As I begin this account, let me say that it is all written in English even though many of the events transpired in French, the true language of love.
A good friend of mine, Amy, runs a series of language immersion programs for college age students and adults. Some of the programs are tours abroad. Others are at a camp in the mountains that Amy leases during the late summer. Amy called to tell me that if I was available, she had a spot for an assistant French instructor. I chuckled at the request knowing that I would not be lonely. The session would not pay much but Amy offered the usual terms including the special fringe benefits. These fringe benefits were above and beyond the clean air and time away. This promise brought back memories of the last session I had done in Paris with this loving lady and her life partner, Missy, but that is another story.
About a month later, I was waiting for the 11 French-speaking students to arrive. Amy was concurrently running a Spanish group and an Italian group. As I waited in the common dining hall, I was just enjoying the sights. The other assistant instructors, Trisha for Spanish and Kimberly for Italian were both 20 something young women that were very easy on the eyes. I mused that they would be wonderful fringe benefits. I should confess that at the time I was already a 40 something barbarian with a touch of gray in my beard and felt that I did not stand a chance of connecting with either of these young instructors. I had been surprised to learn that Trisha and Kimberly were bunking in the main building with Amy and Missy instead of in separate cabins near their students. With the hustle and press of getting everything ready, and none of the ladies seemed to notice me. Nevertheless, it was a delicious thought.
At mid-day the bus arrived outside and the students filed out. We divided the group up by language and got them all to sit down. Amy appeared right on cue with Missy to give the speech that I had heard before. Briefly the students were here to gain fluency in the language of their choice. They would get out of the experience what they put in. This meant that they needed to speak their language even when they were alone with their roommate even if that person was their spouse. We needed to stay at our table groups unless we could speak the immersion language at the other table during meals. The course schedule was announced. French would meet in the mess hall at 9:30 to 11:00 each morning, 30 minutes after breakfast was served. The other groups were squeezed into the afternoon from 1: 00 to 2:30 and 3:00 to 4:30. There was a request for questions and finally, the announcement that there would be no more English spoken until everyone was back on the bus in 6 days.
With this brief introduction, it fell to me to get acquainted with the 11 French speakers, pass out keys and cabin assignments. There were three couples, two single men, and three single women. Nothing was remarkable about this process except for the young lady who was not assigned a cabin mate. I remembered reading her bio. She already spoke several languages and had just recently taken up French. As I handed her a key, our hands touched. It was unremarkable at the time but now several years later, it was an important first, our first touch. Maria was not the most beautiful woman I had ever met but there was something about her eyes. They just drew me to her.
All but my cabin had regular twin beds with central bath and restroom facilities. My cabin had a nice queen size bed and attached bathroom. The French cabins were all grouped in one corner of the camp where it would be my job to facilitate conversation and mingling. I would participate in the classroom sessions but Amy and Missy would do the real work as the instructors. No one was allowed to be shy and retiring. My charges were here to speak and gain fluency in French. .
After unpacking and moving in, the various members of our little group joined me at the fire pit for more get acquainted activities. There were supplies to make nametags and munchies to relax everyone. Dinner was in a little more than an hour. Soon everyone had arrived. The married couples seem to mingle well with one or the other partner being more out going. I was left to try and get the singles to mingle and talk.
Maria was the only one really interested in having a conversation. She and I talked about friends, family and everything else. We asked the other four singles questions but they barely grunted out yes and no answers. I thought it was going to be a long week. However, I did gain an appreciation for Maria. She was a real person. I enjoyed getting to know her better.
Finally the dinner bell sounded and we filed towards the mess hall. I was pleased when Maria continued to talk with me as I hung back to make sure everyone was going. When I held the door open for her and used my hand to usher her in, I gently slid my hand cross her back lingering just a second. Maria gave me a smile that I still remember. It was so warm and open that I felt I was seeing into her soul.
In the mess hall the French group had two tables of six. We were and would be seated by lottery for every meal to insure that we mingled. Maria was seated at the other table but facing me. Every time my eyes looked over at her, she would look away. It got to be game. My looking at her and catching her so she would look away. Conversation was vibrant and active with everyone relaxing and getting acquainted so I did not need to do anything but listen and occasionally suggest words to help people express ideas.
We lingered over our meal until it was time to retire to our cabins. I walked the ladies to their respective cabins; first the two and then Maria. It was a warm night so I had recommended that everyone leave a window open to appreciate the clean fresh air. I planned to take advantage of the open windows to check on the group in about 45 minutes to make sure everyone was speaking French.