French student learns farming, American customs in Pittsfield

loading...

PITTSFIELD – When Sylvain Satger arrived three weeks ago in Maine from Lyon, France, his intent was to complete a five-week internship on a working American farm.

But the 21-year-old Isara Institute freshman said Thursday that although he was learning a lot about farming, he was absorbing even more about Maine and Americans.

He has discovered Marshmallow Fluff, doughboys and the beauty of the Camden harbor.

His host, organic dairy farmer Jim Richmond, said that Satger is teaching him as much as he is trying to teach Satger, whose use of English has improved dramatically with his immersion as a member of an American family.

Richmond, who has impaired hearing, said the first night that Satger arrived, “I thought: With my hearing and his English, this is going to be a tough ride.”

But as the two men worked side by side Thursday morning in the milking barn at Amazing Graze Farm, there was no language barrier.

“Can you understand me OK?” Satger asked a visitor, his thick French accent incongruous in a Yankee barn.

“I speak to the cows in French,” he joked, “but they only understand English.”

“And I am learning a little French,” said Richmond, who just as quickly admitted that some of the words can’t be repeated.

“You know, they are the words you say when the pump breaks down,” he laughed. “If I get really stuck, I use hand signals to communicate.”

“Did you ever try to explain some American sayings to a foreign person, like ‘Cut off your nose to spite your face?’ It is impossible,” he chuckled.

After three weeks on the job, Satger easily handles the cows, and feeding the calves has become his responsibility. “I’m getting spoiled,” Richmond admitted.

Taking a break from chores Thursday morning, Satger said that he is studying environmental sciences at Isara Institute, which is an agricultural college. It is a requirement for all incoming freshmen that they spend five weeks on a working farm. Of the 90 freshman starting school in September, five were placed on farms in the United States, two are in Canada and the rest remained in Europe.

Richmond said the college found him through a link on the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Web site. “They made it clear that the kids are not visitors; they are to become a part of our family. They wanted the type of farm that would hand a kid a pitchfork and put him to work,” Richmond recalled.

Satger said that three weeks ago, he had never been in a milking barn, much less milked a cow. “I had only seen pictures,” he said. Asked if he was afraid of the huge animals, he said no, but admitted that the first week he was kicked several times.

“Now they know me, and they don’t kick anymore,” he said.

Satger explained that the purpose of living and working on a farm is to understand the entire food process and agricultural problems.

“As part of our studies, we study the entire food industry,” he said. “Before there is the market, there is the farm. All of this is good to know.”

Satger said that his special interest, the environment, is being fed in the natural surroundings of Richmond’s farm.

“We had a day off the other day, and I asked him what he wanted to do. I thought maybe he would go to the beach. Instead, he chose to walk in the woods,” said Richmond.

“All the woods are everywhere,” said Satger. “Someone told me there would be a lot of trees, but I couldn’t imagine this.”

Satger expressed a keen interest in the types of trees in Maine, the plants and even the insects. “He’s even got bark samples to take back to France with him,” said Richmond.

Richmond’s 16-year-old son, Preston, who lives during the school year in Ashland, said he is enjoying having a French “brother” for the summer. “Our differences and our similarities balance out,” he said, but added that he has had great fun introducing Satger to distinctly American foods.

Doughboys, enjoyed at last week’s Central Maine Egg Festival, were a big hit, and when Satger is asked about Marshmallow Fluff, his eyes light up. “I like this,” he said enthusiastically. “Oh, yes, it is very good.”

A special bonus for Satger was the birth of two heifer calves during the first week of his stay. One was named for him, Sylvie – the feminine version of his name – and the other for his girlfriend, Celion.

“They follow him everywhere,” said Richmond. “They won’t even come to me.”

Along with photographs of Camden Harbor, the forests of Pittsfield and the Richmond family, Satger has taken lots of pictures of his two calves.

“This way I can bring this all back to France with me,” he said.

Richmond said the pictures aren’t the only things going back to France with Satger. “We’ll have to pack him a case of Marshmallow Fluff,” he laughed.