When I’m not testing bakery shops—if you thought that’s the only reason I went to Seattle, you were wrong—I try to have a social life, despite my French natural inclination for despising people and looking arrogant and snob.

For instance, on Tuesday evening, I went to a free American Sign Language class. This lesson takes place every week at 7 p.m. at the Elite. There were about 15 people, who were not deaf nor mute, but who wanted to learn more about ASL. I was the worst at it, because I’m a very beginner in sign language, in French as in English. So to cheer me up, the very sympathetic teacher told me that ASL is easier for French people, since it has been imported from France and translated in English (we definitely gave you everything—the Statue of Liberty and ASL—you’re so lazy). Some words and expressions have changed, but the ASL grammar remains French. Sitting around the tables, we learnt a lot of things like how to say “I’m from France.” The sign for the word France is so elegant and gracious that it could not represent any other country; it’s like you make the signal for “okay” with a swooping wave. The class was dismissed by 9 p.m., but I stayed a little longer to socialize with the autochtones. I hope I’ll be able to go back there on next Tuesday. If you still believe I’m a fake, come and have a class. You’ll go to bed less ignorant.

On the next day, I went to a support group dedicated to the transgender community with a friend of mine. When I arrived (a bit late, but I’m Parisian, so don’t expect me to be on time), I didn’t know what it was about. In France, we are used to American support groups thanks to movies and TV shows, but usually it is about drugs or alcohol. So, I didn’t know what to expect from this meeting. At the end, I was deeply moved. In fact, my only approach of the transgender community was the movie Transamerica, which enabled Felicity Huffman to win a Golden Globe. I cannot reveal what I heard at this meeting, but it will change the way I look at people in the street, whatever their gender is.

Finally, yesterday evening, I went to Slog Happy. I did not plan on staying for a long time since I had to see a French movie (Mesrine: l’Instinct de Mort, which is awesome—for a French movie). Besides, I am snob enough to think that my presence is highly valuable and that I should not dilapidate and waste it among common people. I left quite early but I had the chance to chat with a former intern at The Stranger, and also to meet a commenter named Mike, who took charge of spreading the word that I actually exist. I didn’t have the chance to stay for the game and answer some questions, so I was not able to show how educated I am (we are all born this way in France), but my posts testify for me, right?

In order to test my social interactions abilities, you can talk to me if you see me in the street. I may not answer you since I’m arrogant and disdainful, but still, you can have a try.

46 replies on “The Social Events I Attended This Week”

  3. That reminds me.

    When will the French Intern visit the Lego Statue of Liberty at Seattle Center and the Statue in West Seattle.

    buy a nice pastry at the french coffee and beignet place when you do the Seattle Center one.

  4. how’s about if i see you i slap shit outta you ? don’t y’all frenchies do that ? i seent it in the movies..
    or is it the british ? i get y’all all mixed up.

  12. My first impulse is that you’re a prick without realizing you’re a prick, regardless of you denying being a prick.

    My second impulse is that you’re failing at one kind of sarcasm, and being blaringly obvious about another kind.

    Posts before have demonstrated that you’re a self-absorbed snob. You’re still not getting the hint.

    I want to like you, but you have to stop acting like a moron.

  13. Since I probably won’t run into on the street, so let me say this now: no, YOU fuck off.

    Your English is adorable and reminds me of Alex from Everything is Illuminated.

  17. ps mr frenchie . i like you and you’re prolly way cuter in person than you are in them pictures. but i do think it would be fun to slap shit outta you like i seent the other frenchies do.

  18. The last paragraph of your post seemed to legitmately end with you asking us readers for our opinion. It totally clashes with the rest of the post, fyi.

  22. Both French and Spanish treat “snob” as an adjective, but, Julien, you must know that in English it is strictly a noun. The adjective you want is “snobbish”. “I am snobbish” or “I am a snob”.

    There, now you’ll go to bed less ignorant.

  24. French Intern ROCKS! Don’t worry about the haters, French Intern, as they no doubt wear dad jeans and have bad posture.
    Maybe you could take Dan shopping for shoes, I hear he no longer has his white sneakers? And a scarf and a beret, mmm.

  26. At first I thought L’Interne Francais was just on the cusp between irritating and amusing. Now I’m starting to like him.

    Please continue to post, and stay snob.

  29. “I’m sorry guys, this isn’t working. You’re a blast to hang with, and you’re great dancers, but I’m not gay. I’m just gay for Julien.”

  33. Thanks, gus. Reading sloooowly is undoubtedly a specialty of Willie boy here, but I don’t think comprehension comes with.

    But I gotta say, you’re slipping already, Mister Frenchie Man. I don’t think this post is going to make it to 50 comments, let alone 100. Your string is broken.

  35. What 21 said. Yeah 21!

    Sign languages are not “renderings” of spoken language into signs, a common misperception. They are distinct languages. ASL is as distinct from spoken English as spoken Russian is from spoken English. Same with FSL from French. (There are signing systems such as Signed English, which is a system for rendering spoken English in signs, but that is not the same thing as ASL.)

    Although Brits and Americans can understand each other speaking English, people using British sign language and American Sign Language are _not_ mutually intelligible to each other, but ASL and FSL are mutually intelligible (largely). This is because American schools for the deaf early on relied on students and teachers trained in France, and not in Britain.

  39. Sorry to add yet another comment on sign languages, it’s a niche thing, what can I say?
    ASL was not imported from France, and the beloved legend about its trip across the ocean in the persons of Laurent Clerc and Mr. Gallaudet is only a tiny part of the story about Where We Get Our ASL From. There were at least two sign languages here in small but living communities when OFSL got here. Likely more that we don’t know much about.
    Also, the OFSL origins of many new world sign languages are very very fragile and difficult to trace.
    So, that sign language teacher needs to keep up with the state of knowledge in sign language history. Maybe that’s why the class was free?

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