Epic FAIL!

When it comes to language learning, I've uncovered some universal truths:

• You're going to make a million mistakes
• Mistakes won't kill you
• The ability to laugh at yourself really helps
• One step forward, two steps back
• Pride comes before a fall

You see where this is going.

This week I was feeling pretty good about my French progress. In 18 months, I've learned a lot. I have a solid base of grammar and vocabulary. I can read French fairly well. My "ear" has improved dramatically. Speaking is the most difficult, but there are days that I can string a few coherent sentences together. I progress petit à petit. 

This week, everything was put to the test when our downstairs neighbor knocked on our door in a panic, because water was pouring out of the light fixture in her kitchen ceiling. It wasn't hard to understand what she was saying, especially when accompanied with a dramatic charades-like pantomime. Sure enough, we discovered a leak underneath our bathtub. This required a call to our landlord. A phone call! Nothing strikes terror into the language-learner's heart quite like having to talk on the telephone. But I was successful: the plumber was summoned, he understood our need, fixed the leak, and all was well. I felt invincible!

Until part two. After the plumber left, I turned on the tap to run a shower, and lo and behold -- no hot water. I tried the kitchen sink. No hot water there either. And the water pressure was really low. I looked up a few words and grabbed the phone once again. This time, the gas company came to our rescue. I was hosting a friend for coffee when the technician arrived, so I was admittedly a bit preoccupied, but I explained the situation and left him to his work. A mere five minutes later, he showed me a part that he'd replaced and presented me with a paper to sign, speaking in rapid-fire French the entire time. I nodded and smiled and "d'accord-ed" heartily. "C'était très rapide!" I praised, "Merci beaucoup!" In time, my guest left, and I went to test the hot water, relishing in the anticipation of a steamy shower. 

You guessed it....still no hot water. 

3rd phone call. Lots of waiting on hold ("ne quittez pas!"), and then once again some rapid-fire French, of which I only understood the important "He'll call you back." He did call back, and this time Greg answered the phone. The mechanic actually spoke English much better than we speak French, and he told Greg "I already explained to your wife that I couldn't fix the heater because I have to order a part and get clearance from your landlord to proceed with the repair." Ohhhhh. So when he was showing me the part that I thought he'd replaced so efficiently, he was actually telling me he needed to replace it. Looking back on it, all of his quizzical looks at my smiles and praise suddenly made sense! I had to laugh.

That's the most important lesson I've learned in this language journey. How to laugh at myself.

And how to take cold showers.

Un Accueil Chaleureux (A Warm Welcome)

The girls enjoyed a "goûter" (snack) at the home of one of the host families 

Being asked to organize a project outside of your comfort zone can be challenging, to say the least, but ultimately rewarding. I was recently stretched in this way when I was asked to find French host families for a group of American high school students who were visiting Lyon. It took some time and networking, but in the end I was able to successfully pair the five students and their teacher with familles d'accueil for their week-long French immersion experience.

Visiting a French school

Shopping at the marché

The word "accueil" in French means "welcome." You'll see this difficult-to-pronounce word at information kiosks and reception desks at hotels, museums, and other such locations throughout France. The expression un accueil chaleureux is similar to "a warm welcome," and that's exactly what the American girls received when they met their French families for the first time. Their initial jitters swiftly disappeared when they were immediately included as temporary members of the family. The girls each had different opportunities to immerse themselves into family life: some shopped and cooked with their host moms; others went to school and hip-hop classes with their new French "sisters." At the end of the week, one girl told me that her preconceived stereotype of the French being "cold and distant" was transformed into the complete opposite impression as a result of staying with her French family.

One of the girls with her host "maman"

The experience was enriching on the French side, too. Upon debriefing with the host families, they all gushed about what a wonderful experience it was to spend time with a young person from a different culture. The French teenagers especially enjoyed meeting "real Americans" and found that they had many activities and interests in common. Thanks to modern technology, I expect that these new relationships will continue to thrive across the miles.


I believe that this sort of cross-cultural experience is so beneficial to anyone who has the opportunity to experience it. When you visit another country as a tourist, you typically only get a small glimpse of reality. It takes an immersion experience to get to know the true culture and perspective of the people that call the country "home." A good compromise for tourists is to try to find a way to spend at least part of their trip interacting with the natives. That might mean choosing a B&B or host family situation over a hotel, or going off the beaten path, eating and shopping with the locals rather than visiting museums and tourist attractions. In the end it will be worth the extra effort, and you may even make a new friend in the process. It also doesn't hurt to extend un accueil chaleureux to a tourist visiting your own country!

Kids are kids, no matter where they're from!

Je Suis Charlie

I see it in the somber yet proud faces of those I pass on the street. I see it in the increased police presence around Lyon. I see it in my own soul, as I struggle to comprehend the events of the past few days. And I see it plastered on posters and signs around town: Je Suis Charlie.

This phrase is nonsense outside of the context of the horrific tragedy which unfolded last week in Paris, and I doubt that even western foreigners can fully understand the impact of this slogan -- myself included. But the three simple words brilliantly capture the national sentiment in France after the senseless murders which occurred January 7th through 9th.

Americans believe in freedom of speech, yet we often seem to shy away from controversial topics in the name of tolerance and political correctness. For the French, although the cartoons at Charlie Hebdo were clearly offensive and provocative, it's truly important to defend the national French values expressed in its motto Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité....despite the controversial messages portrayed in the cartoons. The ideal of free speech, regardless of the content, is at stake in the minds of the citizens of this nation which has a long and complicated history of war, revolution, and uprising. The French come together today in solidarity, as one people, to march for their freedom rights. One million plus are gathering in Paris as I write, and there is also a huge march in Lyon going on at the same time. So what will these marches accomplish? Where will we go from here?

Above all, I believe that we all need to continue the march. We need to stand together, regardless of nationality, religion, political viewpoint, color, or any other mask that divides us. We need to come together against terrorism of any kind. I'm encouraged when I read about imams who are not remaining silent, but are speaking out against these evil practices. Muslim imams, Christian pastors, and Jewish rabbis alike need to band together in peace to condemn the actions of extremists who killed in the name of Allah or any other God. I think the brother of the slain Muslim police officer Ahmed Merabet said it so well, and I'll quote his words directly from the Guardian:

“My brother was Muslim and he was killed by two terrorists, by two false Muslims,” he said. “Islam is a religion of peace and love. As far as my brother’s death is concerned it was a waste. He was very proud of the name Ahmed Merabet, proud to represent the police and of defending the values of the Republic – liberty, equality, fraternity.”

Malek reminded France that the country faced a battle against extremism, not against its Muslim citizens. “I address myself now to all the racists, Islamophobes and antisemites. One must not confuse extremists with Muslims. Mad people have neither colour or religion,” he said.

“I want to make another point: don’t tar everybody with the same brush, don’t burn mosques – or synagogues. You are attacking people. It won’t bring our dead back and it won’t appease the families.”

I pray today that we will always remember these wise words from a heartbroken brother. I pray that we would wake up and treat one another with love and respect. Believers, may we show people today that we love God by loving the people He created.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - Jesus 

According to Le Progres, no less than 300,000 people marched in the streets of Lyon today.
Here's the scene in Place Bellecour. Wow!