live in the foyer) was out with us, and then I met a Portuguese guy who also spoke Spanish. I was surprised that I wasn't as horrible as I thought I'd be.
One good thing about being an American in France is when you get approached by a guy you have no interest in talking to or dancing with, you can just say "uhhh.... je ne comprehend pas le français" (I don't understand French) and just walk off. That line proved quite usefull. When asked for your number... "sorry I don't know it by heart". Basically when in doubt, plead stupidity. Friday night was the first time I enjoyed myself at a club here, and I think it was partly due to the fact that our group of about 20 ppl took over a good area of the club and b/c I liked about 60 percent of the music the DJ played. The staff was really nice, and it was actually possible (gasp!) to walk up to the bar and get some water.
I met a really nice guy through one of the boys in the foyer who was a FANTASTIC dancer (he could do every style; even salsa, and there's a seperate salsa room attached to the club), so we ended up dancing past 3AM. It's such a difference to be "in" with someone French rather than feeling like a group of outsiders. And since I love to dance (and it's sometimes hard to find a good match), I had a blast. We all ended up going back to the foyer and stayed up farting around until 8AM! I'm slowly adjusting to European nightlife.
Last night, after spending an entire weekend with the guys in the foyer, was the first time that I had French thoughts, phrases, new vocabulary etc.... running through my head as I dozed off. It was a great feeling, b/c for the first time, I felt like my French has started to take a turn. This is how it was for me in Costa Rica with Alex and Christain constatnly helping and correcting me. Hopefully, it'll be all up hill from now on.
I've got some paperwork for the foyer and my checking account to figure out, so have to run and try and get that taken care of before coming back for the rest of my classes. Bisous, Elizabeth
On Thursday, the foyer did an honary Thanksgiving dinner for us. It was really cute b/c they lined all the tables up in one row, had candles, festive decorations, wine, cider etc... It was really a nice gesture, and I think everyone had a good time. I only had mashed potatoes, but whatever. They did a "pumpkin tarte" which was a custard tarte with slices of fresh pumpkin on top... couldn't help but laugh at that one. The best part was it was a really nice way for us to open up, have ppl approach us a little more freely, and get to know some of the ppl we live with. Jesse, Louise and I ended up going out afterwards to hang out with some of them.
Friday was tough since I had been out so late, but the good thing is, by Friday, I have the lesson mastered since I've had all week to get it down. Plus we were just doing the alibi game, which didn't require much effort on my part. It was Sandra's 21st birthday celebration, and we'd been invited to pre-party with all of them downstairs and then head to a dance club. I can't express how nice it is not to feel this ackwardness around all of the frenchies, and I imagine it's the same for them. I actually got to practice a little Spanish that night b/c Atis (a Colombian girl who used to live in the foyer) was out with us, and then I met a Portuguese guy who also spoke Spanish. I was surprised that I wasn't as horrible as I thought I'd be.
One good thing about being an American in France is when you get approached by a guy you have no interest in talking to or dancing with, you can just say "uhhh.... je ne comprehend pas le français" (I don't understand French) and just walk off. That line proved quite usefull. When asked for your number... "sorry I don't know it by heart". Basically when in doubt, plead stupidity. Friday night was the first time I enjoyed myself at a club here, and I think it was partly due to the fact that our group of about 20 ppl took over a good area of the club and b/c I liked about 60 percent of the music the DJ played. The staff was really nice, and it was actually possible (gasp!) to walk up to the bar and get some water.
I met a really nice guy through one of the boys in the foyer who was a FANTASTIC dancer (he could do every style; even salsa, and there's a seperate salsa room attached to the club), so we ended up dancing past 3AM. It's such a difference to be "in" with someone French rather than feeling like a group of outsiders. And since I love to dance (and it's sometimes hard to find a good match), I had a blast. We all ended up going back to the foyer and stayed up farting around until 8AM! I'm slowly adjusting to European nightlife.
Last night, after spending an entire weekend with the guys in the foyer, was the first time that I had French thoughts, phrases, new vocabulary etc.... running through my head as I dozed off. It was a great feeling, b/c for the first time, I felt like my French has started to take a turn. This is how it was for me in Costa Rica with Alex and Christain constatnly helping and correcting me. Hopefully, it'll be all up hill from now on.
I've got some paperwork for the foyer and my checking account to figure out, so have to run and try and get that taken care of before coming back for the rest of my classes. Bisous, Elizabeth
posted by ecloern | Monday, December 04, 2006
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