Next Station Hawaii ... more coming up soon

I Speak French! Do I Want To?

After two weeks of learning French, I remembered many bad experiences I made with French language in the past. I create my own theory about the world languages.

First of all I want to thank Canadians for being very patient with my French. They try much more than French in France. I have read many times French complaints about world not willing to speak French. There is even special Toubon law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toubon_Law) in France that shall support and protect French language. No wonder. French is not an easy language, I have heard many times. I was afraid. So many hurdles.

My grammar is not strong in any of languages I speak. I am much more relaxed after two weeks of studying French. In many aspects is French grammar same or similar to Czech. I do understand the misery of ‘English is my mother language’ people. Understanding the concept of everything being HE or SHE must be very stressful. As a Czech person I miss IT. And I have to admit I have also an issue with two different WE. But I hope I will get it soon.

Next hurdle is the vocabulary. From learning previous languages I know it will come with the time.

French favourite hurdle - PRONUNCIATION! Here starts the fun. Whatever you say, French will not understand you. Do they do not want to? Do we all speak so bad? The answer is practice. I hope it helps.

After two weeks of French I do also understand much better why French was, and still is, main language of diplomats. Nobody understands precisely what you are talking about and if they do, they can pretend they do not. Is this a reason why we had so many wars in the past? Most probably not, but doubts remain. In contrast to complicated French is English winning the global language contest with its ‘easy to speak‘ approach. Shall we all in future only learn one language? NO!!!

I come from a small nation - Czech. There are only ca. twelve million people speaking Czech. We were always forced to learn other languages. I enjoy it a lot. I love many things about speaking other languages. You can simply enjoy talk with locals, but some expressions are, in particular language, more precise, funnier or just fit better to the situation. Here is summary of what I like about languages I speak:

German - I like its precise, structured and very technical format. I love the word GENIEßEN. In my ears the word says all about savour and/or enjoy.  

English - I love its ease. Google said English is the language with most words. Possible. I do not know. Maybe the scientists just multiplied all words with number if its users. My favourite word is BELIEVE. It is big and at the same time so close to life.

Russian - soft language, excellently suitable for discussions. Russian are experts in discussing anything. My beloved very emotional word in НЕПЕРЕЖИВАЙ.

Slovak - brother language. We know it best. Favourite word? I love all words used in songs of the Slovak group ELÁN and MAŠKRTNÝ.

... and the best Czech - mother language. What can I say? This quotation pop up in my mind when I was thinking about my favourite word.

Jan Werich, Czech actor and philosopher:

‘... take the word ass = PRDEL. It is in Czech swearing temple. We place where everything we could. We send uncomfortable people there. We even call it in desperation for help ...‘

Todays French word:

Yes, I love speaking French 

Oui, j'adore parler français.

First Canadian Winter Skiing

Today is finally the right day for skiing. I went to bed early last night. I wake up early in the morning - few minutes before eight. I see sun coming through the window. It is nine o’clock. I drive very excited towards Les Laurentides - mountains similar to Krkonoše or Krušné Hory. Les Laurentides have many ski resorts (http://www.laurentides.com/en). I chose intuitively place called Chantecler. Very good choice! Lovely smaller location (as Harrachov or Neklid in Krusne Hory).

My favourite slope http://www.laurentides.com/en/members/ski-chantecler

I started in the ski rental shop. The section of skis was wide, but I did not see latest models for experienced skiers. On the other hand I need to say, this location as very much focused on children and families. The selection of latest skies in Whistler in summer was much better. As I asked for longer ski, I got the longest they had - Rossignol edge (170 cm, price 26 CAD). Really good skier never complains about the ski - I can ride on whatever is available.

I can ride any

Next comes the ski pass. Skiing is, unless you are local and can use the discount for Quebec inhabitants, very expensive hobby. Locals have always better price. The same situation was in British Columbia. Here I made small comparison of ski pass prices and slopes length:

Chantecler - 4 hours - 45,28 CAD (approx. 32 EUR) - 17 km of slopes - it felt much smaller - 10 km?

