The case of The French Primary Education System v. X continues, but the litigation has become convoluted, testimonies contradict one another, and eyewitnesses are scarce. As I am inclined to project every little thing onto the macrocosm of cultural differences, it’s easy for me to lose track of the fact that all that’s really happening…
When we arrived in Lille, G offered us just about the best advice anyone can receive when they arrive in a foreign culture: be a chicken. At first, this is confusing to anyone who knows about the game of “chicken” – why would this gentle, thoughtful man be advising us to drive headlong towards French…
X’s first two weeks of maternelle, or French kindergarten, were as good as could be expected. In the mornings, he would trot into the room cheerfully enough and start fiddling with some toy or project, and he’d be happy in the afternoons, chattering and eager to show us whatever he’d drawn that day. He even…
