Ever since my first Sunday here in France, I've attended a very small church; I heard about it through word of mouth. I usually eat lunch at the pastor's house after the service, with other people, too... Honestly, the company and conversation gets a little stiff sometimes and I ask myself why I spend 3+ hours eating and listening to people discuss Darwin or metaphysics in French... but the food is good and, trying to save all my money for traveling, I take a free meal where I can get it...
Today, however, was a special communal church service; several churches from the Toulouse area worshipped together, followed by a potluck! (Evanglicals everywhere respect the importance of food in fellowship). There are lots of Asian Christians in the area, so there was a mass of Vietnamese people at this thing. Consequently lots of the dishes were Asian: rice, soup, crabmeat, some cinnamon-y chicken. And the French food- quiche, cheese, bread, apple tarts.. The only American dish was a bowl of potatoe salad-- I had to explain to somebody what it was!
One of the churches in attendance was an International Church whose services are in English-- for once I was surrounded not only by French-speakers! Starting conversations with strangers is laughably easy when you share a common language amidst a foreign one... I ate with a student from Canada, another from Ohio, a German and an Indonesian and we had a jolly good time talking in English. I haven't laughed so much since I've been here (jokes, puns, and wittisisms have trouble crossing the language barrier). So as much as I like being exposed to French people and immersing myself in the French culture, when it comes to having a good time, sometimes you just have to stick to your own. I'll be seeing them again!
Did you bring the potatoe salad?
ReplyDeleteha no. But I'm sure it was another American who did, there were a couple others. I didn't know the potluck was happening so I freeloaded, haha, but there was PLENTY.
ReplyDeletemmmm church potlucks, the best!
ReplyDelete