Field work or Learning, learning, learning

Hello there!

Three posts in three days I hope will make up for the days when I didn't post! Two days ago, I had dinner at CRIOBE and sat next to Cedric, a masters student here who speaks a petit peu l'anglais (a very little bit of english). So we struggled in French together. Another person next to me asked me how long I studied French and I responded, "Oh I taught myself." I asked Cedric how long he had studied English and he said "It's a secret," while the man to my left said, "We have to learn English from the age of six in France," though Cedric responded that he "had a bad English teacher." So Bon Courage my fair readers! You too can learn a foreign langauge if I speak better French than a guy who learned English for many years speaks English! I tried some anise as well last night, which as far as I can tell, tastes like licorice and is one of the primary ingredients in absinthe, that fair weather French drink that all of the Bohemians in Paris drank in the 1800s and which caused (supposedly) wide spread insanity. All I can say is that I had more courage to speak French after it and the French wine. No insanity to report.

Yesterday was an interesting day at CRIOBE. Early in the day, the French Ambassador to Fiji came. As we started the meeting, everyone around the table introduced themselves and said what they did at CRIOBE. I was last. Julie, one of the managers here, leaned over right before I was about to go, and whispered, "You can speak English." Jada was quite impressive, and introduced herself and her research completely in French. I, on the other hand, bumbled around half in English, half in French. The ambassador assured me that it was ok that I spoke English. And then we watched a slide-show about CRIOBE. I actually somewhat followed as it had multiple pictures. But I think by the end some people were falling asleep. Tell me (Dit moi), have you ever seen an interesting slideshow?

So although I have only been here a week, I am already speaking French almost exclusively to everyone here except for Pip, an Australian who seems determined not to learn French. It makes it hard as I believe I only know 10 verbs or so. I am always asking, "Comment dit on...." (How do you say?) and have learned such helpful phrases as "Can you help me open this can?" (Peux tu m'aider ouvrir du botte de conserver?) and "Naia, go in your doghouse!" (Naia, va dans da niche!) along with other winners such as "Naia, come here!" (Naia viens ici!) and "Naia is under the table." (Naia es sur la table.). So as you can see, most of it involves the dog. A fair bit involves food as well. "A fork, spoon, glass of wine, plate" (une fourchette, une cuillere, verre de vin, une assiette). I guess it is evident where my priorities lie.

Earlier yesterday I was sitting in the living room studying and speaking to myself in French, and Julie came in and we had a long conversation, in French, about why I want to learn French, and such. There is definitely a truth to the statement that people really appreciate it when you make an effort to speak the language when you go a new place. I think most of the people who come through here who don't speak French make no effort to speak French, and so the fact that I'm trying is admired by the French, even if I butcher it continually.

So today we went to a rugby game. Rotui is the Moorean team, and they were playing in the semifinals against a team from Tahiti. We know five people on the team, so it was exciting to cheer for people we knew. There were about 10 of us, then the UCLA class showed up so there were about 40 of us in all. We all cheered for team Rotui and I think it was their largest crowd yet. The team was really psyched to have us there. There were about 40 other spectators, so we made a big impression. Rotui lost in the end, but they played a good game. I am slowly building on my rugby knowledge.

Lots of love,
Emily