Friday, July 26, 2013
Salt Lake City airport....
We almost made it home - Flight + customs went smoothly; although, Ada and Leo must be looking suspicious today as they were patted and their bags were searched (twice for Ada). Half the kids went through most it their nose on their phone, even when our luggage came through for customs. Again, thanks Niloo for those great tags, it allowed more alert travelers to grab bags of the texters/Facebook addicts.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Paris 2
Last day..... super busy, lots of walking in Le Louvre. I personally really enjoyed my visit. We went up Le Sacré Cœur (well, some were too tired to make it to the top), went back to the hotel, and finish the trip with a last visit to the Eiffel Tower (2nd story), and a last diner with groups of friends and parents (about 9 or 10, can't count anymore!).
See you tomorrow, don't forget to keep room for me, and maybe Kat in one of the cars going to Eugene! Thanks
See you tomorrow, don't forget to keep room for me, and maybe Kat in one of the cars going to Eugene! Thanks
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Paris!!
Hello families,
a very quick note.... we made it to Paris, our schedule is quite busy. We found all the parents so far, and they are a great help herding the group through the busy streets of Paris. There is a lot of walking (and moaning), climbing (the tower of Notre-Dame). We started our day with Orsay (hardly any lines as we were early), finished out day looking at the Eiffel tower brightly lit up. Tomorrow, we will start with le Louvre and will plan the day as we go; the weather is supposed to be grey and wet.
We will see you soon, the internet is a bit slow, and it takes a lot of time to upload pictures.
a very quick note.... we made it to Paris, our schedule is quite busy. We found all the parents so far, and they are a great help herding the group through the busy streets of Paris. There is a lot of walking (and moaning), climbing (the tower of Notre-Dame). We started our day with Orsay (hardly any lines as we were early), finished out day looking at the Eiffel tower brightly lit up. Tomorrow, we will start with le Louvre and will plan the day as we go; the weather is supposed to be grey and wet.
We will see you soon, the internet is a bit slow, and it takes a lot of time to upload pictures.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday and Tuesday
Hello families,
Yesterday, I wasn't able to log on, but will try to catch up today. We left Montpon at 8:30 on Monday, and there were many tears. Some kids bounded well, and might become good friends. Yet some others, were happy to move on. I, personally, had a great time with my French colleagues, and will be happy to keep in touch.
We had our first stop at Futuroscope. We were lucky with the weather and mostly with the fact that hardly anyone was there (a Monday, and school still in session). Kids had fun, although they might have thought it was a French version of Disneyland, and in this case, might have been a bit disappointed. In any case, it was pleasant.
We then drove to Chenonceaux, and I had the best visit every in this castle. We got there kind of late (6ish), and the we had the castle pretty much to ourselves. The light was perfect, as the sun was beginning to set. As always, some kids took a long time visiting all parts, while other ran through it all, but it was a very nice way to end the day.
We drove to the little hotel, and had dinner just across.
Lights were out at 11:00 (at least mine!).
Today, we left at 8:30 to drive to Amboise were we had a 60 minute guided visit. It was very nice. Some kids had a hard time waking up, but overall, they were very good listeners. The guide had a few interesting anecdotes about queens and kings that lived there.
After we bought our picnic (that took some time!), we drove a short way to Chaumond-sur-loire to eat and visit unique gardens. I wish we had more time, as there were a lot of cool things to see, but we had to go to our next stop : Versailles!
We first went to the hotel where we found Dany as planned. We dropped our suitcase, and drove again for 15 minutes to go to Versailles. We walked across the gardens to get to our restaurant; la Flottille. The walk was quite pleasant, as again, the temperature was perfect, and it was not crowed at all. The castle was closed for the day, and we had about 2 hours before the gardens closed. The meal was alright (nice setting, but food was very ordinary), and the walk back to the bus was great (light, weather, quietness). Dani and I found our gate closed (we didn't realized we were that far from the group), and we had to run to the last open gate that was quite more a way from where the bus was parked. But we made it back, and got to the hotel at around 9:30. Although kids should be quite tired (I know I am), they are currently singing their favorite tunes in their room (time to go tell them to be quiet!!!).
Tomorrow, the castle, and more gardens, and then Paris!
Yesterday, I wasn't able to log on, but will try to catch up today. We left Montpon at 8:30 on Monday, and there were many tears. Some kids bounded well, and might become good friends. Yet some others, were happy to move on. I, personally, had a great time with my French colleagues, and will be happy to keep in touch.
We had our first stop at Futuroscope. We were lucky with the weather and mostly with the fact that hardly anyone was there (a Monday, and school still in session). Kids had fun, although they might have thought it was a French version of Disneyland, and in this case, might have been a bit disappointed. In any case, it was pleasant.
We then drove to Chenonceaux, and I had the best visit every in this castle. We got there kind of late (6ish), and the we had the castle pretty much to ourselves. The light was perfect, as the sun was beginning to set. As always, some kids took a long time visiting all parts, while other ran through it all, but it was a very nice way to end the day.
We drove to the little hotel, and had dinner just across.
Lights were out at 11:00 (at least mine!).
Today, we left at 8:30 to drive to Amboise were we had a 60 minute guided visit. It was very nice. Some kids had a hard time waking up, but overall, they were very good listeners. The guide had a few interesting anecdotes about queens and kings that lived there.
After we bought our picnic (that took some time!), we drove a short way to Chaumond-sur-loire to eat and visit unique gardens. I wish we had more time, as there were a lot of cool things to see, but we had to go to our next stop : Versailles!
