french class

So, I've been at it now for six weeks studying french here in Fribourg.

I've mostly written posts about various diversions without including the obvious, the 4-6 hours I spend each day studying French.

A few snapshots:

My professor, F.W., is an avid fan of high culture: classical music, literature, film, art. After discussing Proust with a friend of mine (a linguist and translator, studying french two levels above me) he said: I've finally met an interesting student. When he asked me for the English translation of "À la recherche du temps perdu" (In search of lost time?) and I didn't have an exact answer, he told me: you have to read Proust before you die.

Ok, ok. I will, I'm sure.

My class is a nice group of people: diverse, with varying backgrounds and reasons for learning French. For example, there is a priest learning French for his work in various Polish churches all over Switzerland. I had a car ride with him once to Geneva and it was fascinating hearing him explain Catholic theology in French to me and an ex-catholic friend.

There are several spouses of Swiss citizens.

There is a Kurdsh refugee in my class. He lived in the mountains for ten years during the Kurd rebellion against Turkey for their own state.

But probably the majority of students are learning french to prepare for studies here (like me).

Over the past 6-7 weeks, we've gotten to know each other quite well. On our grammar tests sentences are starting to appear, like "the musicians played baroque music." (for me) and "the music the D.J. selected was crap." (a reference to my friend who likes electronic music and dancing, and his ongoing debate with the prof, who maintains that all pop music is NOT music and that dancing is ridiculous). Also, there was something about false bills for a student in my class who is studying forensic chemistry.

A few more weeks, and then we have testing to see how far we've come. Time to start studying...