books in a luggage...

I went to Ellis Island last summer. I went with a friend visiting. I also went as part of the immigrant pilgrimage...
I was surprised by the size of their luggage. I thought they were huge.
Then I looked at the one I brought. Huge too. And I was alone. And I brought very few clothes. I had mainly chocolate and food (like mom's jam), some medicines (knowing I wouldn't have social security or health care), and books. Many books.






Here is a list of the books I had with me... (pictures coming soon )

• Religious books:

- new testament (in my backpack all the time)
- Liturgy of the hours
- la joie de croire (joy of believing) by Madeleine Delbrel
- joie de croire, joie de vivre (joy of believing, joy of living) by Francois Varillon
- le coeur du monde (the heart of the world) by Hans Urs Von Balthazaar
- l'humilite de Dieu (the humily of God) by Francois Varillon
-Dieu sans idee du mal (God without an idea of evil) by Michel Guarrigues
-les grandes amities (big friendships) by Jacques and Raissa Maritain
- some song books
- histoire de la congregation des filles de Jesus de Kermaria (history of the order of sister of Kermaria) ... When I came I was still considering joining the sisters... But instead I got married!

• linguistics.

I was planning on having lots and lots of free time, alone at home, so I brought some books to study, learn and improve a couple languages, and work on getting a law degree... I've read and re-read only the first two...
- Problemes de linguistique generale, tome 1 & 2, by Emile Benveniste (a fav.)
(I plan on bringing vocabulaire des institutions indo-europeenes on my next trip!)
- some grammar: German, Turkish, Greek, ancient Greek and Latin
- some vocabulary-language learning books: Greek, Turkish, German, Spanish and Italian.
My turkish is still really bad, german is now long forgotten. But my spanish went from level 0 to "I can understand and speak ok" which is a big achievement! Thanks Bronx!

various others:
mainly because of the teaching occupation in After-school program last year..
- body tap (music with claps and snaps)
-origami books (and paper!)
- calligraphy book and folder
- apprendre en jardinant (learning with gardening) I lost that book at work... :(

-the complete guide to Boston's freedom trail( which I got in Boston for my mom, brought home in France, and took back with me to learn about the revolution on the plane..)
-le guide de sante Bircher (the health guide by Bircher, the Swiss dude who invented the muesli diet!) because I love muesli, cheap and healthy!
- un corps de reve en 15 min par jour (dream body in 15 min a day) it was a gift from my sister... hmmm is that a message?

- droit de l'aide et de l'action sociale (law book)
- droit constitutionnel et institutions politiques (more law)

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The books I never opened are the german and italian book. German because it's definetly not something I speak if I get to choose. And italian because I'm afraid I would start confusing it with spanish.
I didn't use the law books much either, but I read a few chapters of each...

If I had to do it all over again I would most definetly bring the vocabulary of indo-european institution on the first trip. Just because I miss good stimulating books. All I can find here is Barnes and Nobles, which is already great! But they don't have those cheap second hand university stores...
And the library is quite limited.. I learned to appreciate love stories.. like steeple hill... Yeah, the teenager-me would be so ashamed! I'm reading love stories, like one or two A MONTH!! Well that was actually hilarious, I found an AMISH love story!!! whaouh where else in the world???

If you feel like commenting, or memeing this, feel free!!
Let me know which 10 books you would take on a desert island, or on a 2 years-long trip to France ;)