Everyone here says the best way to acclimate to the Quebec accent is to watch more TV. I'm trying, but about four days ago, I pushed "something" on one of my five remotes that rendered my TV completely useless. I can still watch DVDs, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out which combination of buttons I push--on which of the five remotes--in which order--to make the plain ol' TV work again.
Today was my first truly frustrating day in Montreal.
Francois asks me to listen to the voice mail messages at the office. I can't understand them. Francois asks me to build an Excel workbook full of information. But I can't find the information. I finally find some of the information, and Excel crashes before I'd saved the document. I start over...and the document crashes again. Francois asks me to run up to the local copy shop, and when I get there, the copy shop guy can't open the CD I gave him of files to print--so I have to return empty-handed to Francois. I am feeling totally incompetent. Useless. Deflated. Discouraged.
The day continues like this until I return from a break down the hall, to find that Karl has come to the office to see Francois. Seeing Karl's friendly face is all it takes for me to feel better. I stop working and decide that watching Karl talk is the best way for me to learn Quebec French. Karl makes me laugh. I feel like I'm 12 (giggle). Honestly, since when am I this immature? Karl leaves, and I go back to being 34; and feeling 110. Sigh. (For the record, I'm not actually "interested" in Karl -- I feel the need to point that out. I just enjoy looking at him. And talking to him. Whatever.)
Before I left for the day, Patrick, AKA "He Who Brings Me Grapes," offered me a movie to watch since I'm stuck with movies instead of TV. It's Alvin and the Chipmunks (in French). It says "Get your squeak on" across the top of the DVD. In lieu of watching TV, I am going to improve my French by watching dubbed-over, rapping chipmunks. Somebody shoot me.
***
Update an hour later: For anyone who hasn't seen the Chipmunks movie (you haven't?!), the opening scene begins with this song about having a bad day. I'm not taking myself so seriously anymore today. Thank you, O Wise Chipmunks.
1 comment:
Argh technology, as useful as it is, certainly can be frustrating. I have plenty of days like that with my job...trust me!
And I have seen the chipmunks...thanks to a lovely little 6 yr old soon to be step-son. Hahaha. It was somewhat entertaining, actually.
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