I think I'm going ice skating

The weirdest thing happened tonight. By weird I mean 'good' :)

After dinner I asked one of the surveillants what he did on the weekend and he told me he went ice skating with his brother so we got chatting and I asked him where he goes to do this. It's actually something I've wanted to do and I've seen ice skating rinks around but when I'm alone I feel a bit stupid doing this. I can do pretty much anything alone but not ice skating! For one thing I'm a wee bit scared. It's been years (decades?) since I'd last done it and it's just no fun at all and I'd have no decent photos since I obviously can't take them of myself and it'd be a bit hard to ask someone to take then for me...

Anyway he told me there's a lake about 15mins (or 15km, I forget) from here and it's frozen and you can ice skate on it. I asked, "Even in summer?" and he said yes because they do something to keep it frozen all year round. He also told me you can go ice skating in Annecy. Coincidentally I went to Annecy on Saturday (a spur of the moment decision which turned out to be a good one because the weather was absolutely beautiful and unseasonably warm and sunny) and I still had the map of the town. So I went to get the map to get him to show me where this ice rink is... you know, in case I ever happen to have anyone to go with in the near future, and perhaps hinting that he could take me there... (hint hint) the hint didn't work *ahem* but...

Before that conversation even finished, one of the the CPEs (conseiller principal d'éducation/who is the person in charge of the surveillants who are in charge of the students in the dorm) came up to me and asked me if I wanted to go ice skating in Annecy next week. Like WTF? I could not believe it! It was like God was somehow answering my prayers all at once (except that these were prayers I didn't officially make). She said there would be an excursion/outing next week (a 'sortie') for any kids who wanted to go and I could tag along (and sort of look after them) along with 1 or 2 other surveillants/staff. And it would be free... Great!! So excited. All we need is 20 kids to sign up and we're good to go. It's indoors (the outdoor frozen lake sounds so much better) but I guess I shouldn't complain... Truth is, I actually had ice skating lessons as a kid (for about 2-3 months I think, I don't remember but not long) but I'm not that great. Still, it's a lot easier than skiing! I was actually going to go skiing on the weekend but there wasn't much snow because it was unseasonably warm and then it rained, killing the snow... one day soon though. I just don't know when yet!

But anyway I hope my plans for ice skating go ahead next week!

(image from here)

French SMS Les Textos Français

Now normally I'm all for correct spelling but when it comes to sending text messages on mobile phones I tend to abbreviate where possible to save time. I also do not have a phone with a keyboard so it's tedious to send text messages (I prefer to send an email or a message through Facebook, hey, I'm old school like that!)

Actually I've found that many people I know (both in Australia and France DON'T use shorthand. I'm not sure the reason for this... because they want to appear more polite? more intelligent? more understandable? because they don't know the shorthand?)

Anyway... I've had fun trying to decipher some of the text messages I get from French people.

Just going through my phone, some abbreviations I've been sent (all of which I've figured out on my own. Proud moment there ;) )

c = c'est (it's)
o = au (at the/in the/on the)
koi = quoi (what)
kil = qu'il (...that it...)
parske = parce que (because)
koment = comment (how)
2m1 = demain (that was a tricky one!) (tomorrow)
je vai = je vais (I will/I'm going...)
boku = beaucoup (a lot)
abiento = à bientôt (see you soon)
vou ète = vous êtes (you are)
mé = mes (my)
+ = plus (more)
@+ or a+ = à plus tard (see you later)
c ki ? = c'est qui ? (who is it?)
rdv = rendezvous (appointment)
ecm = en ce moment (at the moment)
aprem = après midi (afternoon)
t'arive = t'arrives = tu arrives (you come)
je peu = je peux (I can)
biz = bises/bisous (cheek kisses)

Luckily I haven't received anything like this so far! haha (from here)

j'tapLDkej'pe = je t'appelle dès que je peux (I'll call you as soon as I can)
a éT voir koi o 6né = tu as été voir quoi au ciné ? (what did you go to see at the movies?)

