# data[].attributes.body
My love of French has resulted in some wonderful experiences. I got to travel and study in Sénégal and Québec as well as in France and Belgium. It has helped me create a unique band of friends and colleagues, all francophones and francophiles. It led me to 36 marvelous years of sharing my love of that language and its many cultures with scores of students.

# data[].attributes.body
has taken me to France, Quebec, and Belgium. I have also made great partnerships between my classes and classes in Senegal, Burkina Faso and Benin! I have an amazing group of friends, including colleagues and former students because of my knowledge of French. -- Nicole Naditz

# data[].attributes.body
My passion for French led me to live in France for four years, whilst attending uninversity. I almost stayed forever! I lived in Pau, in Paris, in Vichy and in Nice. I later went to Université Laval in Québec for the summer. I had the great privilege of studying at the Université de Dakar, in Sénégal one summer as well. I have visited Switzerland, Monaco and Belgium, and several other non-francophone countries. Most of all, it has allowed me to keep in touch with my cousine in France, and to pass on the love of language to many students over 30 years of teaching and learning. Here is a picture to share - a couple of family friends, followed by my son Chris, me, Lionel (husband of ma cousine), ma cousine Nathalie, and their daughter Camille at the Château de Sully sur Loire. summer 2008. Can't wait to go back for a visit! I am thankful for Skype!

# data[].attributes.body
I took French in high school to be "different" in California. Little did I know that that choice changed my life. I had an amazing high school French teacher and absolutely fell in love with the language, partially because her love of the language rubbed off on all of us. Madame Naditz took some of us to Paris and I knew we would all be changed because of that trip. I then decided to study French further, and ended up being a French major in college. I spent a year studying abroad in Paris during my junior year of college and absolutely loved the French lifestyle. After graduating I had the opportunity to be an English Teaching Assistant in France and bypassed going to law school to live in France yet again. With a work visa and nothing else, I moved to Bordeaux, France. The first few weeks were stressful, but made me realize I learned enough to find a place to live in a foreign country by myself. Within one month of living in France, I met my soon-to-be husband and have been married for three years next month. I met some amazing friends and have gone back to Bordeaux to visit years after living there. Learning a foreign language had taught me to be confident, step out of my comfort zone, and gave me some of the best memories and experiences of my life to date. I recommend taking a language to any person.

# data[].attributes.body
France, Canada, Sénégal, Switzerland, Monaco, Belgium... and dreams of Tahiti, Guyane, Madagascar, Gabon... Most of all, my journey has re-connected me to my identity, my heritage, and helped to to know who I am and what is my place in the world. It has been a great joy to share this journey with other teachers, and especially with students.

# data[].attributes.body
Speaking another language has allowed me to make friends with people from all over the world. In my travels, no matter what country I am in or what language I am speaking, I've always made plenty of friends. Some of the time, I don't speak their language and they don't speak English- so we communicate in a third language- usually Spanish or Italian. To me that is one of the greatest benefits of speaking languages and immersing yourself in the culture, target or otherwise. I love Spain and Italy, and have been blessed to have been able to live and study in both countries. However, my favorite overseas experience was the year I lived in Perú!

# data[].attributes.body
My passion for Spanish has taken me to many parts of the Spanish-speaking world.  My first trip to Guadalajara, México at the age of 17 changed the course of my life.   It gave me a confidence that I could go anywhere in that wonderful city and communicate and get what I needed.  I didn't always understand 100% of what was said to me, which made for some very funny and memorable experiences.  The confidence I gained communicating in Spanish led to increased self-esteem and confidence in other areas of my life.   I have had several wonderful trips to México, Spain, Costa Rica, Panamá and Nicaragua.  Some of my dearest friends and richest experiences in life have come from my ability to communicate in Spanish.