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My love-hate relationship with French (not the fries)

So I’m stuck for another more year here in Burkina Faso. A West-African French-speaking country. I’ve been here for over a year now. Because of that, everyone expects me to speak fluent French now. I also thought I can do a year and emerge victorious and with a new learned language in my pocket. But what went wrong?

You see, I hated my country assignment. I even cried a bit when I received my new contract. Well, maybe not hate hate. Maybe just envious with my batch-mates. They got US, Japan, Chile, etc and I got Burkina Faso. WTF (Where’s the food?). Is it my performance for the past year? Are they secretly hating on me? I don’t know.

Before going to Burkina Faso, I stayed in Dakar, Senegal for almost three weeks. In fairness to them, they enrolled me to a French class. 10 sessions, 2 hours a day. 20 hours of guided French lessons. I repeat, 20 f*cking hours. Also, they gave me beforehand a How to Learn French books. I even Instagrammed it, maybe flipped a couple of pages and that’s it.

IMG_3024
My ever so patient French teacher.

Now that I’m looking back, I realized that it’s mainly my fault. My indifference on learning a new language that will be very helpful for my two years stay here in Burkina Faso. What if I go to France? Or settle somewhere in Europe? I’m doomed!

One reason also is that a part of me knows that I will be quitting after a few months of training here. But no. I lasted even longer than I expected.

Also, I need to deal with several factors like fatigue, emotional stress, some sort of depression, homesickness, etc. I’m working on an 11-hour shift from Monday through Saturday for C’s sake. Yes, I have field breaks. It should be the time to relax and unwind but instead I get stressed even more. They asked me during one of my interviews before landing on this job if I am mentally / emotionally stable and I answered yes. I thought so. Maybe I’m not that mentally and emotionally stable after all.

Whoa! I didn’t see that coming. This post should be light. Well, watch out for my next post: My love-hate relationship with my job.

70 responses to “My love-hate relationship with French (not the fries)”

  1. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Nakakaloka ang 11-hours 0_0

  2. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Oh di ba. Alipin talaga kami dito. JK. (Baka mabasa ng boss ko gawin niyang 13 hours. Peace boss). Nurse ang peg kaso mas mahirap ang work. JK (Baka mabasa ng mga nurse friends ko)

  3. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Sige, stalk ko boss mo para masumbong na kita. So ilan hours ang break time mo? Sa bagay, lahat tayo kailangan natin ng break.

    Kung ako nga binigyan ng break eh…..

  4. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    1 hour for lunch tas paginom ng tubig. Buti pa sa office sa pinas na nakaupo lang at maghapong nagfafacebook eh may break. Ang government offices na kurakot may break. Pero kaming mga kumakayod ng marangal eh wala. hahahaha. #hustisyaparakaymike itrend po natin. Hahaha

  5. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Aray ko po! Parang natamaan naman ako dun! Hahaha well, more on WordPress naman ako kasi nakablock ang pc ko sa Facebook (unless I use another pc lels). Haha yang mga gov’t offices na yan, sobrang sarap ng buhay nila grabe. Hahaha report mo muna kay Mike sa Imbestigador, Mike!

  6. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Nagemail na nga ako kay PNoy eh. Wala pa dinh reply. Try kay PDiddy. Yep. Yan po ang official nickname ni president Duterte.

  7. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Okay, sobrang tawang-tawa na ako sa PDiddy. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA like mga 20 pa tawa ko like HAHAHAHAHA

  8. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Ang witty ko pala talaga. Sabi na eh. Magstart na talaga ako magtagalog posts. Ang lakas kong pasocial climber sa english eh. Hahaha

  9. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Oo sa sobrang witty mo gusto ko na manampal kasi sobrang bullied na ako. 😂😂😂 uy hindi ah. Magaling ka naman magsulat in english ano ka ba. Bully ka lang talaga hahahaha

  10. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Sa bahay kasi english kami. JK. Nagtumblr ka din ba dati? Sana may wordpress meetup din no. Para lumawak ang network.

  11. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Tanginang Data to. K. Ulitin ko reply. English kasi kami sa bahay. Haha. JK. Nagtumblr ka din ba dati. May tumblr meetup dati eh. Mukhang masaya. Sana sa wordpress din may magorganize. Para lumawak network. Oh ha.

  12. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahaha! Ikaw na ang laking aircon! Oo, nag-Tumblr din ako dati but I find WordPress mas okay. Haha. Meet up saan? Punta kami diyan?

  13. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahahaha nareplyan ko na. Na-send mo naman kanina hahaha

  14. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Oh btw, nalaman ko lang apelyido mo sa Twitter. Not much of a stalker. Twitter lang naman =))

  15. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Ang twitter kong walang kwenta. Haha

  16. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    At least nadagdagan Followers mo, oha oha!

