Middlebury, VT: Les ateliers

(English below)

C’est maintenant  la troisième semaine et tout va bien. Les cours sont toujours difficiles mais ainsi va la vie à Middlebury. Aujourd’hui, je voudrais vous dire ce qui est le plus amusant ici : les ateliers!

À la fin de la première semaine, après le début des cours, les ateliers ont commencé aussi. Le vendredi, j’ai essayé de faire quelque chose d’un peu bizarre. J’ai fait le trapèze aérien! Le cours, qui était enseigné par une étudiante de l’école française, a commencé avec un échauffement. Nous avons fait «l’exploration de l’ours» (« the bear crawl») et tous les exercices comme ceux de la classe de gym au lycée. Après bien s’être bien échauffé, nous nous sommes étirés et cela nous a détendus. C’était le moment d’utiliser le trapèze.

J’ai regardé les cinq premières personnes le faire. Chacune était en pleine forme et il semblait que c’était facile à faire. Mais comme de plus en plus de personnes ont essayé, j’ai réalisé que c’était un peu difficile et tellement effrayant. Finalement, le moment est arrivé; c’était mon tour.

J’ai commencé très lentement parce que j’avais peur. L’enseignante m’a aidée quand mes jambes ne voulaient pas bouger. J’ai fait la première acrobatie et je ne suis pas tombée! J’ai fait la deuxième et j’ai encore bien fait. J’ai continué à en faire et j’étais vraiment de bonne humeur. L’activité m’a rappelé le temps où faisais le saut à l’élastique au Népal (D’accord - pas exactement, mais un peu).

Après que tout le monde a fini, l’enseignante a montré une autre série qui était plus difficile. Nous allions faire une pirouette sans les mains! Les autres étudiants étaient surpris que j’ai la volonté encore. Mais, j’ai pensé: « Si je ne le fais pas maintenant, quand est-ce que je vais avoir l’opportunité de faire encore? » J’avais encore peur mais j’ai agrippé la barre, j’ai balancé mes jambes, je me suis levée, et vous savez quoi ? Eh bien, j’ai fait le truc, sans les mains! J’ai souri et tout le monde a applaudi. C’était tellement cool!

Depuis ce vendredi, j’ai fait beaucoup d’autres ateliers. J’ai fait une randonnée pendant deux heures sure le TAM (« Trail around Middlebury »). J’ai joué au tennis (il y a neuf ans que je n’ai pas joué avec une équipe compétitive). J’ai fait le PIYO où le prof mélangeait la méthode Pilates et le yoga. J’ai bien dansé et ai parlé avec d’autres étudiants de l’école française. Et ce week-end, j’irais, à Montréal pour pratiquer mon français dans le vrai monde. Vraiment, si vous voulez apprendre le français, prendre des cours de français ne suffit pas. Il est important d’avoir beaucoup de loisirs aussi!

Étage 1 / Step 1

Étage 2 / Step 2 

Étage 3 - et la première grande acrobatie
 (Step 3 - and the first big stunt)

Étage 4 / Step 4

Étage 5 /Step 5

Et voilà!  Sans les mains!
(And tada! No hands!)

L'atelier de faire une radonée / Hiking

Le "Trail Around Middlebury"

Un petit repose pour une photo
(A little break for a photo)

La traduction:

It's the third week here and things are going well. The classes are still difficult but "c'est la vie" at Middlebury. Today, I want to tell you about the most exciting thing here yet: the activity workshops!

At the end of the first week, after classes commenced, the workshops also started. On that first Friday, I decided to try and do something a little bizarre. I used a trapeze! The workshop, which was taught by a student in the french school, started with a warm-up. We did "the bear crawl" and several exercises like in a high school gym class. After we were well warmed-up, we stretched and calmed our nerves. It was the moment to use the trapeze.

I watched the first five people follow our instructor's example and use the trapeze. Each person was in good shape and made it look easy to do. But as more and more people tried it, I realized that it was actually a little difficult and very terrifying... Finally, the moment arrived; it was my turn.

I started out very slowly because I was scared. The instructor helped me when my legs didn't want to move. I did the first trick in the routine, and I didn't fall! I did the second trick, and again, I did well! I continued to do the routine and was really good spirits (as all went according to plan). The activity actually reminded me of the time I went bungee jumping in Nepal (OK - the trapeze was not exactly the same experience but it did remind of me of it a little). 

After everyone finished, the instructor demonstrated a more difficult routine. We were going to do a stunt without using hands! The other students were surprised that I volunteered again. But, I thought, "If I don't do this now, when am I going to have the opportunity again?" I was scared again but I gripped the bar, swung my legs, stood up [on the bar], and you know what? I did the stunt without using hands! I smiled and everyone applauded. It was awesome! 

Since that Friday, I have done several other workshops. I went on a two hour hike on the TAM ("Trail around Middlebury"). I did PIYO, where the instructor mixed Pilates and Yoga. I danced a lot and spoke French with other students in the French school. This weekend, I might go to Montreal to practice my French in the real world. Truly, if you want to learn French, taking some classes in French is not enough. it is important to have lots of fun too!

Middlebury, VT: Le premier jour des classes

Mead Hall sur le 4 juillet
(A bell concert at Mead Hall on July 4th)

(English below)

Est-ce que la première fois j’ai dit que j’aimais le français? Je dirais même que je le déteste! Non, ce n’est pas vrais ; je ne déteste évidemment pas le français mais la vie n’est pas aussi rose que les premières jours. Je vais expliquer…

Après avoir bien passé le week-end, je pensais que j’étais prête pour mes cours. Je me suis réveillée à six heures du matin parce que j’avais besoin de faire un peu de travail pour ma directrice d’université. J’ai pris un petit-déjeuner équilibre qui comprenait de la farine d’avoine et des myrtilles avec d’autres étudiants. Nous avons bien pratiqué notre français, donc, je n’avais plus peur des cours. 

Le matin, j’avais trois cours - l’oral, la grammaire, et mon cours favori  - le théâtre. J’ai compris la plupart de ce que mes profs avaient dit mais il y a sept ans que je n’ai pas pris des cours de français. Après les cours, il n’y avait pas de temps pour se reposer. J’ai déjeuné et j’ai parlé avec d’autres étudiants en français. J’ai commencé à faire mes devoirs en français. Les devoirs étaient un peu difficiles parce que l’écriture et la lecture en français ne sont pas mes points forts. J’avais mal à la tête, mal à la gorge, mal à la bouche, mal à la voix; toutes mes maladies étaient dues à l’immersion en français! Et la partie la plus difficile a été que je ne pouvais pas faire les activités que j’aime faire habituellement quand je suis stressée parce que je ne savais pas comment les faire en français. Je ne pouvais pas faire de Zumba parce que l’instructeur parle en anglais. Je ne pouvais pas chanter parce que je ne connais pas des chansons françaises. Je ne pouvais pas appeler mes amis parce qu’ils ne parlent pas français. Ma frustration était indicible, d’autant plus que les mots me manquaient pour l’exprimer.

Après le dîner pendant lequel j’ai parlé encore en français, j’ai eu une bonne idée. J’ai décidé de faire des exercices, donc j’ai fait un tour au centre-ville. J’ai marché pendant presque une heure et demie, et la ville était jolie et tranquille. J’ai fait aussi du shopping pour la thérapie et j’ai acheté un tapis de yoga, des casques, d’autres trucs pour l’exercice, et une bouteille de vin. C’était un peu bizarre parce que je n’ai pas parlé en anglais mais je me suis amusée. 

Quand je me suis rendue à l’école française, je me sentais mieux. J’ai fini mes devoirs, j’ai écrit quelques mots dans mon journal privé, j’ai travaillé un peu, et j’ai discuté avec un nouvel ami jusqu’à une heure du matin. Je savais bien que tout est bien qui finit bien.

La directrice accueille tous les étudiants
(The director welcomes all the students)

La traduction:

Did I say that I loved French the last time? I absolutely hate it! No, that's not true; I don't hate French. But things are not as easy as the first few days. Let me explain...

After a great first weekend of activities, I thought I was ready for my classes. I woke up at 6 AM the first day of class because I had to do some non-French school work. I had a healthy breakfast - the breakfast of champions really - of oatmeal and blueberries, with some of the other students. We had been speaking French non-stop all weekend and had really practiced well, so I had no concerns for class.

That morning (every weekday morning since), I had 3 classes - Oral Expression, Grammar, and my favorite course, Theater. I understood most of what my professors said but it really has been 7 years since I took a French course! After class, there was no time to relax. I at lunch (and spoke in French) with some of the other students; I started my homework (in French, of course). The homework was a little difficult because writing and reading in French are not my strong points. After a while, I had a headache, a sore throat, a sore mouth, a sore voice - all thanks to complete immersion in French! And the most difficult part was that I couldn't do the activities I normally do when I'm stressed because I didn't know how to do them in French. I couldn't take a Zumba class because the instructor speaks English. I couldn't sing  because I don't know any French songs. I couldn't call my friends because most don't speak French. I was very frustrated, and I couldn't even express my frustration because I didn't know the words to communicate this en français! 

After an equally frustrating dinner, where again I had to speak in French, I had a great idea. I decided to do a little exercise, taking a tour of the town. I walked for nearly 1.5 hours, and the city was beautiful and calm. I also got some "retail therapy" through buying a yoga mat, headphones, some other exercise gear, and - of course - a bottle of wine. It was strange because I didn't speak in English in the town, but I still enjoyed myself. 

By the time I got back to French School, I felt much better. I finished my homework, wrote (the first iteration of this story!) in my journal, did a little non-French school work, and chatted with a new friend until nearly 1 AM. I truly knew that "all's well that ends well" (and that I would be just fine). 

Je supporte la diversité dans toute ma vie.
(I support the diversity in all aspects of my life...

And no that's definitely not all for me!
I'll give you an update of my activities in the next post.)

Middlebury, VT: J'aime le français

(English below)

J’ai commencé ma prémiere journée ici sans attentes - quelquechose un peu anormal pour moi. Je pensais seulement que c’était bizzare de rester dans une ville aux états-unis où tout le monde parle l’anglais mais choisit de ne pas l’utiliser pour sept semaines. Pendant les premiers trois jours, l’école française semblait comme un camp d’été - il y avait beaucoup d’activité à faire comme les brise-glaces et les fêtes. Et j’ai rapidement trouvé que je l’aimait! 

Le matin du deuxième jour, je me suis réveillée à neuf huere. J’ai mangé une bar d’énergie car je n’avais pas encore trouvé le réflectoire, et j’ai fait une petite visite du campus. C’était très jolie! J’ai trouvé la table où j’ai pensé qu’on avait besoin de s’enrigstrer et une fille qui semblait qu’elle avait treize ans seulement m’a demandé quelquechose en français. C’était troup rapide pour moi. Avant d’avoir le temps de reflechir, un homme m’a demandé « Est-ce que tu es dans le niveau debutant? » Après toutes mes éxperiences avec le français, je ne m’attendais pas à ça!

J’ai trouvé un peu de courage après la prémière mésaventure et j’ai completé mon entrien oral sans problème. J’ai aussi fait la connaisance des autres étudiants de l’école française comme Tara, une fille mexique et israeli qui a dix-sept ans; elle est dans sa prémière année d’université, elle parle déjà trois langues, et elle a joué au foot professionnel pour l’équipe nationale d’israel! 

Nous avons passé l’après-midi à faire beaucoup de jeux comme « capturer le drapeau » et « la course des trois jambes ». Nous avons rivalisé avec son équipe et nous avons crée une chanson et un cri pour l’équipe. Mon équipe - la grise - n’a pas beaucoup gagné mais c’était amusant.

Le soir, nous avons regardé un film d’animation bizarre. Après, il y avait une fête française de karaoke avec les chansons françaises, le frômage français, et le vin français. J’ai éssayé de commencer une danse quand j’ai demandé « Decalé Gwada » mais tout le monde était plus timide que moi. Je suis sortie avec les assistants et les professeurs pour bien danser sur la musique francophone. 

À la fin de la nuit, un assistant qui connait mon ami de l’université a dit « Mais tu es dans le niveau plus haut, oui? » L’école a changé mon niveau au quatrième, ce qui veut dire que je vais parler comme un diplomé de français bientôt!

Cela fait sept ans que je n’ai pas utilisé le français intensivement, et tu sais quoi - j’aime! 

La traduction:

I started my first day here without expectations - something a little unusual for me. My only thought was that it was bizarre to live in a city in the U.S. where everyone speaks English but chooses not to use it for 7 weeks. During the first 3 days, the French School was like a summer camp - there were lots of activities to do like "ice breakers" and parties. And, I quickly found that I liked it! 

The morning of the second day, I woke up at 9 AM. I ate a granola bar since I hadn't yet found the cafeteria, and I took a little tour of the campus. It was very beautiful! I found the table where I thought we were supposed to register, and a girl who looked like she was 13 years old asked me something in French. It was too fast for me. Before I had time to reflect [on what she asked], a man asked me "Are you in the beginner's level?" After all my experiences with French, I hoped not! 

I found a little bit of courage after the first mishap and completed my oral interview without any problem. I also met some other students of the French school, like Tara, a 17 year old Mexican and Israeli; she was in her first year of university, already spoke 3 languages, and played professional soccer for the Israeli national team!

We spent the afternoon playing several games like "Capture the Flag" and "3-Legged Race." We competed with our team and created a song and a cheer f. My team - the grey team - didn't win much, but it was fun.

During the evening, we watched a cartoon movie that was really strange. Afterward, there was a French karaoke party with French songs, French cheese, and - you guessed it - French wine! I tried to start a dance party when I requested "Decalé Gwada" [a Congolese dance song] but everyone was more shy than me. I went out with the teaching assistants and the professors to really dance to French music. 

At the end of the night, one teaching assistant who knows my friend from university asked "But you're in the highest level, right?" I wasn't but after my oral interview, the school changed my level to the 4th (the highest), so I'll be speaking like a French college graduate soon! 

It's been 7 years since I used French intensively, and you know what - I love it!

(Les photos de Middlebury)

T.I.A. - My First Adventure on the Way to French School at Middlebury

Bonjour tout le monde! After a quiet couple of years post-Malawi - which, I can assure you, were anything but boring as I worked the D.C. circuit in the private donor world and completed the first year of a doctoral program in global health - I'm back (and with more adventures than ever)! My first year returning to student life has only been done for 2 weeks and already I've touched base in 5 states and 2 countries - completely normal in the life of this "D.I.V.A." 

Latest destination: Middlebury, Vermont

Sound boring? Well, my thirteen hour journey here yesterday suggests anything but...But I'm getting ahead of myself....

It started seven years ago, when, as a college junior at Michigan State University, I had an incredible opportunity to study abroad in Senegal, West Africa. The experience of living with a host family and an amazing roommate (who passed away last month, God rest her soul), interning with the Conseil National de la Lutte contre le SIDA - Senegal's National HIV/AIDS Policy Agency, and truly experiencing immersion into another culture encouraged me to really develop my French language skills. I returned to Senegal to do research the following year. Somehow, the years kept going by - I completed my Master degree, worked for a couple of years, traveled to at least 7 different countries, and with the exception of a quick trip to Burundi and Rwanda and a 3-week course at the Alliance Francaise, barely used my French! 

So, as I started my doctoral program this year, I knew that it was now or never. I was selected as a Kathryn B. Davis Fellow for Peace, funding me to promote better health and protection for children globally through an intensive summer of parler-ing francaise at the world-renowned French Language School at Middlebury College. Now, if only I could get there...

My day started off well - the weather in Boston was hot and beautiful and my taxi came with time to spare. I got to the bus depot for what was supposed to be a four-hour ride to Burlington, Vermont, followed by a one hour commute to Middlebury. But what fun would my stories be if everything went according to plan? After the first two-and-a-half hours of the journey, our bus driver pulled over on the side of the highway - never a good sign! He informed us that the Megabus had overheated, we could no longer drive, and he was awaiting instruction from dispatch. Thirty minutes turned into one hour turned into nearly two hours, and finally it was determined that we needed a new bus. So they'd send one from a nearby stop, right? Of course not - they'd send one all the way from Boston! After some optimism that the bus had cooled down, we inched our way along the highway, only to pull over again and sit on the side for a total of three hours. This might not have been the end of the world but naturally, it was hot, I had no food (translation: I was really cranky) and there was no water available on the bus or within walking distance (as us public health specialists would note, that's a serious safety hazard). My not-so-subtle discussion with the driver, as well as lots of mumbling and grumbling from the passengers who couldn't find alternative transportation, resulted in the driver transporting us to the nearest town, where we waited another two hours for a replacement bus. 

