Report of Nara French club with Dr.Maswana, the associate professor of Tokyo University.

This month's report for Nara French Club on Wed. 18th September.This day we welcomed Dr. Jean-Claude Maswana(Congolese), the associate professor in Tokyo University(Doctor of Economics)^^♪

As you may know, there are two countries bearing the name of "Congo".One is "Democratic Republic of the Congo(capital:Kinshasa)" and the other is "Republic of Congo(capital: Brazzaville)"
(Kinshasa and Brazzaville are said to be the most nearest adjacent capitals.)
And Dr. Maswana is from "Democratic Republic of the Congo".
The country name has been changed several times and it used to be called as "Zaire" from1971 to 1997, so some of you have heard the name before.

This day he talked about the country's history, tribes, languages, politics etc...and the reason why he came to Japan, and why he won't go back to Congo...^^
The members posed him questions actively and Dr. Maswana kindly answered our question.
It was the great opportunity to listen to how things really are in central Africa.

★★NEXT NARA FRENCH CLUB★★
on Wednesday 18th October 18:45-20:45
Details will be followed later！

September's French Club with Dr.Jean-Claude Maswana from Congo.

■DATE: Wednesday 18th 18:45-20:45@No.1, F5 Nara Seibu Kominkan.
【No reservation needed.】
【With interpretation♪】

■GUEST: Dr.Jean-Claude Maswana from Congo.
He's the an associate professor in Tokyo University.The specialist in
international economics.

■CHARGE:
Member 1,000yen,Non-member 1,500yen
Native French speakers will be invited(free of charge).

■August Report on Facebook
→　HERE !!

June's French club is on Wed.19th with Isabelle from Versailles & Thomas from Deauville! Both very historical cities....!!

Hi, there!
Sorry for my late update!
Followings are the details for June's French club♪

★DATE:
On Thursday 19th June 18:45 to 20:45
【No reservation needed】
【With interpretation】

★LOCATION:
＠No.1, 5th floor in Nara Seibu Kominkan above Starbucks coffee.
so near from south exit of Kintetsu Gakuenmae St.

★GUESTS:
Ms.Isabelle Legrand
She is from Versailles,France.(Do you know Nara has a sister-city relationship with Versailles!)
She major was the literature and "Publishing Study" at Sorbonne University in France, and Toronto university in Canada.
We can get the tips to publish a bestseller^^
(And hope someone gives us the tips how to be a best author)

And this year she got married with Japanese manCongrats!

Mr.Thomas Touyon
He is born at Deauville of North France.
Deauville is not so far from the coast of "the Invasion of Normandy(During W.W.�U)",
famous for its casiono and film festival
He had been in Japan in 2008(trip?) and 2010 for working holiday of 7 months.
And he has returned to France, and this year come back to Japan
to study Japanese, and Japanese culture

★CHARGE:
Member 1,000yen,Non-member 1,500yen
Native French speakers will be invited(free of charge).

★INFORMATION:
[e-mail]

Report of May's French club with Mr. Dromzée from France, and Mr. Thierry from Taiwan!

Hi,there!
How are you getting along?
Aren't there anyone who are in "May sickness" condition, are you^^?
(Have the words of "May sickness" or " May depression" become obsolete these days^^?)

Yesterday we had our monthly French club with Mr. Dromzée from France, and Mr. Thierry from Taiwan!
They are our old friends, and had joined our French club two years ago,2011


Though this is MY first time to meet them, they are very friendly and
kindly talked about their hometown-episode or new experiences in Ecuador in learning the "Kechua" by showing the photos(Thierry san, thank you.)

Thierry san is super-multilingual(handles 17 languages),
and he told us that
"We have various languages and culture in this world, and apparently it differs from country to country, tribe to tribe, but at its heart, we are all the same. "

That impressed me.
It was very nice evening!

★★ next French club will be on Wednesday19th June.★★

May's French club is on Wednesday 15th with Mr. Jean-François Dromzée and Mr. Thierry!!

