..was my mantra for the week (or two) leading up to yesterday evening. Not that it destressed me much, when it came to it. I was a ball of emotions right up until they started handing out the starter. And the wine. (Just a sip you understand.)
So, I guess I'd better apologise before I get very far into this. It's very nearly a month since I last updated. I think I forgot that I even had this blog (maybe I have to look at it to remember :-P) So sorry, dear friends and any others. Also, thank you again for all the love and support you've shown me. It's rather lovely :-)
Anywho, yesterday was THE night. The one I've been 'working' towards since I arrived. Apparently, it was quite good. The main reason for that is probably Jan Colcutt, since she put in an enormous amount of work. Including agreeing to be in a floundering sketch at very late notice. So thank you Jan. And thank you also for your support and encouragement.
Unfortunately, I lost pretty much half my performers - and thus had to pull half of the performances - in the last two weeks or so. Reasons ranged from broken vertebrae whilst skiing, misscommunication/lack of and rearranged holidays. So I found myself in a position 10 mins before the evening was officially supposed to start, attempting to reteach one sketch - originally rehearsed for 8 people - to one boy. Needless to say, I gave up. I think that was a turning point in my evening. I went to tell Jan that I'd had to pull yet another sketch and on my way back into the main room took a look at the people milling around. If you can call it that. Typically, people had read '18.30 start' as '19.30 start', and we are in France, so that doesn't even mean that they'd be there at 19.30. So at my most frustrated of the evening (I'd attempted to speak to the aforementioned boy in English I was so frazzled) I saw the people sitting, not touching the apperatif and generally looking disinterested as a great personal insult.
"No!" I hear you shout. "Don't be so silly." And is that a "Not everything's about you!" at the back there? Well I had to have a mini breakdown at somepoint, or I wouldn't be me. Once I'd got over that (thank you Jan again), and forced myself to start playing ze flute as background music, I could concentrate on showing off the talent God's given to the people in this church.
For example, we did this skit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA I'd showed it to a few people, and they seemed quite excited about doing it. Rehearsals (and having enough actors wise) however, was not so exciting. In fact it was rather scary. We learnt it on the day. And were lacking two characters, even in the performance. Somebody told me today the she wanted to cry. Which if you've seen the sketch, is the desired effect. In fact this morning we did again, and gained the two missing characters from two lovely ladies who'd seen it the previous evening! Although the music didn't quite work properly (I was the only one who could make out the cues, and thus had to subtley (for me) cue everyone in), it seemed to go quite well again :-)
An evening like this would have probably - nay, definitely - been much easier in England. I think that's due to the fact that I think people are much more used to that sort of thing in the UK. Here it's an almost completely new concept. The church has done things in the past, and has a Christmas show, but I get the feeling that people aren't hugely enthusiastic about it, or at least not confident enough to throw themselves into it. In Redhill, we have the luxury of knowing that most people will probably enjoy it.
Saying that, however, the church here really suprised me. Yesterday (after I'd put my acting mindset on and just got on with it) was one of the most fun evenings I've had. It was, in a beautifully French way framed by food. 4-5 courses worth of framing. Incidentally, I made eton mess for 12 and I'm pretty sure there was a bit of 5 loaves, 2 fish miracle work going on there. That is to say, it went down pretty well. Dessert is something I can praise English cuisine on, even if I flounder for much else. (Before you jump down my throat for that, I love English food. When French people ask me outright 'Do you like French cooking? Is it better than English? What's special about English food' it's quite difficult to answer. Our main meals tend to be rather plain, at least in comparison. Come up with a good answer, in French, in 5 seconds. Go on, I dare you.)
I was also taken aback at the appreciation showed for the different performances. Jan and I recieved flowers (Lovely lovely flowers :-)) But praise is also due elsewhere. I felt it was important after each sketch to go and genuinely thank the actors for their good job, because they deserved it. If I'm glad I did one thing in these three months, it was that. Making sure that everybody knows how important they are seemed vital, and I'm glad that I remembered to do it.
