...Piupali paupali...

There are over 200 teachers from more than 22 countries at our big Fulbright orientation meeting in D.C. Such incredible energy! We had big-group meetings, small-group meetings, meetings with just the U.S. teachers going to France, meetings with our exchange partners, one-on-one... it was exhausting! Still, we managed to find time to have fun and to bond with the France-USA group.

Wednesday evening, we decided to walk to Old Town Alexandria and enjoy the sites (as well as some ice cream). After dinner on Thursday night - the last evening - each country presented some sort of skit, song or performance. While we waited for the show to begin, the children of the participants took over the stage. There were inflatable globes on the tables, and even though the kids spoke different languages, they all played together. Let's hope they grow up to be future world leaders and promote international mindedness and world peace.

The talent show included a Finnish opera, where we all had to sing along - "Piupali, paupali, piupali, paupali..." The tongue-twister had my table giggling by the end of the song. We watched a groups dance from the U.K, India, Peru and Chile. We sang along with the Mexico-USA group, and watched a German skit about cultural differences. The French group had to be different ... our French counterparts had prepared a "quiz show" for the American teachers, and put us on the spot on stage. The animatrices of the game told us that if we didn't win, we would have to remain in the States. I don't think they thought that through completely, because if we had to stay home, they'd have to return to France! Questions included "What's the name of Tintin's dog?" (Milou), "Which American actress was so desperate to marry a French basketball player?" (Eva Longoria just married Tony Parker) and "In the French Monopoly game, what is the most expensive street?" (Rue de la Paix).

Everyone agrees that there is a certain esprit among our new friends, and knowing we'd never again all be together, it was really difficult to say au revoir on Thursday night. I will see the other U.S. teachers at a fall meeting in Paris, but who knows if I'll see the French teachers again? Fortunately, we have e-mail to keep in touch throughout the year...