L'oeuf au miroir

It's probably because of the association with going back to school that I seek a fresh start in the fall. And it seems I'm not alone. The French actually have a word for the sentiment: la rentrée - it’s the time in September when people get back on track after a relaxing summer vacation (check out this link to NPR's great story on la rentrée).

Growing up, I looked forward to la rentrée (although I didn’t call it that). Despite plenty of back-to-school anxiety (usually concerning my wardrobe), I delighted in the structure and routine of the classroom (and the new notebooks, erasers, pencils, etc. – a love to this day).

As mentioned in previous posts, I'm on a mission to reconnect with long lost loves so, this fall, I turned over a new crimson leaf and enrolled in a French class. For the first time in (many) years, I'm a student again.

Why a French class? I think of it as relationship maintenance. I've forgotten a lot of the grammar I'd learned over the years, and since I'd invested much time (and money) learning French, I don’t want my beloved second language to slip away.

I was introduced to French in a small school that combined fifth and sixth grades. While the older students got French instruction, we fifth graders stayed in the classroom and worked silently on a reading assignment. I would secretly ignore the assignment and follow along with the French teacher. French came easy to me (as so few things do). I was hooked.

Every year after that, I studied French. In school and college we learned vocabulary and grammar, but had very few opportunities to converse in French. It wasn't until I got a job with my hometown tourism department that I actually spoke (albeit hesitantly) to a native French speaker. From that point on, I was determined - driven, even - to become fluent in spoken French. I took night classes, studied with a French tutor, and, when the opportunity presented itself, enrolled full-time in a community college French immersion program. All French, all day, every day – I felt I was on the path to finding my niche.

After graduation, during a class trip to Québec City, I fell in love (that's a whole other story). At the encouragement of a fellow student, I applied to l’Université Laval and, much to my surprise, was accepted to the Français, langue seconde (French as a Second Language) program. Québec was my renaissance period – a personal la rentrée of sorts. I lived and learned French. I was finally fluent.

While at U Laval, I met E and fell in love again. This time love took me to the USA. I feared I would never get to use the language I worked so hard to learn. Soon after relocating, however, I landed a job with an international French food company where I have the opportunity to speak French every day. I've worked for that company for almost 12 years now.

So, again, why a French class? Because I'm lazy. Because I'm too shy and too self-conscious about making mistakes to practice with my French-speaking colleagues. Because I want my confidence back. Because I long to reconnect with yet another part of me I've left behind somewhere. I’m taking a French class to reconnect with a former love.

Here’s to new beginnings. A ma rentrée!