“I am delighted to be here as your Pen Friend of a Friend today.”
That made me smile.
“We also developed the classic flatmate OneBrain, in the sense that my accent took on a distinct London twang in certain lights and Hannah once told me she sometimes thought in an Irish accent.”
OneBrain…you named the morphing of two into one, as roommates.
“...the concepts of road frontage (something I as a Dublin native had to be taught in turn; whether or not your land is accessible by public road, and how it relates to your appeal as a potential romantic match)”
OMG…road-frontage being important to Irish match-making?! Who knew?? I need an explanation…in the States, on ladies night in a bar, “road-frontage” would refer crudely to bust size.
“The beauty of Hiberno-English is in the subtext, the unsaid. It has its origins in the Irish language – put simply, we took some of the inflections and cadences of Irish and wedged them in to our new spoken language.”
The term “Hiberno-English” conjures up the phrases that I was introduced to while watching Derry Girls, Frank of Ireland, Bridget and Eamon and old movies like 1935’s, The Informer, the movie with one of my all-time favourite actors, Victor McLaglen (he won the Academy Award for his performance)...note how I spelled “favourite,” as a tip-o-the-hat to Hiberno English.
“ The point is that the meaning is in the sigh, the roll of the eyes, the intake or exhaling of a breath.”
That's true comity.
“Paris is a city which is happening whether you are there or not, she does not necessarily care that you feel welcome or unwelcome.”
I agree, Paris has a unique relationship to the world; similar to the relationship between the earth and the Moon. They exist for us to behold.
“I suppose I’m trying to take a similar approach to visiting Paris while living in Dublin - being there is like visiting a lovely old self, and coming home is being known again.”
I’m feeling much envy; in the States, we’re not tethered to the culture and feeling of being raised in a true culture in a country. We’re packs of mongrels chasing our tails in pursuit of accumulating “things,” not a feeling of belonging. The sad realization this 71 year old has reached is that racism is the true culture of the U.S.A.
BUT YOUR LETTER IS PURE JOY!! So I prefer to reflect on joy. I will investigate the 2 books that you recommend. The sketches are pure joy, as usual.
*Road frontage means that you have a plot of land. Basically means your marriage material. You have a plot of land that. suitable to build a nice house on. Uh, usually because it's beside a road.Feb 16, 2024
I’ve been in Paris twelve years (as of this month!) and I still can’t say I’ve achieved being fully understood in French - not least because Parisians in particular are always so quick to point out an accent. A major hurdle I managed to overcome was being able to quip in French so at least I could feel more like myself, albeit a much goofier version.
I truly enjoyed reading this piece and restacked it with a wee intro of my own.
The importance of the language component (often underestimated by expats around the world in my opinion) can only help so much.
Paris is a big city and can be hard to crack for all newcomers including French natives.
I know her well having lived there on and off for over 15 years at different stages of my life.
Interestingly I chose to step away from it when I relocated to my homeland after 23 years stateside and have happily settled down in the Loire Valley since.
In the end, your heart tells you where “home” really is if you listen.
You and I did. A wonderful feeling (most days at least) isn’t it?
“I am delighted to be here as your Pen Friend of a Friend today.”
That made me smile.
“We also developed the classic flatmate OneBrain, in the sense that my accent took on a distinct London twang in certain lights and Hannah once told me she sometimes thought in an Irish accent.”
OneBrain…you named the morphing of two into one, as roommates.
“...the concepts of road frontage (something I as a Dublin native had to be taught in turn; whether or not your land is accessible by public road, and how it relates to your appeal as a potential romantic match)”
OMG…road-frontage being important to Irish match-making?! Who knew?? I need an explanation…in the States, on ladies night in a bar, “road-frontage” would refer crudely to bust size.
“The beauty of Hiberno-English is in the subtext, the unsaid. It has its origins in the Irish language – put simply, we took some of the inflections and cadences of Irish and wedged them in to our new spoken language.”
The term “Hiberno-English” conjures up the phrases that I was introduced to while watching Derry Girls, Frank of Ireland, Bridget and Eamon and old movies like 1935’s, The Informer, the movie with one of my all-time favourite actors, Victor McLaglen (he won the Academy Award for his performance)...note how I spelled “favourite,” as a tip-o-the-hat to Hiberno English.
“ The point is that the meaning is in the sigh, the roll of the eyes, the intake or exhaling of a breath.”
That's true comity.
“Paris is a city which is happening whether you are there or not, she does not necessarily care that you feel welcome or unwelcome.”
I agree, Paris has a unique relationship to the world; similar to the relationship between the earth and the Moon. They exist for us to behold.
“I suppose I’m trying to take a similar approach to visiting Paris while living in Dublin - being there is like visiting a lovely old self, and coming home is being known again.”
I’m feeling much envy; in the States, we’re not tethered to the culture and feeling of being raised in a true culture in a country. We’re packs of mongrels chasing our tails in pursuit of accumulating “things,” not a feeling of belonging. The sad realization this 71 year old has reached is that racism is the true culture of the U.S.A.
BUT YOUR LETTER IS PURE JOY!! So I prefer to reflect on joy. I will investigate the 2 books that you recommend. The sketches are pure joy, as usual.
*Road frontage means that you have a plot of land. Basically means your marriage material. You have a plot of land that. suitable to build a nice house on. Uh, usually because it's beside a road.Feb 16, 2024
I’ve been in Paris twelve years (as of this month!) and I still can’t say I’ve achieved being fully understood in French - not least because Parisians in particular are always so quick to point out an accent. A major hurdle I managed to overcome was being able to quip in French so at least I could feel more like myself, albeit a much goofier version.
Bonjour Ellen. Enchantée.
I truly enjoyed reading this piece and restacked it with a wee intro of my own.
The importance of the language component (often underestimated by expats around the world in my opinion) can only help so much.
Paris is a big city and can be hard to crack for all newcomers including French natives.
I know her well having lived there on and off for over 15 years at different stages of my life.
Interestingly I chose to step away from it when I relocated to my homeland after 23 years stateside and have happily settled down in the Loire Valley since.
In the end, your heart tells you where “home” really is if you listen.
You and I did. A wonderful feeling (most days at least) isn’t it?