Vocabulary, Security, Storming of the Bastille and of course French

Now that I already passed the half-time break of my French language course I will give you an update about the most recent events.

I am still happily living with the Myriam's family and it is really nice having most of the time dinner together...even though I am not talking that much I am trying make a statement here and there.

Surprisingly I spent most of the time with French grammar, vocabulary and two huge UN security exercises. Those online tests are a mandatory requirement for the internship. The "Basic and Advanced Security in the Field" exercises took me in total about 7 hours and after passing the exams I felt like I am ready to be sent to the worst spots on earth...at least in theory.
The questions covered everything...from "how to deal with child soldiers?", "what is the proper behaviour in a mine filed?", "how do you find out directions in the middle of nowhere?" to "what has to be considered sexual harassment in the office?". It was really interesting and I am serious about it when I tell you that I learnt something!

After finishing the last exam I went to Lyon downtown because it was the 14th July which is the French National Day, celebrating the Storming of the Bastille. I met with my people from school to have dinner together and to watch the official firework at night. The fireworks have been...okay...nothing too crazy, but I felt like I absorbed some real French culture :-)



The last couple of days were more like business as usual besides my 3 major book purchases..."Le petit Nicolas" (French book for children...and adults), "Lonely Planet Madagascar" and "Le Monde Diplomatique"...

Yesterday night my fellow students and I have been invited to French birthday party...it was in downtown Lyon and it was so far the best night out in Lyon. We were about 20 people, cooking, eating, drinking and talking together...and I recognized that I got definitely more confident in speaking French which puts a big smile on my face...so no regrets for coming to Lyon at all!!!

Things are going quite well for me here...so I managed it to organize 1-on-1 French lessons beginning directly after my cours in the school ends. Hopefully those additional and individual lessons will boost my skills even a bit further...and other good news I received: obviously the Malagassy speak a clear and slow French, but maybe my friends just told me that to calm me down...I will figure it out in less than 2 month!

Okay, I have class tomorrow at 8.30am which means that I have to get up at 6.45am...and if I am lucky I will meet the French Astrid for an afternoon cafe in French...yeah, it is all about the "most romantic language" on earth...and I am not talking about Deutsch.

MGG Fabi