What a fabulous trip! We just got home after 24 hours of travelling from Salt Lake City to Grenoble.
This blog will come back to life soon so that those who went on the trip can share their photos and commentaries with you.
My best,
Jane
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Day 61 (D-0) HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU! / America The Beautiful / All Things Are Connected
All our bags are packed and we're ready to go!
We'll be leaving tomorrow morning, bright and early.
You can go back to Day 1 of this blog.
"La boucle est bouclée."
The end of the blog is the beginning of our trip!
Roy Rogers was a famous cowboy singer and actor every American knows. His horse's name was Trigger. Roy Rogers was always on Trigger.
The Day That Trigger Died https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CtV4LaipoM
I'll close this blog by returning to Day 35 "A Little Humor". Do you remember?
Can you find the answer now?
_________________________________________________________________________
We'll be leaving tomorrow morning, bright and early.
You can go back to Day 1 of this blog.
"La boucle est bouclée."
The end of the blog is the beginning of our trip!
Happy Trails to you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgw_yprN_-w
With lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvBFlQNcwtI
Happy Trails to you,
Until we meet again
Happy Trails to you
Keep smiling' until then.
Who cares about the clouds if we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy Trails to you 'til we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones
Others are blue
It's the way you ride that trail that counts
Here's a happy one for you.
Happy Trails to you
Until we meet again.....
Roy Rogers was a famous cowboy singer and actor every American knows. His horse's name was Trigger. Roy Rogers was always on Trigger.
The Day That Trigger Died https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CtV4LaipoM
I'll close this blog by returning to Day 35 "A Little Humor". Do you remember?
Can you find the answer now?
If a cowboy rides into town on Friday and three days later leaves on Friday, how does he do it?
Please send me a comment if you have found the answer and to tell me if you have enjoyed reading (listening to) this blog.
Bon voyage to the travelers. And to those who are not coming with us, you can always return to the blog, any time you like, when you have the time. Bon voyage to you too!
But, before I sign off, two last songs and the words of the famous Chief Seattle :
This song, published in 1910 is one of the most
popular of the many American patriotic songs, and often sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
O beautiful for
spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
_________________________________________________________________________
My best,
Cowgirl Jane
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Day 60 (D-1) Salt Lake City
We leave Wyoming to go to Utah,
just to spend the night there, have a free morning for last-minute shopping and
then we fly back to France.
Today, I have only questions for you
about Salt Lake City (and a few about Utah)! You may have to do some surfing on the internet to
find all the answers!
20
Questions. Can you find 20 answers?
1. What's the
capital of Utah?
2. Who founded the city and when? (That's 2 questions, in fact.)
3. What's the population of Salt Lake City
(SLC)?
4. What's the average elevation of SLC?
5. When were the Winter Olympic Games held in
Salt Lake City?
6. How many medals did France win at these
Olympic Games?
7. Do you know the names of any of the French
Gold Medal (5) winners at the SLC Winter Olympics?
8.
The religious group LDS has their home headquarters in Salt Lake City. (Their
less formal name is "Mormons.") Their entire name is The Church of LDS. What do the letters "LDS" stand for?
9. What
place in the center of SLC is considered to be the "Vatican of the
Mormons?"
10.
What's the name of the highest mountaintop visible from SLC? (3454m)
11. What's the name of the lake which is the largest
salt-water lake in the Western hemisphere and the largest lake in the United
States which is not a part of the Great Lakes region and has been called
America's Dead Sea?
12. If you would like a "taste of home" in SLC before
returning to France, where can you go ? (easy
question...I give you the answer here):
13. Wyoming is The Cowboy State and The Equality
State; Colorado is The Centennial State; South Dakota's nickname is Mount
Rushmore State. And Utah, what is Utah called? And why?
