So, I handed in my last homework assignment – even though I’m back in the States. C’est un peu compliqué but basically, I had to miss the last two days of my class. Since I still had access online, and with the aid of modern technology, I was able to keep up with the course despite the travel and time change.

I sent my prof the written copy of my last essay, and she returned it with her notes/corrections. Then, I sent her an audio file version, wherein I read my essay trying to demonstrate all the pronunciation rules she’d taught, including vocal tonique, liaisons, enchaînements, and of course the correct rhythm and breathing.

It’s a lot to remember, along with just remembering, you know, the French part.

The class ended last Friday, and I received an email saying she had not forgotten me. (So sweet!) Sure enough, on Sunday evening, when L’Alliance Française était fermée, she sent back her notes on my final piece. I was thrilled with the first comment, because I really kinda’ nailed the French R in my audio, which makes me smile, no end. (My words, not hers. She’s far more understated.) She also noted the improvement of my vocal tonique – which is so important because the French accentuate the end of words, where we Americans accentuate the positive – lol! No, I couldn’t resist – we accentuate the beginning of words. Example: my name is Lisa, and the emphasis in American English is on the beginning, hence, LI-ssah. In French, however, the singular S makes a Z sound, and the accent is on the end of my name, therefore, li-ZAAH – and you kind of sing the last syllable. Très charmant.

Then there’s the rhythm of spoken French. Always up, always up, till the end, when it goes down. Unless it’s a question, then it goes up again at the end. Of course there’s more — and it’s all going to take practice and study, but I found this class to be one of the best yet. And I know, I know, I’ve said that before. I tend to like their classes, but, really, these nuances are what make French, French.

I bought the Phonics Workbook that my prof used for class and recommended, and I’ve been working on that since I came home. It’s astonishing, really, how many letters are just NOT PRONOUNCED in French. And the very necessary REQUIRED prepositions and articles? Yes, they too are often obliterated in speech.

There are only so many syllables allowed in a phrase before you have to break it up. Why? You need to breathe. We do the same thing in English, but as it’s our native tongue, we don’t have to think about it any more. Remember those kids in school who read without pause and you found yourself holding your own breath as they went on and on with no regard for punctuation? I’m trying not to do THAT in French.

I also signed up for a trial conversational lesson en français via italki.com and that happened this morning. It was fun. It did get interesting when she was talking about having visited Georgia, Florida and a few other southern states. I mentioned the temperature difference in the southern part of America being so hot in the summer – and her mind went to SOUTH AMERICA. So, she said, « Oh non, non, non… » and she started to explain geography to me. I then explained that here, in the United States, we refer to ourselves as Americans, and the states she was talking about (Georgia and Florida) are in the south of America — not the continent – but the southern part of the United States. Very different subject, very different continent and climate. But hey – at least I realized the misunderstanding. So not bad, right? We laughed and cleared things up. I had actually been aware that the rest of the world thinks of the word « America » as the continent, not our country. And when they’re talking about our country, they always refer to us as « the United States » les États-Unis, en français. Yes, we are Americans, but so are a lot of other people who live in the American continents.

She gave me another resource to help me better understand spoken French – a podcast called Easy French. Stay tuned. I may also try a few other online conversational tutors this week.

Before I left Paris, I did have one « American » day. First, I visited a Starbucks. Why not? I smiled at the familiar coffee shop vernacular as I stood in the short line. I thought I was about to have the easiest conversation yet with a salesperson, but I was wrong. So wrong. I was happy to find a Paris version of the « You Were Here » series of mugs, and added that to my order of a cinnamon bun and one tall Americano. When the young man behind the counter started to take my mug out of the box, I was confused. After some questions, English, French, Frenglish, FrAnglais… we sorted it out. It seems in Paris, when you buy something like a mug, your coffee is free. Vraiment? Oui. Oops. I took my purchases upstairs to find a seat. It was busy, but super quiet. Like, insanely quiet. This was a Starbucks! How is this possible? It was like a library. I enjoyed my pastry and went to take a sip of my coffee. Merde! Oh mon dieu! It seems even in Paris, Starbucks serves coffee that is just too damned hot to drink. Pourquoiiiiiiii???? My first time ever in Paris with this experience. I burned my tongue. Seriously, this never happens there.

The coolest part, other than my mug, was the trash can. You heard me. I watched the other patrons for a while and was baffled by how long they took at the receptacle. They are BIG into recycling, electric buses and vehicles, scooters, bikes, etc., in Paris (France), but what was going on here, I wondered? My turn. Wow! Ok, there were two separate bins for sorting your trash/recycling — and a third bin on the side. Why? It was where you pour any remaining liquid/drink before recycling/trashing. GENIUS!

Ok, next, I stopped at a French arts/crafts store in the Latin Quarter, and bought a few small things.

And then, I visited Shakespeare & Co. to buy a requested souvenir for someone special. It was the weekend, but it wasn’t too crowded. The line moved super fast. Personally, I wanted a copy of A Moveable Feast (Hemingway), a favorite book that I’ve read twice (which I don’t do). I just wanted a copy of it with that signature bookshop « stamp. » I laughed when an American woman nearby said « Well, I’m not going to buy a book, obviously, since I can’t read French. » Oh my. What to say? Nothing? Every book in this store is in English. I mean… the titles are in English too — and the workers only speak English to customers. Do I just keep my mouth shut? Honestly, I still speak French when I go there, but that’s for practice. So, I gently mentioned to the ladies that all the books in this store are in English. I swear I’m not making fun, although it was funny. I get the confusion. All knowledge and logic sometimes goes out the window when you’re in a foreign country. Even one’s own native language can seem foreign.

On that note, I do sometimes like to pretend I’m French when English-speaking (or other) tourists ask me things, or if I offer to take family photos for them. It’s so much fun.

It happened at the airport as I was leaving. But it wasn’t planned. I was still in what I call « French Head » when the couple in front of me dropped dollar bills all over the floor. They were green bills. American money. But it didn’t register. (Like I said, all logic goes out the window when you’re in a foreign country or the airport. Same difference.) Anyway, I spoke to them in French, « Monsieur… pardon… je pense que vous avez laissé tomber… de l’argent sur le sol… » pointing to the floor and telling them they’d dropped their money. For whatever reason, I then asked if they were American? (Le duh.) The woman replied, apologetically, « Yes, I guess you can tell, right? Dropping everything on the floor. We’re American. » I didn’t even get a chance to tell them that I, too, was American, before they were called to the counter to show their passports. The language/culture transition is always a challenge… though amusing.

But I digress…

After the bookshop, I passed by a little restaurant called « Burgers and Fries. » And, since America was the theme of the day, I went in. And there, I enjoyed an insanely delicious burger and fries – with an Orangina on the side.

Since it was my last night in Paris, I went to a favorite bistro for an early dinner. I was the only person in the café ordering food. It was way too early for Parisians to eat dinner, but I had an early flight the next day. Afterwards, I went to another favorite spot with the sole purpose of gifting my leftover Métro tickets to Sasha. It is much cheaper to buy a Navigo pass to ride the rails in Paris and just keep adding money to it, but I didn’t do that. (I had always bought a carnet of tickets, so it was familiar more than anything else.) Next time, Navigo! Honestly the leftover tickets are a nice little gift to give to someone who’s been nice to you before you part.

I was able to talk American Football with some of my restaurant friends, and they were all excited about mon équipe de football américain – Les Aigles de Philadelphie – going into the playoffs. And now, I’m getting ready for the very American Day: Super Bowl Sunday!