Déjà vu, chant-mé!

Since I’ve started living in Europe, it has never ceased to amaze people that an American can live abroad and speak fluently in a foreign language without having been raised by French or German parents, or even without having had an au pair. It’s always a topic of conversation when I first meet people, who then decide that I’m the exception rather than the rule, since I’m thin and know where Iraq is on a map (so much for killing off stereotypes). Yet what most people don’t realize and are surprised to learn is that we Americans use many expressions derived from the French and German languages (and other languages, of course) to express everyday occurrences. Sure, we don’t have an English equivalent of “bon appétit” and we could awkwardly say “health!” when someone sneezes instead of “Gesundheit,” but somehow the foreign expression livens up our language and sometimes gives us a better way of expressing what we truly mean. 

Take the phenomenon of the déjà vu. Most of us have had the strange sensation that we’ve already experienced a particular moment in time, even if it’s just something as banal as a fork falling off the table. Saying “déjà vu” in this case instead of “already seen” makes much more sense, and sounds much less awkward, even if you haven’t been raised by the French or had a nanny from Paris.

The past week in Lyon and the time leading up to my semester abroad has been quite the déjà vu for me when I think about my first year abroad in Mainz in 2008. Four years ago, there was an intense presidential election (as there is now), which Europeans love to talk about, especially when they know you’re an American studying political science. I came to Germany feeling tongue-tied and unsure of myself (especially after the airline lost my luggage), much like my arrival in Lyon when I had to talk to my roommate on the phone and have him repeat himself multiple times until I understood that he had hidden the key in the bushes and unexpectedly wouldn’t be home for another two hours (reading lips is so underrated). I remember being fascinated by a new city, but at the same time scared I would always be lost and never know my way around without a map twice my size unfolded before me. I got lost on runs and miraculously made it back home, thereby getting to know the area better and expelling fears that the city was a gargantuan mass of cobblestones and steeples filled with cafés, small dogs and people who always wore scarves, regardless of how hot it was (did I mention I had given up fighting stereotypes?). Oh, and I can’t forget to mention the fact that during my first week in Mainz as well as my first week in Lyon, I have been approached by a camera news team to answer a question, only to promptly inform them that I’m not from around here and repeat the conversation of how it’s possible that an American can speak French (or, in the case four years ago, German). One very, very big déjà vu.  

As ridiculous as my fears may sound, I was also comforted by the fact that it all is a déjà-vu. Germany doesn’t seem so foreign to me anymore, but more like a comfortable place that I miss while in this new country with a different language. After having spoken to my roommates in French all night Sunday and all day Monday (one is French, the other from Quebec), I was actually relieved to speak German with a fellow Frankfurt student Monday night. Don’t get me wrong: my two months at home this summer have me missing slang words and expressions in English, which can never truly be understood on this side of the pond (don’t let those Brits fool you). But German was so comfortable to me. This is all quite laughable when I think back on how much I stuttered to produce German words four years ago.

Another part of my déjà vu has been seeing two familiar faces from Mainz, Adélie and Dina. Adélie, from Lyon, did a year abroad in Mainz when I was in Germany for the first time. Dina, from Israel, arrived in Mainz shortly before I left for America in 2009. We enjoyed a few “cervoises” together, which is honey and mint flavored beer (delicious!), and Dina and I learned a handful of French slang words, such as “chelou” (weird), “relou” (annoying, stupid), “vénère” (annoying), “chant-mé” (awesome [actually a mix-up of méchant, which means mean]), “meufs” (chics, or the letters of “femmes” [ladies] mixed around and thrown into a new word)… let’s just say Adélie had her fun and has taken it upon herself to make sure we know how to communicate with people our age. We were quizzed at the end of the night.

The past week has been slow going, but below are some pictures of my explorations during the past couple of days. I apologize for the skimpy captions, I haven't learned much about the city quite yet!

In the center of the city: Place Bellecour 

 A church in the Old City (Vieux Lyon) in Lyon 

Fourvière basilica from Vieux Lyon

 A lot of cafes and restaurants in Vieux Lyon, I can't wait to try! Lyon is known for having the best food in France... even more so than Paris! (I am willing to make the comparison.)

 Vieux Lyon

La Fontaine Bartholdi

 Fourvière from across the Rhône

 In the Parc de la Tête d'Or, very reminiscent of the Amsterdam sign! (see earlier posts)

 In the Parc de la Tête d'Or, where I am able to run not far from my apartment!

 The stores always seem cuter in France... just a used book store!

 Me, Dina, and Adélie out in Vieux Lyon

 Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

 Vieux Lyon

 The beginning of the hike up to see Fourvière! 

 Gardens along the way to Fourvière

 Fourvière from below--it was hard to capture how small I really felt!

 Lyon from Fourvière

 Back of Fourvière

 Fourvière from Vieux Lyon

 Place Bellecour

There are still many Roman ruins to explore, which I haven't gotten to do yet! Lyon was founded as a Roman colony in 43 BC, but I have yet to go explore that part of its history. Or any of its history, for that matter!

Here's to hoping classes aren't too overwhelming on Monday... is summer really over?!

Peace, love, and this ain't Germany, we jaywalk here,

Amanda