14. Why is the train important in Utah’s history ?
15. Grenoble's
present Mayor Piolle would like Salt Lake City because it is considered to be a
bicycle-friendly city. Many streets have bike lanes. Oops, that's not a question! Can you make the question? Why would Mayor
Piolle......?
16. What piece of music by Aaron Copland
accompanied one of the choreographed opening musical performances of the SLC
Winter Olympics? It's a part of his
ballet "Rodeo" and you just read about it in the last post!
17. What kind of research can you do at the
Mormons' library in SLC? Hint: It's referred to as FHL. What do those letters stand for?
18.What is the name of the mountain range to the east and to the north of SLC?
19. The Museum of Ancient Life in the town of
Lehi, 30 minutes to the south of SLC has the world's biggest exhibition of
something. What is it?
20. What city in Italy is a sister-city of SLC? It's not too far from Grenoble.
My best,
Jane
_______________________________________
-- stand for = represent (another phrasal verb)
-- bike lanes = pistes cyclables
____________________________________
--Grammar: How about a little grammar lesson before this blog comes to an end? A little grammar work before leaving on holidays. A break from packing your suitcases!You see here that in English we can say "What city." But sometimes you will hear what and sometimes which, "Which city." How do you choose?
What is used to ask when there are an unknown number or infinite possibilities for an answer.
For example: "What movie did you go to see?"
Which is used if you are choosing between a more limited number of items, already defined, like this:
For example: "Which shoes should I wear with this dress -- my blue ones or my black ones?" Certainly use which, not what, when there are only two choices, or if both the speaker and the listener can visualise all the items under consideration: For example: Which foot did you break?"
Often which or what can be used for several choices, depending on what is in the speaker's mind:
For example:
a-- "Which bus goes into the center?"
b-- "What bus shall I take?"
Both sentences are fine. The speaker is probably thinking about fewer buses in question (a) than in question (b).
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Day 59 (D-2) What have I forgotten? Lots!!!
After today, just two days before we leave. I must stop all this work and get my bags packed. But I keep thinking about all the things I have forgotten to share with you on this blog. I'll add just a few things and then say what is done is done!
1. Films
I didn't have time to mention all the films which take you to this part of the United States. We saw Hitchcock's North By Northwest when we were at Mount Rushmore, and Little Big Man when we took a look at the Native Americans and Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn. But I didn't mention Dances With Wolves when we were in South Dakota. Part of it was shot near Dan O'Brien's ranch. I'm sure that you have all seen this Kevin Costner film which one 7 Oscars in 1991, including Best Film and Best Director. And there is also Heaven's Gate, Michael Cimino's epic Western film (1980) about Wyoming in the 1890s, starring Isabelle Huppert. An amazing film: its story, its length (the shortened DVD version is 3 hours and 28 minutes!) and the story of the making of the film and the cost of the film and the consequences. Here's wikipedia in French, if you are interested:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Porte_du_paradis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiNlthlz1d8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZfoi59-1to
And there is an older Western film Shane (1953) with Alan Ladd, in Wyoming, sometime after the Civil War (1861-1864) with the beautiful Teton Mountains in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWdPmapuOd4
"We'd all be much better off if there wasn't a single gun left in this valley."
"A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it."
There's The Virginian and My Friend Flicka that you perhaps know.
And of course, I think everyone knows the 2005 neo-western romantic drama film by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain, based on the short story Brokeback Mountain, by Annie Proulx (Close Range/Wyoming Stories).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEdhYYTp7lc
It's interesting to note that many of these "Wyoming" films were not shot in Wyoming! Although Brokeback Mountain is set in "Riverton", a real town in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, and in Texas, it was largely filmed in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta!
2. Cowboy vocabulary
howdy = hi
howdy partner = hi friend
ya'll = all of you
ya = you
giddy up = let's go (often said while riding a horse)
Head 'em up, move 'em out. = Let's go (Let's move this cattle.)
a dude = a person who tries to dress like and talk like a cowboy, but is really a city person
wet your whistle = have a drink (usually alcohol)
**hoedown = a dance
a half-wit = a stupid person
tenderfoot or greenhorn = a new person, inexperienced
namby-pamby = not brave
pony up = hurry up
skedaddle = get out of here, leave
The jig is up. = The game is over; the truth has been exposed.
