Well, we had an Ad Council meeting at church last week. Ad Council is short for Administrative Council. They’re in charge of the church. We have really long boring meetings once a month and usually I have the urge to bang my head on a wall by the time we’re done. At the last meeting (and that was one of the shorter ones!) I spent the entire meeting trying to figure out the tune printed on the music director’s tie, and the only other youth person there spent the time gradually shredding a styrofoam coffee cup. It was sooo boring. I have found that if you bring a notepad and pretend to take notes while really writing out song lyrics it takes the edge off. Not that I do that. My notepad is full of insightful notes such as, “wow, this meeting is boring! who cares about where we store the coffee cups?” or “gosh darnit, I am going to scream if we do not finish soon” and so on.  

Anyway,  I am going to France! I’ll be gone 10 days, from the end of July to the beginning of August. Most of it will be camping out at a monastery, but I’ll also get to see some stuff in Paris one afternoon. Also, fly on an airplane again (I love flying and I haven’t been in ages) and hike around with all my supplies on my back. (not so fun). Since I am learning French, hopefully I’ll get a chance to practice that too. Here are a few French phrases that I have learned from Rosetta Stone, and also some that I taught myself out of a garage-sale dictionary.

School Phrase: L’homme et la femme n’est pas de maillots du bain. (translation: the man and the woman are not wearing bathing suits)

Dictionary Phrase: Viet! Apportez-moi du cognac! (translation: quick! get me some brandy!)

School Phrase: Le Russe est la pays colorie bleu sur la carte. (translation: Russia is the country that is colored blue on the map)

Dictionary Phrase: Il y a eu accident. (translation: There has been an accident.)

School Phrase: Le chateau se trouve sur la colline. (translation: the castle is on a hill.)

Dictionary Phrase: Vouz-avez haricots-verts. (translation: you are all green beans.)

Now, which do you think will come in more useful? Insults or inane observations?

 

 

-FRENCH PRONUNCIATION BONUS LESSON-

So you can insult people in your very own hometown, and sound cosmopolitan while doing it!

Vouz-avez haricots-verts! (you are all green beans)- Vooz ahvays hairy-coats vairs

Tu es le canard! (you are a duck)- Too ess lee can-ahrd

Je suis est entouree imbeciles! (I am surrounded by idiots) – Je swee est ontouree im-bey-seals

Il est souvent au-dessous de la moyenne. Je crois qu’il a quelques éditions du cerveau. (he is often below average. I think he maybe has some brain trouble. )- Eel ay soo-von ah-dessouz de lah moy-enn. Jay cra keel a kel-kais ayditions doo ser-vo. 

 Votre maman! (Your mom!)- Vo-tray momon! I wonder if they do your-mom jokes in France?

Zut alors! (Dang!) –  Zoot aloors!