Photo: Me and the 'henge.
The Featured Word this time is "tranche." This is French for "slice." It is the Word because last night at dinner my friends were going over the French for the table settings with me and I was not remembering well, but when we were discussing my glass of water with ice and some lemon in it (they had me repeat 'une verre du l'eau avec glacon et citron'), I added "Avec une tranche du citron," and they busted out with an "Oh la la!" with big smiles and suddenly I felt like much less of an idiot, for a few sweet moments.
I rang in the New Year with pals from Seattle (shout out to Dave and Greg!), first watching a bonfire being lit in the village of Biggar and than at midnight, in Edinburgh at the Hogmanay festival. This is a very merry and really really crowded street event. After the glorious midnight fireworks we went into a cafe, and started the New Year with some food and conversation, quite appropriate really - the Scots generally figure that whatever you do right at the New Year is what you will continue to do, so the first person to cross your threshold is important, etc. Well I love sitting in cafes and talking, and fortunately I get to do it often! So may you all sit and talk, this year, and don't forget to raise your hot chocolate aloft and toast your wandering friend Carolyn every once in a while.
We also hunted for Dave's ancestors in several Scottish cemetaries, which actually was interesting but muddy work, and it got to where we Greg and I recognized the most common family names of that part of Lanarkshire. "Just overrun with Hamiltons over here, and some Frames and another Cadzow! And did you see? Another Twaddle!" Other highlights included Stonehenge and London, where I had been in 1986, so for me it was fascinating to see everything again, with new eyes (well, same old eyes, but you know what I mean). Thanks, guys, for all the presents and a lovely time. I came back to Belgium to find I was very relaxed; my boss, who makes me nervous, came from France for a visit the day I was back and even chewed me out a little for something and I just didn't mind at all.
I went back to Belgium via the Eurostar train service which runs under the Chunnel, and it was really easy and pleasant, by the way.
And now, Carolyn Explains the Kissy-Cheek Thing (la bise), and other cultural notes:
In France, the kissing of each other's cheeks is quite a normal, casual greeting, and not only between men and women. It is generally done when you know each other well, although some people enjoy playing Startle the American by throwing it at you right away. In France it is two kisses; in Belgium it is always an odd number: one for everyday, three for a special occasion, like the holidays, or if you haven't seen each other in a long time. Also it is more typically between men and women in Belgium, I think. And I have to say, once you get used to it, it's a very nice greeting. Some of my friends here practically come running with their face angled to aim the target cheek at me.
Also, it's not considered some kind of perky, classy, or in any way special here; it's just what everyone does, like waving or shaking hands. Not at all the same as when people do it in the U.S. In this way it is like the saying of Bon Appetit, which is a totally serious courtesy when it's time to eat. You must understand the importance of food to the French. For instance, lunchtime in France is just that - lunch time. The shops close for two hours - don't even think of running errands at lunch time.
In the States we'll say Bon Appetit in this sort of lighthearted manner, but here it is quite respectful. So I had to kind of adjust, because I always sort of answered light-heartedly, which isn't correct. You can nod and say Bon Appetit right back, or say Merci, or say A toi aussi or vous aussi if you don't know the person who said it. My attempts at being straightfaced and serious become more difficult when dining with Belgians, because the Flemish do the same thing, only in Flemish they say something that sounds exactly like "Smack-a-lick," and this strikes me as extremely funny, so I really have to try hard not to snigger when I hear it. I'll have to have it as the featured Word whenever I can find out the spelling.
In other news, an OSI colleague has joined me here in Belgium this week: David Soussem. He is on another project here at KPN Belgium, and KPN has given us an office together. Also OSI is requiring us to share one rental car. But since so far we are getting along really well, this shouldn't be a problem. David and I practice my French a little every day, so hopefully I will improve. However, he brings tidings from OSI that my next project is likely to be in Rome, which I'm sure will confuse me even more, linguistically.
Hope you all are happy and well, and I shall talk to you later!
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M i n s q
"Keep delving deeper and deeper, keep reaching higher and
higher, won't anybody explain what's happening?
Keep getting closer and closer, still never finding an
answer, forever back at the start again until you
Understand."
- Swing Out Sister, 'Understand'
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