He's a goner = He's dead.
by hook or by crook = any possible way
in cahoots = doing something in secret
yokel = a person from the country (not the city)
yonder = over there
saloon = a bar/ restaurant
1. Films
I didn't have time to mention all the films which take you to this part of the United States. We saw Hitchcock's North By Northwest when we were at Mount Rushmore, and Little Big Man when we took a look at the Native Americans and Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn. But I didn't mention Dances With Wolves when we were in South Dakota. Part of it was shot near Dan O'Brien's ranch. I'm sure that you have all seen this Kevin Costner film which one 7 Oscars in 1991, including Best Film and Best Director. And there is also Heaven's Gate, Michael Cimino's epic Western film (1980) about Wyoming in the 1890s, starring Isabelle Huppert. An amazing film: its story, its length (the shortened DVD version is 3 hours and 28 minutes!) and the story of the making of the film and the cost of the film and the consequences. Here's wikipedia in French, if you are interested:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Porte_du_paradis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiNlthlz1d8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZfoi59-1to
And there is an older Western film Shane (1953) with Alan Ladd, in Wyoming, sometime after the Civil War (1861-1864) with the beautiful Teton Mountains in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWdPmapuOd4
"We'd all be much better off if there wasn't a single gun left in this valley."
"A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it."
There's The Virginian and My Friend Flicka that you perhaps know.
And of course, I think everyone knows the 2005 neo-western romantic drama film by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain, based on the short story Brokeback Mountain, by Annie Proulx (Close Range/Wyoming Stories).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEdhYYTp7lc
It's interesting to note that many of these "Wyoming" films were not shot in Wyoming! Although Brokeback Mountain is set in "Riverton", a real town in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, and in Texas, it was largely filmed in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta!
2. Cowboy vocabulary
howdy = hi
howdy partner = hi friend
ya'll = all of you
ya = you
giddy up = let's go (often said while riding a horse)
Head 'em up, move 'em out. = Let's go (Let's move this cattle.)
a dude = a person who tries to dress like and talk like a cowboy, but is really a city person
wet your whistle = have a drink (usually alcohol)
**hoedown = a dance
a half-wit = a stupid person
tenderfoot or greenhorn = a new person, inexperienced
namby-pamby = not brave
pony up = hurry up
skedaddle = get out of here, leave
The jig is up. = The game is over; the truth has been exposed.
He's a goner = He's dead.
by hook or by crook = any possible way
in cahoots = doing something in secret
yokel = a person from the country (not the city)
yonder = over there
saloon = a bar/ restaurant
Now, here is a brief conversation between two cowboys that uses
some of this vocabulary from above to help you put these phrases in context.
A: Howdy.
B: Howdy partner.
A: Are you going down to wet your whistle at the saloon tonight?
B: Not me, that saloon over yonder is full of namby-pamby city slickers. I don’t go there anymore. I’m going to the hoedown tonight.
A: By hook or crook I think I’ll join ya! I’m tired of being around all those dudes at the saloon.
B: Well, we better head ’em up and move ’em out and get back to town. Pony up!
A: Giddy up, I’m right behind ya’.
3. Aaron Copland
**Rodeo is a ballet scored by Aaron Copland, choreographed by Agnès de Mille (1942). There are 5 sections and the last one is Hoedown. You can listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ajQYANLiug
Copland, the American composer as we saw in Post 37 also scored the ballet Billy the Kid.
http://uiadfarwest1.blogspot.fr/2010/03/70-d-61-aaron-copland-american-composer.html
I'll stop now.
I must return to packing my bags and I'm sure that the travelers won't be reading this until after they return. They too have bags to pack!