Of course, the evening didn't go perfectly. In addition to my shaky start, there were a few performance mishaps, but that's fine. In fact, my biggest one seemed to provide the biggest laugh. That maybe definitely is because I knew I was about to fail on my lines and thus hammed up reaching for my script as much as I could. :-) One of my favourtie sketches that we do in England is 'The Gift' (ask for details). It always gets laughs, and is simple to understand, both for the actors and audience. Here, however, it got very few laughs and even teaching it was a little difficult. It's little things like that which remind me how different the French mindset is, despite our countries being so close in other ways.
I shall leave this enourmous post with one last comment, and then I should probably go to bed before I fall asleep on my keyboard. I was invited out to lunch today, and around the table there was a lot of talk of the evening - and the two sketches we did this morning. I didn't have very much to do with these conversations at all. At one point someone pretty much (with help from others) recited word for word a sketch that they found particularly funny. It wasn't one which I was in, which I loved though I'd loosely given some direction and my dad had written it.(Halo/Aureole for those in the know.) The point is, at the end of the (rather hilarious retelling) everyone who'd seen it explained its message. Rather better than I could have. And I get the feeling people are going to be retelling for quite a while. I hope that they can get the confidence to do their own shows, and invite friends. So that I can come and visit, watch, eat, enjoy and then go home and retell - word for word - to all of you.
I shall endeavour to write another post tomorrow ("So soon?!" I hear you exclaim) in a less self indulgent manner. Until then, Happy Easter - Jésus est ressuscité!
xxx
Sunday 24 April 2011
Monday 28 March 2011
Acting and Jumping and Clothes, Oh My!
So, I'm going to be ultra metodical in this blogpost. It's the only way to get through 2 weeks worth of stuff.
Firstly: Acting
So I've had 2 and a half rehearsals since last time. The first was last saturday (the 19th) with no less than 6 girls! And ranging from six to 16 years old. Golly gosh! Rather different from one (English speaking) girl. It was rather fun though, and I could do drama games all day every day (don't hold me to that...) We played 'Zip Zap Boing', and 'What are you doing' (ask for instructions!) and made a game out of a well known sketch of Bucket on the Head's called 'The Gift' - we even had a chance to go through another sketch as well. All that in just two hours!
Then the next day, after the service I had a rehearsal with my original girl, as well as three other ladies, plus Jan. Of course, we ate first. I had heard someone say that we would have a 'little picnic' and then get to work. Of course, here that means a proper cooked meal with all the trimmings. Anyway, I found this a LOT more difficult than working with the younger girls. In fact, a simple game of 'Zip Zap Boing' was too much for some...! And then when we got to work on a sketch, everybody wanted to put in their thoughts and ideas, which although wonderful and helpful, started teetering on the edge of a committee meeting.... I also found the adults a little more self conscious which is, I suppose, to be expected!
The 'half' rehearsal was on Wednesday, when I went round the the 'flowers'' house. This is a family of four daughters, all of whom are doing the drama, and all of whom have flower names. We did a little disjointed work polishing up one sketch, and I recruited their Mother as well. Ah yes, I forgot to mention that at the beginning of the rehearsal on Saturday, only two of the sisters wanted to be involved. By the end (with no extra pressure from me may I add) all wanted to be involved! Oh. Yes.
Anywho, that brings me neatly to: Jumping
At the Flowers' house, there was a trampoline. Double the size of the one at my house. Well, maybe not quite double, but certainly MAHUSIVE. Once I'd got over my excitement, I had a lot of fun just pretending to be a child again. Not that I'm particularly ancient, I'll have you know. AND they started playing 'Zip Zap Boing' all on their own!!! Possibly the proudest moment of my life. Ever. It was really lovely to be in a house with four kids, even if there was a boy missing - I'd been missing home a lot and I really felt loved and welcomed there, not that I don't elsewhere. In fact, I'm going to the 6 year old's birthday party on wednesday...it's a shame that people don't seem to like Jelly so much here - it won't feel right without it!
