Hi there
Sorry to not have written before, many things to do, visit, talking, and still in the process for the last papers for our wedding to celebrate soon (September, 18th)
Well, I will try to update since 2 weeks
Liyan is fine and really likes french food, as she likes most of french villages in south of france, some old cities too and... my family
In fact, she was introduced to the main part of my family, some uncles, aunties, cousins. They really like her and tried to talk a little bit with her in english
She was "shy" most of time, also she could not talk in french, even if she is learning.
My parents think she's learning quite good french language and that she could be pretty good to talk in 4 or 5 months if she can go on learning with me.
Actually, she can only talk some little sentences (hello, how are you, thanks, you're welcome, good night, good appetite, glad to meet you, 1=>5, yes, no, i don't know, how much does it cost and some other things, too)
That's just a beginning but well, I can understand that french language is really difficult, because of many things too much different from zhongwen.
In France, we don't say "a dog" for example. Dan shi, man says "un chien", "une chienne", meaning : a male dog, a female dog... that is same for a table, a bus, a car, ... the "a" is always "un" ou "une". In the countries where english is spoken, there is no difference for male dogs or female ones ^^', just "a", that's all.. and in China, there is no "a"... just "dog"... that's all.
So, it is difficult for Liyan to know that in France, man can say that the table is "female" and that the flower is also female, but that the plane is male and the dog can also be male or female. Maybe will she be able to learn about that later... we will see.
But everyday, she is improving her talking and it is very good. Most of time, my parents can anyway understand Liyan, and even my daughter looked at me, one day, when Liyan talked to her a little bit in french "eh Papa, Liyan's talking to me in french!!!!" ^^
The food :
Liyan ate many things from my mama's cooking
it seems she really likes french food, whatever it can be some local food or not. She also likes croissants, Chong ;-)
She likes the beef, even if she says and I know it is very different from chinese cooking
About cheese, she just can eat a little bit, because she doesn't really like it.
She noticed and told me that we have some good wine, and that most of time, in France, people ate "sugar & spicy" food
The family :
Liyan really likes my family, from what I've seen and heard
One auntie really likes her, and invited her to dance at a party, to dance on ... some valses, tangos
I got some videos about it ^^ Liyan was scared and shy because she never danced like that before and because she was scared to walk on my family's foots when dancing
But that didn't happen, and ... what a surprize to see that Liyan was pretty good on dancing. My mother really likes her too and also asked her to dance one more dance with her
My daughter played with Liyan too, and enjoyed those moments, even if there still is a language barrier between them. But well, that will change soon
The shops :
Eheh, we've spent some hours in some few shops, just to look for some shoes for Liyan, whatever it could be shoes for everyday or for... the wedding day
We've also looked for a wedding dress
And we've found it ^^'
Well, everything was bought during holidays in South of France, and ... even if the dress was not the good size, the woman at the shop arranged it in 3 days
(at first, the boss was not there when we entered to the shop, but about 20 mins later, the boss came with a friend of her and when the woman asked about the delay for the dress to be "ready, she said that it could be done in 3 days easily ^^)
The process for the papers :
We've close to the end for the papers about wedding
Tomorrow or after tomorrow, we need to go to chinese consulate in Paris, to get the "certificat de coutume", and then, just bring it to the town hall
On August, 9th, we have an appointment with a notary, and another person, who can translate in chinese for Liyan
that will be about the wedding contract.
Photos will come soon
