three weeks

I’m committed to writing in French going forward but for now I’m still writing and dreaming in English. This morning was my first private lesson and it was SO much better than last week’s daily 3-hour class. That instructor was really good but the format didn’t work for me. I learn best when I see things written down and last week the theme was gastronomy, which isn’t very practical for me. I loved the two field trips—we went shopping for cheese at the indoor market and then we drove out to the Château de Chenonceau to see the Xmas decorations. My classmates were wonderful and I’m going to Le Mans tomorrow to have lunch with Elenice—she’s Brazilian and speaks Portuguese so French is the only language we have in common. We went to a language lounge last week but it felt like a pick-up spot; mostly men who already seemed fluent, though I met a recent grad from the US whose thesis advisor was a good friend of mine! I’m trying to put myself out there and that lounge was definitely outside my comfort zone. But it was loud and I have better conversations with my classmates and instructors.

The US does and doesn’t feel far away. I need to cut the cord—stop watching US news and force myself to listen to French programs instead. I watched The Taste of Things and Jeanne Du Barry last week and then I found Drôle, which is a hilarious show on Netflix about a group of comedians struggling to make it in Paris. I think it would help if I watched an episode and then tried to summarize it in French. Or I could keep a daily journal in French. My vocabulary is limited but you only search for new words when you’re trying to communicate and I don’t do that when I’m at home. My days are less touristy than they were last month. I’m still exploring Tours but I’m also doing everyday things: laundry, going to the doctor, finding the post office. I’ve been to the botanic garden twice and I think I’ve found the perfect artist on Upwork for my picture book Le Chat Fantôme. She speaks both English and French fluently, which helps a lot.

I’m still thinking about Ireland and finishing a 900-page novel, Rebels of Ireland. My mom broke her hip a week ago so I’ve been FaceTiming with her whenever my aunt visits her in the hospital. I spoke to an immigration lawyer last week; I requested a refund from the processing center in Chicago where I wasn’t even allowed to apply for an artist visa. I could reapply for a visitor visa, but that means going back to the US for at least a week—and potentially paying the law firm over $3000 to “support” my application. For now I can stay in France for 90 days and then I need to leave for another three months before I can return…I could go to Ireland and work on that novel. There are lots of possibilities!

I’m still writing a poem a day and might try to translate the simpler ones. I have to challenge myself! It isn’t hard to buy groceries or order food at a restaurant. I found one vegan bakery here in Tours but in general I’ve been eating a LOT of meat. There are lots of dining options—Thai, Senegalese, Ethiopian, Indian. I’ve gone to one French “resto”—a crêperie—where I had the Quebecoise galette with bacon and maple syrup. Last weekend I had a McGill burger from a Canadian-themed cafe. There are lots of students in Tours and that can make things pretty loud at night but I’ve found that playing white noise on a YouTube channel blocks the street conversations. I’m adapting! and learning. And growing, hopefully…