My best,
Jane
_____________________________
Sorry, no time to help you with vocabulary today.
Sorry, there are a lot of links. But maybe someday you'll find the time and enjoy opening them.
B: Howdy partner.
A: Are you going down to wet your whistle at the saloon tonight?
B: Not me, that saloon over yonder is full of namby-pamby city slickers. I don’t go there anymore. I’m going to the hoedown tonight.
A: By hook or crook I think I’ll join ya! I’m tired of being around all those dudes at the saloon.
B: Well, we better head ’em up and move ’em out and get back to town. Pony up!
A: Giddy up, I’m right behind ya’.
3. Aaron Copland
**Rodeo is a ballet scored by Aaron Copland, choreographed by Agnès de Mille (1942). There are 5 sections and the last one is Hoedown. You can listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ajQYANLiug
Copland, the American composer as we saw in Post 37 also scored the ballet Billy the Kid.
http://uiadfarwest1.blogspot.fr/2010/03/70-d-61-aaron-copland-american-composer.html
I'll stop now.
I must return to packing my bags and I'm sure that the travelers won't be reading this until after they return. They too have bags to pack!
My best,
Jane
_____________________________
Sorry, no time to help you with vocabulary today.
Sorry, there are a lot of links. But maybe someday you'll find the time and enjoy opening them.
Monday, June 12, 2017
Day 58 (D-3) American Accent Lesson
Go get a mirror! (Why?)
The solution to all your pronunciation problems! Start practicing! Click on the video or at this site:
« De L’Accent! De L’Accent! Mais après tout en ai-je?
Pourquoi cette faveur? Pourquoi ce privilège?
Et si je vous disais après tout, gens du Nord,
Que c'est vous qui pour nous semblez l'avoir très fort
Que nous disons de vous, du Rhône à la Gironde,
"Ces gens là n'ont pas le parler de tout le monde!"
Et que, tout dépendant de la façon de voir,
Ne pas avoir L’Accent, pour nous, c'est en avoir...
Eh bien non ! je blasphème! Et je suis las de feindre!
Ceux qui n'ont pas d'accent, je ne puis que les plaindre!
Emporter de chez soi les accents familiers,
C'est emporter un peu sa terre à ses souliers,
Emporter son accent d'Auvergne ou de Bretagne,
C'est emporter un peu sa lande ou sa montagne!
Lorsque, loin du pays, le cœur gros, on s'enfuit,
Pourquoi cette faveur? Pourquoi ce privilège?
Et si je vous disais après tout, gens du Nord,
Que c'est vous qui pour nous semblez l'avoir très fort
Que nous disons de vous, du Rhône à la Gironde,
"Ces gens là n'ont pas le parler de tout le monde!"
Et que, tout dépendant de la façon de voir,
Ne pas avoir L’Accent, pour nous, c'est en avoir...
Eh bien non ! je blasphème! Et je suis las de feindre!
Ceux qui n'ont pas d'accent, je ne puis que les plaindre!
Emporter de chez soi les accents familiers,
C'est emporter un peu sa terre à ses souliers,
Emporter son accent d'Auvergne ou de Bretagne,
C'est emporter un peu sa lande ou sa montagne!
Lorsque, loin du pays, le cœur gros, on s'enfuit,
L’Accent? Mais c'est un peu le pays qui vous suit!
C'est un peu, cet accent, invisible bagage,
Le parler de chez soi qu'on emporte en voyage!
C'est pour les malheureux à l'exil obligés,
Le patois qui déteint sur les mots étrangers!
Avoir L’Accent enfin, c'est, chaque fois qu'on cause, Parler de son pays en parlant d'autre chose!...
Non, je ne rougis pas de mon fidèle accent!
Je veux qu'il soit sonore, et clair, retentissant!
Et m'en aller tout droit, l'humeur toujours pareille,
En portant mon accent sur le point de l'oreille!
