Tuesday, January 29, 2008
KareenInFrance 17: I prefer people who speak Franglais
I prefer people who speak Franglais. My mom speaks Franglais, my brothers speak Franglais, my dad kind of understands some Franglais, and many of my friends here in Paris speak Franglais. What is Franglais? Franglais is a mix of French and English....essentially creating the ability to choose between the two languages to express yourself; depending on mood, ease of use, and definition. There are many words or expressions that are difficult to translate.....so Franglais gives the best of both.
My brothers and I speak Franglais when we don't want my dad (because he really doesn't understand that much) or other people around us to know we are making fun. My friends in Paris and I speak Franglais to communicate on a daily basis. I hope that one day my children will speak Franglais.
I spent Christmas eve with friends here in Paris. We had a really nice potluck dinner.....with oysters, lox, duck, and I made a cheesecake. This was an evening of FRENCH. These French friends don't really speak Franglais.....and, it's actually quite confusing when a French person all of the sudden throws an English word into the sentence....because they throw it in with a French accent and you're not really expecting it......so all of the sudden you think you are learning this new word in French....which turns out to be an English word in a really bad accent.
Christmas day I spent with my friend Miriam and her family. She is Irish, her husband is French. They are a Franglais family. He speaks French to the children, she speaks English.....and, at the dinner table it's a mix of both.
I realized that I don't really miss the Christmas dinner with my family, but more the time when we sit by the fire, or watch a movie, spend three days straight in our pajamas, or fight over the right to lounge on the couch. Miriam was nice enough to invite me to hers the following weekend for family time. I spent the weekend speaking Franglais with her children. We played Monopoly in Franglais, made cookies in Franglais, and cleaned up in Franglais. I really like the Franglais phrases, "'Va', get 'le balai' so we can sweep the floor" or "Give me 2000 francs, because 'je suis passer 'Aller''.
New Year's was another night of Franglais. I was with my friend Richard who is from Sydney, and we invited ourselves for a dinner with my friend Phyllis and her boyfriend Sebastian. Phyllis made us an amazing dinner while the rest of us spoke Franglais. And, although we were meant to be at another party by midnight, we decided it was too much of a risk to leave anytime before midnight (the horror of being stuck on the metro at mignight!). So, we showed up to the party at about 1:45am....this is Paris, it was New Year's and they are gay men from NYC......too bad no one else was there! However, the hosts graciously invited us in for a nightcap and a brief get to know you session (as we did not know them). I was surprised they opened the door....because honestly if anyone showed up at mine after the party was finished, I WOULD NOT open my door. Tant pis, t'es en retard!
So, here is to a Bonne Année.....2008! And, to my first holiday season 'alone' in Paris. And, to Franglais!!!
My brothers and I speak Franglais when we don't want my dad (because he really doesn't understand that much) or other people around us to know we are making fun. My friends in Paris and I speak Franglais to communicate on a daily basis. I hope that one day my children will speak Franglais.
I spent Christmas eve with friends here in Paris. We had a really nice potluck dinner.....with oysters, lox, duck, and I made a cheesecake. This was an evening of FRENCH. These French friends don't really speak Franglais.....and, it's actually quite confusing when a French person all of the sudden throws an English word into the sentence....because they throw it in with a French accent and you're not really expecting it......so all of the sudden you think you are learning this new word in French....which turns out to be an English word in a really bad accent.
Christmas day I spent with my friend Miriam and her family. She is Irish, her husband is French. They are a Franglais family. He speaks French to the children, she speaks English.....and, at the dinner table it's a mix of both.
I realized that I don't really miss the Christmas dinner with my family, but more the time when we sit by the fire, or watch a movie, spend three days straight in our pajamas, or fight over the right to lounge on the couch. Miriam was nice enough to invite me to hers the following weekend for family time. I spent the weekend speaking Franglais with her children. We played Monopoly in Franglais, made cookies in Franglais, and cleaned up in Franglais. I really like the Franglais phrases, "'Va', get 'le balai' so we can sweep the floor" or "Give me 2000 francs, because 'je suis passer 'Aller''.
New Year's was another night of Franglais. I was with my friend Richard who is from Sydney, and we invited ourselves for a dinner with my friend Phyllis and her boyfriend Sebastian. Phyllis made us an amazing dinner while the rest of us spoke Franglais. And, although we were meant to be at another party by midnight, we decided it was too much of a risk to leave anytime before midnight (the horror of being stuck on the metro at mignight!). So, we showed up to the party at about 1:45am....this is Paris, it was New Year's and they are gay men from NYC......too bad no one else was there! However, the hosts graciously invited us in for a nightcap and a brief get to know you session (as we did not know them). I was surprised they opened the door....because honestly if anyone showed up at mine after the party was finished, I WOULD NOT open my door. Tant pis, t'es en retard!
So, here is to a Bonne Année.....2008! And, to my first holiday season 'alone' in Paris. And, to Franglais!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
