Advertisement
Published: November 1st 2007
Edit Blog Post
Provence
The boys with Grandpa Dan Family Secrets
November 1, 2007
We just wrapped up two weeks of visits from my mom and sandwiched in between a week with my dad and his wife, Mary. We had a great time. We did lots of shopping, eating and exploring the Provence region. The best part of the last two weeks was just hanging out with family. Justin and Will have missed my dad horribly since leaving in June. He was taking care of them after school the last few years so both him and the kids have been lonely for each other. During this great family time we had lots of talk of France and Italy as my dad’s parents were from those countries. My grandfather, Paul Selmi, was born in Lammari, Italy, which we visited this summer. My grandmother Vicki, while born in San Francisco, her parents were born in Saint Laurent du Cros in the French Alps. We haven’t visited there yet but coincidentally or not we are going tomorrow for the weekend. To add to the complicated origins of my being….(I am a true American…made up of so many immigrant nationalities…yet on my maternal grandfather’s side remain a 4th generation native San Franciscan…wow…America
Provence
The boys enjoy a little sparkling cider with their dinner the great melting pot) ..my maternal grandmother was born in the Philippines of a Spanish speaking mother and German (fought in WWI for the German Army) father. I won’t get into Scott’s family…let’s just know my kids are blonde California boys….
So where is this all going…my family history…in the course of this family reunion, I discover that my grandmother Vicki was a fluent French speaker. “What,” I say as this is mentioned over dinner….I already know that Grandma Lunny is fluent Spanish speaker. I grew up with her speaking Spanish to her mother my Granny. So now I am faced with the information that both my grandmothers spoke fluent second languages and in the case of Vicki, Italian also! So I ask my parents while I have them both in the same room…why is it that none of us grew up learning these languages that are vital to our future as global citizens. They both just sort of stare at me and say nothing. Again, I note that my children and I should be fluent in at least French, English and Spanish and so should they. Again stares….I wait…more stares….I mention that this is a crime! Finally my
Paris
One of the Musee D'Orsay clocks. So gorgeous! mom speaks up and says it was frowned upon in their day to speak other languages than English, especially to their children who were either 1st or 2nd generation Americans. While I know this is true, this is a concept that boggles my mind. Both my parents grew up in homes where their parents only spoke to their parents (and siblings) in their native languages and no attempt was made to assure bilingual children. They can’t even mumble “bonjour.” I have taken French in school and for the last year been struggling to learn it and paid good money for classes…only to find out that the best teacher was a member of my family that I spent 36 years with. Deep depression set in the next day when I fumbled my way through the market buying cheeses, and veggies for the weekend, trying to integrate in the local community.
Well…all is not lost….on a positive note, my French is improving! I can watch French TV and actually understand 80% of the dialogue. I was in Paris this past week and understood many of the conversations I over-heard on the train. Also while I am out and about in town,
Paris
A fabulous Fall Day! at the market and also on my recent trip to Paris my ability to have conversations with people is also improving. I am a long way from being fluent but don’t feel like such a dork bumbling my way through like I did just 2 months ago. While in Paris on Monday I had to go to the Gare to buy my train ticket to return to Avignon. I got here at rush hour and the place was a scene from some bad nightmare. I stopped at an information booth to ask where the ticket counter was. I rambled off in English my request. The man behind the counter looked at me and said…while smiling…”Wouldn’t you like to at least try to Speak French.” I giggled embarrassed, as I have been making a real effort to only speak French while conversing with French people. It was just a natural reaction to the hectic station to ask directions in English. The words just flew out of my mouth before I could catch them. I felt bad that I blew it like that. So in French I apologized, thanked him for reminding me to use my French, and asked my directions in
Paris
This city is so great! French. He in French praised my efforts, my skills and gave me directions, which I understood and I found my way to the ticket counter within minutes. He was very nice and I feel he was sent by my grandparents to force me now in middle age to use these skills that I posses deep down. Today on the train from Paris, I had another positive experience. I was sitting next to a young girl traveling with “un grand chien” (a 150 pound bull mastiff) and un petit chat (a 6 week old kitten). I had a nice conversation with her all the way from Paris to Avignon. I could barely help it as her dog was sitting on my foot.
Justin and Will have also had some recent enthusiasm for the French language. They started their lessons with our new friend and teacher Aurore. I was nervous, for those who know Will, he is slow to warm up and always has to mark his territory until he is comfortable. Justin just seemed uninterested in typical pre-teen fashion. To my delight, they went to their first lesson and gave 200% effort and actually liked it! They had two lessons
Paris
La Republique...near our hotel. while I was away in Paris and again…Scott reported great effort, and at dinner tonight they spoke to me in their new French words with enthusiasm and delight. I was thrilled. Unfortunately, they will have a little gap in lessons as the teacher is off a few days and then we will be back in Paris a few more. I vow to keep up the practice while she is gone and have already told them we are all continuing with French upon return to the US!
Four days in Paris was fabulous. My mom and I must have walked 10 miles a day. Except for one day of rain, the weather was glorious. Perfect fall weather, crisp and cool air, changing leaves, and bright blue skies!! The day of the rain, we found ourselves in the Louvre with 3 million other people. Luckily we both have had a few visits there and did not view one Renaissance painting. We looked at galleries we have never been to before and were practically the only ones there. It was great. We also hit up the Musee D’Orsay one day. My mom had never been there before. She loved it as much as I do. Mostly, we walked, talked and had some great meals. I continue to love Paris! The boys, including Scott, survived in Avignon without me for a few days. They didn’t do any laundry but oh well….for four days in Paris, it was worth it! Hope everyone at home is well. We miss you and look forward to seeing you soon.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.079s; Tpl: 0.016s; cc: 5; qc: 45; dbt: 0.0429s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb