Coucou!
Dropping in for another surprise post!
So today, from 6:15 to 8:15 (18h15 à 20h15) I went to the first rehearsal for the music group here at CIREFE. -- I don't know if I already explained this, but CIREFE is the program for international students at the University of Rennes 2. Our classes only started Monday, which is why this was the first rehearsal. This is extra confusing because Rennes 2's classes started in early January. Oh, the joys of the French University system. -- It was fun to sing with a music group, because I've been missing the gospel choir at SU, with whom I've sung since last spring.
But here's why I decided to write this post: today, for the first time, I was in a choir (chœur) of 13 with only 2 Americans, and only 2 native English speakers. And we sang a song in English. It was so wonderfully different to hear a group of non-native speakers singing in English. Throughout junior high and high school I was in choirs that sang in many languages, but I have never been in a group where English is not the language that everyone has in common. I don't exactly know how to explain the feeling, but it was comforting to know that while I was struggling with the words to the French song we started learning, everyone else was as well. Everyone in the group has varying levels of ability in French, and we all speak languages other than French. I am really hoping that I'll get the chance to work on a song in Chinese or Polish or Japanese or Portuguese or Vietnamese or any of the other numerous native languages of other people in the choir, so that we'll all be able to share our strengths, and understand our weaknesses.
Anyway, not my longest or most elegant post, just something I wanted to share.
A bientôt!
Evelyn
Dropping in for another surprise post!
So today, from 6:15 to 8:15 (18h15 à 20h15) I went to the first rehearsal for the music group here at CIREFE. -- I don't know if I already explained this, but CIREFE is the program for international students at the University of Rennes 2. Our classes only started Monday, which is why this was the first rehearsal. This is extra confusing because Rennes 2's classes started in early January. Oh, the joys of the French University system. -- It was fun to sing with a music group, because I've been missing the gospel choir at SU, with whom I've sung since last spring.
But here's why I decided to write this post: today, for the first time, I was in a choir (chœur) of 13 with only 2 Americans, and only 2 native English speakers. And we sang a song in English. It was so wonderfully different to hear a group of non-native speakers singing in English. Throughout junior high and high school I was in choirs that sang in many languages, but I have never been in a group where English is not the language that everyone has in common. I don't exactly know how to explain the feeling, but it was comforting to know that while I was struggling with the words to the French song we started learning, everyone else was as well. Everyone in the group has varying levels of ability in French, and we all speak languages other than French. I am really hoping that I'll get the chance to work on a song in Chinese or Polish or Japanese or Portuguese or Vietnamese or any of the other numerous native languages of other people in the choir, so that we'll all be able to share our strengths, and understand our weaknesses.
Anyway, not my longest or most elegant post, just something I wanted to share.
A bientôt!
Evelyn