Le Plaisir D’apprendre
This is the motto of CAVILAM institute, which can be translated to the pleasure of learning. CAVILAM is a French learning center where I spent one month last summer to study French in a program supported and financed by the French embassy after being selected by AUK French professor Joseph Fiannaca. CAVILAM lies in a small city called Vichy in the south-east of Paris where I first landed. The city of light was beautiful! Paris is the city for fashion, art, culture, history and knowledge.
Living in France for a couple of weeks, allowed me to gain experience in a rich culture and learn a wonderful world classified international language. It was a unique experience that made me learn the language on the spot because you’re in a foreign country where inhabitants have so much pride in their language and will not easily speak any other international language. 15th of July 2011 was the day I left Kuwait to France. On 18th of July I had a placement test to put me in the right level. I instantly had an amazing impression about the institute and the city as well. The professors, students and the administration were very helpful and polite. I made many friendships with people from different nationality coming from all over the world to learn what most foreigners describe the most romantic language in existence. Four useful and exciting weeks passed so fast while living there. I had the chance to live in a house with a French family and experience the completely French life with them. The way they treated me as one of the family was really nice of them. I even did not feel like I was lonely in a foreign country staying in a house with a foreign family. They used to ask me everyday about how the classes wentthe. They gave me a really good impression of the French people.
One of the great lessons that I have learned during my trip was the sense of loyalty and devotion for work; whether a student or an employee, French people were very loyal to what they do and very punctual. I leaned that devotion and loyalty comes through passion, it’s by learning to love what you do and it can easily be done, as it’s simply a state of mind.
What has drawn my attention mostly and surprised me were the teachings of Islam in French people when they love what they do and they complete their work to their highest potential. Despite the fact that they are a minority, Muslims in France are very sincere to their religion.
Learning a language, gaining experience, touring around the city of arts, fashion, culture and history was a priceless journey. On 18th of August I left France to come back to my beloved country. From the first moment I was leaving Vichy I started missing it when the tape of the great time I spent was playing in my mind. Briefly that was my trip to France and I really recommend to any of you not to miss a chance like this experiencing a new lifestyle.