Mon accent! Il faudrait l'écouter à genoux!
Il nous fait emporter la Provence avec nous,
Et fait chanter sa voix dans tous mes bavardages
Comme chante la mer au fond des coquillages!
Ecoutez! En parlant, je plante le décor
Du torride Midi dans les brumes du Nord!
Mon accent porte en soi d'adorables mélanges
D'effluves d'orangers et de parfum d'oranges;
Il évoque à la fois les feuillages bleu-gris
De nos chers oliviers aux vieux troncs rabougris,
Et le petit village où les treilles splendides
Éclaboussent de bleu les blancheurs des bastides!
Cet accent-là, mistral, cigale et tambourin,
A toutes mes chansons donne un même refrain,
Et quand vous l'entendez chanter dans mes paroles
Tous les mots que je dis dansent la farandole! »
C'est un peu, cet accent, invisible bagage,
Le parler de chez soi qu'on emporte en voyage!
C'est pour les malheureux à l'exil obligés,
Le patois qui déteint sur les mots étrangers!
Avoir L’Accent enfin, c'est, chaque fois qu'on cause, Parler de son pays en parlant d'autre chose!...
Non, je ne rougis pas de mon fidèle accent!
Je veux qu'il soit sonore, et clair, retentissant!
Et m'en aller tout droit, l'humeur toujours pareille,
En portant mon accent sur le point de l'oreille!
Mon accent! Il faudrait l'écouter à genoux!
Il nous fait emporter la Provence avec nous,
Et fait chanter sa voix dans tous mes bavardages
Comme chante la mer au fond des coquillages!
Ecoutez! En parlant, je plante le décor
Du torride Midi dans les brumes du Nord!
Mon accent porte en soi d'adorables mélanges
D'effluves d'orangers et de parfum d'oranges;
Il évoque à la fois les feuillages bleu-gris
De nos chers oliviers aux vieux troncs rabougris,
Et le petit village où les treilles splendides
Éclaboussent de bleu les blancheurs des bastides!
Cet accent-là, mistral, cigale et tambourin,
A toutes mes chansons donne un même refrain,
Et quand vous l'entendez chanter dans mes paroles
Tous les mots que je dis dansent la farandole! »
Day 58 (D-3) The American accent
Just three days before we leave. It's time to get our suitcases packed and to start thinking about...English with an American accent! Here are two videos for a little practice! The first is really useful. MOUNTAINS in Grenoble, MOUNTAINS in Colorado, MOUNTAINS (Black Hills) in South Dakota and MOUNTAINS in Wyoming, the Bighorn MOUNTAINS, Yellowstone ROCKY MOUNTAINS and the TETON MOUNTAINS and again in Salt Lake City.
How do Americans pronounce "MOUNTAINS"? Watch this video till the end and you will understand...and be able to pronounce it like Americans do!
Here's another funny lesson to get your face muscles ready to speak English with an American accent:
You can listen to a Wyoming accent here:
It's too long, but you can just listen to the beginning; there are subtitles too.But don't worry if you still have your French accent.
I love this poem which Fernandel recited.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5w9io_fernandel-l-accent_fun
« De L’Accent! De L’Accent! Mais après tout en ai-je?
Pourquoi cette faveur? Pourquoi ce privilège?
Et si je vous disais après tout, gens du Nord,
Que c'est vous qui pour nous semblez l'avoir très fort
Que nous disons de vous, du Rhône à la Gironde,
"Ces gens là n'ont pas le parler de tout le monde!"
Et que, tout dépendant de la façon de voir,
Ne pas avoir L’Accent, pour nous, c'est en avoir...
Eh bien non ! je blasphème! Et je suis las de feindre!
Ceux qui n'ont pas d'accent, je ne puis que les plaindre!
Emporter de chez soi les accents familiers,
C'est emporter un peu sa terre à ses souliers,
Emporter son accent d'Auvergne ou de Bretagne,
C'est emporter un peu sa lande ou sa montagne!
