English Speaking FrenchWOMEN

While in India,I always thought that there isnt a place in world where English wasnt spoken.Despite many warnings from friends and seniors,I remained enterwined with my firm belief and refused to pay much attention to the French course that I was learning.Though my attendance never thinned out(due to some other reasons) but I never thought much of learning French properly.

Needless to say it was a complete shock when people couldnt even understand 'Thank You' here.For example the first day we stepped out of the airport,we missed a 6 euro bus simply because we didnt know how to say 'STOP' in French.(And had to pay 120 euros for 2 taxis afterwards.)
Anyway this post is not about me speaking French but the French trying to speak English.Mine is the only department in INSA where some courses are taught in English.And its really fascinating to see the French students speaking in English.Whenever a French student asks a question in English, a simultaneous jeering and applause breaks out in the class.It reminds me of my teenage years in Bathinda when the person speaking in English was immediately branded as an elitist and made fun of.In fact I used to sneak after the school hours to the library to issue a book to avoid the sneering of my peers....

We have always considered French as snobbish pricks who put too much faith on their language and culture in this age of globalisation.(Though I certainly fear about our culture when half the people whom I meet think that English is India's official language which is ironical considering Indias wealth of languages).But the fact remains that most of them would speak in English if they could,but are just ashamed of their accent and the lack of vocablary.If you know French then they are one of the most amicable persons that I have seen(except Spanish-though this issue would be addressed seperately).It again shows our colonial hangover that we consider everything British and American good.Really the extend to which some French people are helpful towards the foreigners,sometimes I am not able to decide whether we deserve to be called one of the most hospitable cultures around.

So now I will relate 1-2 experiences where some French girls tried to practice English with me.Well first was when in my department a girl came up and said,
Girl: Hi! You are from which country?
Me:(heart skipping a beat) I am from India.
Girl: Can I practice English with you?
Me:(stomach during a somersault now) Why not?Provided you can understand
my accent. (We both laugh but I was quite serious.)
Girl: What do you think about sex before marriage?
Me:(taken aback) What do you mean?
Girl:Well I believe in remaining a virgin till marriage.Isnt it the practice thats
followed in ur country.
(I realize with a gutted feeling that she was trying to justify her decision and wanted my support.)
Me:(trying to be diplomatic) Well some people believe in it but not all.
Girl:Well,what about you?
Me:(In a dilemma) Well I dont think that in this age there must be any
restrictions.
Well after this negation she is quite disappointed and leaves trying to prove her point to a collegue and I am left rueing my luck and the day I inherited the huge losers luck from my good for nothing seniors:((

Well this happened the first time.Now let me recount another experience.We were sitting in an on campus bar and there was a party going on.I was talking to a girl in French.She was part of a group responsible for the exchange students.Well I asked her why she took the responsiblity and she answered that part of the motive was to practice English.Well I was all ears again believing that finally the luck is shining on me.
Me:(After a while) So do live on campus or in the exterior?
Girl: Well on campus.
Me: Do you have a roommate?
Girl:Yeah.
Me:Is she an exchange student?
Girl:No she is a moroccan like me.We are lesbians.
Me:(Eyes popping out) What?
Girl:Yeah,we are lesbians.Is that strange?
Me:(recovering a bit and curiousity taking hold of me) Really!!Well I havent
come accross any lesbian couples before.Its kind of strange to be in the
midst of one.When did you come to know that you were..Ahem..Lesbian?
Girl:(smiling now) Well you seem to be very interested?
Me:(backing of embarassed)No,no Its just that I was.......
Well then laughter breaks all around and she says that ofcourse she isnt lesbian and it was all just a pretence.

Well I came to two conclusions by these incidents.
1) Either my nationality or my body language inspires them to start of on the forbidden topic of sex etc. This hypothesis is made stronger by the fact that I was offered twice an invitation for the stripbar at Cannes and Nice while innocently roaming around near the beach.
2) French learn most of their english words from the movies and thus they absorb such topics as sex and gay stuff more than other topics leading to a better vocablary on these topics.Thats why while trying to strike a conversation they take up the most convenient route of expression.
3)Ab main apne bhagya ke baare mein kya kahoon.....After that I havent tried speaking in English with any French girl.

So this is the story of Anglais speaking French people.Though the way the French system works its absolutely unnecessary for the French to learn Englis .They find all the books,movies and educational material in English.One of the effects of the above incidents has been me professing ignorance of the knowledge of good English.

So it begins.....

Well I have finally started.'Well begun is half done',its said. It took a long time and lots of procrastination on my part to get to this stage.When I was in 8th standard, I once read a poem by Ogden Nash , Confessions of a Born Spectator.I have henceforth always referred to myself as a 'born spectator' which I firmly believe is a fairly accurate description of my personality.People who know me well enough not to be fooled by the external glories will at once vouch for the accuracy of the above phrase. I have always been an observant spectator to the triumphs and conquests of others in every field of life, observing everything and accepting my pre defined role as that of an admirer.For where would a performer go if there wasnt a spectator.I tried to follow my role literally too by always being there, be it a hostel play or a match or simply any event whatsoever.Untill now........

Suddenly, fate intervened and somethings changed.I suddenly found myself performing and others observering and man was I scared..I was suddenly the centre of attraction and didnt know what to make of it.For the first time in my life I am actually doing a lot of new things instead of just watching and it is an exhilirating feeling. Before coming,I made a solemn promise to myself that I wont have any regrets while coming back and I think inspite of a few hiccups... I am slowly but surely achieving my goals .So I viewed blogging in the same manner as everything else.I have been an avid blog reader since a long time but was always a bit reluctant to take a plunge myself.Many ppl advised me to start..that its only the startup hiccups...but I neither had great command on the language,nor my life was anymore interesting than others, so I always resisted the idea.Untill France happened to me....... Well yeah for the uninitiated I am in the midst of a one year exchange program to France and have enjoyed everybit of the rollercoaster ride that it has been.This time I was actually experiencing something unique,something which I had never dreamed of,living some dreams that lots of Indians dream but few actually realize.I have already seen a lot more than I thought I would ever be able in a lifetime.

So this will be my take on the life here,my accessments,my observations(cant stop being the observer tht I am,can I... ) and some frustrations. And I thank all those who egged me forward to write inspite of my deepest reservations.Hope I dont dissapoint you.If with my blog,I can steal a smile through your busy schedule of life,I would deem it a success. (A bit too melodramatic but you see I have years of reading experience behind me with none whatsoever on the writing front:)) And finally this blog is dedicated to all those intelligent young persons who have been rendered rudderless and frustrated by a combination of social compulsions and a demanding system and whom I miss so sorely here.(Now it looks like an award ceremony but Hell I dont care.)