Friday, June 26, 2009

Hmm, what has happened? Wednesday I don’t think there was much to report on, except that I ate lunch by myself (brave!) at a creperie. I don’t think the waiter discovered I wasn’t French until the very end (if he did at all?). Yesterday (Thursday), half of the class time was spent at the art museum! It was good- lots of religious paintings, which I always like (not kidding), no Renoir though- disappointing. However, there was one Monet, so it wasn’t all bad. I realized I’m starting my “I walk by myself at historic sites” thing. Not that I don’t want people to walk with me, or that I explicitly told people that, but often times in museums or other historical/cultural landmarks, everyone spends different amounts of time looking at things, and it’s more of a reflective, individual experience. So yes, I’m in the same room as other people from my group, and yes I still talk to them, but I don’t need people waiting for me or me waiting for them. I am enjoying something in my own time, which I don’t find anything wrong with.
I stopped in the gift shop afterward and bought a Renoir calendar. Almost bought some Robert Doisneau cards, but then hesitated because I didn’t like the selection. After the museum, we split up to get portable food and rendez-vous’d at Place Victor Hugo. I had pizza with gruyere cheese and tomatoes. I then persuaded the group to get gelato. I chose raspberry, good choice. We then spent some time criticizing our professor.

I have a 20 minute presentation on Monday. That meant I had to do double the homework last night to be able to give her my subject idea today. My presentation is on a book we haven’t started yet. So, last night I started to read it, and discovered: whoa, this is extremely difficult. And I had no problem with the first book, unlike some others in the class. My host mom, Isabelle, asked to see what we were reading, so I showed it to her. She started reading it and from the first sentences looked up at me with wide eyes and said, “This is difficult language!”. Um…..yeah. She then proceeded to go through the introduction with me- it’s only around 3 pages, but it took around an hour to do. It’s filled not only with lyric language written in an uncommon verb tense, but it’s choc-full of allusions. Am I supposed to know about the war between Lorraine and Germany? I didn’t think so. Anyway, Isabelle then asked how far we had to read for homework. When I showed her, she said, “Quelle vache! Ma pauvre belle” meaning “What a cow! (in reference to my prof.) My poor girl!”.
Yesterday I met Liza, Isabelle’s daughter. She’s 20. She talks very fast, but doesn’t use slang like some other French youth, so I could pretty much understand her. Apparently Liza later told her mom that she was very impressed by my French. Score!!!
A big group went out last night, but I was stuck with too much work. Apparently 2 girls in the group were followed by a man on the tram—Scary!!! And it was only 11. Today was alright. It’s depressing to admit, but today’s class went by much more quickly because we had a debate and an in-class essay. I then stayed after to try the wifi-with no success. Apparently it’s not working for anyone? (Including the technician in the media room, nor the regular internet on the computers in the room….awesome). So I gave up and took up my usual post at Place Victor Hugo. Got some more euro successfully from the atm. Tonight a group was planning to go out, but it’s storming so I don’t know if that will still happen. If it’s nicer out, I’ll go. We have an excursion tomorrow to Chambery, the “historic capitol of the Savoie”. Not sure what that means either. We have a guided tour of the city, lunch and then free time with an African festival?? Whatever, should be fun to be with the whole group.
One thing I keep forgetting to mention: the first day, Isabelle asked me how to say my name. She was like is it “keh tee” or “kah-tee”. So I said “keh tee” cause that’s the French way to say it, and that’s how all my profs. at school say it. She said that’s what she thought, but the program was like no, it’s “kah-tee”. So the next morning I woke up to find a note telling me she had gone to the market, and starting with “Bonjour Kitty!”. HAHAHAHA. So apparently I’m “Kitty”. Oh well, While in France…or something like that.
Till the next time- Katie. (or Kitty, if you prefer)