006. Un peu

I always have to start these entries at least twice before I can settle on an opening.

Today is day six, week two. I think I would have actually forgotten I had this going on if I did not end up in a conversation about this series earlier this afternoon.

I have now arrived in a new foreign land, and I hope after my sojourn, I can consider myself a francophone.

This week I decided to start with reflection. I read through my first week's entries, and I was entertained by some of the ideas I presented. Looking at my notebook, where I was making little notes as I read through, the ideas that jump out are 'prisoner of intention', from day 2 and, 'want creating possibilities', hinted on day 1.

For some time now, I have not been a fan of travelling. As a child, I struggled with car sickness on my long journeys to and from school. As a teen, I schooled and lived in different countries, as a result, each new term came with long car rides and even longer flights. University was the same, until covid-19. Travelling, at some point, became quite mundane and unenjoyable. Majority of my travel has been to-and-from familiar places - homes 1, 2 and 3.

No, I do not have homes in 3 countries but as a child of the diaspora, I have called 3 countries home. When I was younger, I used to think it was cool to be able to call so many countries home. However, at this current point in my life, I am more likely to say sorry to my agemates if they have called more than 5 countries home. I know people like this, I do not envy them. However, that moment you step foot on that plane, something changes - the tether is ‘disconnected’. That has been my experience as someone who was tossed into the diaspora at an early age.

Today was the first full day in this new land. I spent my time outdoors mainly observing the faces and features. Learning the faces and features that are native to this region. I have two colleagues from here and, yea, they are definitely from here. I did not see it at first but now, when I walk around their homeland, I see their features and I think of them.

I suppose there was a lot of newness today. However, the degree of newness was too much to warrant much attention. One thing I did notice was the energy, it is much lighter here - the expressions are warmer. It's interesting, no matter where you go, the faces are always the same - the same expressions. It's comforting, to know that somehow, no matter how different we all may look, we smile the same, get confused the same and simply emote in the same range of expressions.

I suppose I say all this to hype myself up. I might be in a foreign land but, tomorrow is a regular day like any other. When my alarm goes off, I will wake up and go for a walk. Only this time, I have no idea where I am going, however technology will help me find my way if I make too many explorative turns.

Aujourd'hui, Je dis que je parle un peu francais environ sept temps mais, je ne parle pas. Je suis en train d'apprends le langue.

I am not certain if I have said that correctly, alas, on that vision board I mentioned on day one (001.Introduction), 'je parle Français' has its own space. So again, I find myself a prisoner of intention - a want I dared to want. Now, the little French I have learnt will have to be exercised and perhaps next year's board will have another language. Though for now, it is time again for me to fully send it.

When I put that goal on my vision board, I certainly did not see this experience as the way through which I would make progress in French learning. However, wanting for something is truly the first step. The possibilities and avenues through which those goals are realised are only a result of time.

Today, I come to you from a new workstation. Tomorrow, there is much I am yet to discover. However, there are some things that I can say I know; when that alarm goes off, I will get up and go for a walk then, at some point in the day, I will be back here to fulfil a promise to a past self. Finally, and this time, I feel beyond exited/happy/grateful, call it whatever, I am here - week two, and I can officially start off this week knowing today, I have done my best, and I did all I could.

I hope you managed to find moments of rest this weekend but for now, it's back to normal programming, so, I can't wait to see you back here tomorrow.