Avant Le Voyage
It’s been quite a journey preparing for my trip to France and now that it’s just a few days away, I think I am partially nervous and excited; nervous because it’s going to be my first time in France and excited because it promises to be a wonderful experience.
I have mostly read books about the historic nature of France and had a glimpse of that in pictures and videos as well as its tourist attractions (which has also attracted me).
Having studied the language for 5 years now, it is pertinent to visit and actually feel what it is like to be there- speaking the language with the native speakers, living the culture (most especially learning to eat their food). My goal has always been to have full immersion in the French language to the extent that I speak like the native speakers as that will anchor my career as a diplomat or professor of French, either way the French language is sacrosanct to me.My only encounter with “native” french speakers was during an excursion in the Republic of Benin during my Undergraduate program and it is quite easy to tell that there is a huge difference between a French native speaker and a colonized one because of the accents. I sincerely hope to meet some of the French writers who have awed scholars with their plume. On a lighter note, I would also like to meet some chefs too. I have always been a big fan of pastries and I believe it will be easy for me to adapt to the food quite easily. It would also be an awesome experience to attend a church where only French is spoken. Although I’ve witnessed masses being said in French here in the United States, I believe that it will hit differently when offered by French priests (native speakers).
For this trip, I have high expectations. I will be studying at Cavilam Alliance Francaise in Vichy, which is one of the historical sites. I hope to learn as much as I can about the people and the culture (most especially the language), and be as open minded as I can be about certain practices that may not be found in my own culture. I would love to explore the historical sites as that would give me a natural feel of what I have heard and help me realize what I have studied.
It’s a count down from here onwards!
*ISE