Life in Chicoutimi

Im sitting in the little computer room of Pauline (my host mother s) basement. (Yeah, I cant find the apostrophe on this comp, just funny è things - sorry!) I decided to take a break from trying to memorize french phrases like When is your birthday. Get this: our prof taught us three different ways to say that simple phrase. And then showed us how to chance each of those phrases from the informal to the formal. Aaaah! Too many different ways!!!! And then she taught us all sorts of different questions and answers and for each new sentence, the form of simple words like you and is and what changes pretty much everytime. Aaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

Yeah, so I needed a break from this crazy language and decided to update you all on my life in Chicoutimi. Remember that vow of silence I thought I had taken earlier this week? Well, I have to admit I am surprised how well I can get by and how much I can say with my very limited French. I throw in an English word here and there and Im sure my grammar is completely messed up, but I can often get my message across. The other day I was even able to have a conversation with another student whose family is from Estonia (and Ive been there, too) - and we were actually able to talk about it! But usually the conversation revolves around comment ca va? And j mapelle Miriam. And Dou viens tu? Feels rather primitive after awhile, so, when my housemate Julie and I decided to walk home in the sunshine after school this afternoon, both of us quickly lapsed into English because we were dying for a more intelligent conversation!

But yesterday we spent the entire day at school so I was immersed in French all day. I think parts of my dreams last night were in French - or, at least, I had to speak French in my dream...

So, our mornings are spent in our French classes. Im in a beginner class, for the first time in my life Im in a class with more guys than girls, and our prof is the kindest and most patient prof youve ever had. Yeah, Ive been finding classes super helpful and, for the most part, interesting, although Im usually pretty tired by the end of it.

During the afternoons, we get to do various activities offered by the program that we had to sign up for. For example, for Wednesday afternoons, I signed up for danse expression - we had our first class yesterday where we were taught a modern dance. Was fun!

Dinner we usually have with our host families. Some of my friends (including Julie) have been going out in the evenings, but Ive declined everytime so far because Im pretty exhausted by the end of the day. Ive been in bed before 10 every night this week! Our prof said it is normal for us to be so tired because this language is so new to us.

Want to know an interesting fact re. Quebecois? Words connected to the Catholic Church - like virgin or tabernacle - are considered worse swear words than our f-word. Obviously theres some hatred of the church going on. Wow, these people must have some skewed up view of Christianity!

Speaking of which, this is the first time in my life that I have been fully submersed in a completely non-Christian culture for an extended period of time. Sometimes I forget that I all these students surrounding me arent familiar with Christianity and I have to remind myself that they wont understand my Christian lingo if I used it. But at other times, I am quickly reminded of the sad state that these people live in without Jesus - like when I hear people talking about how drunk they were last night or when swear words appear to be a normal part of their vocab. Or even worse and sometimes less obvious, a lack of purpose or direction in life. Im kinda seeing how different my life is from theres.

Okay, its almost nine - my bedtime. :) Bon nuit!