Write-up of Pere Bernard Holzer on our French Camp

An intensive French Summer camp

After the retreat, we went home for only two days: time to clean up the house again and follow on the work around the property. Soon, we were back to Antipolo for a whole month of intensive French camp. Sixteen studious members met for this first experience: six Religious of the Assumption, three Little Sisters, four brothers and three of our candidates. The staff members were Marie-Liesse de Morel, a friend of the Assumption family in France and teacher of French as second language, and the three Assumptionist priests who volunteered as trainers. Here is the usual program: three classes in the morning, one class of phonetic in the afternoon, followed by practical work in small groups, then a singing class (both liturgical songs and folk songs like Alouette, Quand on n’a que l’amour, Sur le pont d’Avignon, Souffle imprévisible, etc…). Even the Morning and Evening Prayers were in French and part of the daily Mass. Twice a week, we would have a French movie (subtitled). Saturday mornings were devoted to tests… But Sundays were set aside for visits of the region and light programs. Add to that a typical repas français prepared by a chef and a traditional Barrio Fiesta night on the day of Graduation. For that special opportunity, the Provincial Superior of the Religious of the Assumption and the local community of the sisters were on hand. Even the workers who had prepared this beautiful meal were dancing with us. Here are Sister Mary Ignatius comments at the end of this first Summer camp:

The French Camp is one of my happiest summers. Pourquoi ? Because there was so much laughter in the house... even in little things like: wrong grammar and pronunciation, words that seem to sound something really weird, crazy things we did and said and the light-heartedness of each one. That contagious attitude to just laugh of our mistakes.

Of the 25-day intensive course on the language and its culture, I did not only enjoy the international-Assumption family experience but it was at the same time a goûtez, an écoutez, a répétez, s’il vous plaît, priez pour nous, sorties, et dîner français to name a few memorable events.

I have to admit that the language is not so friendly (at least to me). Especially with the number of unpronounced letters, attention to the gender of almost every word, the different accents you put on top of particular vowels, deciphering or catching the meaning of sentences spoken and constructing sentences without grammatical error.

I could very well picture the face and the gesture of Fr. Bernard tapping his right ear with his pointing finger exclaiming “le verbe et l’article, ma Soeur!” I must have sounded like a Korean trying to speak in English. But despite some exhausting sessions, I could still say: Let’s do this again. See you next season!”

After the camp, we go back home. It is time now to really take possession of it, to adjust to it, make it our own. We are preparing the new school year for mid-June. Some go to Baguio, six hours North of Manila, in order to prepare a liturgical song book. Others go back home and will be among the million volunteers to watch over the electoral process.