bahhhh.....ouaissss
3:21 AM
Normally, I think of myself as a (relatively) charming human being. In my native tongue, I like to think that I am sort of funny, a little charismatic pretty nice, compassionate, and overall a fun person to be around. However, when speaking a foreign language, I sometimes feel as though I am absolutely none of the above. At my present level of French, I pretty much always feel flustered, confused, at a loss for words, and generally just not myself. As you might be able to assume, awkward moments are a daily occurrence in my life (even more so than in the U.S....can you fathom?!).
Last night we had our bi-monthly language exchange with French students in the area, and I finished the night quite proud of myself for not only being the only American participating in a conversation with 5 fluent speakers, but also being able to snag the mobile numbers of my new comrades (I think that brings me up to about 20 numbers in my contacts...how very very sad). One of the mecs I was speaking to sent me an SMS with his name so I could save his number, but, being the klutz that I am, accidentally sent him a text with his own name whilst trying to save his number, minutes after the group went our separate ways (in my defense, though, the phone is set in French...). After minor freaking out, I was relieved when I thought I had figured out how to abort the message before it had been able to send itself over the airways and into this soon-to-be-confused-boy's phone. However, soon after, I received a response from him that just read 'Meredith'. In the end though I think (hope) he understood that I was just confused foreigner who is bad at technology and found the situation relatively amusing.
Even though situations like these make my life downright painful at times, I found that it is helping me find ways to laugh at myself. Having the ability and confidence to laugh at myself is really the only way to really benefit from this experience as a debutante French speaker, and hopefully the more I do it, the less necessary it will become. It will be a VERY long time before these types of awkward moments subside during my journey through the French language and culture, so I might as well embrace them, right?
And, for your amusement, more examples of awkward behavior are included below:
(Scene: leisurely afternoon café trip with one American and one Chinese friend, just ordered tea)
Me: (Proud that I just ordered tea without the waiter having to repeat my order in a more French accent in order to understand)
Waiter: (Returning) Je suis desolé, j'ai oublié.....
Me: Mon prenom?
Waiter: ...non, the type of tea you asked for. But...if...you...would...like..?
Me: (General awkwardness, uncontrollable blushing, laughter to ease social tension)
ming.
Last night we had our bi-monthly language exchange with French students in the area, and I finished the night quite proud of myself for not only being the only American participating in a conversation with 5 fluent speakers, but also being able to snag the mobile numbers of my new comrades (I think that brings me up to about 20 numbers in my contacts...how very very sad). One of the mecs I was speaking to sent me an SMS with his name so I could save his number, but, being the klutz that I am, accidentally sent him a text with his own name whilst trying to save his number, minutes after the group went our separate ways (in my defense, though, the phone is set in French...). After minor freaking out, I was relieved when I thought I had figured out how to abort the message before it had been able to send itself over the airways and into this soon-to-be-confused-boy's phone. However, soon after, I received a response from him that just read 'Meredith'. In the end though I think (hope) he understood that I was just confused foreigner who is bad at technology and found the situation relatively amusing.
Even though situations like these make my life downright painful at times, I found that it is helping me find ways to laugh at myself. Having the ability and confidence to laugh at myself is really the only way to really benefit from this experience as a debutante French speaker, and hopefully the more I do it, the less necessary it will become. It will be a VERY long time before these types of awkward moments subside during my journey through the French language and culture, so I might as well embrace them, right?
And, for your amusement, more examples of awkward behavior are included below:
(Scene: leisurely afternoon café trip with one American and one Chinese friend, just ordered tea)
Me: (Proud that I just ordered tea without the waiter having to repeat my order in a more French accent in order to understand)
Waiter: (Returning) Je suis desolé, j'ai oublié.....
Me: Mon prenom?
Waiter: ...non, the type of tea you asked for. But...if...you...would...like..?
Me: (General awkwardness, uncontrollable blushing, laughter to ease social tension)
ming.
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