A glimpse of my Canadian daily through some anecdotes:
- Anecdote number 1 or how to pass a lingering in front of 50 Canadian.
Course of History: Ten Days That Shook the World. We were studying at that time the Chinese invasion in Tibet, the teacher explains that the Chinese claimed to respect Tibetan culture but at the same time, they prohibit certain customs which the "sky burial". Explanation: According to Tibetan tradition, when a man dies, his soul leaves his body, the body is no longer important. The human body is cut into pieces and thrown to the vultures. But beware, there is a real ceremony around it all, with Tibetan chants etc! So far, aside from a profound collective disgust expressed, nothing shocking. So I was taking notes, and I have a short delay between when I write and when I understand what the teacher is talking, so I have not heard the teacher said he would show us a video. I look up and there what I see: vultures eating human limbs. Imagine the amazement I screamed! But then yelled, I expected at all, and I look up on the big screen, zoom on the vultures. Already a vulture video alone it would have made me super scared, but then there ! You can see yourself on youtube, it's pretty scary!!
short, some students even came to see me at the end asking if I was okay, me, poor French retarded / traumatized!
- Anecdote # 2 or how to take its courage in both hands and make its first sentence in English before an entire class. Students participate
lot going on here, oral participation account for about 15% of the final grade and my history course Canada is 25%. We have "reading", where the teacher is just talking, and then we also have sessions in smaller groups. In the first tutorial in Canadian history, we were 11 and 10 have spoken except me. I refuse to stay silent the rest of the year, I arrived during the following week full of good will to speak. It's not as easy as you might think, English is hesitant (especially before a "big" meeting) and Canadian history still has a lot of secrets from me! Never mind, I start by summarizing one of the first articles we had read. Impressions is as difficult as I thought, time stops, everyone stares at me (oh it takes an accent) I see very few small mocking smiles! I do not blame them, I said nothing in their place, I would not have done the same thing! And yet I do not disassemble and continues the summary! The teacher looks puzzled and strangely he approached my table as if to hear me (which is not very clever for a teacher I think) but hey there it is, the first sentence is launched. The beginning of a long series ... I hope!
Anecdote No. 3, or how a teacher told me that he hates the French Socialists before realizing that I am exactly what he just described.
- Course on the Canadian government. A first class assignment, the question is " do you think it is better to live in Canada or the U.S.? "Already I put 10 minutes to get over this question of shit (Scuse the expression!) but frankly I see no merit in this issue packed subjectivity! short, at the end of the course I am the last (the fault of the 10 minutes of dismay surely!) So I give my copy to the teacher saying that I am an international student and this is my first duty and Therefore spelling that my English is not perfect! He replied "as long as you're not from Quebec!" "no I'm not from Quebec, but what do you have against them?" They are like the French, but worse! "So there, little moment of hesitation and he outbid" well yes you see, the French, the air above what! "So there I told him that I am French and I find it quite disappointing generalization, he laughs a little uncomfortable (and told me he thought I was Swedish not the first time I said it, strange!) and said "as long as you're not a socialist! "Here we go again ..." All that to say that if I have 0% (5%) I know why!
Conclusion: What a big jerk!
Finally: we are Thursday, October 15 and it's snowing in London. And guess what: this is the first time since something like 50 years it snows as early Lucky me ....!!!!!
(not true it's great, it's too good we play like children !!!!!)
I still have a lot of stories to tell but the fatigue is there and the job too, so next time!
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