bitter sweet goodbye

So the end of trips is always bittersweet. I am ready to move on or get home yet sad to leave. It always seems to come so fast and that there are things left unfinished. For example, I never got around to visiting the musee de tissu or finishing up the musee des beaux arts. I did not explore the croix rousse as fully as I would have liked. And my French is not as good as I would like.

But, perhaps this is in itself beneficial. It means that I did enjoy myself here and that I will leave something for me to return to.

I have enjoyed my time in Lyon, but I am defiantely ready to move on to Brussels!!

self discovery

I have definately learned a lot not only about myself, but how to act and adapt to certain situations. I am a very go-by-the-books type and traveling, both in France and in Spain before, has taught me that things will not always go as planned and that that is OK. I have learned not to freak out and realize that as long as I am alive and have access to at least 50 euros, things should turn out just fine. Also, much of the time, you have to go with the flow and accept things as they are. You might be stuck in the rain, hungry and waiting in line for a museum you do not even want to visit, but you just have to deal with it.

This trip has also made me realize how emotionally vulnerable I can be sometimes. I never ever imagined being homesick or feeling overwhelmed, normally I am a very independant, confident and calm person. This vulnerability almost scares me, but being here forced me to cope with this fear, and I discovered, it isn't too bad.

I hope to return to the States as a more mature, relaxed individual.

Classes

I find that my classes here are pretty similar to those at UT. The main difference is that the students are a lot closer, and therefore more open in class. Because we are not only taking classes, but experiencing the culture of a foreign country and traveling together, we are obvious more comfortable with one another.

I also find myself retaining more information from class because I am surrounded by French each day and can actually use what I learn as soon as I leave class.


Au Revoir, Sophie

Cultural learning

I believe that culture plays an important part in language learning. Surely, it is not necessary to know anything about a culture to learn textbook language, but culture holds many keys to understanding the eccentricities and minute facets of every language. Even in the United States language differs between cultures. People in the South speak differently and use different expressions than those from the West or Northeast. Language changes between classes as well.

It is possible for teachers to decontextualize a language and teach without acknowledging cultural aspects, but students will not gain as much and may face roadblocks upon using the language in a real setting.

For example, I used the term "courrier electronique" istead of "mel." My family looked at me like I was crazy. People here also speak differently from the textbook tapes I studied in school. Language is part of a culture, therefore it is fully necessary to learn about a culture in order to completely embrace its language.

Love-makin'

On Sunday, I took the train home from Avignon. The ride took approximately two and a half hours. About an hour into the trip a young couple, in their twenties, came on board and sat directly across from me and another young man.
Everything was going well, I was reading my newspaper and looking at the scenery outside. Only, my attention slowly became more diverted to the scenery across from me. The couple began to cuddle cutely, holding one another and talking closeley. The two then began to make out every so often and looked into one anothers' eyes.
The scene, which no one took note of on the train, would have elicited cries of "get your own room" and eye rolling in the U.S.

Language Learning

I have never been that good of a "language learner." I have been in French classes since I was 7 years old and I am still far from being fluent. At home in the States, it is especially hard for me to retain what I learn in class. So often I close my books as soon as the bell rings, open them for about 3o min. at night for homework, and then don't resume my French studies until the next class. I learn only just enough to complete the exercises on my tests.
When I learn languages, I have to practice in order to retain any kind of information. I have to use my exercise book to get down a tense and continually use vocabulary in order to learn it. I have noticed that I remember vocabulary more easily here because I am constantly surrounded by the language and constantly thinking about it.
Also, it now seems like there is a meaning to all of this memorization. Being in France has become a motivator to learning and comprehending the language.
Au Revoir, Sophie

climbing the tower of babel

The communication, as a whole is going pretty well. I feel like I am learning more and more each day. My family also tries to accomodate me, speaking slowly and explaining things a few times. Gestures and pointing also work as well.
I am also becoming a better speaker. But I've noticed that when I am put on the spot, my mind becomes a jumble and I completely forget how to say what I want. This is especially true in restaurants and check-out lines.
Each day I have been reading the newspapers at the metro stations and I think that I am understanding most of the stories. The only problem appears to be vocabulary. Mdme Munier's class is helping a lot with that. However, even as I understand more vocabulary, it is hard for me to actually use it. I find myself reverting back to the same old vocabularty set I've used since age 15. Lately, I've been playing a little game to see how much new vocab and l'argot I can use each day.