french language

p is quite fluent, but my command of french is not great. trying to set up all the personal infrastructures for everyday life in a relatively unfamiliar system involves enough contact with bureaucracy and quick speaking natives that is quite challenging for me. but i guess stressing the brain is a good form of exercise. i have already gone to the office to try to get my official residency card, the “carte de sejour”, which will also allow me to work. i brought triplicates of everything i thought they might need, but did not expect to succeed, which was good, because, i didn’t. to prove residency, i brought our lease, but i need a utility bill as well and probably a copy of the landlord’s identity card. we have requested this. this process will not be easy.

j says she is understanding a lot of what is said. she had been in a french school between the ages of 3-6 and has taken french for the last 2 years. we know it will come quickly to her, but it is still very exciting to see her improving. she is still shy in speaking. i try to put her in situations where she will be forced to speak.

in these last days of summer, she has been watching tv. of course, the excuse is to help her french. she has been watching cooking shows – and picked up a bit of the lingo. she complained about the chef who said repeatedly: “et c’est parti!” when he got something going. “and, it’s on its way”. but now she knows that expression.

she has also been tickled to watch the vapid disney teen sitcoms, in french. it sounds as vapid in french as it does in english. it’s not too hard to figure out what they are saying. Print this post