"You kiss, you HUG??? What do you do?? (Tu embrasses, tu fais un hug, tu fais quoi????)"

With her southern French accent my Mom asked: " In the USA, you kiss, you HUG??? What do you do?? (Tu embrasses, tu fais un hug, tu fais quoi???)"
Getting ready to travel overseas takes some clothe, maybe a travel guide, learning a couple of basic sentences “ Where is the train station” “ Where is the restroom” “ Thank you” " yes no"…..
I landed in the USA… I saw plenty of movies… I red some books…. I spoke English... I was ready...
I now know that Human communication consists of 93% body language and paralinguistic cues, while only 7% of communication consists of words themselves.... I experienced my first cultural faux pas the first time I said Hello to a person I had not previously met in France! For a while I would kiss people when they would try to hug me... I would try hugging them when they would extend their hand... I even kissed people on the lips by accident... Learning by experience... I eventually got it right...I think.... so let me ask you, what are the rules?
In France women initiate the handshake. A younger man can't initiate the handshake to an older man or any woman; a person of higher status will initiate the handshake, if you don't know status the oldest man or the female will initiate the handshake.... BUT people kiss at work... men to men, women to women, men to women... when will you know it is OK to kiss in France? Is the USA is a hug the equivalent of a kiss?
In Mexico shake hands or give a slight bow when introduced.... but when do people start kissing each other on the cheek?
In the United Arab Emirate kissing each other on the cheek is a sign of friendship, and it is common amongst male friends, how will you react if you make friends there?

What are the rules here in the USA? Did it happen to you?

The excitement of learning and teaching a language

Bonjour!
Today is French for Kids day. I started the program about 4 weeks ago. I knew it would be fun but I had no idea it would be THAT MUCH FUN!
In a few weeks, the kids learned how to: introduce themselves, their colors, make basic sentences...
They just love it!! Every Tuesday in French class, we travel the World, we go to Canada, France, Africa ... we learn songs, we learn how to communicate, we discover how to call thing differently.... just like learning a synonym for each object surrounding us....
I feel so lucky to be able to share this with them!

They now know : Je suis intelligent(e), j'ai 10 ans, je vis a Wichita, je ne travaille pas.... (I am smart, i am 10 years old, I don't work)...
Today we will learn numbers...
They look and sound so excited! always asking for new vocabulary, often ahead of the lesson.

Learning a second, third... language is crucial, it is the key to opening the door to many cultures and experiences. We might exclude our-self from great opportunities because of the lack of words.
In the USA we don't have physical proximity to other countries and the same chances to practice or to be exposed but there are other ways... take what is available to you locally to expose your children and yourself. Participate in language classes, go to in language and culture meeting groups (in Wichita) such as “Voulez-vous parler avec moi” ( French), the “Spanish Table” ( Spanish), “Stammtisch” ( German).... Have a movie night and watch Shrek in Spanish French or German for a change...


Here are some opportunities coming up!

Saturday, June 4th, Wichita Wingnuts Stadium

MCEA members would like to invite you all to join us for family fun, baseball game, multicultural entertainment and information, arts/crafts, cultural and food booths at "Multicultural Experience with the Wichita Wingnuts" on Saturday, June 4th!


Monday, June 6, Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E. 9th, 10:30 am

Une jolie histoire: French/English Story time
Expose your child (up to age 6) and yourself to French during a bilingual story time. Travel to an imaginary world and be introduced to a new language. Registration begins Wednesday, May 25; call 688-9361. (30 minutes)

Merci!!

Claude

French for Kids and grown up will start again this fall.
http://crosscultural-a-i.com/2011Programs.aspx

L'Attitudes Wichita

We had a great L'Attitudes Wichita meeting on October 14th.
We talked about table manners around the World and share stories.

American backyard BBQ's, where we pick food up and eat with our hands? This is SHOCKING, for the first time attendees! Forewarn your foreign-born guests! It is American culture!

And what country eats almost exclusively with their hands and gives you a towel over your shoulder to keep wiping your hands off during your meal? Do some countries expect you to eat from the same plate as others? Drink from the same glass? Do you sit in chairs or on pillows on the floor? You'd better know before you go!

Count to 3 on your fingers and I will tell you where you are from!

Body speaks louder than words!

I recently watched the movie "inglorious Basterds".
I found it interesting that such a small gesture gave away so much information. I will refresh your memory and take you back to chapter 4

Disguised as an SS Hauptsturmführer, Hicox joins forces with the Basterds, as well as German film actress and Allied double agent Bridget von Hammersmark. Their rendezvous at a tavern goes awry when an SS Sturmbannführer realizes that Hicox is not German. The resulting Mexican standoff finally erupts into a bloodbath, leaving everyone in the tavern (including Hicox and the two German-born Basterds, Stiglitz and Wicki) dead except von Hammersmark, who is wounded in the leg.

Do you remember how SS Sturmbannführer realized Hicox is not German?

Celebrating the New Year across cultures

Greetings!

The end of 2009 is near, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a great New Year 2010. As we say in my country, Bonne année 2010 et bonne santé!



In France, New Year's Eve (31 December) is called la Saint-Sylvestre and is usually celebrated with a dinner party called le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. The feast tends to include special items like champagne and foie gras ( goose or duck liver), and the accompanying party can range from an intimate dinner with friends to une soirée dansante. At midnight, everyone kisses under the mistletoe and offers their best wishes for the New Year.

For those who thought that the New Year comes once in a year, you may be surprised to find out other wise. If you are work for the Globetrotters you could end up celebrating the New Year several times a month all through the 12 months of the year!!

How is it where you are from? how do you celebrate?


I hope you will have a great Holiday season and a great New Year, whenever it starts and whatever year it is!

Visit my web site at www.crosscultural-a-i.com