Fichtelberg - full day - 25 EUR - 15,5 km slopes

Harrachov - full day - 22 EUR - 7 km slopes

Hintertux - full day - 47 EUR - 193 km slopes

On the top of the hill

I was very lucky with the weather, beautiful sunny, but cold, day. I was soon tempted to have something hot. Disaster! Spoiled by delicious Austrian home made dishes I struggle to choose. Soup and bred? Sounds good, but this is the result. Plastic.

Delicious! Delicious? NO!!!!

Advices for future - take your own snack and stop on the way back to Montreal in any cafe. You will definitely get fresh and delicious meal. It will be served on real plates and glasses, with metal cutlery.

Welcome at McSki. Fresh? No, frozen!

Summary - skiing in Canada is fun. Is it often sunny, so you do not need to suffer even if the weather is a little colder. Most of the time you will enjoy natural snow. Thank you Chantecler, YOU MADE MY DAY!

Todays French word:

sun - le soleil

Story Of St.Valentine Friday

Something special must be in the air. The Friday started already on Thursday evening when my fried GI hurt her back badly; so badly that we had to call an ambulance. And here starts the very lucky story. GI came back from hospital early in the morning, nothing broken.

Snowing began already in the night. Yupiiiii!

No cars and lots of snow

I was afraid of huge traffic jam on the way to Montreal. Unbelievable, there was almost no traffic at all. Did everybody stayed at home today? Is it Friday or Saturday?

Difficult studen's life - walking in deep show to school

I reached the school ten to nine. One of my schoolmates R. was waiting in the front of the house.

What are you doing here F.?

Enjoying the snow fall.

Is he crazy? Italian enjoying snowfall? I thought to myself. Then I went to the door.    

No school today

Noooo!!!! Today’s class was cancelled. The email with this information unfortunately arrived only at 8.19. Long after I left home. We decided to have a coffee somewhere. At that time we did not know how big challenge it is to find open café in the morning at nine o’clock downtown Montreal. Is it because of the show? Or maybe Valentine Day? The only open place was McDonalds. No, I thought, I cannot go with an Italian to have a coffee in McDonalds. Finally we found place in the underground we could have a good coffee and tea. 

Coffe and tea

Yes, Italian guys drink tea nowadays. We practiced French for some time and then I went back home to check how is GI doing. Good. You will be in perfect shape soon! We love you!

Let’s see what the afternoon brings.

Todays French word:

afternoon program -
le programme de l'après-midi

Fragments of Students Life

Every day I experience many small stories ...

Sweet Student’s Life

We adults tend to the opinion students are having great life. Yes, I agree. Part of my experience is very sweet. I am done with the school right after noon. This means the bigger part of the day is still in front of me and I can do whatever I want.. I met couple of interesting people. We have lot’s of fun learning the funny French language.

I have lots of questions.

I ... I ... I cannot name any other advantage of students life.

After being for one week and two days back in the proper school (everyday 9.00 to 12.45) I can name disadvantages easily: home work - our professor is not the nice one, we get everyday some exercises, long list of vocabulary and sometimes also nice verb to learn the conjugation. It takes me usually two to three hours every day to handle everything. I hope my effort will have the right result.

Break? YES!!!

Do you think you have bad job?

Among other is Montreal also port on the confluence of two rivers Rivière des Outaouais and Fleuve Saint-Laurent. In the winter the rivers freezes and become paradise for ice skaters.

Frozen river

Sunday walk in the port was wonderful, than I saw something incredible. First only huge ships trapped in the ice crust and a man standing on the ice.

At that moment I was just wondering what it the man doing there.

When I came closer, I realised there is somebody in the water. Not in only in the water. He was under water repairing / welding the rudder. I have been waiting more than ten minutes to take a picture - him getting out of the water. I hope he did after I left.

Red, orange and yellow is the guy. Do you want to change with him?

Squirrel or Chipmunk

Despite the cold squirrels and chipmunks (for me difficult to distinguish) are everywhere and very active. 

I do not need to sleep. I am fet!

Do they never sleep? I thought all animals in Canada in sleep in winter like bears.

Todays French word:

a remarkable experience - une expérience remarquable