It is, perhaps, a common misconception that one must study journalism to become a journalist. One of my colleagues majored in sociology. Another dedicated an entire undergraduate career to computer science. Some of us here at the Monitor did, indeed, hone our crafts in school, but really our vastly different backgrounds and skill sets are what have set us up for success in our current roles.
I actually double majored in English and French. The former was clearly written in the stars for me, since I’ve been a lifelong bookworm who has always loved to write. The latter, however, happened organically over time. I began studying French in fifth grade and just simply couldn’t seem to stop. Those of you who have ever tried to learn a Romance language will laugh, but I genuinely enjoyed conjugating verbs and memorizing all the exceptions to the rules I committed to reflex.
When I got to college, I wanted to continue delving into language. The challenge of learning to express myself in new words, different intonations and varying sentence structures called to me. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know.
French is spoken across the globe. This weekend, FrancoFest aims to celebrate exactly that. Hosted by the Franco American Centre at Kimball Jenkins Mansion in Concord, the Saturday festival will spotlight “the many cultures, traditions, and voices of the French-speaking world,” including music, food, language, art and more, according to the description.
Stop by from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. to enjoy several performances, participate in cultural activities and meet others with similar connections or curiosities about French and the Francophone world.
In the spirit of food and festivities, the 21st annual Taste of New Hampshire will be taking over the BNH Stage on Thursday evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event, geared towards people 21 and older, promises delicious food, fun drinks and exciting energy. Tickets cost $40, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Concord. Visit nhyouth.org to buy a ticket or read more about what to expect!
So many exciting community activities to choose from this weekend! This next one is for dog owners: If you go to Rollins Park in Concord from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, you and your pet can take part in Bark in the Park: Wag Around the World Festival.
“The festival will feature food trucks representing countries from around the world, live music, hundreds of local vendors, makers, artists, and nonprofits, exciting K9 demonstrations by law enforcement agencies from across New Hampshire, the Hometown Heroes Police vs. Fire Kickball Tournament, NH’s Cool Car Show, a Giant Kid Zone, Touch-a-Truck, adoptable dogs and rescue organizations, contests, giveaways, raffles and activities for all ages,” the description promises.
Dogs are, of course, welcome to join! They should be “well-behaved, vaccinated and socialized.” Tickets cost $5, and children age 5 and younger can enter for free.
To add some music to your weekend, try The Barley House on Saturday from 6 p.m. onwards for a performance by Senie Hunt. Hunt is “a self-taught singer-songwriter and percussive guitarist adopted from Sierra Leone,” according to the description. “He brought with him an inherent passion for West African rhythms and percussion. Senie used djembe drumming as a creative outlet to process the traumas of his early childhood during Sierra Leone’s Diamond wars.”
Music has played a large role in Hunt’s life. To experience his connection to rhythm and melodies, definitely check out The Barley House on Saturday.
Enjoy the weekend!
