Canadian Bacon

Tpunks, its been a while!

So I am going to Montpellier France for 5 weeks tomorrow in order to learn French. I am not enrolled in any kind of course or anything, but have taken French lessons in Ottawa from August - October. So basically a lot of the grammar is kicking around in my head.... I just need pratice, practice, et beaucoup pratigue!

Here's where I need help: I have no plan. I just plan to walk around, sip some coffee and talk to people. I briefly thought about paying university students to speak French with me, perhaps utilizing flyers. However, that might end up to be quite extensive (I'm saving costs by living with a buddy who works there).

If you were me what would you do?

CB

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

marc873

Day 3, get a french girlfriend, by the end of 5 weeks, you will speak far better, and have a romance along the way!!! It really does work too!!!

__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....

Canadian Bacon

My friend, I like how you think

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

expatben

Maybe a good way is to make small talk-in a cafe, on a bus anywhere-its all about practice.

__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.

Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.

[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"

Canadian Bacon

Just an update:

Been here 1 week and so far, so good! My French has already improved in a real and tangible way, and my interactions with "les gens" (the people) are regular and positive. French people, from what I see, don't deserve the reputation they have -- they're not overly friendly, but once you chat them up they warm up.

So far I have been
--doing one fairly complex task in French every day, which requires me to use and stretch my vocab and comprehension skills
--been doing 1 unit of Rosetta Stone French per day
--been writing a blog in French every day Eggfoo's Mission de Francais en France
--been speaking French at home with my buddy who I live with for now

I ever picked up a girl at a bar totally in French! Yes, Marc... your advice was well taken

A bientot!

CB

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

marc873

WORD!!!!!!!!!

__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....

Canadian Bacon

Last day in France. Mission accomplished.

I now can speak French like a new immigrant to France. Yay me! That is, I can do small talk and get basic stuff done even when speaking to people who know NO english at all. I can even get a girl's number in a bar totally in French. However, having an hour-long dinner conversation is another matter entirely. I can also sorta understand French TV and I watched two episodes of the show where this French chef visits a shitty restaurant and then makes it better. I also watched the entire Miss France 2012 -- absolutely riveting stuff. I even bought Carl Jung's "exploration into the unconscious" in its origin French and began to read it, although I have been stuck on the first page for about two weeks now.

French aside, I ate a lot of cheese, drank a lot of wine, ate a lot of bread, sipped a lot of expresso, smoked a lot of cigarettes, met a lot of the local people, ate a lot of meat (French coldcuts, mostly), walked on a lot of stone streets, took a lot of metros, and garnered a lot of attention to myself (not too many asian ppl here, esp asian ppl from Canada with long flowing yakuza-style hair).

I also did an interesting side trip to Switzerland and found out, to my surprise, that Swiss people are actually more unfriendly than the French. Or at least, that was my experience. Ppl in Montpellier are actually quite friendly when you get them chatting. But whenever I walked into a bar/cafe in Switzerland, I got the impression that I was like that I was walking into a family's living room, uninvited. But sorry don't wanna dwell on the negative -- the food was great.

Tried some "steak tartare" which is basically raw minced beef and it was quite good! I also tried some "fois gras" (pronounced fwah-grah) and it was like someone took a stick of butter and amplified its fattiness by the factor of ten million. It was the richest thing I have ever eaten and was sort of gross. Had some awesome fondue and my buddy who I stayed with cooked me some super French dishes from the mountains.

But having lived here for 5 weeks has further confirmed my general feeling that people, societies, have the same rymthmn of life everywhere once you get past minor differences. Ppl doing the same shit. Ppl are quiet in the metro in the mornings. Old people go to the library to read newspapers when they got nothin to do. Ppl hook up at bars, but it happens drunkenly and awkwardly. For all you hear about sex being so open here, this is just in the way that there is nudity on TV or racy ads -- men-women relations are still the same as in your average North American city, as I saw it. Everyone listens to American music. There are thugs who sit on the subway and take up way too much space. C'est la meme-shit. It's like the same plant, planted in different soils.

Some differences are superficial. Ppl don't wait for others to get out of the metro before getting in. Ppl don't say 'excuse me' when brushing past you. Or maybe I'm just Canadian.

The more unique differences are that of emphasis. For example, French people really emphasize the social aspect of eating. First you have the aperitif, then the main course, then cheese, then desert. (Yes, cheese is AFTER food... I found that weird). But mostly you sit there are have to talk for a long time. If you got nothing to talk about, well then you make up stuff to talk about. This trains good social habits from childhood and I suspect is the reason it seems a table full of French ppl never run out of things to say.

Anyway its getting late and I don't have much more to say, so in summary: southern france = pretty awesome! And a good place to practice ton mauvais Français!

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

marc873

Nice J!!! Sounds like it was a fantastic 5 week experience!!! Your french is better, you got to embrace and understand another culture on another level!!!!
Another part of the world explored and understood!!! Lucky man you are and jealous I am!!! hahaha
Sooooo, did you ever get that french girl hookup????

__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....

Canadian Bacon

sadly, no... but there were some honourable (and not-so honourable) attempts!

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

marc873

hahaha!!! Nice!!!!!

__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....

Dig

Long live the not-so-honorable pick up attempts! I'll leave the French language to you, the Spanish is hard enough for me

__________________
Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary FALL 2012!!!

expatben

Sounds like you had an awesome time man! Are you back in Canada?

__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.

Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.

[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"

travelpunk

Just saw this thread. Congrats on improving your French! It must have been a great experience living short term in the south of France. French girls are hot!

Glad you had a great time, Jase!

__________________


Cheap Hostels, Europe Hostels, Student Hostels

Cheap Eurail Passes, Eurail Youth Passes, Eurotrain Passes

Canadian Bacon

Thanks Godfather! And I passed 2/3 of government french exams!

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

Canadian Bacon

Yeah dude, back for 'good'.

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

expatben

we should meet up when I am next in Ottawa

__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.

Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.

[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"

RoadTripper

Such a great thread!! thanks for sending updates along the way. I am french myself living in the US for 5 years now and it reminded me of my first week landing in Boston. Don't forget to practice practice when you get home. it s very inportant not to forget stuff you picked up there!

Canadian Bacon

Anytime bro, just PM me!

__________________
Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."