The Australian student reports
My exchange as a vocabulary list
By Vanessa Costanzo
Culture shock. Defined by dictionary.com as: ‘A condition of confusion and anxiety affecting a person suddenly exposed to an alien culture or milieu.’ Defined by me as the widening of my eyes upon hearing the phrase: ‘Il n’y a pas de plats vegetariens.’ in my first Parisian restaurant. Defined by the blush rising to my cheeks as I realised that noone actually says ‘Puisse j’avoir de l’eau, s’il vous plait?’ before grabbing the jug in the cafeteria. Defined by my discomfort at being asked ‘Vous avez fait quoi comme travail ce soir?’ and realising there is no French word for ‘procrastination’.
Shock. Defined by dictionary.com as: ‘Something that jars the mind or emotions as if with a violent unexpected blow.’ Defined by my look of dismay when I realised 8am to 6pm is an acceptable legnth for a French school day.
Culture. Defined by dictionary.com as: ‘Behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought considered as the expression of a particular period, class, community, or population.’ Defined by Bernard, my host father as Monet, Picasso, Zola, Hugo, L’Opera Garnier and Jacques Prevert. Defined by Raphaelle, my youngest host-sister as bandes-dessinées, Bénébar and Star Académie.
Culture comfort. Defined by me as the realisation that I am not the only one who speaks English and French at school, Italian at home and Spanish for fun. Defined by me as the realisation that laughter and music transcend languages.
Comfort. Defined by dictionary.com as: ‘A condition or feeling of pleasurable ease, well-being, and contentment.’ Defined by me as the realisation that kind friends, loving families and understanding teachers are easily found, whether in France or Australia.
Dernière modification le 02-02-10 par