Lots more French sms/chatroom speak here

I remember when I first started chatting online in French and someone made a typo I would not realise it was a typo and couldn't understand the word. But now I think I've gotten the hang of it. I can figure out the actual word from typos.. yay! When you first start to learn a new language this is actually a lot harder than you think!

Ones I use often are:
bcp (=beaucoup/a lot)
qqch (=quelque chose/something)
qqn(=quelqu'un/someone).

When I text a French person in English I make sure I don't use too many abbreviations otherwise they probably won't be able to understand me!


(image from here)

Hier Encore - Leslie

Hier Encore - Leslie

Hier encore j’étais forte
Hier encore je me disais peu m’importe
Hier on m’aurait pardonné sans me juger
Hier j’aurais pu recommencer
Et un jour dans le miroir
Mon coeur s’est arrêté de battre
(Arrêté de battre, oh yeah)
J’ai du prendre les devants
Bien avant qu’il ne soit trop tard
(Trop tard)

Yesterday I was strong
Yesterday I told myself nothing important
Yesterday one would have forgiven me without judging me
Yesterday I could have started again
And one day in the mirror
My heart stopped beating
(Stopped beating, oh yeah)
I have to take the initiative
Well before it is too late
(Too late)

One, Two, Three
Aujourd’hui c’est à toi de devenir maître de ta vie.
One, Two, Three
Si on m’avait dit qu’un jour je deviendrai celle que je suis
La chance passera passera passera
Hey! Si tu ne changes pas, changes pas, changera pas
Hey! la chance passera passera passera
Si tu ne changes pas, qui pourra la faire pour toi ?

One, Two, Three
Today is yours to become master of your life.
One, Two, Three
If one told me that one day I will become who I am
The chance will pass will pass will pass
Hey! If you don't change, don't change, will not change
Hey! the chance will pass will pass will pass
If you don't change, who will do it for you?

Hier encore oui je pensais
Hey! que les années se comptent sur du papier
Hier encore j’étais persuadée
Que devenir grand, ça n’était pas si différent

Yesterday yes I thought
Hey! It's the years that count on paper
Yesterday I was persuaded
That to become great, it wasn't so different

Et un jour dans le miroir
Mon coeur s’est arrêté de battre
(Arrêté de battre, oh yeah)
J’ai du prendre les devants
Bien avant qu’il ne soit trop tard
(Trop tard)

And one day in the mirror
My heart stopped beating
(Stopped beating, oh yeah)
I have to take the initiative
Well before it is too late
(Too late)

One, Two, Three
Aujourd’hui c’est à toi de devenir maître de ta vie.
One, Two, Three
Si on m’avait dit qu’un jour je deviendrai celle que je suis
La chance passera passera passera
Hey! Si tu ne changes pas, changes pas, changera pas
Hey! la chance passera passera passera
Si tu ne changes pas, qui pourra la faire pour toi ?

One, Two, Three
Today is yours to become master of your life.
One, Two, Three
If one told me that one day I will become who I am
The chance will pass will pass will pass
Hey! If you don't change, don't change, will not change
Hey! the chance will pass will pass will pass
If you don't change, who will do it for you?

One, Two, Three
Si tu ne changes pas
Qui pourra la faire pour toi

One, Two, Three
If you don't change, who will do it for you?

One, Two, Three
Aujourd’hui c’est à toi de devenir maître de ta vie.
One, Two, Three
Si on m’avait dit qu’un jour je deviendrai celle que je suis
La chance passera passera passera
Hey! Si tu ne changes pas, changes pas, changera pas
Hey! La chance passera passera passera
Si tu ne changes pas, qui pourra la faire pour toi ?

One, Two, Three
Today is yours to become master of your life.
One, Two, Three
If one told me that one day I will become who I am
The chance will pass will pass will pass
Hey! If you don't change, don't change, will not change
Hey! the chance will pass will pass will pass
If you don't change, who will do it for you?