[Exclusive Part III] Interview With Anggun: Stories By the Bus Stops

“I have this one quick story…”

Image Credit: Antoine Gouiffes Yan

WL: So, when will you be visiting Boston?

A: Well, when it’s no longer raining anymore. It’s always raining. But come to France!

WL: I’ve never been to France but it’s next on my list!

A: You’ve never been to France? Well, go backpack—or maybe not backpack. But just go and don’t plan anything. Talk to people, make mistakes, speak with accents. Try to learn a thing or two. Talk to old people, especially by the bus stops. They always have the funniest stories.

I have this one quick story…

Image Credit: Antoine Gouiffes Yan

I used to go to random bus stops while learning French, and the grandmas there are always super patient. They’re the best teachers for language. They have the patience to correct you without being arrogant or anything — they just want you to learn better.

One day, I came across one grandmother — she said she was taking the bus number 60. As we talked for a while, the bus number 60 kept passing by again and again. After a half-hour of talking, another bus number 60 came by. I told her, “you should probably catch this one.”

She said, “no, no, no, I’m fine!”

“But I thought you have a doctor’s appointment?”

And she said, “Yes, I do. But that’s tomorrow. I’m only going today to know how long it takes for me.” So she’s rehearsing—timing how long it will take her to see the doctor by bus. Isn’t this so sweet?

“Okay, well, then I won’t see you tomorrow, but I’ll see you the day after.”

So go to Europe.

Try something new and scare yourself.

Eat anything even if you can’t pronounce the name (just make sure you’re not allergic).

Don’t plan anything and talk to old people in bus stops.

Read more…

Interview Part I: https://tinyurl.com/intlwave-anggun1

Interview Part II: https://tinyurl.com/intlwave-anggun2

Interview with Sarah Chang: https://tinyurl.com/intlwave-sarahchang