Two exams down, two to go, and despite having no confidence in my exam-taking skills, I'm feeling de + en + better about my french skills! I took today's exam, three essays in three hours, without a single hesitation in my writing in french. It comes naturally now, minus a few complex sentence structures that work in english but don't at all in french. Its always a matter of finding another way to say it.
The exam today...oh so fun. Of course. I mean, who doesn't love to write about the evolution of spices from the 14th to the 18th centuries in Europe. Or about bread as a major figure in the history of france. Or about "structure" in eating in general. that's not broad at all.
wow. that exam proved that our prof is a bit of a lazy ass considering every option started with "écrire un essai sur..." aka write an essay on... couldnt have throw some IDs or short answers in there?! no?
Alright, now i really get to the fun part. the history of the french revolution and religions.....have no idea what the topic will be. praying its on dechristianisation, cuz i got that one covered. it's the whole memorization aspect of this that scares me. i don't do dates. i don't do historical facts...or people....or places....my knowledge of the french revolution can be summed up in the following paragraph:
1789-1799.
storming of the bastille july 14 1789.Louis XVI reining...then was guillotined...somehow has a religious aspect...dont remember the year. civil constitution of the clergy 1790. made clergy members employées of l'état. had to preach republican sermons. La Vendée - department in western france, different construction of nobility which made revolution ideas less relevant for them, very centered in their catholic ways, strongly opposed dechristianisation, guerre de la vendée was a contrerevolutionnaire action. split between the jurors and the nonjurors/refractaires...the second of which were contrerev. and which made of 65% of la Vendée. big violent war. non-jurors lost, of course. poor babies. dechristianisation de l'an II = taking power out of the hands of the catholic church and laicising France aka secularizing. took away church's land and goods and resold them (year?..1790?), took away the church's power to tax (year?), legalized divorce (1793? earlier?), didnt ask pope to approve reforms. pope condemned the reforms(year?). culte de la Raison moved into old catholic churches...enlightenment ideas...national holidays....mocked catholic rituals....culte de l'être suprême de Robespierre, still wanted religious-type cult with supreme being, but anti-catholic, anti-atheist. established as national religion during Robespierre's Grande Terreur. lots of people die by guillotine. after louis XVI executed...la première République....napoleon....
don't you feel so much smarter now? yeah...probably not...i should go study.
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Deal Ellen,
Your experience sounds wonderful. I almost feel like I am there when you write. And also young again! Who thought I would ever say that.. as I consider myself a kid, even at 50. We will just pass you in the air (almost) as we go to Germany on June 15. I wish you the best on your exams. But, so good to see you are living life to the fullest! And, it looks like you have great friends. Hugs! Cathy
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