We asked Marcie …
How are you doing with your French in French Polynesia?
I took French in high school and university and I was really looking forward to speaking French again in French Polynesia.
I got out my refresher books and studied mostly every day from Juan Fernandez, Chile to our arrival in the Iles Gambier.
I walked into the Gendarmerie in Mangareva and without hesitation, began speaking Sprench and Franglish!
Having spent the last few years in South America, the Spanish just took over with enough French to confuse speakers of either language.
I’m happy to say that after two months in French Polynesia now, the French is finally coming back.
Of course, the French here has a Tahitian twist to it with many Polynesian words interspersed.
I can generally read signs and brochures and I can carry on a reasonable conversation now.
Many people in Tahiti speak English and they’re very patient with non-French speakers.
In general, however, a basic knowledge of French is very helpful…especially when you can actually get it out of your mouth.
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The microwave meals offering beef tongue and tripe …where else would you find these? |
About Marcie Lynn
As liveaboards since 2000, Marcie Lynn and her husband, David, have traveled over 50,000 miles to date aboard their Liberty cutter, NINE OF CUPS, visited 27 countries and are 9 years into a 15+ year circumnavigation.
Ports of call have included many ports off the beaten path, some close to home and some very remote. Marcie readily admits that traveling is key to her interest in sailing. She is now cruising the Pacific.
More info
- Read Marcie Lynn’s blog.
- Check out her website. Read her entries on French Polynesia.
Related articles
- Marcie’s contributions to Women and Cruising:
Galley Advice from 18 Cruising Women,
What I Like Most About Cruising - Language for Cruisers (Admiral’s Angle column #36)
- Kathy Parsons’ mission: learn the language (and teach it to cruisers)
Hello Cruising Women!
I am a novice sailor and a 17-year family practice doc, whose much more experienced sailing mate and I have the dream of cruising American waters and beyond. We hope to retire to a boat in the next several years. The problem is I cannot imagine giving up “doctoring” entirely. My vision would be to provide in a small way (for the most part) medical advice to other cruisers. When needed, I would like to be able to provide emergent/urgent medical care to other cruisers (or local folks) when formal medical care is not easily obtainable. I envision doing this on an as-needed basis, likely for free, or for barter enough to help cover the cost of replacing any medical supplies required and used. Do you know of anyone who does this already? It would be great to be able to contact a knowledgeable doc for advice on how this may be done correctly and with proper protection for the patient and the treating doc.
I am enjoying exploring your website, and my husband and I especially enjoyed the Women and Cruising Seminar this year at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. It was a great “tease” hearing about all your adventures. For me, the personalities and various viewpoints were great, and my husband also had a blast, as to him, sailors who write are his “rock stars”.
Yours,
Paula Lyons (MD)