Followings are the details for May's French club♪

★DATE:
On Thursday 15th May 18:45 to 20:45
【No reservation needed】
【With interpretation】

★LOCATION:
＠No.3, 5th floor in Nara Seibu Kominkan above Starbucks coffee.
so near from south exit of Kintetsu Gakuenmae St.

★GUESTS:
Mr. Jean-François Dromzée, the past president of Association Connaissance du Japon.
(Ref)http://connaissancejapon.free.fr
And Mr. 謝智翔(Thierry) from Taiwan(Majored in biology & chemistry in both Taiwan and France)


★CHARGE:
Member 1,000yen,Non-member 1,500yen
Native French speakers will be invited(free of charge).

★INFORMATION:
[e-mail]

Report of April's French club with Ms. Ms.Mirjana Murer from Switzerland♫

Hi, there!
Let me introduce the past French club held on Thursday 18th.
The guest was Ms.Mirjana Murer from Switzerland( "Suisse" in French!)
She's from the German-Switzerland, and her mother tongue is German,
but also speaks Swiss-German(Swiss-allemand), French, and English.
She loves Japanese culture including its language, manga, Haiku, and Samourai!
She said she's interested in "Samurai-spirit" like in Edo period.
What do you imagine from the word of "samurai-spirit" ?
...Being fraught with "life and death", or kind of "chivalry"? Hmm...

Well, as you may know Switzerland has mainly three language-district such as French, German, and Italian.
These areas are devided into several departments(like prefecture), and they are well-independent and has its origianl politic or education policy.

For example, the Japanese educational system consists of 6 years of elementary school, 3 years of junior high school, 3 years of senior high school and 4 years of university (2 years for college), but in Switzerland, it differes from prefecture to prefecture.

And Switzland has many immigrants and it's increasing recently, but I assumed from her word that for the most part, they(Switzland) handles this issue well.

Several races, languages, cultures....
The country itself is slightly smaller than Kyushu, Japan,
but it includes much more "la diversité"...
That attracted me^^♪

My french is still at the bottom, but now I can see the growing appeal of French more than before!
If there's anyone who wants to try to learn French from here,
Just knock the door！

May's French club is planned on Wednesday 15th .
Details will be followed later

【INFO】April's French club is on Thursday 18th with Ms. Mirjana Murer from Switzerland♪

Followings are the details for April's French club♪

★DATE:
On Thursday 18th April 18:45 to 20:45
【No reservation needed】
【With interpretation】

★LOCATION:
＠No.4, 5th floor in Nara Seibu Kominkan above Starbucks coffee.
so near from south exit of Kintetsu Gakuenmae St.

★GUESTS:
Ms.Mirjana Murer（Switzerland）
She's 20 year-old and has temporarily worked as a librarian before starting studies in next September : Planning to study Japanology because she is fascinated by Japanese people and culture^^♪
In her spare time,she learns Japanese, writes stories,draws sketches, and also enjoys "kung fu"....??!!

★CHARGE:
Member 1,000yen,Non-member 1,500yen
Native French speakers will be invited(free of charge).

★INFORMATION:
[e-mail]

Spring has come.....It's time to start something new like French
Looking forward to seeing you soon(*^ω^*)

Past French club with Dr. Christophe Michard from the Graduate School of Osaka Prefecture Univ.♪

Hi, there!
This is Kumi from EU association
Let me introduce the past French club on 19th March

We welcomed Dr. Christophe Michard from the Graduate School of Osaka Prefecture University!!

His study theme is to create a new type of computer network which would replace to the current one.
The critical thing is to erect the new way to send an enormous amount of information to the other like passing the big big volleyball from one to next

And he's also passionate about the Judo and is veteran judoist of being equal to the 4 or 5th rank(Dan ranking), but he doesn't like to stick to it, or competition of victory or defeat.
He loves the traditional Judo spirit that such as "Kanō Jigorō " who was the founder of Judo in Japan had introduced through his life.


And he introduced his country or hometown, and it includes his affection for the land of birth....


