Target Demographics

When we attended that horse show in Chantilly (see blog "Chantilly Chateau"), I forgot to mention something interesting I noticed about the audience. My observation: every single person watching the show with us was either an elementary school student (or a school chaperone/teacher) or was over the age of 75.

An unexpected by-product to this situation is that my fellow audience members actually served to foster a certain amount of self-esteem. I felt better about myself because it quickly became evident that I was in possession of quite the exemplary attention-span compared to essentially everyone else sitting in the amphitheater. That is to say, I did not restlessly squirm and fidget in my chair, nor did I feel the need to frequently stage-whisper to my neighbor, nor did I fall fast asleep and start snoring.

Also, I found this company reassuring. Why? Well, a recent realization I have had is that my French has "improved" to the point where I can understand what people are saying almost entirely. The caveat to this, seemingly admirable, improvment in my comprehension is that it applies only IF the person speaking is either under the age of 8 or else over the age of 70.

The vocabulary, volume, and repetition of phrases used by the younger set is perfect for me to catch on to what is being discussed/shouted/squealed, etc. And the slower, louder, often more formal vernacular favored by the older set is also extremely amenable to my skill level.

Since discovering where my French communication skills now shine, I have made somewhat of an effort to enjoy this revelation. Such a feat is actualy more difficult than it sounds, given that I have maybe five friends in France and I speak English with all of them (I know--really challenging myself with full immersion over here). But fortuitously, in the last two weeks, I have bumped into the elderly couple who live on the second floor of our building a few times in the hallway/stairwell. A few months ago, such chance encounters would have had me mumbling: "bonjour" as I raced up the stairs in an effort to avoid any small talk, and thereby almost assuredly embarrasing myself with my own ineptitude.

Well, no longer, my friends! The more recent meetings have been thrilling; a chance to practice! So with my newfound confidence, I have tried to engage my elders in conversation. And I thought things were going sort of well, that we were even on a "we exchange pleasantries in the hallway" basis.

But I clearly assumed too much regarding our affiliation because I saw the woman on the street the other day, about 20 minutes after I had tried talking to her in the hallway, and she completely ignored me. I am choosing to believe that she either did not see me (which is sort of a hard sell, given that we were on the same side of an empty sidewalk in broad daylight) or else that there is some social code in Paris where you are not supposed to acknowledge your neighbor outside your building.

You know, like how psychiatrists can not address a patient outside of the office?

Is it just me, or is that analogy surprisingly apt?

Anyway, as far as "communication" with children; circumstances have made it quite easy for me to just eavesdrop, since the weather is now nice here and the little buggers are positively everywhere.Thus, I can just walk through the park near our apartment and I hear all kinds of children arguing/discussing/shouting. It is a nice break from hanging about in the stairwells of my building, hoping to "bump into" my elderly neighbors, to just go linger around for long periods of time in the nearby parks in order to practice my comprehension levels.

Were I engaging in this sort of behavior in the U.S., I likely would have been arrested by now. But thank goodness this is Paris and it is thus darn hard to get into trouble for being a creepy quasi-child-stalking park loiterer. Or a public pervert, for that matter. Not that I am one of those, but believe me, they are around. A story for another day, perhaps.

In terms of my progression plans: I am hoping to move up to ten-year-old dialogue soon. I think I am almost ready. Then, of course I plan to skip teenagers altogether because, no matter what their language or nationality, I am quite certain no one outside of their immediate peergroup has any idea what they are saying about 80% of the time.  Besides, you know how I feel about teenagers.

Anyway, the sweltering, face-melting, weather seems to have broken for the day over here. Best be off to the park to practice--after spending 30-40 minutes lingering in the stairwell, of course.