foreign in a familiar land...

Ever had a feeling like you were the `different kid?` Like you were the one that was slightly different from the rest... even if no one else really thought it - you did!

When we were younger we used to take in foreign exchange students that would come to Vancouver to study English, as their host family we would show them how to use Canadian currency, how to navigate the bus system, and teach them essential English phrases! I must admit at times we would try to confuse our students, telling them that snap = nap in English! Silly blonde girls! We made some amazing friends with our students... one girl Makiko became like a sister as her 6 month stay turned into 2.5 years! She even had her wedding in our house with her brother Tonton from Japan coming out to cook an amazing dinner! (And later on my sisters and I had the pleasure of visiting her in Malaysia on our travels!)

Well, these past couple of days have allowed me to understand to a greater degree what it is like to feel foreign. Although I am living in my own country of Canada I feel that I am the `different kid.` At times, my brow is creased in class as I try to understand what a certain phrase means.... or my tongue is tied as I fumble my way through certain words that just won`t roll off my tongue like: aceuil or vignier. Being the only anglophone in a francophone school is quite the challenge! It means that it takes me a lot longer to understand a joke, that I miss pronounce the lyrics of a song, or that people tease me about my:

cute accent!

Just what I wanted to hear :) Then to top it off, I have to translate the music scale from do, ré, mi.... to C, D, E! That was one thing that I was hoping would stay the same!

Honestly... I am quite fine with my accent being called cute... or taking a bit longer to understand a joke. I am surrounded by a fantastic group of students who are quick to explain something that I don`t understand or to encourage me with a smile or a hug. See... there are some things that are universal in any language!

One thing I am learning is the importance of looking out for those that feel like the `different kid.` Maybe it isn`t something as obvious as an accent... but the differences exist! How quick are we to invite someone into our circle of friends? Do we look for differences with eachother... or are we quick to see what we share in common? Do we realize that minus our differences we are all looking for the same thing - to feel like we belong... to be loved... to love?

Just some thoughts from a little English speaking student in a francophone world living out her dream... :)