This past week I went to the doctor's office and was in the process of giving my information to the receptionist when one of my life goals was achieved. Well, kind of.
I've mentioned before that the fact that Jonathan is actually 'Jonathan Masson III' has caused quite a bit of difficulty for me because many of my documents here in France have me listed as 'Kari Masson III'. Note that I said many but not all... so about half the time I wind up having to explain and convince them that I really am me.
This day was no exception.
I explained the American use of III for the third son with the same name and that my husband was a third and sometimes it carried over onto my paperwork. (Then I threw in the punchline about how Jonathan likes to think it's like the French royalty: Louis XIV, Louis XVI... That always gets a laugh.)
The receptionist finally decided that Kari Masson and Kari Masson III were in fact one and the same person. Then we started chatting. She said she detected my petit accent, which I get a lot. She asked how many years ago we'd moved and I said five. Then she asked if I was originally lyonnaise.
It took me a second to figure it out, but in our chatting she had understood that my husband was American and I had moved to the US five years ago, thus picking up a petit accent américain... and wanted to know if I was from this area originally.
Woohoo! Life goal of being asked if I was lyonnaise has been achieved. (Even if she did think I was lyonnaise with a petit accent américain.) Still counts, right?
I've mentioned before that the fact that Jonathan is actually 'Jonathan Masson III' has caused quite a bit of difficulty for me because many of my documents here in France have me listed as 'Kari Masson III'. Note that I said many but not all... so about half the time I wind up having to explain and convince them that I really am me.
This day was no exception.
I explained the American use of III for the third son with the same name and that my husband was a third and sometimes it carried over onto my paperwork. (Then I threw in the punchline about how Jonathan likes to think it's like the French royalty: Louis XIV, Louis XVI... That always gets a laugh.)
The receptionist finally decided that Kari Masson and Kari Masson III were in fact one and the same person. Then we started chatting. She said she detected my petit accent, which I get a lot. She asked how many years ago we'd moved and I said five. Then she asked if I was originally lyonnaise.
It took me a second to figure it out, but in our chatting she had understood that my husband was American and I had moved to the US five years ago, thus picking up a petit accent américain... and wanted to know if I was from this area originally.
Woohoo! Life goal of being asked if I was lyonnaise has been achieved. (Even if she did think I was lyonnaise with a petit accent américain.) Still counts, right?
But don't worry about me getting le big head.... That afternoon I made a lovely French slip. By adding the 'oh' sound at the end of a word, I accidentally asked my dermatologist about preventing curtains (les rideaux) instead of wrinkles (les rides). Oops. :)
7 comments:
Ca c'est vraiment trés drôle. Effectivement "rideaux" n'est pas la même chose que les rides. Quoi que ! les rideaux devant le visage permets de cacher les rides !!!
To prevent curtains, just hang blinds. Then, as long as you stay indoors, no one will ever see your wrinkles. ;o)
Well, you know, one life goal at a time... :)
Wow!!I am impressed. How did you learn to speak so well? I know some French, but my accent is brutal! Any tips?
Woohoo - way to go!!!
And not like you have any wrinkles to prevent anyway :)
Love you,
Kate
I say it totally counts, la petite americaine. :)
Good for you!! It feels great, doesn't it? :)
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