He will start his job hunting from this April in Japan, so we are happy if we have another chance to welcome him again

March's French club with Mr. Christophe Michard from Osaka Prefecture University♪

Hi, there!
This is Kumi from EU association.
Please let me inform the coming French club on 19th,
and in the latter, you can find the report of past EU English club on 13th,
and upcoming events' details in the last.

March's French Club
★DATE:
Tuesday 19th March 18:45〜20:45
＠No.4, 5th floor in Nara Seibu Kominkan
so near from south exit of Kintetsu Gakuenmae St.

★GUEST:
We'll welcome Mr. Christophe Michard
Born in Paris, spent his childhood in Créteil, Val-de-Marne, near Paris.
He's now in the Graduate School of Osaka Prefecture University, and his study topic is to create a new type of computer network which would replace the current ones.
He is also passionate about martial arts, and has practiced since the age of four.
This is so-called "Bunbu ryodo",a fine scholar and athlete!!!

★CHARGE:
Member 1,000yen,Non-member 1,500yen
Native French speakers will be invited(free of charge).

★INFORMATION:
[e-mail]


The Report of English Club
The theme was "When/Where do you feel the first smell of spring?"
But in this few days, winter is suddenly cut out, and spring comes in!
Oh, where is the "first" smell...?

Anyways!
It is way to fun to find "season" in our daily lives.It makes me feel alive.
Cherry blossom,plum tree,pollen allergy, food, smell etc etc...

Max san gave us the brief explanation about his country of Sweden by using the whiteboard.(teacher-like!)
About Swedish language,culture,history,food etc..
Many question came in, and the discussion became heated!!
Well, nice atmosphere
About food,do you know "Surströmming"?
The canned dip fillet herrings in salt, and this is said to be the most(worst?) bad-smell food in Sweden (or in the world?)

If you just open this can in the apartment,the whole building should be shout down..(hmm!?)
And one of the participants now studies Swedish language,so Max san gave us the basic Swedish language lesson during the meeting!
Way to fun and difficult pronunciation!!


Ivo san, the fascinating storyteller
He kindly showed us the beautiful photos he took.
We could find beautiful "light" anywhere in this photos.
He loves Japanese culture, and Japanese food like "Shojin-ryori" such as tofu,yuba or other vegetable.
Also he's also pointed out the some structural questions that Japanese society or companies include.
That was difficult issue but thought-provoking opinion....^^♪


UPCOMING EVENTS

★Radio show
ならどっとFM78.4MHz "Rendez-vous de Nara".
This time our president Mr. Nakai & I (Kumiko Fujioka) will have the free conversation based on a theme of "Bach".
Please have fun with Bach's greatest music!
We are looking forward to meeting you on line♪
http://www.jcbasimul.com/program/area06_a03.html

★EU Salon
Saturday 23rd March 18:00〜21:00
＠Yaoya"RO"(八百屋ろ)" in Gakuenmae.
http://yaoyaro.exblog.jp/
We'll welcome Mr. Matt Imanishi as a guest.
Entering the major car-parts manufacturer after graduated from university, left for USA and as after 5 years experience in America, he decided to stay in there as "pro-golfer"（!）
and then left for Hawaii and stay there another 2 years....
It's hard to explain his fascinating story in one phrases!!!
Why not join and listen to his colorful and various history with us?

That's all for today(*^_^*)
Thanks for reading, and have a nice week!!

Past French club on 20th Feb. with Ms. Francoise Fujii & Ms.Marie-Francoise Bardou^^♪

Hi,there!
Today Kumiko is writing this article♪
Let me introduce the past French club held on 20th Feb. with Ms. Francoise Fujii, and Marie-Francoise Bardou.
In the latter of this article, you can see the radio show report, and upcoming events in March!

Ms. Francoise Fujii
Don’t many Japanese have the vague image of “Rich” or “Fashionable” or etc...against France, do we? But actually not all of French wouldn’t be so.(Indeed…!)
In the other way, many French people seem to have the image of “high moralistic” “serious” and “hard worker” against Japanese (You think it’s true..? or false..?!)
She said that France and Japan have interested in so much each other, but each has the false impression/different image from the actual.

