Conversation Table

I finally made it to an IES sponsored conversation table. The ever so classy Madame Rouchet opens up a “table” for conversation between French students and American students. We speak in French for the first half and then in English for the second. It helps both groups a little bit. It sounds like it would be kind of dull and doesn’t it kind of echo of speed dating? “When I ring the bell we’re going to switch partners…I mean languages.”

I had quite the interesting conversation with an enthusiastic young French woman whose goal is to teach French in America. She went on and on about how she loves the United States. Talk about being proud—that was my moment. She was pretty hilarious, too. We spent a great deal of time talking about and comparing accents, both French and English. I actually think the funniest part of the conversation was her laughing the entire time. And I’ve never had the pleasure of hearing a French person imitate a Canadian accent, but it was the highlight of my day. I haven’t laughed that much since I got here. I owe her something for managing to put a permanent smile on my face for the rest of the night.

Conversation Table has turned in to one of my favorite things about France. I finally get to speak with French people my age, and it’s a blast. Many of them were nice enough to invite us to dinner afterwards. Go Madame Rouchet for putting together such an awesome night. I wish you all could meet her—the director of IES—she is everything that is French. That is all I will say.