After a few more hours, the new bus delivered us to Burlington, where the excellent Middlebury Transit and our lively host Bill was waiting for a large group of us. We drove another hour, getting some fun facts about the history of Vermont. For example, did you know that Vermont has the second smallest population of U.S. states? And that this is the home of Ben and Jerry's ice cream?! He helped us check-in at the university, where we'd long missed the welcome dinner and festivities, and dropped me and my body bag of a suitcase at my new residence for the next seven weeks. I got my workout for the day carrying three bags up to the top floor via the stairs - naturally there was no elevator in my building - but I couldn't have been happier to unpack in my little dorm room.

My five-hour turned 13-hour journey is the latest in my unfortunate transportation adventures (think Kenyan safari...or Lake of Stars mishap...or Zanzibar transport nightmare...or Liwonde National Park fiasco...and the list goes on...). But in each of those situations, the most difficult transportation events were linked with some of my most incredible life experiences! And while I sometimes join the "expat club" complaining about ridiculous experiences like this when I travel internationally - "Oh, T.I.A. - this is Africa" - I couldn't help but smile as life reminded me that problems that affect peoples' lives are everywhere. I may not be in a foreign country this time, but from tomorrow, I actually sign a contract committing to embracing this foreign language immersion program - all French, all the time! My crazy trip here is bound to lead to an equally crazy summer, but could you expect anything less when "T.I.A." (This Is Africa America)!

A bus I hope to never see again! 

The beautiful views of Vermont...
from the side of the road...

My little dorm room - home sweet home!

Why a D.I.V.A?

I've had the nickname "diva" since elementary school, I think, and somehow it's something that's stuck with me. Those who know me know I've always had a flair for the arts - performing, acting, singing, dancing, piano, drawing, designing - you name it, I probably did it. I was always just a little bit too dramatic (in case the scouts were around the corner, searching for America's next great talent). And through my first few years of high school, I actually considered pursuing a career in theatre, thinking I would change the world one stage at a time.

But in 2003, while a sophomore in high school, I had a unique opportunity to leave my small Michigan community and spend a year in the southern African nation of Namibia. Among the many eye-opening experiences the year brought forward was my experience with a girl name Faith. At just eight-years-old, Faith was an orphan of the AIDS epidemic and the oldest surviving family member of her four younger siblings. My interactions volunteering with an AIDS Orphan Center just outside the capital of Windhoek over the course of the year inspired me to take the skills and passions I had and channel them towards a cause much bigger than myself, to empower children like Faith and the other 35 orphans to empower themselves and their communities. More than 10 years later, I'm still working in public health...

Although the nickname "diva" may have started because of my artistic background, I maintain it because of the positive elements that title signifies. People often draw from the ridiculous happenings of pop icons like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, but as Shana Montesol Johnson wrote, these "diva" tendencies may be "an awareness (hyper-awareness?) of what it takes for them to be their best." Her article, "Want to Succeed at Work? Go Ahead, Be a Diva" captured the benefits of what is often a controversial title.

In response to her interesting article, I've called for a reminder that "being a 'diva”'entails demonstrating energy, excitement, and painstaking commitment to your work. Whether in global health, like myself, or any field, it signifies not just “what you need to be your best” but putting in the time and effort to reach those levels."

Moreover, my current blog "is exactly about using these elements to improve global health...and critically think about issues in health, policy, programming, race, culture, and more in order to make the world a better place. And although many have been surprised by the title I’ve selected, I think that [Johnson's] revelations help to capture that. Divas are not just selfish people with demands to do their best; they are people who continually do their best, and that passion should not be forgotten!"

For those who know me, I'm a much quieter, slightly less dramatic version of the superstar I once dreamed of being. But I'm going to continue to be a "D.I.V.A" - or, as I like to say, a Diligent, Innovative, Vivacious Advocate - in global health and development!

*Adapted from the original post at http://yoedivainmalawi.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-diva-method-behind-madness.html