I finally have time to blog! After writing up my field notes, jottings, field journal, log and personal journal (every day-theoretically) it's hard to remember what I have/haven't said. But I've only posted once so far, so here's the update [warning: it's sort of schizophrenic] with LOTS of pictures.
So. Basically I've been learning all about the island, doing touristy things but then also learning as much about my subject as possible, doing research and making contacts. Everyone here is really friendly, which has been really nice. I feel like I've been here a month already, it's hard to believe it's been only a week and a half. I suppose that's good, since I've jumped right in to my research. Have I explained it here yet? I don't remember...I've explained it to so many people by now. Well in case I haven't, here's the low down:
- my project has to do with the traditional/native language on Guernsey, locally known as "patois" or "Guernsey French" (or "Guernesiais" by actual speakers).
- I'm trying to find out if patois is still relevant in the everyday lives of the islanders, even though most don't speak it anymore.
- So my research consists of learning as much as I can about the history of Guernsey (I'd done quite a bit before getting here)
- reading everything I can get my hands on about patois (I've already looked through all of the books, there are about five, and I'm not kidding)
- hopefully getting to talk to the people involved in revitalization efforts (fingers crossed!)
- hopefully (again) attending a patois class to talk to people currently learning it
- talking to as many people as I can to find out what they know about it, and summing it all up in a 30-pg thesis this fall. [Did I mention I'm slightly terrified of talking to strangers? I'm doing better, but it's still quite scary]
So there you have it. That's the [extremely] watered-down version of what I'm doing here for two months. On top of all that, in the last week-and-a-half I have:
- Gone on a walking tour of St Peter Port (the town I live in--actually the only town)
- Gone on a walking tour of Vale (the northern part--beautiful!!)
- Gone on a bus tour of the island
- Attended Liberation Day celebrations (May 9, 1945--the day the Allies freed the Channel Islands from the German Occupation)
- Did interviews with two people who lived through the Occupation
- Learned how to navigate the bus system
- Gotten to know our host "mom" Naomi, and her brother Simon
- Gone to church in a tiny branch of normally 7-10 people (so cool)
- Tried very British food
- Roast and potatoes
- Fish and chips
- lots and lots and lots of tea (herbal of course)
- sweet pickle spread
- pickled onions
- Victoria sponge cake
- curry [Yes, curry. It's the most popular dish in the UK.]
- Pasties
- Bread pudding with treacle and custard
- Walked along cliffs looking into the ocean
- Admired the bus driver's mad skills in navigating the tiny lanes
- Learned that English here is sometimes like a different language:
- Filter (means yield to the other cars)
- Transfer flights (instead of connecting)
- Muzzy = mouldy (but that's a patois word they've adopted)
- Picky = itchy (also patois)
- they call it the "American War of Independence" not the "Revolutionary War"
- Missed a couple buses
Phew. No wonder I'm tired. It's been great fun though, as the British would say. Here are some pictures:
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