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Awakenings
How was your summer? If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, that is.
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In our Café Conversations, prompted by Maxime, we will be talking about our respective summer experiences. I will create a Sip’n’Study from it. But sadly, lessons are only really learnt in extremes. And, without wanting to bore you, my summer was one of extremes, in the space of about four weeks.
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My experience in the monastery has been well documented in the Café Conversations. The other extreme was Mary’s horrible accident outside our house.
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What unites these are communication, foreign languages and our attitude towards these.
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The world is a global place. Everybody, even those who actively fight against it, knows this. Unfortunately, their arguments serve their own power-hungry interests. In our daily reality, we have to deal with different cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds. Even in a remote place such as where I live and work. It’s a fact of life, there is no turning back.
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It was amazing to experience that people who did the lowly jobs in the hospital in Strasbourg speak better English than the allegedly highly educated doctors who spent a long time and a lot of money studying medicine. And they seemed happier, too. The doctor who operated on Mary’s collarbone is not from France. He could articulate himself well enough, in English, to convey the necessary details. Our knowledge of French and German enhanced his English, and the picture was complete.
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But one question started to bug me. What does one teach, and more importantly, how does one teach? Or, in my case, facilitate. The experiences of the week in the monastery taught me that this insane pressure companies and organisations impose on people, the pursuit of certificates, is almost counterproductive. A piece of paper proves very little. Just because you have a driving licence doesn’t mean you are a good driver. The biggest takeaway from cleaning a church and pulling weeds in a cloister garden is that you can increase productivity by simply removing the pressure to be productive.
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Strangely enough, the same rule applies to overburdened health systems. What are the stories Mary and I heard about how bad the French health system is? Yes, we witnessed situations which were, in hindsight, both funny and scandalous. But it left me wondering. Investment is definitely needed. But money doesn’t solve everything.
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Speaking with Igor about the Brida community, he too admitted, that marketing it is not easy. And he knows a thing or two about marketing. He describes the community: “Brida is a safe environment where we can talk freely about any subject, knowing that we won't be judged and that the other people are actually listening to us - something scarce nowadays, right?”
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The conversation drought that is August is coming to an end. And when the Tuesday Get Together team welcomed Y Ali from India, when Babette in Germany and Rosi in São Paulo resumed their special blend of banter, when Cléa messaged me that they have lots of stories to tell about their summer in Korea, when Maxime shared his experiences with a Rally Team and when Manfred and his wife from Germany met Mary and me here in Cleebourg for the first time, I saw it.
What we have in Brida is precious. Take away the pressure, let people in the community speak about what is important to them, and share the knowledge, the words, and the grammar…. it is a fun place to learn to improve communication in English. And if I stay in the background, and just be there, to step in, when necessary, it’s amazing what the community can achieve. Is it perfect? No. Does it have to be perfect? That depends, but unsurprisingly, mistakes are, when it comes down to normal human interaction, not that important.
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So, welcome back. How was your summer? Let’s pull up a chair, have a cup of coffee, and let’s do what should be perfectly normal. Have a conversation and share your experiences. And if we are lost for words, we can help each other. And the depth and breadth of knowledge, the support, the care, the sheer humanity of it all, should teach us a lesson.
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I am looking forward to seeing you next week.
Best regards,
Frank
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On our list of topics at the moment.
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How was your holiday?
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Welcome Gaël
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Latest Podcasts
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For the first time, we stretch across half the planet. Igor hosts the Tuesday Get Together in Los Angeles, and we welcome Y Ali in India.
In “Getting to know each other” we talk about different aspects of life in the USA, Brazil, Europe and India.
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New "Sip'n'Study" in the
Brida Learning Lounge
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Inspired by Céline & Alexandre.
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Are you eager to improve your English while making a meaningful impact? Welcome to Brida Get Togethers, where the motto is 'Talk Global, Inspire Local.' As a member of the Brida Community, you're invited to join us at the Brida Café, a unique space where you can engage in conversations with like-minded individuals from around the globe. Here, you won't just practice English; you'll absorb diverse perspectives that empower you to inspire developments at home. Browse the upcoming meetings and choose one that resonates with you. Come talk, come inspire—both globally and locally.
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Tuesday Get-together.
18h UTC / 19h CET (Duration 60 minutes)
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Hosted by me in France, meet Ismar from Brazil, Igor in Los Angeles, Sebastian in Germany, and other people from other places. The level of English is upper-intermediate.
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Mondays
14.00h UTC / 16.00h CEST
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Brazil and Europe are connected. What do we have in common? Let's find out.
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The level of English is upper-intermediate.
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Wednesdays
17.00h UTC / 19.00h CEST
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"Life Unboxed" is a vibrant podcast that dives into the uncharted territories of international work, life, and open-mindedness. Join Igor, originally from Brazil but now thriving in Los Angeles, and Mandar, who hails from Mumbai but currently calls Kampala home, as they explore life across borders.
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Become a member of the community.
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Would you like to practise and improve your English? You can do so by joining the Brida Community. I offer a 30-day free trial and then if you like it, become a member.
With your membership, you can:
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1. Have regular meetings with me and other community members to practise and improve your English. Meeting times are flexible to suit your routines.
2. Participate in and contribute to the community conversation.
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3. Read our conversations when you want.
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4. Collaborate in global projects.
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5. Read and contribute to the Brida Journal.
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Contact me for more information or :
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