Ophelia's Journal.

stcamp · Almost a regular Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 26 Gender:

Hi,

I would say Poland was where we were asked the most.

We stayed for 2 weeks in an Apt in Paris. I think perhaps twice. I remember it was asked with a smile. As in "how could we not like it."

Ireland, probably as frequently, perhaps more so, than Poland.

Germany. Never, that I can recall.

Japan. Probably the closest to how an American would ask.

Regards,
Steve

Ophelia · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 10:33 am Post subject:

stcamp · Almost a regular Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 26 Gender:

Hi,

Poland. I think they wanted us to rate it. Yet tell them we liked it. They would then start talking about the problems with the infrastructure and the changes that were happening.

Ireland. Ireland has a large population that has been to America and is used to Americans. We stayed in a house in an Irish neighborhood. People were more likely to ask "whats up in the States."

Japan. Somewhat American in that they really wanted to be approved of and at the same time were somewhat disdainful of America.

France. We had a apt. in the Palais Royale and would visit the same market, resturant, etc. Afterwhile, despite my bumbling attemps to speak French they would ask how we liked it. It was more a lead in so they could tell us they liked America and where they had visited. I remember a waiter telling us he would bring us more ice because he knew from his time in America that lots of ice was the way to serve Cocola.

It may be somewhat different for me. I usually try to speak a few words in the language, learn basic customs, and we are somewhat skinny people. I remember a women in France telling me how in America all the young boys (age 13-1 Cool

look alike. Oh, I don't wear a ballcap or T-shirt with printing on it or running shoes.

I got into a long conversation in Normandy that ended up being about French agricultural practices in the 70's and changes since because I started asking about hedgerows.

regards,

Steve

Ophelia · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject:

I thought at the time that one of the things that made understanding a little difficult with the "What do you like best?" question was that I felt people were divided into either Americans or "immigrant", there wasn't a slot for "European on a one-year exchange programme", even if I told people that this was what I was.

People were used to meeting a lot of immigrants, and of course I understood that if you had suffered from hunger or came from an underdeveloped country you would marvel at huge supermarkets and airplanes, but my perspective was different.

stcamp · Almost a regular Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 26 Gender:

Possibly. I am probably not a good person to answer this. I live surrounded by emmigrants. I live outside Washington DC in a county where at least 30% came from faraway places. My daughters school system says there is over 100 languages spoken in the system.

I never thought when I asked or was asked that it was about technology. It has been awhile since America was that advanced. Europe dug out of the ruins years ago. Most Asian cities are huge. Maybe if you are from Mexico or Central America it might be different enough to comment on.

I work with 1 French man, 1 Spanish women, and 1 Italian. Oh, and 1 Mexican. The rest are 3rd or 4th generation American probably. San Diego has a huge military population with most having done duty overseas.

I think you may have misread what was meant. Also, I think part of it was people wanted to make sure you had not been slighted or had a bad time. Americans like to talk and usually are very generous. I told a German not to long ago that it is OK to ask an American anything except how much money they make.

regards,

Steve

Ophelia · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

stcamp · Almost a regular Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 26 Gender:

Hi,

I am not ignoring you. I have to leave on a business trip.

Steve

President Camacho · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject:

That's because every parent answers with "a million dollars" when asked that question. So don't feel bad Smile

Ophelia · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: Loving the USA? Part 3.

Loving the USA? Part 3.

I made the most of my exchange years, both times I arrived two months before school started and left two months after the end of school.

I visited several states in the US, including Colorado and Hawai, but my two best memories are from Northern California. They were from two of my many trips-- the funny thing is I've forgotten which.

Both times I was incredibly lucky in being at the right place in the right time.

One was during a walk along a small body of water that connected with the sea further on.
There was a small whale that was obviously having a rest and playing on its own, in my memory about five meters from where I stood. I had never thought of whales as being little and playful. This was a gift.

During my second summer I visited colleagues from France who were staying in Northern California, near Mount Shasta.

One day they announced that they belonged to a group that was organizing a night walk, and as the moon was full, this was the day.

Everything was perfect. It started with an afternoon walk through a vast natural area-- it's a shame I can't remember what it was called.
Something that made you think of volcanoes or geysers.
At the end of the day we climbed up a mountain or hill, not something difficult. We had our picnic at the top watching the sunset, and we waited for darkness, lit by the moon, to go down.

The atmosphere was magic, I had never seen anything as beautiful or fascinating, no words could describe the exhilaration and the feeling of incredible luck that I had been able to share this experience with those friendly people. You could view the natural scenery of the afternoon for kilometres around.We had torches to see the path, but the moon was so
bright we did not need to look at our feet much.
We had three children with us and I had been asked to hold the youngest son, who was about 7, by the hand.
In the middle of the descent we met another party of American walkers and stopped to share the view and talk to them. We said we were from France, talking in low voices, and before going our separate ways a young woman from this group gave me a torch. I thanked her for her kindness and said I already had a torch. She insisted, and I understood that they wanted to share something with me, give me something, and I took it gratefully.

I have taken quite a few things back from the US, including two beautiful quilts that were hand made in Cape Cod, after a design I had chosen, and then shipped to my home.

However, the object that has the most emotional value is that torch.
I love the other objects for their beauty, and they're in the living room for all to see, but I know that the torch is there, in a small cupboard in my office. I'm not a photo person. I have good memories from many short holidays abroad I had, but the special magic memories are from a few fleeting unplanned moments in the countries where I had come for a long stay.

Ophelia · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 3:44 am Post subject: French universities.

I'm going to write about universities in France.

Before I start I am happy to say that I am no longer the only French person at Booktalk.
Marie (dbooks) was born in France and is now a Swiss citizen, and Celinio lives near Paris (but would love to work in the States).
So Marie and Celinio, if you would like to comment or add something to my descriptions, feel free to do so.

I'll start with a comment from President Camacho and my answer to him in another forum:


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