Some pictures from France…
Have you ever attended a wedding reception where you didn’t know anyone in the room? Sure, you know the couple (why would you be there), but beyond them, it’s a sea of fresh faces.
You are work colleagues with the bride/groom. You want to encourage and support your friend so you accept the invitation to attend. You learn a little about your friend from the “Our Story” montage and from watching the couple interact with family and friends. After a few minutes it’s your turn to congratulate the couple, offer a few kind words, and share an inside joke. After greeting the featured couple you then reside on the social edge of this party. Any future conversation will take a certain level of effort from you. Some parties you are willing to give that effort and some parties you just don’t have it in you. Quite often though, you bump into a couple or a group who genuinely invite you into warm conversation. You relax in conversation for the duration of the party.
That’s what it feels like to be immersed in a new language.
You are on the edge of this big party. Everyone in attendance has a connection to one another and you are trying to create your connection. Thus, you look for people who will graciously accept your “start-up” connection. Sometimes you find easy dialogue and sometimes you have to push into an uncomfortable exchange of words, looks, and silence. Basically, you look for people of peace (Luke 10:6).
At my current party (if you will), I search for a small invitation. I look to others for patience with my scrunched forehead, slack pronunciation, and exaggerated hand signals. I look to others for an understanding smile. I look to others to gift me French conversation. I look for their peace. I am learning (or re-learning…again) to be more peaceful to the world. God wants us to be and accept people of peace (give/receive). How many times have I been quick to receive but frustrated to give? How many times have I been that cold person to someone who just for a moment needed a person of peace? I know this lesson, right? I’ve been on the edge before. Help me, Precious Savior, to see the world as you see it. Help me to radiate Your peace to others.
I am settled in Besançon since my arrival in late August. Two weeks under the tutelage of French instructors has produced many, many translations coupled with an ongoing choppy delivery (/bone-j-air/, this is no good?). The alphabet is mostly the same but the vowel pronunciations are different between English and French. Learning the new pronunciations means breaking the patterns from decades in the English alphabet. It is frustrating. It will take time and repetition.
My host family is very welcoming. We speak French in the house with my limited speech. Charades fill the gaps and on occasion we lapse to English. I have my own room (and bed) and my own full bathroom. I ride the tram to class every weekday for a 20-minute one-way trip with all the stops.
Besançon is a beautiful city of approximately 150,000 people. It is a creative mix of history from old, old Europe (birthplace of Victor Hugo, home to La Citadelle) and modern retail and restaurant space. Fall weather has crept into the area and it is a marvelous time to be here. My step count has increased 2.5 times from Kansas.
I feel good. God comforts my frustrations with communication by creating dialogue with patient listeners. He shows me His compassion for the marginalized as I walk the streets of Besançon. He reminds me what it means to have childlike faith as I am now the “child” in a new culture and language. And daily I marvel at how I got here.
What am I doing here?
Who am I to talk with?
What does He want to reveal to me?
More to come…
In addition to classroom work later this month I’m also participating in an online language learning course. The first assignment is to create a short conversation in your desired language with the help of a translation website. No big deal, right? The second assignment is to then post the video for all the glorious world to see. Now there’s a big deal–sheesh! Consider yourself privileged to witness my lessons in both language and humility. Is there a skill-level zero????
You’re welcome.
p.s. The answer is ‘NO’ I do not have the words taped to the ceiling. Transcript of the attempted conversation is posted below the video.
French (English):
Bonjour (Hello)!
Ça va (How are you)?
Je m’appelle Travis (My name is Travis).
Comment est-ce que vous vous appelez (What’s your name)?
Enchanté (Nice to meet you).
Bonne journeé (Have a nice day).
Merci (Thank you)!
[original email date of July 17, 2018]
Details, details, details…I am swimming in details right now.
[original email date of June 14, 2018]
Hey, remember me. It’s been some time since I’ve updated you.
My next few weeks are filled with several gatherings where I’ll share pictures and stories from both my journey and my recent trip to Burundi. I invite you to join me if it fits your schedule; come, participate, ask questions, and eat dessert. If these dates don’t work for you I would be happy to gather with you and/or a group of friends at a different time.
[original email date of March 15, 2018]
Hello good people,
[original email date of February 20, 2018]
Below you will see a picture of me after 5 steps on Burundi soil. I’ll let you write the caption:)
