Mon Nouvel Environment (My New Environment)

This morning Alain and I took out the Fiat Panda and drive it around in order to teach me stick shift and to tour some of the city. Fortunately, since I’d done a little driving this summer, I did pretty well with my little Panda. And without driving too far out of town, I saw three castles, each more beautiful than the last (pictured below). We went to Château le Vivier, Château Fort Blandy and Vaux Vicomte (my camera battery ran out at Vaux Vicomte, but it looks exactly like Verseille).

Château le Vivier

Quaint Old Town around Château Blandy

Eglise Saint Maurice next to Château Blandy

Château Blandy (much more impressive than this picture)

After that we went to a party for the niece of the parents. It was her first birthday. While I have been made aware of how terrible my French is, it was made even clearer at this party. Possibly the most awkward half and hour of my life happened at the party while I was meeting everyone and they didn’t yet know that I did not speak French. Clearly a new-comer, I was asked questions to which I responded with silence and blinking because I couldn’t translate and respond quickly enough. Also, as I am not yet a pro at the cheek kiss I probably offended many people. Mostly I hid away from people so that I could avoid the awkward smiles and franglais (frenglish?) conversation. The food was very good and the people were very nice. It turns out that most people know a little English and some are very good, so I did talk to some people. I also debuted the most French I ever spoke in France (I said that I could in fact speak more than I was showing, but I was afraid that my pronunciation would be terrible—yeay!! She was I was very good—yeay!!) There were some strange miscommunications, still. I had a plate of food that I finished and a little boy ran by and stepped on it. I brought it to the hostess, trying to explain that someone stepped on it. However, I think my gestures went awry and it looked more like I was trying to break the plate with my foot. The plate fiasco continued sometime later, when I asked her if I could help her with anything but she thought I wanted my plate back. Eventually, the whole matter was resolved when she "understood" that I "wanted" a chair. Miscommunication ended, thank heaven.

I came back to skype while the children went to see a movie. So here I am; writing to you about my day. Monday I will cook my first meal (yet to be decided) and also attempt to communicate with the parents in French, or at least as much as possible. Till next time!

Pronunciation key (For Americans!):

Chateau: Sha Toe --- Fort: Four -- Vivier: Veev yay! -- Blandy: Blondy -- Vaux Vicomte: Voh Vee Comt