So, I’ve been here in Qu�bec for a week already, but it feels like it’s been so much longer. Perhaps because the CIC program has had all ten students in it so busy that we’ve barely had time to think about the time that’s passing, but I think I definitely prefer that.

It’s crazy to think how much I’ve learned in a week. For example… les champignons (mushrooms) don’t actually taste that bad. Single gender restrooms aren’t a sure thing. Sweatpants can have a zipper and button too (this is still a little stranger to me than the whole urinals and stalls in one restroom thing). Mostly what I’ve learned, though, has been more and more French… and I’ve only had one day of actual class so far.

Le but (the purpose) of this program is to have a real immersion experience, and the CIC and Universit� Laval have done everything possible to make sure that we have exactly that. The end of last week and all weekend long the CIC group had all sorts of activities together. We toured le Vieux-Qu�bec, which is the only fortified (surrounded by walls) city north of Mexico.

We ate le d�ner (lunch in le fran�ais qu�becois) at the Ch�teau-Frontenac, which is (rightfully so) the most photographed hotel in the world. Each side of the hotel is as austere as the last, and the inside is just as impeccable as the outside. There is a small amphitheatre outside where we all got to hear musicians cover American classics (there’s nothing quite like hearing American Pie sung with a french accent) and watch Canadian b-boys perform.

We also got to explore the city quite a bit, and got familiar with the impressive bus system. Qu�bec is fairly small and has the same atmosphere as a European city, with as much if not more charm. It’s impeccably clean here and les qu�becois (inhabitants of Qu�bec) are incredibly friendly. It’s also very obvious that they love their language and their French roots.

The accent has been interesting to hear. The difference between qu�becois french and Parisian french (the accent I’ve heard the most from professors) is comparable to the difference between American English and British English- it sounds different, and there is tons of slang that just doesn’t translate. It’s been really cool though to learn their colloquialisms and to get accustomed to hearing their different pronunciations. It’s mostly a question of the how the vowels sound, and for me it didn’t take too long to develop the ear for it and manage to keep up in conversations.

The CIC group has been great to be with so far. Everyone is really dedicated to improving their french, so when we are all together or on the campus, we are speaking French, despite the fact that all of us are fluent English speakers. I was really jazzed when I realized that this is how it was going to be for all of us, because I’m really after the immersion experience. Pas d’anglais pour moi!

Another thing we all did was take a ferry across the Saint Lawrence river, which was really awesome. We got to see the whole skyline of Qu�bec, as well as the river (of course), and the fortifications.

We all took our placement exams before classes started and based on the results were either assigned to courses or given some choices. I placed into advanced, so I got to choose one course and was assigned to one other. There are three elementary levels, four intermediate levels, advanced, and superior. I was surprised today in my first class (which is basically an intensive course to learn the nuances of French phonetics) to see mostly adults, but Laval attracts a large number of adult learners as well.

In addition to courses, there is a group called les animateurs (literally, the animators) who have organized all sorts of activities for us to do. I’ve signed up for quite a few, including several hiking trips, whale watching, a trip to une cabane � sucre (sugar shack), where it’s sounding like we eat and eat and eat, dance, sing, eat some more, and get to see maple treats being made (and then eat those), and a big fancy-dress cruise on the river at the end of the program.

If I didn’t already mention this, I’m doing a home stay here in Qu�bec, including 2 meals every day with Lise, ma maman de Qu�bec. Lise is really a sweet older lady who opens her home to foreign students every summer to help them learn French. Her attitude towards foreigners here to learn french mirrors that of everyone else– completely jazzed that people want to learn their language. There are three guys in the house, one from Georgia and two from Nebraska, all with different French knowledge, but enough that we can sustain conversation at breakfast (dejeuner) and dinner (souper).

A few girls from my group decided to be brave with me and see what kind of nightlife we could find our first Saturday night. Even though we had been speaking nothing but French with each other since we got here, it was a lot different to use it in the social setting of the bars and clubs than to use it amongst ourselves where its not as embarrassing to take time to think of the response. We managed fine but one girl in the group unknowingly agreed to play pool in one of the bars, which gave us a laugh.

Well I think that’s enough of the adventures for now. � bientot!

Location: 1240 Des Gouverneurs Quebec City CA