O.M.Effing.Gosh...Paris (et non, not the Hilton)!

Allo

Bonjour, tout le monde! Je m’appele Elizabeth Daniels, mais ya’ll can jus call me Eli. I hail from Baton Rouge Lousiana and I am a junior at Gallatin studying (wait for it) The Law of Humanity through Christ and the Camera. This glorious title (note the sarcasm) is a combination of International Law/Human Rights, Christian/Judaic Studies, and Film. (Please if you would like to discuss anything or give me any advice don’t hesitate to message me). I am studying in Paris this Spring. I chose Paris because not only did I grow up in a French dominant culture, my mother’s family happens to be Louisiana Creole, so my hope is to become fluent enough to throw some words back at my family, since I was raised without either French or Creole. Also, since French is one of the main languages of International Law it is very important to me to learn the language in hopes of having more job opportunities.

This semester I will be taking:

Independent Study: Rationale Tutoring

Composition and Conversation

Protest Movements in France

Preliminary Language Course (which ended yesterday Praise the Lord!)

European Cinema (but only as a backup in case we can't go to the University of Paris because of the strikes- I’m hoping to take Literary Texts Adapted to the Silver Screen at the Sorbonne)

and..... (drum roll please)

The Art of Travel avec Steve et vous!!!!

So my goal for the semester is to become at least conversational but my ultimate hope is to become fluent (in 5 months yea, but anything is possible). One thing that I have learned in Paris, that probably happens all the time around the world is how the people can just tell you’re American. I mean I know its obvious, but when you visit the Eiffel Tower and these guys keep trying to speak English and sell you mini-towers it gets annoying. Like you’re foreign , therefore you must be stupid. Or the gypsy lady at Notre Dame who slaps you in the face for walking away while she speaks English to you (yes, true story!) Its just not fun being placed in the category of the tourist. I still consider myself a traveller. Finally I have not picked out my books yet but I am thinking Sarah’s Key. It tells a little of Jewish history in France and I’m hoping to read a book in French also. I just don’t know which one yet. Umm, so yea check out my Delicious page (I am veteran from the Abroad at Home class) Have fun wherever your are. Never say never and take that jump just don’t get arrested. Throw salt over your shoulder and fall in love as often as you can (yea, I stole that one). That’s pretty much all the advice I can think of right now…A Bientôt!!