My life as a Cannoise is very simple. On weekdays I mostly work and talk. This really isn't anything different than what I did on weekdays in Los Angeles and Seattle. Only, I sit in cafes, write and when I talk, it's usually French. So, in that way, I'm more like a cliche. If only I smoked and drank heavily at night, we could wrap that one up and tie a bow on it.
My work is the most boring part of my day. That's not to say it's bad, or I don't like it. Lately, I've been writing articles for Business.com. I don't know how many have posted yet - but at some point, it will be a lot since I write between 20 and 30 a week.
Everyday, I have a large list of titles from which I can choose. My strategy is to pick ones within the same topics and themes as much as they present themselves because I already know what to do and where to find references.
As a result, I have written at least eight variations on how to start a non-profit organization. Sometimes, I think they add the more titles just for the joy of making me recite the information again... "Draft your articles of incorporation per your state requirements. Your secretary of state makes this information, along with applications and instructions available online...." I imagine that editors fall asleep reading these articles.
So, besides exercising the depth of my knowledge on how to start a home health agency, work as a medical biller and coder, and form an LLC, I talk to people. That's the far more interesting part of my day. My iPad is very often the opener to discussion. People look at it, inquire about it and then I work my French magic....
I've experienced great strides since last week's series of linguistic stumbles. There was an incident which I wrote friends from my high school French class about just to admit to people who understand how horribly I conjugated a sentence and that I had failed our group. A line from that email: " 'I to go to return' brilliant. What am I, Frankenstein's monster?!"
Since that fateful day, I have either started to greatly improve, or stop noticing my mistakes. Maybe some of each. But I know I'm becoming a lot more comfortable speaking with people casually - which is where I had the most trouble with before.
Once a conversation is rolling and I warm up, things usually get more interesting. Yesterday, a couple from Toulouse sat down next to me at the cafe. The asked about my iPad (said ee-Pahd) and within minutes we were discussing the transportation strikes, the public benefits systems, the Euro and why their worst fear is to become like America where Ronald Reagan would leave people to die in the streets.
A combination of diplomatic skills and linguistic limitations led me to leave much of that alone. But I did manage to ask if they have to choose between pushing back the retirement age for two years or keeping France's credit rating and access to capital for say, affordable home loans - what would they choose (because that is the choice at hand)?
"Rights are rights - and we have the right to our public retirement. The banks and the stock market destroy everything...."
However, a few minutes later, a Swiss family (not Robinson) came and took the table next to me. Again, an inquiry on the iPad - only no one knew which language we should be using. I heard German, then French, so I spoke in French - but they spoke English better than French....
When it got sorted out we spoke English and I learned that they were very tech-savvy, hard working, fun loving people who drive to Cannes for their vacations. They seemed far less interested in whether or not Ronald Reagan would kill them on the streets and far more interested in when they would be getting the white iPhone 4.
Over time I've had many interesting short and lengthy conversations in which I've learned little tidbits. One woman has a sister who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She and her family visit regularly and think America is fantastic.... Except that in the town of Pomme De Terre, Missouri, she discovered that people didn't even know their town was French for potato! She said she knows it's not actually the case, but it makes Americans seem so....uneducated.
Another woman thought America is really the best for vacations because of our national parks. She couldn't get over Yellowstone and thinks it's the best place she's ever been.
One man was so excited to see me using my iPad keyboard docking station that he asked to borrow it to show his wife - which he did as if he had found proof of a reason why it was okay to get an iPad.
And the 28 year-old guy who worked that bar at one cafe I was at last week is going to New York for the first time in a few weeks on a work-exchange program. We discussed what it's like to live in America and how to use his accent to his advantage with women. He's been working on sounding like an American and has nearly perfected his accent when he recites several movie phrases.
So, between beverages and articles, I talk and I learn. When the articles are all done for the day, I shop for my dinner - I buy things from the charcuteries and bakeries every day. Then I walk - just me and Cannes and a sunset.
As I near the end of this time in Cannes and this quaint little routine of mine, I feel as if something has changed since I arrived. I have discovered that with a little practice and relaxation, I can pull off being Cannoise for a bit.
I know working through lunch and wearing hooded sweatshirts (I didn't bring sweaters) separate me from the pack in some conspicuous ways. Despite my fellow Cannoise seeing these things - rightfully - as my shortcomings, they have been kind to me and made me feel as if I have a place.
In turn, I have gained the confidence to go boldly into the the future proche, the conditional and the occasional subjunctive in ways I never would have dared before. Whether I've succeeded or failed - I'll never fully know. But my Cannoise friends have made me feel as if I have succeeded. That has made it all worthwhile.