FINALLY, we arrive at: Clothes
After Church yesterday we spent a fair few hours sorting out clothes for Saturday's 'Bourses aux Vetements' (I've purposely left off accents there, it's far too much hassle on my Netbook!)
I don't know what you call that in English - a clothing drive? Jumble sale for the needy? Basically, people come in, pay a 1 euro 50 and take what they need. In fact, I've already got a couple of things! Before you all tell me off for taking from the needy, let me explain: There's a lot of stuff. Jan tried to tell me how much work it was. I kind of shrugged it off - 'I'm sure it's not tat bad.' Oh was I wrong. We left SIX boxes unpacked and just stuck them on chairs because there wasn't room. And we couldn't be bothered. I've been reliably informed that some of the stuff won't go and half an hour in I was being told in no uncertain terms to take something if I wanted it. In fact, a couple of people GAVE me things they thought I might like. So actually, it's not my faut....:-P
Well, I think this post is quite long enough, and has taught me my lesson for not updating sooner. I've still got more to write so there should be an update tomorrow afternoon. Or perhaps morning, I've got a jampacked day tomorrow, so I don't want more information to be added to the backlog! In the meantime, I'll try and get some photos up.
Love to you all,
Carys xxx
Firstly: Acting
So I've had 2 and a half rehearsals since last time. The first was last saturday (the 19th) with no less than 6 girls! And ranging from six to 16 years old. Golly gosh! Rather different from one (English speaking) girl. It was rather fun though, and I could do drama games all day every day (don't hold me to that...) We played 'Zip Zap Boing', and 'What are you doing' (ask for instructions!) and made a game out of a well known sketch of Bucket on the Head's called 'The Gift' - we even had a chance to go through another sketch as well. All that in just two hours!
Then the next day, after the service I had a rehearsal with my original girl, as well as three other ladies, plus Jan. Of course, we ate first. I had heard someone say that we would have a 'little picnic' and then get to work. Of course, here that means a proper cooked meal with all the trimmings. Anyway, I found this a LOT more difficult than working with the younger girls. In fact, a simple game of 'Zip Zap Boing' was too much for some...! And then when we got to work on a sketch, everybody wanted to put in their thoughts and ideas, which although wonderful and helpful, started teetering on the edge of a committee meeting.... I also found the adults a little more self conscious which is, I suppose, to be expected!
The 'half' rehearsal was on Wednesday, when I went round the the 'flowers'' house. This is a family of four daughters, all of whom are doing the drama, and all of whom have flower names. We did a little disjointed work polishing up one sketch, and I recruited their Mother as well. Ah yes, I forgot to mention that at the beginning of the rehearsal on Saturday, only two of the sisters wanted to be involved. By the end (with no extra pressure from me may I add) all wanted to be involved! Oh. Yes.
Anywho, that brings me neatly to: Jumping
At the Flowers' house, there was a trampoline. Double the size of the one at my house. Well, maybe not quite double, but certainly MAHUSIVE. Once I'd got over my excitement, I had a lot of fun just pretending to be a child again. Not that I'm particularly ancient, I'll have you know. AND they started playing 'Zip Zap Boing' all on their own!!! Possibly the proudest moment of my life. Ever. It was really lovely to be in a house with four kids, even if there was a boy missing - I'd been missing home a lot and I really felt loved and welcomed there, not that I don't elsewhere. In fact, I'm going to the 6 year old's birthday party on wednesday...it's a shame that people don't seem to like Jelly so much here - it won't feel right without it!
FINALLY, we arrive at: Clothes
After Church yesterday we spent a fair few hours sorting out clothes for Saturday's 'Bourses aux Vetements' (I've purposely left off accents there, it's far too much hassle on my Netbook!)