Ms. Marie-Francoise Bardou
She was born in southwest district of France, lived there until the middle age of 20's.and has been in Japan for 15years.
She loves nature so much ^^♪ and said the “nature” is also different between France and Japan. Japan’s one is “big” and France’s is “small”?? Hmm..how do you think?

In anyways, that’s true we both(France & Japan) don’t have the bad images mutually, I assume…!
And both guests mentioned the difference about the education system especially in university.
Comparing to France, Japan’s promotion system is very about and students tend to be lazy in studying in university…?
Ahh…remembering my uni days, I somehow feel ….hmm(-_-;).

These episodes are just small part.
Why not join us, hear more fascinating story and exchange our cultural experience?

Eh..? You don’t speak French well, or at all..?
You think it’ll be a hurdle?
No, I don’t think so〜!
When you wanna start, that is the time^^♪


Feb.’s Radio Show
Wooo, did you listen to Theremin sound?!
I somehow understand that why MR. LENIN had wanted to learn how to play theremin.
This instrument has special charm… magic instrument...!

And the dramatic reading was actually so dramatic.
Her voice was calm, energetic and really attractive.!!!

And and and
I have to improve my mixing technique.
So,don’t turn me off just yet!

UPCOMING EVENTS IN MARCH
These are just brief info.
The details will be followed later when each event comes closer.

★English club
Wednesday 13th March 18:45~20:45@Seibu Kominkan
No.3 lecture room,5th floor

★Music Festa in McDonald’s
Sunday 17th March 15:00~18:00@McDonald’s near Kintetsu Nara St.

★French club
Tuesday 19th March 18:45~20:45@Seibu kominkan
No.4 lecture room,5th floor

★Radio
ならどっとFM78.4 "Rendez-vous de Nara"
Thursday 21st March 19:00~
You can meet us online♪↓
http://www.jcbasimul.com/program/area06_a03.html

★Salon
Saturday 23rd March18：30〜21:00＠yaoya”RO”


That’s all for today.
Thank you for reading ~(o^▽^o)

Coming French club on 20th Feb.!!

Hi,there!
Did you know February's English club is...today^^♪♪
And we have other upcoming events of French club and radio show♪

■□■English Club■□■
★DATE:
Thursday 14th February from 19:00〜20:45
【No reservation needed】

★LOCATION:
#4 lecture room,5th floor in Nara Seibu Kominkan.
So near from South exit of Kintetsu Gakuenmae station,above Starbucks Coffee.
(近鉄学園前駅 南出口近く 奈良市西部公民館)

For more details, please visit here↓
http://kneu.seesaa.net/article/319009562.html


■□■French Club■□■
★DATE:
Wednesday 20th February. 19:00〜20:45
【With interpretation】
【No reservation needed】

★LOCATION:
#3 lecture room,5th floor in Nara Seibu Kominkan.
So near from South exit of Kintetsu Gakuenmae station,above Starbucks Coffee.
(近鉄学園前駅 南出口近く 奈良市西部公民館)

★CHARGE:
Member 1,000yen ,Non-member 1,500yen
Native French speakers will be invited(free of charge).

★INFORMATION:
[e-mail]

★GUESTS:
●Francoice Fujii
She is from Vendée(west part), France, loves guitar and Japanese.
She is also a French teacher, translator and interpreter, and has lived in Japan for 25 years!!
We have already welcomed her to our January's radio show, but that wasn't enough to hear her long history both in France and Japan!

●Marie-Francoice Bardou
She was born in southwest district of France, lived there until the middle age of 20's.
Then she moved to Japan and has been in for 15 years.
Now she has worked as a French teacher in universities in Kansai area.
She loves reading many books, literature and her job as a teacher.