My work is the most boring part of my day. That's not to say it's bad, or I don't like it. Lately, I've been writing articles for Business.com. I don't know how many have posted yet - but at some point, it will be a lot since I write between 20 and 30 a week.
Everyday, I have a large list of titles from which I can choose. My strategy is to pick ones within the same topics and themes as much as they present themselves because I already know what to do and where to find references.
As a result, I have written at least eight variations on how to start a non-profit organization. Sometimes, I think they add the more titles just for the joy of making me recite the information again... "Draft your articles of incorporation per your state requirements. Your secretary of state makes this information, along with applications and instructions available online...." I imagine that editors fall asleep reading these articles.
So, besides exercising the depth of my knowledge on how to start a home health agency, work as a medical biller and coder, and form an LLC, I talk to people. That's the far more interesting part of my day. My iPad is very often the opener to discussion. People look at it, inquire about it and then I work my French magic....
I've experienced great strides since last week's series of linguistic stumbles. There was an incident which I wrote friends from my high school French class about just to admit to people who understand how horribly I conjugated a sentence and that I had failed our group. A line from that email: " 'I to go to return' brilliant. What am I, Frankenstein's monster?!"
Since that fateful day, I have either started to greatly improve, or stop noticing my mistakes. Maybe some of each. But I know I'm becoming a lot more comfortable speaking with people casually - which is where I had the most trouble with before.
Once a conversation is rolling and I warm up, things usually get more interesting. Yesterday, a couple from Toulouse sat down next to me at the cafe. The asked about my iPad (said ee-Pahd) and within minutes we were discussing the transportation strikes, the public benefits systems, the Euro and why their worst fear is to become like America where Ronald Reagan would leave people to die in the streets.
A combination of diplomatic skills and linguistic limitations led me to leave much of that alone. But I did manage to ask if they have to choose between pushing back the retirement age for two years or keeping France's credit rating and access to capital for say, affordable home loans - what would they choose (because that is the choice at hand)?
"Rights are rights - and we have the right to our public retirement. The banks and the stock market destroy everything...."
However, a few minutes later, a Swiss family (not Robinson) came and took the table next to me. Again, an inquiry on the iPad - only no one knew which language we should be using. I heard German, then French, so I spoke in French - but they spoke English better than French....
When it got sorted out we spoke English and I learned that they were very tech-savvy, hard working, fun loving people who drive to Cannes for their vacations. They seemed far less interested in whether or not Ronald Reagan would kill them on the streets and far more interested in when they would be getting the white iPhone 4.
Over time I've had many interesting short and lengthy conversations in which I've learned little tidbits. One woman has a sister who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She and her family visit regularly and think America is fantastic.... Except that in the town of Pomme De Terre, Missouri, she discovered that people didn't even know their town was French for potato! She said she knows it's not actually the case, but it makes Americans seem so....uneducated.
Another woman thought America is really the best for vacations because of our national parks. She couldn't get over Yellowstone and thinks it's the best place she's ever been.
One man was so excited to see me using my iPad keyboard docking station that he asked to borrow it to show his wife - which he did as if he had found proof of a reason why it was okay to get an iPad.
And the 28 year-old guy who worked that bar at one cafe I was at last week is going to New York for the first time in a few weeks on a work-exchange program. We discussed what it's like to live in America and how to use his accent to his advantage with women. He's been working on sounding like an American and has nearly perfected his accent when he recites several movie phrases.
So, between beverages and articles, I talk and I learn. When the articles are all done for the day, I shop for my dinner - I buy things from the charcuteries and bakeries every day. Then I walk - just me and Cannes and a sunset.
As I near the end of this time in Cannes and this quaint little routine of mine, I feel as if something has changed since I arrived. I have discovered that with a little practice and relaxation, I can pull off being Cannoise for a bit.
I know working through lunch and wearing hooded sweatshirts (I didn't bring sweaters) separate me from the pack in some conspicuous ways. Despite my fellow Cannoise seeing these things - rightfully - as my shortcomings, they have been kind to me and made me feel as if I have a place.
In turn, I have gained the confidence to go boldly into the the future proche, the conditional and the occasional subjunctive in ways I never would have dared before. Whether I've succeeded or failed - I'll never fully know. But my Cannoise friends have made me feel as if I have succeeded. That has made it all worthwhile.
If only I smoked and drank heavily at night, we could wrap that one up and tie a bow on it.
Now THAT is a Tony line :-)
Posted by: Tony Cohen | 10/14/2010 at 04:24 AM