I'm sad to admit this, but the Vac's are officially over. Completing my first week back to school was an unappreciated slap in the face of reality, for me.
Though I can report that I don't think I could have possibly fit one more thing into those sacred, school- less days, and for that, I am happy.
"Vacances Toussaints" started on saturday, October 22nd. The friday prior, most Beaucamps students were settled on the couch catching up on their missed TV series in their pajamas, which is my usual scene...but not this time. This particular friday, October 21st, I was packing my bags to spend a long weekend in Germany.
As it turns out, my 'brother,' Robin, has a German coorespondant named Olivia, and they had made plans to spend some time in eachother's country over the break. And, as luck may have it, my 'parents' saw this as an opportunity for the entire family to spend some time in Germany.
So saturday morning, the Peugot was packed to overflowing with a small village, (my family)...and all our luggage. 4 and a half hours later, and one trip back home to collect forgotten articles, we were on our way to Germany.
After some time, and multiple screaming matches between my 'brothers and sisters,' the GPS finally barked out, in her lovely, not annoying at all, French robot voice: "Tournee a droite," ...and there it was. Chez l'Allemagne. So we parked the car, the 7 of us walked timidly up to the door, and my 'dad' rang the bell.
^^^ Camille et moi on top of the Gazometer
At that moment, the door flung open, with an unimaginably brute force, I might add, and we were face- to- face with a man in small, round, spectacles, who could easily pass for Harry Potter in 25 years. Peering over the shoulder of the jovial, plump, spectacle- wearing man, was a bubbly dark haired woman, and they immediately shook our hands violently, in their matching turquoise sweaters.
<< CUE THE CONFUSION >>
"Halo!"
"Bonjour!"
"Hello!"
A number of handshakes and awkward glances later, I was sitting at a round table, being served a very strange looking fruit, which turned out to be delicious...even though, to this day, I still have no idea what I ate.
The main meal followed, and a plate of steaming pasta and mystery meat was placed in front of me.
"Merci," I replied out of habit
WAIT...I'm in Germany.
"Danke?" I said uneasily
"Oh! You're welcome!" the turquoise man replied
(I credit my German knowledge to my mother...I can successfully count to 10, and use my magic words, which is really all I needed that weekend. So, thanks Mama)
^^^ the view from the gazometer. ain't it purdy?
The rest of the meal continued in this bizarre mix of 'germanfranglais.'
6 French, 4 Germans, and 1 American, all trying their best to hold a conversation that lasted more than 30 seconds without being at a loss for words. Oh my, was it a comical sight. I mean, c'mon! How could anyone be at a loss for words when they've got 3 languages to pick from?! But listen to me, my friends, it is possible. Very possible.
Needless to say, it was an extremely entertaining weekend, and I really don't think anyone stopped laughing, or was able to completely wipe the look of confusion off their face the entire time.
^^^ oh c'mon. don't tell me you don't know the rules. you read the sign.
At some points, it got so confusing that Olivia's parents were trying to talk to eachother in French, and my 'parents' were attemtping to have a conversation in German. And the kids? Well, we stuck with English for most of the time. It was like we were all dropped in the middle of a bad sitcom called, "11 People Attempt to be Multilingual for an Afternoon: a Failure of Epic Proportions."
Ultimately, I say with a smug grin, English was everyone's go- to language, when all comprehension was totally impossible and lost. Which means, for the first time in over 2 months, I understood ENTIRE conversations. And the best part, I was finally able to respond without the help of my elaborte charades. WIN.
Really though, what better way is there to learn a culture, than to be completely immersed in it with no warning, and no possible escape? I know this feeling all too well...
^^^ we ate at this chinese resteraunt while we were in Germany. is this a giant contradiction? why yes, yes it. but seeing as chinese food is my favorite, who am I to complain?
