The last 2 weeks since my last post have brought more opportunities to socialize, speak French and tie up loose ends, while serving as a reminder to let go and let live, and to quiet my inner voice, which is usually overly self critical, demanding and protective.
On the work front, our phone lines are supposed to be direct dial, however, two or three times now, my phone (and the only one in the office) rang spontaneously, which of course I am expected to answer, although with reserved hesitation as I know the caller will most likely speak French. And on each occasion, I reluctantly answered and in my best French re-directed the call after mumbled French niceties and slight embarrassment on my part for jumbling and fumbling with basic French conversation and candour. But moments of self pride and humour they were, coupled with a gentle reminder of natural progression and learning and the importance of nudging forward despite stubborn self pride and a desire to get it right.
Continuing on the job updates, the work environment is very multicultural with colleagues from all parts of Europe, speaking and changing between many languages throughout the day, from Italian to Greek, Slovakian to Spanish, and of course French with some English in between. I am learning that in Europe while it is common to speak more than one language, the desire and passion to learn new languages is captivating and not filled with the same reservations or hesitations that I struggle with. It definitely makes speaking French a bit easier as I know that I am in the same boat as some of my colleagues, although many are bilingual or trilingual!
Over the past couple of weeks, I have joined a colleague for drinks after work and while we should practice our rudimentary French, good conversations were had in English and a sense of a diminished social existence was lifted! I have also joined in a few extra activities through the English group I volunteer for (Act4), and re-started the French-English exchange I began several months ago. Although mostly in English, some French is peppered in for good measure and practice. I am happy to say though, that I notice my comprehension is improving and my speaking is starting to trudge along with less effort, the same level of error ;) but with a bit more confidence and less hesitation!
I have lived beyond frugally over the past month, and I am amazed at how little I can survive on; although this does not include the plane ticket booked on my credit card for Scotland in two weeks!! If I have ever lived outside of the box, this may be one of the more significant experiences to date, despite moving to France, of course, as financially speaking I have always been in control with a sense of security, saving and spending wisely. Let me tell you, following a summer of travel, unemployment and the French government denying my request for employment insurance, my monetary outlook is barely afloat, although I am learning that it is the experiences and adventures of life that pay the greatest rewards. And so, I will be embarking on a short jaunt to Scotland in 2 weeks, for 4 days, to visit a good friend travelling there from Canada, and I will figure out the financial piece a little later. Because at the end of the day I will look back on this experience and say the cost was trivial in comparison to the experience.
And now I enter October, the final month, leading up to the one year mark in France… where I will be giving small group private English lessons, continue to practice and speak in French, and travel to Scotland…
And on October 23 I will celebrate one year in France. How is that for time flies..?
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