Well. What an...interesting evening. there had been a poster on our mirror at IES (yes, that's how announcements are made at IES - a piece of paper taped to the mirror) that announced a reception at l'institut polytechnique (yep, polytechnic institute) for us IES students. it said it was at 6...I was expecting to hop on the tram, chat for a bit, and be back to IES in an hour or so.
ohhhh was I mistaken. First off, it took almost an hour to GET there. I'm completely lost by the time we finally arrive at the university (not the same university (fac) I take classes at) and are ushered into this room where there are maybe 20 guys and (literally) 2 girls standing around. so us poor confused IES students stand in an awkard cluster wondering if anyone's actually going to say anything...and finally the profs welcome us, saying that it's a good chance to meet people, especially since (and I quote) "l'institut polytechnique est presque seulement les hommes, et vous chez IES sont pour la pluspart les femmes." for those of you who don't speak french, the director of my program actually told us that it was a good chance to meet people since "the polytechnic school is also only men, and you all at IES are for the most part all women."
...I'm sorry, but did my prof just try to set us all up on blind dates or something?!? So imagine this...all the IES students awkardly keeping to one side of the room, remarking how much it hearkens back to the days of middle school dances with the boys on one side of the room, girls on the other, and everyone afraid of venturing into the middle. We eventually started mingling, but this was my problem: I'm a double major in french and women's studies - the latter of which doesn't even EXIST in france and tends to make french men uncomfortable -or at least confused -when I say it. What on EARTH do I have to say to engineers and IT people and computer programmers?!? Even if everyone in the room spoke the same language fluenty, I just DON'T have anything to say to them!
so yes; I had a wonderfully AWKWARD night. (and I didnt even get home until 9.15)
the redeeming point to the day was that I attended my salsa class and it made me very happy =D
oh and I had a brilliant idea for my French Junior IS - we'll see if it actually lasts until next semester when I have to write it.
and now, even though it's only 9.30...I'm heading to bed. I have an 8am class at the fac tomorrow.
bonne nuit à tout et tous!
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7 comments:
Oh, honey! that sounds like the days when the all-boys school and the all-girls school got together so each could realize that the other sex actually exists. I think you need a shower after that!
Maybe they were trying to get you all married?
ew. boys have cooties.
Keep that sense of humor, Lindsay.
It may be the most valuable survival tool you have!
Love,
Mum
P.S. I'm so glad you got to dance!
Yes Kacie, and we got them from girls.
Let's run through the levels of awkwardness. Language barrier? 1. Middle school dance? Worth at least 3. Difference of major with the engineers? 1. Blind date in another country with IT people and comp sci majors? Immeasurable. So I'd say on a scale of 1-awkward, it was pretty awkward.
Oh, dear Sweets I remember those days, and they are sooo painfully awkard. I feel for ya. But think of it, that is actually pretty funny.And I'm sure you found something to talk about if nothing else there's always the weather....:)
You should have started trying to talk about Mario Kart in French, to see if any of them played it. "Ah, oui, mon ami Gen avait ce jeu Mario Kart, et j'ai toujours joue Peach!"
I was wondering when I read this if it was code for "I went on a safari and encountered multiple green elephant stampedes" but I suppose that whole "college age" thing eliminates the prospect of the safari idea..however, it sounds as though you stampede experiences are a little more exciting? haha exciting is a great verb...
I think next time there is an awkward middle school dance moment, you should start doing the revolution dance, while screaming "do you want a revolution? Woop! Woop!" That'd be fabulous. Or swing dance with yourself...hahaha
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