I don't know what you call that in English - a clothing drive? Jumble sale for the needy? Basically, people come in, pay a 1 euro 50 and take what they need. In fact, I've already got a couple of things! Before you all tell me off for taking from the needy, let me explain: There's a lot of stuff. Jan tried to tell me how much work it was. I kind of shrugged it off - 'I'm sure it's not tat bad.' Oh was I wrong. We left SIX boxes unpacked and just stuck them on chairs because there wasn't room. And we couldn't be bothered. I've been reliably informed that some of the stuff won't go and half an hour in I was being told in no uncertain terms to take something if I wanted it. In fact, a couple of people GAVE me things they thought I might like. So actually, it's not my faut....:-P
Well, I think this post is quite long enough, and has taught me my lesson for not updating sooner. I've still got more to write so there should be an update tomorrow afternoon. Or perhaps morning, I've got a jampacked day tomorrow, so I don't want more information to be added to the backlog! In the meantime, I'll try and get some photos up.
Love to you all,
Carys xxx
Hello all...
Dear, dear readers..
I haven't forgotten you, promise! In fact, I have lots of lovely stories to share. Things have just been a bit manic the past few days. I did, to be fair, wait a while in order to have something substantial to write about. Then once I did, everthing came at once.
I'm currently sitting in the Church office, 'working' on their internet site. Though the thought of an upcoming Crêpe is almost too much to bear!
I've also had a week of homesickness (me? Homesickness? Quel Horreur!) which, as you may have guessed, is fairly new to me! Six weeks to go from today though, which means I'm over half way there...scary, scary times...
Well, I'm afraid I can't write much more as I'm on the church laptop, which has a French keyboard, which is tantalisingly smashable, and which I am struggling to use. So before I have to pay the church the cost of one laptop, goodbye! See you soon! God Bless!
Carys xxx
(I also have no idea why this thing won't let me stop writing in italics. Stop I say! Stop now!)
I haven't forgotten you, promise! In fact, I have lots of lovely stories to share. Things have just been a bit manic the past few days. I did, to be fair, wait a while in order to have something substantial to write about. Then once I did, everthing came at once.
I'm currently sitting in the Church office, 'working' on their internet site. Though the thought of an upcoming Crêpe is almost too much to bear!
I've also had a week of homesickness (me? Homesickness? Quel Horreur!) which, as you may have guessed, is fairly new to me! Six weeks to go from today though, which means I'm over half way there...scary, scary times...
Well, I'm afraid I can't write much more as I'm on the church laptop, which has a French keyboard, which is tantalisingly smashable, and which I am struggling to use. So before I have to pay the church the cost of one laptop, goodbye! See you soon! God Bless!
Carys xxx
(I also have no idea why this thing won't let me stop writing in italics. Stop I say! Stop now!)
Friday 11 March 2011
Oh, and thanks.
Before I forget, thank you. Thank you for reading this and for all the people who've let me know that they enjoy reading it, and want some more. Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement, and interest, and general morsels of love. They mean so much to me.
Anybody who I take a while to reply to, know it's nothing personal! I'm notorious for that - but that's no excuse, and I will reply. After I've written this. And finished some invitations for an event. And put my washing on. I will :-P
I love you all!
Anybody who I take a while to reply to, know it's nothing personal! I'm notorious for that - but that's no excuse, and I will reply. After I've written this. And finished some invitations for an event. And put my washing on. I will :-P
I love you all!
Bah Oui/En Fait...
The title of this post is nothing other than my two new favourite expressions. Try saying 'Bah Oui' in a deep French accent, pouting a little and shrugging your shoulders. I try to work it into everything I say, which believe it or not isn't out of the ordinary. 'En fait' (In fact/Actually) is another French version of 'Yeah, Kind of, Like, Y'know etc. etc.' My game at the moment is counting how many times people say it...fun for all the family!!!
