Je paquete mes petits (Getting ready for Québec)
07/12/2010
I'm going to Québec! At times, I'm so excited that I'm about to burst, and then there are other times when I worry that I will not be able to speak a lick of French.
Last summer, I decided that it was time to kick my French up a notch. I didn't have any French language classes scheduled. A classmate and I devised a long list of demands for Dr. Simon. My list included a request that the majority of my communication be in French. I also study Spanish and the two languages are very similar (and confusing at times). Dr. Simon would talk to me in the IUE hallways in Spanish and I would switch to French. When my Spanish class ended at 7 p.m., I would switch to French. I needed to be consistent because I forget when I don't use it.
As I drooled over 6 week study abroad classes, I knew that I really couldn't afford them on my budget. I discovered a WWOOFer website for alternative study abroad. I could definitely provide service on my budget. What is WWOOF? It is currently known as World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or Willing Workers on Organic Farms. I applied at several locations: a cheese farm, a bed and breakfast with an organic grocery, a backpacker hostel, and a mushroom farm. I only received a response from one. They did not need an additional helper for July/August. In January, a new host appeared on the site and I emailed a request. I received an invitation in February-during the IUE snow days. Of course, I was excited to share my news. I called Professor Henderson. She shared the news with the Amigos Latino Center (I volunteer at Amigos). I had to wait two weeks to tell Dr. Simon. I wanted to tell him in person, but the snow days drove me crazy and I finally emailed him the details.
Where am I going?
I'm going to Les joyaux de la terre (the Jewels of the Earth). It is an experimental eco-farm in Notre-Dame-de-Montauban, Québec. I will be learning about permaculture, agro-ecology, and sustainable living. There is no television. I have a reading list of Canadian French literature to occupy my free time (and an emergency geek video stash).
Originally, I had planned an online class for Summer 2, but with the limited internet I could not guarantee participation and that the homework would be turned in on time. Instead, I'm taking two math courses for Summer 1: Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry. The Math department enabled me to take an independent study so that I can get my prerequisites completed and enroll in Calculus for the Fall. We are finishing the second week and I really enjoy my Pre-calc class. We work in groups to find solutions to problems.
I also have a Fitness class, so there are days when I feel like I'm walking to Québec. My collection of French resources is growing (i.e. audio magazines, Canadian French dictionary, vocabulary lists). Mon dieu!
-Dorotha