What's Japanese people's image of France?(and vice versa)
The both image can be heard from these two guests in above in accord with their long history both in Japan and France^^♪


■□■Radio■□■
★DATE:
Thursday 21st Feb. 19:00〜20:00
ならどっとFM78.4 "Rendez-vous de Nara"

This can be heard on line♪↓
http://www.jcbasimul.com/program/area06_a03.html

We are happy to welcome Theremin player Mr. Kazuo Kita and Ms. Sachiko Teramura(dramatic reading)as the guests!
Our president Mr. Hideaki Nakai will also play guitar to reading!

*Tips*
Theremin was originally invented by a young Russian physicist named Léon Theremin in 1920, said its sounds touched strings in Russian people’s heart, and that Mr. Vladimir Lenin was also moved his mind and did learn how to play this magic instrument…
We are sure that this is a precious occasion to experience its fascinating sound!!

Don't miss it~!!

...Oh...
You don't have time on Thursday?
Don't worry! No problem♪
You can hear its rebroadcasting on 23rd Saturday from 17:00~18:00!!



■□■Help Wanted■□■
We are now looking for volunteers to help our activity on Sunday 17th Feb. of the music festa in McDonald's.

＊At McDonald's near Kintetsu Nara station(in Higashimuki-Arcade)
＊From 14:00 to 18:00
＊Site management and/or flyer distribution

Anyone who are interested in, please contact to ⇒ [e-mail]


That's all for today♪
See you soon!

Past French Club on 16th January with Ms.Sonia Daguet♪

Hi,there!
This is a report of the past French club,radio show and some info for our future plans♪

★French Club on past 16th January
WITH Ms.Sonia Daguet♪
She has been interested in Japan since she was child, often seen Japanese documentary or cartoon films, and majored in the manners and fashion (kimonos) in Edo period in Graduate School of Nara Women's University since last September.

We talked about the difference between French & Japanese, charms & difficulties of studying Japanese etc,
She has been stayed in Japan from Sept.2012 to Sept 2013.
We are happy if we have chances to welcome her again♪





★January's Radio show
Past Thursday 17th Jan.(19:00〜20:00)
ならどっとFM78.4 "Rendez-vous de Nara" with Francoise Fujii, who is from Vendée, France, loves guitar and Japanese.
She is also a French teacher, translator and interpreter, and has lived in Japan for 25years!
We heard a lot of charms of Japan from her viewpoint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRcEcaKS2w

This can be heard on line♪Check it out♪
http://www.jcbasimul.com/program/area06_a03.html


★Next Radio Info.
February・・・Thursday 21st (19:00〜20:00)
March　・・・Thursday 18th(19:00〜20:00)
This radio channel is re-aired in the same week on Saturday(17:00~18:00),
++If any changes after April, we'd let you know.++


★Next English Club
Wednesday 13th Feb. 19:00〜20:45＠Nara City West Community Center(近鉄学園前駅近くの奈良市西部公民館にて)
++Details will be followed later++


★Next French Club
Wednesday 20th Feb. 19:00〜20:45＠Nara City West Community Center(近鉄学園前駅近くの奈良市西部公民館にて)
++Details will be followed later++


★To someone who is interested in French Club
If you don’t have any confidence in French, and want to start from here,
please feel free to join us!
The interpretation would help you understand and communicate with members!

Then, have a nice day〜♪
Au revoir^^

The guest will be changed at Nara French Club : Parisienne studying the fashion of the Edo period in Japan

Bonne année à tous !!
New year just begins!!!
We did enjoyed 2013 first English Club yesterday,12th Jan.,
(the report is followed in latter of this article.)

Then we inform you next French Club!!!
We have French Club on Wednesday 16th Jan. with Ms.Sonia Daguet and Ms.Alice Doublier, the young gusts♩

★DATE:
Wednesday 16th January from 19:00〜20:45
【with interpretation】

★PLACE:
No.1 lecture room,5th floor in Nara City West Community Center(So near from South exit of Kintetsu Gakuenmae station. Next to Starbucks Coffee.)

