Do you remember, dear readers, how much I dreaded this philosophy conference after I found out it was in French?

Well, it turned out to be the best conference ever. Philosophers are a really fun bunch of great, amazing people. My talk – even though it stuck out like a sore thumb because it was delivered in English – was wildly successful. I had people run after me into the bathroom to congratulate me and ask questions.

The Spanish philosopher whose work we gathered here to discuss came up to me and told me how much he loved my talk. I got so terrified that I stood there completely silent.

“Erm. . . you do speak Spanish?” the philosopher asked me.

I gulped and managed to screech out a high-pitched “Yes!”

By the end of today’s sessions, I could understand French perfectly. The closing remarks were delivered by a scholar who sounded like he’d arrived from Gaspesie 10 minutes before (my Quebecois readers will know what I mean) but I still understood even the jokes he made.

I dig being a philosopher.

18 responses to “Philosophy Rules!”

  1. scratchy888 Avatar

    By the end of today’s sessions, I could understand French perfectly.

    A Japanese person would find this statement highly ambiguous. Are you still waiting for the of the day so you will be able to understand French perfectly? It sounds like a good plan!

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar

      Mais non, mes amis, pas d’anglais ici, chez Clarissa. Francais seulement! Merci beaucoup pour votre comprehension. 🙂

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      1. Pen Avatar
        Pen

        J’étudiais le français quand j’ai lu cette comment. 🙂

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      2. Pen Avatar
        Pen

        Wait–was that the right word for “comment?” I can’t remember….

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  2. David Bellamy Avatar

    Sounds wonderful!!

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar

      Thank you so much, David!

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  3. scratchy888 Avatar

    C’est un grand fromage. Qu’est que-ce’st? Quelque poulet.

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar

      Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? I think I’m running out of my French stock of phrases.

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  4. scratchy888 Avatar

    bloggerclarissa :
    Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? I think I’m running out of my French stock of phrases.

    seulement avec la plume de mon oncle dans le jardin de ma tante.

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar

      I’m not sure what this means but it sounds dirty. Yay! 🙂

      I like dirty.

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      1. scratchy888 Avatar

        Somehow people who learned French in the olden days had to say my uncle’s pen is in my aunt’s garden. Or was it vice versa? I’m not sure. Given that it was training in French, I’m sure the meaning was in fact extremely dirty.

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        1. bloggerclarissa Avatar

          This is too funny.

          Not that I’d ever make fun of the French people, of course.

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  5. llama Avatar
    llama

    “I dig being a philosopher” therefore I am.

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    1. Helena Suess Avatar

      cogito ergo awesome.

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  6. feMOMhist Avatar

    wonderful, I’m about to wade into what appears to be the most contentious bunch of historians (which frankly is redundant, seriously historians argue with everyone) at a specialty conference and I’m already kicking myself. And I don’t even get to go to Montreal, which would be awesome. SIGH I knew I should have been a philosopher.

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  7. Ol. Avatar
    Ol.

    When I was in Grad School I finally understood that I should have studied philosophy. I am happy that you are enjoying the conference so much!

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  8. David Bellamy Avatar

    I, of course, still marvel that anyone wants to study anything besides mathematics. But It is good that some people do make the sacrifice and develop other skills.

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