We first went to the hotel where we found Dany as planned. We dropped our suitcase, and drove again for 15 minutes to go to Versailles. We walked across the gardens to get to our restaurant; la Flottille. The walk was quite pleasant, as again, the temperature was perfect, and it was not crowed at all. The castle was closed for the day, and we had about 2 hours before the gardens closed. The meal was alright (nice setting, but food was very ordinary), and the walk back to the bus was great (light, weather, quietness). Dani and I found our gate closed (we didn't realized we were that far from the group), and we had to run to the last open gate that was quite more a way from where the bus was parked. But we made it back, and got to the hotel at around 9:30. Although kids should be quite tired (I know I am), they are currently singing their favorite tunes in their room (time to go tell them to be quiet!!!).
Tomorrow, the castle, and more gardens, and then Paris!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
La Boum!
Saturday night was party time...... French kids danced 'til 1:00 am! There were slow times, and fast time, but never chaotic times. All behaved quite well. Sunday I along with Kat and our hosts went to visit a few more castles and outstanding places. I assume most kids had slower day to rest and pack. I'll see them this morning, and we will continue our adventures going north.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd
Hello families,
Yesterday we had quite a long day. After a short bus ride, we went to visit two artisans who are making paper all by hand, and all with natural fibers (cotton, linen, "ortie" (need to look this word up). The man makes paper, and print, his wife to the etchings. We also visited two small villages with wonderful buildings, and raided the small boulangerie-pâtisserie.
We then had lunch in Bergerac, and after a short visit, we walked to the crew station. There we all went to the Dordogne, Joey managed to go IN the Dordogne (a fairly large river). Kids formed crews of 5 (4 rowers and a coxswain). All crews managed to go up and down the river, and make a few turns. Our teachers were National champions!
Kids waited quite some time for families to come to get them, ice-cream and crêpes were in order.
I'll see the students tonight for the big party, then they will spend their last day with the correspondents. We will continue our trip on Monday.
Yesterday we had quite a long day. After a short bus ride, we went to visit two artisans who are making paper all by hand, and all with natural fibers (cotton, linen, "ortie" (need to look this word up). The man makes paper, and print, his wife to the etchings. We also visited two small villages with wonderful buildings, and raided the small boulangerie-pâtisserie.
We then had lunch in Bergerac, and after a short visit, we walked to the crew station. There we all went to the Dordogne, Joey managed to go IN the Dordogne (a fairly large river). Kids formed crews of 5 (4 rowers and a coxswain). All crews managed to go up and down the river, and make a few turns. Our teachers were National champions!
Kids waited quite some time for families to come to get them, ice-cream and crêpes were in order.
I'll see the students tonight for the big party, then they will spend their last day with the correspondents. We will continue our trip on Monday.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
France, Wednesday 19 + Thursday 20th
Hello families,
Our group, along with their correspondents and a few more, took the bus early (8:00), and we drove about 2:30 hours (due to traffic) to Arcachon - a little town, South of Bordeaux. We took a boat ride in the basin of Arcachon. It is a large bay opened to the see by a short opening, a famous type of oyster is cultivated here : huître d'Arcachon. The weather was quite grey, but by the time we got back to Arcachon, the sun was definitely wining the battle. We drove to la Dune du Pyla, had our picnic (provided by the families), and started the long climb up the dune: 110 m high, a few kilometers long.
Once we reached the top, we ran down ocean side to jump in the Atlantic. A few forgot their swimsuit but, nevertheless, they jumped in the water (way less cold than the Pacific; even I swam). The sun was with us, and all in all it was very pleasant.
After playing in the water, we had to climb back up, ran down the other side, clean up a bit, and board the bus. We made in back at 6:30, families were there and kids went home.
The teachers took Kat and I to a nice little restaurant, this is life!
Today, Thursday, is the second day at school. I took a French class with some of our students + a history class in the afternoon. I saw most of our kids throughout the day. Some took a few English classes, other science classes. Some dissected mice! I finished the day in the gym, where they played handball. A few of our boys were quite good, and were cheered by the French students (girls, mostly).
Although none will have spent many hours in a French school, they will have an authentic glimpse of what it is like to be in a French school. Our correspondents will take next week an exit exam BEPC, a bit like our OAKS, except that it is on more topics. Next year they will go to different high schools depending on what they plan on doing career wise. In short, French kids are asked to grow up a bit faster.
Our group, along with their correspondents and a few more, took the bus early (8:00), and we drove about 2:30 hours (due to traffic) to Arcachon - a little town, South of Bordeaux. We took a boat ride in the basin of Arcachon. It is a large bay opened to the see by a short opening, a famous type of oyster is cultivated here : huître d'Arcachon. The weather was quite grey, but by the time we got back to Arcachon, the sun was definitely wining the battle. We drove to la Dune du Pyla, had our picnic (provided by the families), and started the long climb up the dune: 110 m high, a few kilometers long.
Once we reached the top, we ran down ocean side to jump in the Atlantic. A few forgot their swimsuit but, nevertheless, they jumped in the water (way less cold than the Pacific; even I swam). The sun was with us, and all in all it was very pleasant.
After playing in the water, we had to climb back up, ran down the other side, clean up a bit, and board the bus. We made in back at 6:30, families were there and kids went home.
The teachers took Kat and I to a nice little restaurant, this is life!
Today, Thursday, is the second day at school. I took a French class with some of our students + a history class in the afternoon. I saw most of our kids throughout the day. Some took a few English classes, other science classes. Some dissected mice! I finished the day in the gym, where they played handball. A few of our boys were quite good, and were cheered by the French students (girls, mostly).
Although none will have spent many hours in a French school, they will have an authentic glimpse of what it is like to be in a French school. Our correspondents will take next week an exit exam BEPC, a bit like our OAKS, except that it is on more topics. Next year they will go to different high schools depending on what they plan on doing career wise. In short, French kids are asked to grow up a bit faster.
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