Friendships~ Smahen and Rachida smiled at me from across the table at a Troyan creperie. There we were, speaking French easily together nearly two years after the exchange between my French class at USC and their English class at l’UTT. The night before, Smahen and I had had a long discussion about healthcare and education systems (of course, over raclettes—cheese that you literally melt and then pour onto boiled potatoes or meat—and “briques”—folded pockets of tuna and tomato sauce)… I forgot the English word “Democrat,” but Smahen provided it for me, and every single one of my amazing French buddies asserted that I have not changed much—except linguistically.
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| Reunited!!! |
Our “franco-american weekend” in Troyes was well spent. Not only did we assert by our reunion that we had formed real relationships that cross oceans and time, but we also practiced our language skills and caught up on the many new developments in the lives of each other and our mutual friends (all over the world). Yet again, we all laughed with Anthony (who likes to play the part of the clown). Kirsten, another USC student from my freshman year French class who (due to unfortunate circumstances) could not accompany us to Troyes the first time, also came from her current residence of Paris to finally meet her “keypal,” Elvira. With their beautiful hospitality that I hope to reciprocate when they go back to the United States, these lovely people reminded me that learning about a culture—the apprenticeship of a language itself, in fact—is indivisible from its people. It is thanks to them that my French skills began to improve from my first day of college on, and in more ways than one, what I said to myself over and over again this past weekend is very true: “it is thanks to them that I am where I am today.” May the adventure go on!
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