Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Chez Madame Poidevin

Place des Vosges (in the Marais):




I was going to entitle this post, "My Madame," but then remembered that my mother informed me that this phrase sounds wrong...

I thought I would write a bit about my homestay and where I live! I am in the 15th Arrondisement, a bit south of the Eiffel Tower, and my street, Rue Tiphaine, is right off rue de Commerce, which is covered with shops and boutiques, cafes and brasseries. My apartment building is newer than most in the city, but not necessarily new...which is nice, it gives it an authentic feel on the inside. I think that several children live next door because around bedtime each night I have heard what sounds like five babies screaming. The walls are thin!!
The 17th Arrondisement:
My room is absolutely adorable: it is covered in orange and yellow fabrics, and has black laquer furniture, as well as a melange of art and interesting decorations! It is fairly large, as well, for a room in an apartment in the middle of Paris.

Madame Poidevin is very nice, and she makes fabulous food! She does not speak English, but she is a tutor to children for whom French is a second language, so she is very patient with me when I take a little longer to explain things. I've gotten very good at figuring out certain vocabulary: "What is the opposite of this?" "What is the word, for when you are the opposite of hungry?" for example.

She also is a fantastic cook. The first night, she made me steak and delicious, thinly cut potatoes, and an avocado salad. We had cheese for dessert. No one has ever asked me so casually if I would like cheese. As you can probably guess, I did not hesitate to say "Oui, bien sur!!!" On Monday night we had a delicious salad of beets and apples and hazelnuts, and then chicken with cooked endive. And last night, we had carrot and parsley soup, and rice and le canard...duck! It was delicious. I wonder what is for dinner tonight...?

Somehow, we are able to talk about all sorts of things without awkwardness...I think I am lucky because she is good at listening and guessing what I am saying when I am kind of roundabout in my sentences. But I think my French is a lot more fluid than I thought. It's all up there, it's just a matter of extracting it.
At the same time, however, I am starting to over-think my French a bit more now that I have been here for a week, and so getting out certain sentences has been a bit harder the past couple of days...I think I am more self-conscious, and just mentally exhausted! I haven't slept so well in so long, but after a long day of speaking French, taking intensive French review sessions, and then having two-hour long conversations at dinner time, I am wiped out.

I think that fluency will come, but the hardest part is capturing the nuances of the language, and being really fluid about speaking it. We will see...
rue de Commerce (avec le GAP):

4 comments:

Drew said...

Ashley!!! Your Madame (lol) sounds fantastic! I'm so jealous! I had my first french class today.... and after a month and a half, I feel so slow and bleh! I wish I could come visit you!!

Danielinha said...

i totally know what you mean about your head throbbing and being exhausted after speaking/thinking/making mistakes/trying to express yourself/listening to a foreign language all day.

Don't worry, in about a week you will be amazed at how much more energy you have, just because it won't take SO much effort to communicate

Heidi Guest said...

Ashley! I want to come live at Madame Poidevin's. Your room is adorable and the dinners, thus far, sound devine. No wonder you are exhausted. I did see today that Martha Stewart said one of the best cures for a throbbing headache is to cut a lime and rub it against your head/temples. I haven't personally tried but you never know. Am really enjoying your pictures and the sharing of your experiences. I am so glad you are happy in your new home.

XO Heidi

Diana said...

Oh my!!...!?! Some of the best meals I have ever had have been prepared by your talented mother...!!... WoW!! Madame P must truly be an exceptional cook! That is exciting news! I am sooo happy that you will not be withering away from malnutrition! HaHa!!

I am glad (and relieved) to hear that your living arrangement turned out so well!!

Your Blog makes me smile - Thank you for sharing:))

<3 Aunt Diana