Well, guess where I am as you're reading this? It's the first day of the inaugural Festival du Roman Feminin in Paris - a two day festival designed especially for readers of romance!
That means I may be a bit tardy dropping by the LoveCats blog. By the look of the marvellous program, I'm going to be very busy for the next couple of days, before moving on to Berlin for the LoveLetter Convention, again just for romance readers. Talk about a thrilling week! To share the thrill I'm including a couple of location shots you might enjoy - not from this year's Festival but from a previous visit to Paris (and yes, I do know how lucky I am to have more than one visit here).
These festivals also mean I'm going to be very, very challenged. You see, I'm not one of the world's better linguists and I didn't learn a second language at school. They say if you start learning early it stays with you longer, don't they? Well, I was a late starter, which means I'm going to be struggling. You see, I have no French. I can say hello and thank you. I can order a glass of wine or a bottle of water but apart from that? Sigh.
Now, fortunately these festivals are beautifully organised so that even linguistically challenged authors like me can speak in English and be understood, but it does make me feel guilty that I can't say far more in the local language. I had the best intentions to do a crash course in French and to brush up my very little amount of German before leaving. Sadly some family issues took up my time and I'll be lucky to arrive with a properly packed bag.
I'll be trying to learn a little on the plane but given my ability to make terrible mistakes, it's a worry that I've left it so late. I've embarrassed myself many times trying to speak another language. Like the time I walked into a shop and asked, quite confidently I might add, to buy a kiss instead of a cushion. You can imagine how that went down!
So now I'm girding my loins to utter a few words of French and then German and keeping my fingers crossed I don't say anything too appalling.
How about you? Are you great with second, third or even fourth languages? Is there one you love or one you'd love to master? Or are you like me, struggling with a smile and lots of sign language?
Annie, you lucky duck! Both conventions sound like huge fun. Isn't it wonderful that we right in such an international genre? We have friends all over the world!
ReplyDeleteI love the photos. That one of the sunset (?) light on Notre Dame is just glorious. Looking forward to some more photos as you travel around the place.
Bonne chance, mon amie!
Anna, I'm pleased you like the pics. I'm so lucky to be here in France again, and next time I promise not to butcher the language quite so much. People have been very patient with my attempts.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right about having friends around the world because of romance writing. Isn't it wonderful?
Ah Annie, you are going to have such a lovely time.
ReplyDeleteI lived in South America when I was young so I can speak a bit of Spanish. I'd love to live overseas again and become fluent in another language!
How wonderful to be going to conventions in France and Germany! Looking forward to a full report. I studied French at school a long, long time ago and did some brush up courses. Haven't been to France for years but when I did managed to make myself understood with many references to phrase book. Trouble is, I'm not bad at reading simple French but speaking it and understanding it spoken is a different matter! Have lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteKandy, you're so right about understanding the spoken language. I've been caught before, carefully rehearsing how to ask something and then not understanding the answer. More practice required.
DeleteAnnie how fabulous and thank you for the photos I am loving them such a gorgeous place maybe one day I will get there :)
ReplyDeleteOther than the little bit of French and German I did in my first year of high school and the bit of Greek I learnt growing up next door to a lovely Greek family I don't know any other languages and what I did lean has long since been forgotten :)
Have Fun
Helen
Helen, you need some new neighbours to practice on, or maybe a trip away. That would be a great incentive. Now I think about it, I used to know a little Dutch from a neighbour as a child but I've forgotten it all now.
DeleteYour travels sound fabulous!! I hope you do well without speaking much when you're our and about. I notice different things when I can't understand the local language, more focused on expressions, gestures, feelings, which is good when traveling.
ReplyDeleteLaura, it certainly means you pay attention, doesn't it? You need to be more aware of other signals.
DeleteIt looks amazing, Annie! So jealous!!! Have fun at the conventions- I'm sure they'll make you feel right at home!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at school I loved learning languages and studied French, Spanish, Latin and Russian...sadly nowadays I could only reasonably try the French, the others are all long forgotten. Thank God for a phrase book, I say! Have heaps of fun! xx
Louisa, you're amazing. I bet if you were in the right environment a lot of that would comet back to you. I'm in awe. Yes, phrase books are excellent, aren't they?
DeleteWie gehts, Annie! I'd love to be proficient in German...but alas I'm not. I won't mention the time I accidentally went into the men's loos in Munich because I couldn't translate the signs. I now really appreciate the pics of men or women on amenity blocks. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou're making me pea-green with your travel photos and adventures. Have a glorious time at the conventions. I find when language skills (and phrase books) fail me, a big smile and a sense of humour helps smooth the waters. :-)
Oh yes, a smile goes a long way, doesn't it, Michelle? And people are generally interested in understanding what you're trying to say so that's a good start.
DeleteSmiling at your Munich experience. Too easily done!
Michelle, I went into the men's loos in Hamburg! Enough said about that... Just as long as Annie doesn't make that mistake as a 3rd Aussie...
DeleteCiao, Annie. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos. I love the one of you in red by the Seine. Lovely pic!
ReplyDeleteLike Kandy, I studied French in school and despite that being such a looonnnggg time ago some has stuck. I found this out when I visited Italy, despite taking a short course in conversational Italian and studying my guide book hard, I would often revert to French words or phrases. It's fun trying, though, isn't it? And I'm sure the locals prefer that you try their language and fail, rather than not trying at all.
No need to suggest you have a grand time; I'm sure you will.
Thanks, Bronwyn. Yes, a grand time is being had. How interesting about your French. I found that, trying to speak a little French on this trip - when I was stuck for a word I'd find German creeping in instead!
DeleteJenn, that would be terrific. I think learning a language as a child is the way to do it.
ReplyDeleteLucky you, Annie. what a wonderful time you'll have. At least you can order wine in French. What more do you want? I learned French at school and still remember quite a lot though my accent is atrocious and didn't always get me what I wanted in France. Fun trying though.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're having a wonderful time from the pics I've seen on Facebook - although you really can't go wrong in such a beautiful city! That's great that the conference organisers help out English-speaking authors so you can reach even more of the people who read your books. How exciting!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I spoke a second language. I can follow along with very basic Italian, but nothing else unfortunately :(