My first solo post is being written from Maui while on a family vacation. A lot of time here is spent simply looking at the horizon - a horizon that includes truly blue water, not the gray mess (accompanied by yellow foam on brown sand) we in Northern California are so privileged to. But I think I only really began paying attention to horizons after I started college. I was across the country in Boston and I remember coming home for my first break and driving along the highway, I noticed that there were mountains in the distance. It suddenly clicked that where I lived was Silicon Valley. It's one of the coolest elements of both that part of California and Maui (the only other Hawaiian island I've been to is Kauai) that in the middle of so much industrialization and concrete, you can look up and find yourself nestled between natural beauty.
Anyway, this blog is supposed to be about France, so à la France!
I have a book recommendation which, at 400+ pages and with the title of "The Story of French," I really doubt will attract many fans, but anyway, I found it quite interesting and helpful to paint a picture of not only the linguistic development of the French language, but also the reasons why French became the international language and continues to have such influence today.
One point worth mentioning: the authors contend that the French's bitterness over the international-language-status of English today is not simply hurt pride - and it is not only the French who actively promote French on the international scene. The thing is, particularly when we are talking about international negotiations, treaties, business deals, etc., the language in which those transactions are done always favors the person(s) to whom that language is their mother tongue. Thus, in order to preserve some sort of balance and not turn the entire international system into one disproportionately favoring the English-speaking world (particularly the US, of course), it is necessary to present an alternative - in the eyes of these authors, that alternative should be French.
I buy the argument not because I have anything against my mother tongue, but international politics decides the fate of the world's people in so many ways that it seems only fair to level the playing field to some extent, if only linguistically. Food for thought...
I also was at Barnes & Nobles the other day, on a quest to exchange a graduation gift of a National Geographic travel guide for France, hoping to find something with fewer pictures and more information (particularly information catering to my student budget and carless status). I left with a tome of a purchase, the Lonely Planet guide to France. I am hoping it serves me well and that I didn't unfortunately choose quantity over quality - though the fact that even my little town of Brive was mentioned (highlights? rugby and farmers markets) was a huge selling point.
Alice and I are planning to squeeze the life out of every weekend we have and so taking my guide with me is meant to provide us with an endless array of destinations, restaurants, hostels, and Kodak moments, the best of which will hopefully find their way to this blog...
Oh yes, to a more practical point: Visa appointment is done. San Francisco office is efficient, but does require in-person appointments because they do fingerprinting. My attendant was cute. End of story.
