David & Vivianne, Right, Front and Center
Sometimes, when traveling, you meet people who are memorable, who you want to hold close always. Such was the case, in April 2007, when I met Vivianne and David Bissix.
I was in France, for a month, to study at that country’s best immersion language school, the Institut de Français. Located in the South of France, each month, 80 “victims” from around the world, gather to toil 8-hours a day on a language that has 17 different verb tenses. Sweat and tears are daily occurrences.(http://www.institutdefrancais.com/)
Viv and David, an accountant, had just retired and moved from England, their home country, to France, their new one. He was living his dream. His wife was at the Institut to learn the language! Vivianne and I bonded “in our fright.”
During the past four years those of us in the Intermédiaire 2, 3, and 4, class levels have stayed in touch. In April 2009, we gathered together for a week-end in Paris. Two months ago, my colleagues, sans moi, again congregated in Paris. It’s my understanding that Vivianne, now jabbering fluently in French, had happily bought into her husband’s dream also.
After returning to Cahors from the recent Paris party, Vivianne developed some stomach pains that resulted in two operations, followed by a slow, continuing recuperation.
Please know, Vivianne, that your many friends, scattered across the globe, are sending you good wishes (in French, of course), positive energy, and love in every language. If you can conquer French, mon amie, you can conquer this!
Nous t’embrassons.
- A Global Gathering in Paris