  17. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Meetup sa Pinas. Parang masaya yun. Lahat ng Pinoy WordPressers. Oh ha. #ambisyoso

  18. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Ai oh. Di ko man yun inoopen. Sige. Try ko ulit magpostpost ng kung ano2 para masaya. Wala na akong facebook. Tsaka para makasagap na din ng balita.

  19. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahahaha! Gusto ko yan! Actually, part ako sa PSA ni Doc, puro drawing ang meet ups namin =))

  20. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Balita sa mga rants ko! Chos. Haha updated lang ata Twitter mo dahil sa mga Instafeed mo eh. Mabait na bata, walang Facebook.

  21. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    So ito, idrawing natin lagyan ng color para matuloy. Haha

  22. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahahaha I wish talaga. Pero duda ako. Haha

  23. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Di din kasi ako opinionated masyado eh. Pero try ko ulit magtwitter nga. Yep. Mag 2 months na wala akong fb. Dati di ako mapakali sa isang araw ba facebook. Hshs

  24. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Yeah. Alam mo naman ang nasa wordpress, tamad lumabas ng bahay. Haha

  25. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Okay lang yun. Scan scan ka lang ng mga fino-follow mo. Tapos Translate to French para lalong masiyahan ka. Hshs is the new haha so #gangsta

  26. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahaha! Pero masaya naman kasi maingay kami sa Facebook pati sa Viber kaya kahit dun nalang siguro ang meet up hahaha

  27. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Ai may group ang wordpressers sa fb at viber? Wala akonh fb at viber. Hahahaha

  28. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Shet. Pauso. Hahaha

  29. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahahaha para sa mga PSA 🙂 kaya lang, kapag may jowa ka, matitiwalag ka sa group. :))

  30. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Mali. It’s “Shet. Pauso. Hshshs”

  31. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    PSA as in pusong sawi? Hahaha

  32. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Uhm kasi kung pusong sawi yun, PS lang. Tama ba? Hahaha! Philippine Single Association 🙂

  33. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Pusong SAwi. 😛 Puro taga wordpress anjan?

  34. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Sige, pagpilitan mo pa. Hahaha. Yep. Puro WordPressers :))

  35. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Kung makabalik ako sa Facebook next year, isama mo ako dun sa group. Salamat!

  36. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahaha ayun ay kung! Well, kailangan mo mag-apply muna kay Doc eh if you want to join 🙂

  37. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Sinong Doc yan? Next year pa naman. Sige.

  38. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Si Doc Eamer hehe

  39. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Patingin naman ng url niya para magapply na ako. Haha

  40. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    http://doctoreamer.com/philippine-single-association/

  41. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Shet. Seryoso pala to. Baka registered pa to sa DTI? Jk.

  42. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahahaha! Oo. Mas active nga lang talaga kami sa Facebook.

  43. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Nagmeetup na ba kayo dati n natuloy?

  44. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Yung iba nakapag-meet up na ata? Hahaha this year lang kasi ako sumali. Not sure. Pero nagplaplano sila ulit.

  45. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Sayang. Left out kaming mga OFWs. Makakauwi akong Pinas this year kaso 2 days lang ako kasi magtratravel ako. Baka sa 2020 makasama na ako sa meetups. Hahahaha

  46. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Hahahaha okay lang yan! Awww yun lang. Virtually, mararamdaman naman namin presence mo. 🙂

  47. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Ok. Trabaho muna.

    “Hanggang sa muli.” -Goku

  48. punjetry Avatar
    punjetry

    Okay, ingats! – John Lloyd.

    Hindi ako maka-relate.

    Buh-baaaay! – Ernie Baron

  49. aysabaw Avatar
    aysabaw

    Bonjour monsieur….tama ba spelling? Lol nako magtatagal ka pa pala.dyan

  50. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Bonjour. Ça va? Not sure sa monsieur. Kasi ang alam ko lang na monsieur eh si Monsieur del Rosario. Hahahaha. Yep. 9 months pa. 😭

  51. aysabaw Avatar
    aysabaw

    Hahahahahahhahaha di ba croque monsieur? Hahahahahha awts ok….naku lalo pa pag natuto ka magpranses baka lalo ka ng hindi makakaalis dyan trololol

  52. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Kung iaabsorb nila ako dito, mas masaya ata ang benefits. Every 6 weeks uwi sa Pinas. Di ako excited sa paguwi. Excited ako sa points/miles na maiipon ko sa flights. Hahahaha.

