Je suis en France! It was quite something, getting from there to here with 40 kids in tow, plus meeting 10 more at Charles de Gaulle, but I made it. And now I am here.
It's a very strange thing. Even though my French is not very broad, in terms of vocabulary, I nevertheless have this overwhelming urge to speak all French and only French while I am here. I can't explain it. And when I try to speak English, it feels wierd. The only problem is, I can't think of the words for most of what I want to say in, so I sometimes get stuck, but I usually find a way to explain myself. Last night I spoke Fritalian to un huomo at the bus stop. (That was Huomo, not 'homo,' please and thank you.) And today a woman stopped and asked me for directions. In French, of course. I must have looked like I knew where I was going. But the funny part was, I did! It made me really happy, though. I like to blend in and not stand out like a tourist. So now it seems wherever I go, I stand out as the obvious choice for 'person who looks like they know where they are, so therefore I can ask them for directions.' It's okay. I really don't mind. Because I actually enjoy giving people directions and helping them to get where they are going - if I can do it. Obviously I don't want to give them bad directions. But as to blending in, I guess it comes from lots of practice traveling alone in Europe, and at least pretending like I know where I am going, whether or not that is the case. But I do get my bearings easily. And I probably look pretty French. It is in my genes, after all.
Frankie
About Me
- TaylorM
- San Francisco, CA, United States
- I am a bodyworker and writer in the Bay Area. I have eclectic tastes, and I love being in nature. Don't hate me because I am a morning person.
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5 comments:
Excellent.
Well, I don't know whether you're 'the person who knows where they are', but I've been informed recently that you might be 'the person who could help me accessorize.'
Name your budget. -)
Think of it as a flattering thing. You projet confidence. It's a good thing.
It's like no matter if I am wearing my badge at work or not, people can always tell I work there. Even on my breaks. I think it's that the staff tend to walk purposefully around the store, while other people just wander aimlessly. And we make eye contact. :) You obviously have that sense of confidence in yourself, and that's something that is hard to develop. So, congrats.
Cool. Thanks, Tina. I didn't mean to give the wrong impression. I wasn't complaining at all! I was secretly overjoyed that she asked me for directions, and even happier that I could actually help her and tell her where to go, even if my French itself wasn't perfect. And she didn't mind, either, because she thanked me profusely. Overall, it was a good experience. :)
Accessories, eh? Well, peut-être. We can discuss...
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