★CHARGE:
member 1,000yen ,non-member 1,500yen
【No reservation needed】

★INFORMATION:
070-5504-1881 [e-mail]

★GUESTS
●Sonia Daguet, born in 1988,
Université Paris Diderot Paris 7
From 2007 to 2011, a student of Bachelors Degree Languages and
Civilization foreign specialty Japanese.
2011 Master 1
Thesis topic:
Chônin fashion during the Edo period
2012-2013, Master in Foreign Languages and Culture, Japanese Studies
Research Specialization.
Master 2 Research topic:
Fashion clothing for chônin and influence of customs courtesans and
kabuki actors, in the Edo period.
Currently bilateral exchange of one year with the University for Girls
Nara September 27, 2012 to September 1, 2013.

●Ms.Alice Doublier…She majored in anthropologist in France, and now has researched ceramic wares(pottery).
We heard her families have originated from Togo, and her story may let us know the unknown history and various aspects of our world.

Please feel free to visit us ♪


◇◇◇ Report of English Club on 12th January ◇◇◇

【Two guests】
Ivo from Bulgaria(our old friend) gave us a fascinating story about his background including Bulgarian history.
http://youtu.be/WsRStdT5PGA

He studied in Russian School when he was six,have experiences of studying abroad such as China and Canada, and now he has worked in Murata Manufacturing Company(村田製作所)as a Senior Technology Project Manager.
It is difficult to express his story in short sentence!!
We are happy to welcome him again to English Club on coming 13th April from 18:00〜.
Don't miss it!

The other guest, Mr.Jeffery Bowyer also has a rich and various background.
He was born in London(South England, maybe),grown up in America,spent couple of years in Thailand,and now he lives in Kidugawa,Kyoto.
We would have chance to welcome him again!
http://youtu.be/gbtaoquvkSo

【New Year's Resolution】
On this day, we talked about our New Year's Resolution.
Everyone has own aim to be archived.
To carry our our words,sometimes it may be important for us to declare our WILL to other people.

☆　What is your New Year's Resolution?　☆

Nara French Club on Wednesday 19 with Oussouby Sacko

★Nara French Club on Wednesday 19 with Oussouby Sacko, professeur of
Seika University in Kyoto.
http://www.facebook.com/oussouby.sacko


At the Seibu Kominkan, next to Kintetsu Gakuenmae station (south side,
on the Starbucks Coffee, 5th floor in room 4).
From 19:00 to 20:45.
http://www.starbucks.co.jp/search/map/result.php?storeId=0226&lang=ja
1000 yen for members, 1500 yen for non members, French speakers will be invited.

Nara French Club on Wednesday 18th April

◆◇◆Nara French Club on Wednesday 18th April◇◆◇

From 19:00 to 21:00 in Nara Prefecture Cultural Center (Nara Ken Bunka
Kaikan) in Meeting Room #3 (Dai3 Kaigishitsu), 5 minutes by walk from
Kintetsu Nara.
http://www.pref.nara.jp/dd_aspx_menuid-22520.htm
Enquiry: [e-mail]
1000 yen for members, 1500 yen for non members, French speakers will be invited.

◇As guest : Pierre Regnier & Maryam Buisson

Pierre Regnier is born in 1968 and he lives in Nara machi.
He studied Japanese and Japanese culture at the University of Lille 3
and at the University of Paris 7. He was French teacher in Tokyo and
Japanese teacher in France.
He is now owner of this net shop :
www.kominguya.com
He works also in a French restaurant in Nara and wrote and translate
many books about Japan.

Maryam Buisson is student in University of Paris 7 and in Nara Women's
University.

