h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We had the second admissions event of the week today - a university 'taster' session for Year 12 students taking arts subjects.

Great programme of talks, can be seen at: http://www.newn.cam.ac.uk/admissions/y12culture_prog.shtml

They seemed to like it, and the rain was kind enough to hold off during the tours of the gardens etc.

But I'm now shattered and almost ready for bed!

Hello Annie. What a mouth-watering programme. From pique-nique to Camembert indeed! And stereotypes! That was far-sighted of you, considering recent events...

I fear you must be nostalgic for the wild Canadian spaces...

Bonjour Martine! I was wondering aloud the other day (in ML) where you were, but I hope you've been relaxing - rather than labouring - in your garden.

Yes, the stereotypes session was rather appropriate in the circumstances, but actually it wasn't planned that way. Mary Beard, who is our media-friendly Classicist (she is often on Radio 4), gives a great talk on how the ancient Greeks made fun of other nationalities in similar ways to those which feature in advertising nowadays.

The 'pique-nique to Camembert' talk was developed from an assignment I did as part of my MA in European Language and Intercultural Studies, about the use of English as a lingua franca in Europe. It was a little side-track into how certain parts of the 'power elite' in France believe that French is under attack from English, both at national and international level, and the measures which have been taken to combat this. 'Pique-nique' was a borrowing from English in the 17th century; 'camembert' is the approved Real French word for 'le pie-chart' (or so my research informs me!).

I didn't get a very big audience - the Anglo-Saxons were more popular - but those who came seemed to enjoy it, and they included a couple of current undergrads who have both done a fair amount of French linguistics, so I was quite happy!

It's very kind of you to wonder about my absence. I was trying to detoxify myself a little and to break the addiction... Also work, and garden and friends.
Today I popped in the Bull long enough to say congratulations but I can't say I liked the barrage of tired stereotypes and sheer anti-French feeling. It gets depressing after a time.

I had lunch with two English couples last Sunday, who know France very well and I was glad to see that ordinary British people are still as courteous and kind as they used to be... You sometimes forget this in The Bull.

If we must have generalisations let them be kind.

Couldn't agree more - it *is* very depressing. But I hope you'll take heart from the fact that there are also those of us around who love France and take an informed (I hope!) interest in all things French!