  53. aysabaw Avatar
    aysabaw

    Hhahahaha aba every 6weeks…maganda ha

  54. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Ewan. Sana applicable din sa akin. Pero ayoko na dito. Handa na ako magmove on mula sa impyernong to. Hahaha. Init kasi.

  55. aysabaw Avatar
    aysabaw

    Wahahahahaha…..ay nako….minsan wala lang talaga tayong magawa sa mga bagay bagay haha

  56. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Papuntang hugot to ah. Wait. Hahaha

  57. aysabaw Avatar
    aysabaw

    😂😂😂😂😂

  58. L.P. Mendoza Avatar
    L.P. Mendoza

    Sending thoughts and well wishes your way 🙂 It can be rough living in a foreign country. But imagine the stories you’ll have to pass on one day! Chin up and keep blogging. You’re doing great! 🙂

  59. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Thank you. Exactly. I’m working not for money. I’m working abroad so that I have something to blog. JK. I enjoy working here. But there are also low points like homesickness, etc. I miss Filipino foods. 😂

  60. L.P. Mendoza Avatar
    L.P. Mendoza

    I bet. While I wish I could say that personally I understand, I can’t. But it’s been almost 11 years since my husband has been back to Manila and there are times where he misses it terribly. He says, “even though the weather is so unbearably hot… there is something perfect about the Philippines. Your barkada is there. The street food is there. It will always be home”. I can’t wait to visit one day 🙂 But until then… keep blogging about it! I love reading your stories.

  61. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Yes. Manila er Philippines has its charm. I can’t pinpoint really. Yes there are pickpockets everywhere, it’s loud and dirty but it’s home. One can really appreciate the beauty of his own country after leaving. J only have nice things to say about Ph. I even convinced my Belgian Site Manager to have his honeymoon in the Philippines. You’ll love it there. I can send you postcards from the Ph if you like. Maybe I’ll add a couple from Burkina Faso and Senegal.

  62. L.P. Mendoza Avatar
    L.P. Mendoza

    That would be amazing! 😀 What is Burkina Faso like? I know it’s in West Africa, and I’ve seen the pictures you’ve posted on your blog, with the ATV rides and such. So I know it’s largely a desert, right? But there must be more to it then that! 🙂 Are there any fun night spots or… tourist attractions? I’d love some postcards when you aren’t too busy. 🙂 Hope you’re having a relaxing weekend!

  63. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Oh the ATV ride is in Senegal. It’s not really largely desert like Niger or Mali. We have forests too but it’s not too dense. I haven’t really explored Burkina Faso yet because 98% of my time, I stay in out minesite which is miles away from the city. There are small villages nearby but there’s no happenings really. But the people are great. The food is mostly influenced by French.

  64. L.P. Mendoza Avatar
    L.P. Mendoza

    Ahhh I see! Well, even though you are in a remote area out on the mine site, it’s really cool that you get to experience another culture, and its people. Pasensya na po for asking so many questions ❤ I am a curious soul. But from everything I've read on here you are extremely busy so I won't pepper you with too many questions. Promise! 🙂 But I really enjoy chatting and I hope that… and I think it should be Sunday morning there now, right? I hope you have a nice Cafe Au Lait and Croissant and have a relaxing day off! 😀

  65. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Oh it’s alright. Actually, I want that. I get to share my experiences here. Thank you!

  66. dubaiexpatnurse Avatar
    dubaiexpatnurse

    Chill pills… pero mmmm diba kaya nagkaroon ng labor day as in may 1 so 8 hours lang tlga dapat gosh

  67. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Dalawang shift lang kasi ang minahan namin. Normally 3 shifts. Eh before start ng operations eh andun na kami kasi kami in charge sa mga machines mismo. Pero 9weeks work tas 3 weeks vacation naman. Medyo bumawi. Kapag icocompute eh halos pareho lang din sa 8 hrs na work na Mon to Fri. #alipin hahaha. JK.

  68. dubaiexpatnurse Avatar
    dubaiexpatnurse

    Omg pero well lahat naman tayo alipin basta may boss… one day di na tayo alipin 😉 haaay kelan kaya yun

  69. thegeekmechanic Avatar
    thegeekmechanic

    Kapag di na natin kelangang mangibang bansa. Iba din magwork kapag ibang lahi boss talaga. 😭

  70. Belle Papillon 24/7 Avatar
    Belle Papillon 24/7

    What an interesting post. You’re funny. LOL
    I envy you, you got free French lessons and here I am struggling on Duolingo… haha
    Those are very long shifts. Is it even legal?
    I hope you decide to just have fun and before you know it you’re done and who knows you’ll be sent Stateside or somewhere in Europe where your new language skills will be tested…

    Amuse toi bien!

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