Anywho, what's been going on? Erm, not much. Well, a bit I suppose. I've had another rehearsal - with the same girl as before. It looks like the first rehearsal with everyone is going to be next sunday. When I'll I have been here for 6 weeks....! Though may I point out that leaves nearly 5 weeks, which is quite a feat, considering that I'm, well, me.
I must add that when I had to leave the prayer weekend on Saturday, saying goodbye to the two little boys broe my heart. Not just because they were sweet and lovely (the 5 year old whispered 'I'll miss you' in my ear as he hugged me goodbye!), but because they made me miss my little guys at church even more. *Sniff Sniff*
There've been a fair few events at church this week. And I think pretty much every one has involved a dinner! This is France, so that's to be expected. Nevertheless, it's really something to see how much eating together, breaking bread with one another, means to their fellowship. So on Monday I made Toad in the Hole with Onion gravy for the church council meeting. T'was the first time I've ever made it, and it wasn't half bad, if I say so myself...and others half told me it was nice! I don't think, however, my future lies in fine cooking. I'd rather stick to cakes, brownies and ccokies! Yesterday was a 'diner biblique' - instead of the normal Thursday evening bible study, we had dinner together and then watched a dvd (on pornography and human dignity. Hmm.) And then today was an ecumenical prayer service with a lunch afterwards (12.00 - 14.00) To give some idea of size over here: panic stations when 40 people turned up rather than the 30 planned for. More food had to be bought. Although the Church I'm at is especially small, I think that a similar meeting near me (where as far as I'm aware all the churches in the city of Le Mans were invited) would be rather different. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong!) The cultural differences here constantly shock me, partly because I'm not really expecting them!
Finally, I must say, I'm getting rather excited about the summer, and then University in the autumn. So many theatrey things. Although my focus here is the Easter Theatre, it's just not the same as balancing work and Panto, or A Levels and two successive plays. Although as soon as I get back I'll be thrown into the last desparate stages of the Young Adults production, it just can't come quickly enough. And then Student Theatre...oh how I yearn for thee..!! (Not that I'm desperate to leave here or anything!)
Much much love xxx
Anywho, what's been going on? Erm, not much. Well, a bit I suppose. I've had another rehearsal - with the same girl as before. It looks like the first rehearsal with everyone is going to be next sunday. When I'll I have been here for 6 weeks....! Though may I point out that leaves nearly 5 weeks, which is quite a feat, considering that I'm, well, me.
I must add that when I had to leave the prayer weekend on Saturday, saying goodbye to the two little boys broe my heart. Not just because they were sweet and lovely (the 5 year old whispered 'I'll miss you' in my ear as he hugged me goodbye!), but because they made me miss my little guys at church even more. *Sniff Sniff*
There've been a fair few events at church this week. And I think pretty much every one has involved a dinner! This is France, so that's to be expected. Nevertheless, it's really something to see how much eating together, breaking bread with one another, means to their fellowship. So on Monday I made Toad in the Hole with Onion gravy for the church council meeting. T'was the first time I've ever made it, and it wasn't half bad, if I say so myself...and others half told me it was nice! I don't think, however, my future lies in fine cooking. I'd rather stick to cakes, brownies and ccokies! Yesterday was a 'diner biblique' - instead of the normal Thursday evening bible study, we had dinner together and then watched a dvd (on pornography and human dignity. Hmm.) And then today was an ecumenical prayer service with a lunch afterwards (12.00 - 14.00) To give some idea of size over here: panic stations when 40 people turned up rather than the 30 planned for. More food had to be bought. Although the Church I'm at is especially small, I think that a similar meeting near me (where as far as I'm aware all the churches in the city of Le Mans were invited) would be rather different. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong!) The cultural differences here constantly shock me, partly because I'm not really expecting them!
