Sharing Circle

The following is a guest post written by Nicole Miller of Living in A Second Language. She’s my American born friend currently living in France. We hope she’ll join us here at Sharing Circle when she can.  Let her know your thoughts!

The After

Living in a second language and a foreign culture is an endless approximation.  A mathematical formula I can’t quite get right, despite years of trying.  I have navigated, negotiated, and narrated my life through the structured flow chart of French, la forme, for the past 11 years.  Le fond, the depth – the guts – all of that remains American.

The good news is, on a daily basis, I fit in.  I am not identified on the street as American and my accent is rarely heard. The bad (or is it?) news is, I am still foreign here, other.  There are moments, both for them and for me, when it is clear, on the surface at least, that we simply cannot understand each other, despite accurate syntax and appropriate vocabulary.

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Some friends of mine are going to be taking a trip to Orlando soon, and I’m casting about for some interesting/unusual things that they might want to check out. Yeah, everyone knows about Disneyland and Epcot and all that: I’m looking for things OFF the beaten path, so to speak.

So far, I’ve come across the “Mouse Surplus Review,” which is apparently a big warehose holding everything from excess mickey mouses to name tags from old Disney Characters. Reveiwers say it’s worth a look. It’s located at  1000 Detour Rd, Haines City, FL 33844-9350 (863) 422-0000. Their website is here.

Also, if you’re interested in fainting goats (and who isn’t, they’re surely one of the most interesting creatures god created!) the link to the “International Fainting Goat Association” is here.  Looks like there are a few breeders of these lovely animals in FL. (more…)

One of the things I think could be really interesting on this blog if it happens is if/when people felt like sharing some of the specifics of what a typical day in their lives was like. I’m one of those American-born people who has not yet had the opportunity to travel outside the USA…so I am hungry, in particular, to hear more from non-Americans about what a typical day might be like (or week, or whatever you’d like to share.)

But really I’m feeling  a bit interested in anyone’s life who wants to share! (So I’m a bit voyeuristic. Sue me.)

And I wonder if any of my imaginings about people in other countries have any truth to them… (more…)

Last fall I felt a strong calling to go to Laurel Ridge and stay at the Gemein House. Logically I did not want to go. Spiritually I knew that I must. I had read the article that Jennifer Sealy had written about staying there. I spoke to her after I had made reservations. She assured me it was the right thing to do and that I would not feel afraid or alone. She was right. I have always traveled a lot by myself and that has never concerned me. But, did I want to stay in a tiny cabin in the woods, cut off from telephones, television and computers as well as people? The gal that took my reservation explained to me that the cabin would be unlocked, the key on the table. She said there would be staff at the office down the road during the day but that I would see no one during my stay. Big difference from staying at the Hyatt! (more…)

Rancho de Chimayo

Many years ago (1973 to be exact) I was temporarily living in the US with my parents while my father was working over here. I was 18 and we had the opportunity that summer to travel around a little. We were living in Oklahoma City at the time so our trip basically included exploring Texas and New Mexico. Although I enjoyed Texas it was New Mexico that really stuck in my mind as I think it did with all of us. (more…)