Nara French Club on Tuesday 17th January

From 19:00 to 21:00 in
Nara Prefecture Cultural Center
(Nara Ken Bunka Kaikan)
in Meeting Room #3 (Dai3 Kaigishitsu),
5 minutes by walk from Kintetsu Nara.
http://www.pref.nara.jp/dd_aspx_menuid-22520.htm
1000 yen for members, 1500 yen for non members,
French speakers will be invited.

http://narafr.seesaa.net/

Nara French Club on Tuesday 22nd November with Bertrand Gauguet & Yann-Luk Klein

From 19:00 to 21:00 in Nara Prefecture Cultural Center (Nara Ken Bunka
Kaikan) in Meeting Room #3 (Dai3 Kaigishitsu), 5 minutes by walk from
Kintetsu Nara.
http://www.pref.nara.jp/dd_aspx_menuid-22520.htm
Guests : Bertrand Gauguet, French composer & Yann-Luk Klein,
researcher in Mechanical Engineering from Lorraine.
1000 yen for members, 1500 yen for non members, French speakers will be invited.

Nara French Club Meeting with French Students

Nara French Club Meeting with French Students from Orleans
on Tuesday 18th in Cafe Wakakusa (7:00pm-)
2-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara station.
http://www.cafewakakusa.com/cafe_WAKAKUSA/MAP.html

Contact : [e-mail]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiUt6ZwZH34
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htakU5ZqFOQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzDPcARQ0Ts

Nara French Club on Tuesday 21th at Cafe Wakakusa with Francoise Fujii

The monthly EU French Club meeting is held at the Cafe Wakakusa,
2-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara station.
http://www.cafewakakusa.com/cafe_WAKAKUSA/MAP.html

**The next French Club on Tuesday December 21th (7:00pm-)**



We'll invite Francoise Fujii,
translator french-japanese and lecturer
at the university and the institution Franco-Japanese.
Francoise, come from Vendee and
a former scholarship recipient of japanese government,
is in Japan from 23 years ago.

She likes spanish guitar and the Japanese language
and she lives in Otsu with her family.
We'll invite also Aurélien Allard with his family
and visitors from all European countries.

A mardi prochain !!!

French Club Meeting with Michèle Corsange, Ornithologist, and 3 new French residents in Nara

Tuesday evening, 16 June, at the monthly French Club meeting held at the Cafe Wakakusa, 2 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara station.
http://www.cafewakakusa.com/cafe_WAKAKUSA/MAP.html

Pierre Silvestri, club host, introduced Laetitia Boeuf and Remi Samuel, two French people who have recently moved to Nara.

Laetitia, a student at Nara University of Education and the Universisty of Lyon 3, became interested in Japan through the study of Japanese religions. Then, one day she heard the sound of the language on a TV interview and decided to come and study in Japan.

Remi, a researcher at Nara University of Education, is passionate about Japan. When he was young he spent 2 weeks in Japan on a trip with his mum, and decided to spend a year in a Japanese high school in Tokyo. But during this stay in Tokyo, he found it really difficult to communicate with the other students and it was a difficult time. But he loves Japan and returned. He has been living in Japan for 4 and half years.

Another Frenchmen living in Nara, David Smith, has opened a language school and translation office near the Wakakusa Café. By chance he joined our meeting and talked to us about Burgundy, where both he and Remi are from. He became interested in Japan through anime, and then at age 18, when an illness confined him to bed for 6 months, he decided to study Japanese to pass the time. He has lived in Japan for the past 5 years and continues to learn foreign languages.

Our main guest this evening was Michèle Corsange. She spoke passionately about her love for birds and the environment.
Pierre asked her why a teacher of French Literature would become an ornithologist, and she replied that because her father was a botanist she had always had an interest in the Natural Sciences. When she was forced to stop teaching due to illness, a friend invited her to go hiking in the mountains to see some birds. Thanks to that trip, she recovered from her illness and this lead to another bird watching trip to Japan to observe her favourite bird, the eagle. She is also a member of the Tancho (crane) Protection group in Hokkaiko,
http://www6.marimo.or.jp/tancho1213/

She will visit Hokkaido this year, having spent 4 weeks in Nara promoting the the Tancho protection association. To follow the rest of the discussion, please check the link in Japanese.
http://eurokn.seesaa.net/article/121679952.html

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 21 July. More details to come on this blog.