Lorsque, loin du pays, le cœur gros, on s'enfuit,
Pourquoi cette faveur? Pourquoi ce privilège?
Et si je vous disais après tout, gens du Nord,
Que c'est vous qui pour nous semblez l'avoir très fort
Que nous disons de vous, du Rhône à la Gironde,
"Ces gens là n'ont pas le parler de tout le monde!"
Et que, tout dépendant de la façon de voir,
Ne pas avoir L’Accent, pour nous, c'est en avoir...
Eh bien non ! je blasphème! Et je suis las de feindre!
Ceux qui n'ont pas d'accent, je ne puis que les plaindre!
Emporter de chez soi les accents familiers,
C'est emporter un peu sa terre à ses souliers,
Emporter son accent d'Auvergne ou de Bretagne,
C'est emporter un peu sa lande ou sa montagne!
Lorsque, loin du pays, le cœur gros, on s'enfuit,
L’Accent? Mais c'est un peu le pays qui vous suit!
C'est un peu, cet accent, invisible bagage,
Le parler de chez soi qu'on emporte en voyage!
C'est pour les malheureux à l'exil obligés,
Le patois qui déteint sur les mots étrangers!
Avoir L’Accent enfin, c'est, chaque fois qu'on cause, Parler de son pays en parlant d'autre chose!...
Non, je ne rougis pas de mon fidèle accent!
Je veux qu'il soit sonore, et clair, retentissant!
Et m'en aller tout droit, l'humeur toujours pareille,
En portant mon accent sur le point de l'oreille!
Mon accent! Il faudrait l'écouter à genoux!
Il nous fait emporter la Provence avec nous,
Et fait chanter sa voix dans tous mes bavardages
Comme chante la mer au fond des coquillages!
Ecoutez! En parlant, je plante le décor
Du torride Midi dans les brumes du Nord!
Mon accent porte en soi d'adorables mélanges
D'effluves d'orangers et de parfum d'oranges;
Il évoque à la fois les feuillages bleu-gris
De nos chers oliviers aux vieux troncs rabougris,
Et le petit village où les treilles splendides
Éclaboussent de bleu les blancheurs des bastides!
Cet accent-là, mistral, cigale et tambourin,
A toutes mes chansons donne un même refrain,
Et quand vous l'entendez chanter dans mes paroles
Tous les mots que je dis dansent la farandole! »
C'est un peu, cet accent, invisible bagage,
Le parler de chez soi qu'on emporte en voyage!
C'est pour les malheureux à l'exil obligés,
Le patois qui déteint sur les mots étrangers!
Avoir L’Accent enfin, c'est, chaque fois qu'on cause, Parler de son pays en parlant d'autre chose!...
Non, je ne rougis pas de mon fidèle accent!
Je veux qu'il soit sonore, et clair, retentissant!
Et m'en aller tout droit, l'humeur toujours pareille,
En portant mon accent sur le point de l'oreille!
Mon accent! Il faudrait l'écouter à genoux!
Il nous fait emporter la Provence avec nous,
Et fait chanter sa voix dans tous mes bavardages
Comme chante la mer au fond des coquillages!
Ecoutez! En parlant, je plante le décor
Du torride Midi dans les brumes du Nord!
Mon accent porte en soi d'adorables mélanges
D'effluves d'orangers et de parfum d'oranges;
Il évoque à la fois les feuillages bleu-gris
De nos chers oliviers aux vieux troncs rabougris,
Et le petit village où les treilles splendides
Éclaboussent de bleu les blancheurs des bastides!
Cet accent-là, mistral, cigale et tambourin,
A toutes mes chansons donne un même refrain,
Et quand vous l'entendez chanter dans mes paroles
Tous les mots que je dis dansent la farandole! »
Yes, all things are connected.
My best,
Jane
My best,
Jane
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