Finally, I must say, I'm getting rather excited about the summer, and then University in the autumn. So many theatrey things. Although my focus here is the Easter Theatre, it's just not the same as balancing work and Panto, or A Levels and two successive plays. Although as soon as I get back I'll be thrown into the last desparate stages of the Young Adults production, it just can't come quickly enough. And then Student Theatre...oh how I yearn for thee..!! (Not that I'm desperate to leave here or anything!)
Much much love xxx
Friday 4 March 2011
A lot of French, A lot of English...
So I haven't written anything in a while. Sorry! I wasn't all that well Monday and Tuesday - just a cold, but it knocked me for six. Then Wednesday was rather busy. I had intended to write about it when I got home, but I got home at gone midnight, so that wasn't going to happen...! Then yesterday, I - well, I came here. So enough of the excuses and I shall get on with this post.
So Wednesday I had planned to have the first drama rehearsal at 15.00, but found out Monday or Tuesday that there was to be a pizza/film/bible study evening at 19.00 so decided to reschedule for 18.00. That way the young people (some of whom have to make rather long journeys) would be able to make just the two. It seems this slightly backfired, as apparently somebody already made the journey in the afternoon and I feel rather bad about that....going to have to apologise profusely on Sunday! With the one girl who came, we talked about what we were going to do and had a run through of a sketch. About Foetuses. Talking about life after birth. Rather funny, but difficult for me to get the enunciation and stress on the lines right when simple pronunciation is a problem!
Which takes me to my 'lot of French'. With 3 young people (plus two 'leaders' and myself) we ate, studied, watched 'Facing the Giants' and studied. A lot more. Until gone midnight. Which for my poor English mindset was a struggle towards the end. Plus did you know that they never teach you the words/phrases in School that you'll need in a church/Christian environment...!!! It was all very good, and helped me to think about facing some of the 'Giants' in my life. It was also long, and tiring. I've discovered having to think and talk and listen in French all the time wears me out. Which sounds pathetic really!
And so this long post comes to an end with 'A lot of English'. I am currently on a prayer weekend away for the Mission that my friend works with. There's 14 of us here and it's a little bit of blissful, guiltfree, low-fat English. As in a lot of them speak English better than French (or are English). There's a Norweigan, some Dutch and an American as well. Hall-e--lluu--jahh!! It's rather odd though, hearing French and English and various other languages bandied around. I'm quite fond of 'Franglais' myself. I don't know how I'm going to cope when I get back to Le Mans...!!!!
Well, that wasn't very exciting I'm afraid! I shall try to post a little more tomorrow. Promise!
So Wednesday I had planned to have the first drama rehearsal at 15.00, but found out Monday or Tuesday that there was to be a pizza/film/bible study evening at 19.00 so decided to reschedule for 18.00. That way the young people (some of whom have to make rather long journeys) would be able to make just the two. It seems this slightly backfired, as apparently somebody already made the journey in the afternoon and I feel rather bad about that....going to have to apologise profusely on Sunday! With the one girl who came, we talked about what we were going to do and had a run through of a sketch. About Foetuses. Talking about life after birth. Rather funny, but difficult for me to get the enunciation and stress on the lines right when simple pronunciation is a problem!
Which takes me to my 'lot of French'. With 3 young people (plus two 'leaders' and myself) we ate, studied, watched 'Facing the Giants' and studied. A lot more. Until gone midnight. Which for my poor English mindset was a struggle towards the end. Plus did you know that they never teach you the words/phrases in School that you'll need in a church/Christian environment...!!! It was all very good, and helped me to think about facing some of the 'Giants' in my life. It was also long, and tiring. I've discovered having to think and talk and listen in French all the time wears me out. Which sounds pathetic really!
And so this long post comes to an end with 'A lot of English'. I am currently on a prayer weekend away for the Mission that my friend works with. There's 14 of us here and it's a little bit of blissful, guiltfree, low-fat English. As in a lot of them speak English better than French (or are English). There's a Norweigan, some Dutch and an American as well. Hall-e--lluu--jahh!! It's rather odd though, hearing French and English and various other languages bandied around. I'm quite fond of 'Franglais' myself. I don't know how I'm going to cope when I get back to Le Mans...!!!!
