even though I have lived in France for nearly three years, have no intention of living in the UK again, and may even start the process of becoming a French citizen (for the vote among other benefits) now that I think I can pass the language test - this is still the team for me. Since my niece got married in 2007 and had a baby girl very recently I have had family who are francophone and with origins in Togo, and who live mostly in the USA. The Togo-born ones love football, but do not support France though they are francophone. The US-born ones, and even the US-resident ones who were born in the UK, no longer pretend football allegiance, as in the USA they Do Not Care. But my step-great-nephew, age 12, born in Togo and a mad keen footballer, his dad ditto, and who knows, maybe my new great-niece Tessa, may be part of the football future of the USA. I hope so. And let's not forget that allegiance is not that simple.
25 comments:
Becoming a French citizen is very exciting!
Do tell about the language test!
I was always better at Latin, but would never have been halfway good enough anyway. In Italy Latin is no longer relevant.
How is your German now?
Well, I haven't made up my mind entirely, and I do not think it is THAT exciting. Latin would help you more in Romania than in Italy I suspect. And it is not a question of being "good enough", if you live somewhere you have to learn the language. End of. No exceptions. And this is more true in France than in most of Europe. All I know about the language test is that there is one. Quite rightly. German - I can understand down-market TV shows and cooking programmes and hold a slow and simple conversation, but am not yet fluent. I often get asked directions in German by the many German visitors we get here, and I can usually understand and answer.
Why do you ask?
Just interested.
Can do many things, but don't have a great facility for languages and although the idea of living and working in another country has appealed, just can't be done without that language fluency. And shouldn't.
I never wanted to be an MEP because I have the old fashioned ( but I think, utterly correct) idea that you should be pretty fluent in at least one other European language.
Are you given the choice of a test in Alsatian (I assume prospective British citizens do not have a choice of Welsh, Gaelic or Cornish)?
Tell us, Jane, as a speaker of the language, will you be supporting South Korea or DPR Korea to meet England in the Final?
I'll support England in the final if they get there
no test in Alsatian - the French government is utterly centralist and does not support regional languages despite the very large numbers of people who speak the Alsatian (the largest non-French language group in France). I believe that under certain circumstances it is possible to use Welsh, the only other official language of the UK - while Gaelic is supported it is not an official language, and Cornish is not a living language. However the UK does not go in for language tests much.
No, no, I said "meet" England in the Final, not "beat" England in the Final! I wasn't doubting your support for the England team, but I know that you speak Korean and I wondered if you had any particular insights into what was going on there. The North Koreans in 1966 were great, but nowadays all I can find out about the place is from sites like this ....
http://www.nk-news.net/extras/insult_generator.php
you could try the KCNA news agency, which is always good for a laugh. The North Koreans can do and have produced great players and athletes as totalitarian states generally can - who now remembers the East Germans? But I don't think it really matters. I really, really don't.
South Korea have a very small chance of reaching the final because they are quite good while England and North Korea have none. I would normally want the French to do well but not this time as I abhor any form of cheating.
I think that our German friends are going to win it and that England will not even make the Quarter Finals.
They are an old team of strolling bones and it shows.
The Y Fronts ex Minister, Chris Bryant (he who posted a picture of himself, rippling in his underpants on GAYDAR) has said that French is a 'useless' language and should no longer be taught as a given in schools.
He suggests Mandarin as a useful replacement.
Well - not to knock Mandarin - but surely this man is stark staring insane and bonkers?I understand that his Rhondda constituency - not to mention the Labour MP he succeeded - have always felt that he was dangerously out of touch. And so it has proved.
Anon 11:25: so how did he get back in?...
We are talking the Rhondda.
Anyone with a Labour rosette would get in there even if they posed on a dating site without their pants.
Did you watch the Algeria match?
'the quality of loyalty is not strained' etc etc etc.
Ad nauseum est.
Meanwhile, the French team is starring in its Gallic version of a Hammer horror.
If England get knocked out on Wednesday and Fabio Capello goes the way of all England managers, even the late, great, Sir Alf, then at least we have the satisfaction of knowing that 'the auld enemy' has gone one or two worse.Rudeness to coach/being sent home/team refusing to train - oh and playing hog-whimperingly crap football. So far, England has only managed the last one of the list.
I feel it in my bones that both France and England will have to wait until 2014 for World Cup glory.
Could we then have Arsene Wenger managing France and Martin O'Neill managing England? Pretty please?
Hm. Thought not.Far too obvious and sensible.
England is fast attempting to match France in the crap behaviour/obnoxious football stakes.
Except that John Terry (who is pissed with the manager because Fabio demoted him for not being able to keep it in his trousers)has not got the guts of the French.
French footballer says Coach is the crap son of a whore, refuses to apologise and is sent home, tail in air, so to speak.
Terry calls press conference to say Fabio is the same in coded language - the other players say 'you can't say that' so Terry syas, 'oh, all right then' and stops. Tail between legs, so to speak.
Well - we lost Calais, didn't we?
Now the French Sports Minister has been flown in to sort out the French team. Can we expect a similar foray from Cameron in an attempt to muzzle Terry?
Or perhaps they should delegate Chris Huhne. He and Terry have much in common - including a penchant for loose women.
French team home to (not) welcome party hosted by Sarko and Carla.
Shame Engalnd couldn't have stowed away in the luggage rack.
In these times of austerity.
Never fear. If they book their flights now - before the match - they might be able to get a a bargain deal.
No - flight now delayed until Sunday.
Meanwhile, we have the shame of being runners up in the group topped by our erstwhile 13 Colonies.
You are fortunate to be residing in France.
If England lose, there will be unprecedented outbursts of drunken violence, destruction of property and uncontrolled mayhem.
If England win, there will be unprecedented outbursts of drunken violence, destruction of property and uncontrolled mayhem.
Drat and double drat!
Should have gone on the French flight anyway. Result was never in doubt - would have been cheaper - everyone a winner!
Or not.
So who is going to win?
I am having a punt on Germany -team of youth and Thomas Muller.
That excellent Muller has excelled again today.
Germany to win the final.
Andy Murray to win sometime, somewhere - if only to retire the Fred Perry statue in the Wimbledon Clubhouse.
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