I Wish to Travel - J'ai envie de voyager.

It has been one full year that we have had the Pandemic descend upon us like a huge storm, battering our minds. We’ve have to be in lockdown, social distance, wait for vaccines, wear masks. Many lost jobs. Travel and tourism is at an all-time low. But I still wait and hope for when things will open. I wish the best for those who have it hard. But I still wish to travel. J’ai envie de voyager. I want to visit the Louvre. Je veux visiter Le Louvre. The expression “avoir envie de + faire quleque chose” brings up so many images. I wish to travel, to see things, to experience a foreign place, to try to speak French with the French. To help things, I study French history, read French literature, and, most importantly, keep a list of the places I wish to visit.

Now is the time to work on yourself. Make a list of the places you wish to visit. Is it Paris, France? There is a Paris, Illinois. A Paris, Texas. Is it Bergerac in the Bordeaux region? I wish to go to the town of La Force, not because of my last name. But because my last name is French but created in Nouvelle France. (That is another story). Do you want to go to Montréal? Québec city in Canada? Do you want to see the Château de Frontenac? Is it Geneva, Switzerland? That is where my student I tutored in French for three years went to visit his brother and he used his French and got around and it was wonderful.

Then you need to do your homework. Find out all the things you’d like to do, like to know, like to learn about the place. Plan a trip. How will you go? With a group? If so, when would group tours open up? But maybe you could go with a friend. Consider: Food. Lyon has the best restaurants. Where to stay. In Lyon, we stayed at the Mercure de France and it was amazing. In Lille, we stayed with a friend who had a B&B - lovely. What to see. Art? History? Châteaux? Wine cellars. In Prague, I visited the Lobkowicz palace and saw the oBeethoven music collection.

Do you have personal interests? World War II history, French Resistance history? Roman history? Architecture? Cuisine? Women’s Tours? Long distance bicycling? Horses? Nature? Hiking? The Sea? Also, who would you like to travel with? Family? Friends? A group? I traveled on a cruise because my sister wanted to go on one. My mom came along. It helped that I spoke French in Martinique. Things were easier. The people respected my ability to communicate in their language. Then you need to also think about your purpose. Is it for business? Work? Leisure? Pleasure? Friends? Family?

But keep learning that second language. Don’t give up. Work toward a goal. Two useful expressions in any language: “Merci beaucoup” (Thank you very much.) and "S’il vous plaît”. (Please). À bientôt!