Well, that wasn't very exciting I'm afraid! I shall try to post a little more tomorrow. Promise!
Sunday 27 February 2011
Does that work in French?
So the title of this post is something I've been saying quite a lot. There are clearly phrases like 'it's on the tip of my tongue' and 'sweet tooth' that don't translate into French, (Both of which I had great fun teaching to Lucy, the girlfriend of my host's son!) Some phrases, however, are less obvious. For instance: middle aged. I tried to describe someone as middle aged today and assumed it had gone over okay when nobody batted an eyelid - which is incidentally another phrase I've had to explain! When Jan (Colcutt, my original contact and now lovely friend here) burst out laughing, I wondered what I could have possibly said.
Apparently it's fairly impossible to say 'middle aged' - you just say older, or fiftyish. What I actually said was 'from the middle ages.' Only slightly different.....!
Despite that faux pas (haha, see my actual French!) this lunchtime, my announcement in church this morning went fairly well. Martin (the pastor) had written pretty much what I wanted to say in the notice sheet, so Jan told me to just read that and change two words. Two words, that's all I had to do. Yet, since I am 'me', I just had to ad-lib a little. Which when nervous and speaking in a foreign language is not as easy as I normal find it. I've since been told everyone understood me and it was fine, which is reassuring! I also had a few people come up after the service wanting to be involved in the drama, which was reassuring. First rehearsal wednesday...there may just be one person there but that doesn't matter! We're actually REHEARSING. This is scary stuff.
I guess the main thought in this post is that although it's terrifying to me that I can't rely on my ability to talk my way out of a situation, or feel so confident speaking 'up front', it also reassures me that God has control. This is a little excerpt from a diary entry I wrote on the train on my way here.
--> As I was praying/thinking about [the languag/expression] barriers, I felt a sense of God saying - "See, you have to leave it in my hands!" Wheras I always like to be in control, and really struggle with handing everything over to God, here it's the only obvious choice. I feel comforted knowing that he's got it sorted, and has a plan for me.
A little deep for 1:38 in the morning. I did fall asleep for three hours this afternoon/early evening, so don't judge me! And also look: this is the second post and it's been less than two days! It's a miracle!
A bientôt....x
Apparently it's fairly impossible to say 'middle aged' - you just say older, or fiftyish. What I actually said was 'from the middle ages.' Only slightly different.....!
Despite that faux pas (haha, see my actual French!) this lunchtime, my announcement in church this morning went fairly well. Martin (the pastor) had written pretty much what I wanted to say in the notice sheet, so Jan told me to just read that and change two words. Two words, that's all I had to do. Yet, since I am 'me', I just had to ad-lib a little. Which when nervous and speaking in a foreign language is not as easy as I normal find it. I've since been told everyone understood me and it was fine, which is reassuring! I also had a few people come up after the service wanting to be involved in the drama, which was reassuring. First rehearsal wednesday...there may just be one person there but that doesn't matter! We're actually REHEARSING. This is scary stuff.
I guess the main thought in this post is that although it's terrifying to me that I can't rely on my ability to talk my way out of a situation, or feel so confident speaking 'up front', it also reassures me that God has control. This is a little excerpt from a diary entry I wrote on the train on my way here.
--> As I was praying/thinking about [the languag/expression] barriers, I felt a sense of God saying - "See, you have to leave it in my hands!" Wheras I always like to be in control, and really struggle with handing everything over to God, here it's the only obvious choice. I feel comforted knowing that he's got it sorted, and has a plan for me.
A little deep for 1:38 in the morning. I did fall asleep for three hours this afternoon/early evening, so don't judge me! And also look: this is the second post and it's been less than two days! It's a miracle!
A bientôt....x
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