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Thursday, 21 June 2007 |
has had a home in the
Languedoc for the last 25 years,
but still has a home in England.
He spends his time between
the two.
“I consider myself fluent in
French learning it initially at
school, where I was introduced
to a penfriend in 1946. I spent
several summer holidays with
him and his family in Brittany.
I had a steel company in
Sheffield, England, where I
employed French staff in the
sales department, exhibited in
Paris and Lyon, and set up an
office in Évry and later a steel
warehouse in Lyon. This
helped my French the most.
My advice to a new arrival
is to get a working knowledge
of French. It easier to express
myself in English, but I can
express myself fully in French.
For example, there is a
shortage of words in the French
language, eg, aimer – to love,
to like, to be fond of, to be keen
on. There are no nuances
in French.
I have a broader outlook on
life having spent time in
France, rather than spending all
my time in England. I have
remained true to the English
culture, albeit there are aspects
of it that I dislike. It has made
me appreciate the orderly way
of life in England. I find the
bureaucracy here and the lack
of regard for French law
unacceptable. The influence of
trade unions on everyday life
is disturbing.
I speak to French people
about politics, hobbies, sport,
family and food, but I find
French humour completely
different, childlike, reminiscent
of ‘custard pie’ humour.
Occasionally I am invited to
French homes, but the French
are not sociable animals, they
prefer to meet friends away
from home.
The English language
predominates in parties at
home, but French is also
spoken. People stay with the
group with whom they
can communicate.
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