Blogs from Brittany , France, Europe - page 21

So holy moly. It's November already and I have not posted a blog in forever, so I think I'll write a couple of them to make up for it. So the second weekend in October our program had another weekend excursion, this time to Cornouaille which was an absolutely beautiful region. Once again it was great to spend time with everyone in the program on our bus rides, but also while galavanting around western France :) We went to Pont-Aven which is a picturesque tiny town which is actually famous because so many painters spend time there to take in all the lovely scenery and let it inspire their artwork. Then we went to Quimper which had a gorgeous cathedral. We had a tour of the city and learned all about the rich history of that ... read more

Hello everyone. My apologies for such a long time between posts. There has just been so much going on. I've been in class for three weeks now and everything is going swimmingly. I love my Cinema and History classes and my language class are fun too, of course, but in a more academic way. What's more exciting though is that I began my teaching internship last week! I am at two different schools--an elementary school with CE 1 (which is like 2nd grade) and a middle school with 3eme (8th grade). The first week went swimmingly. I mostly observed, but I also presented myself to the students and let them ask me questions and we had mini-discussions about America and what I was doing in France. It was great to meet the kids. They're wonderful. This ... read more

Hello all and my apologies for not regularly updating my blog. I was recently told that if I did not update more often, I would be removed from the Christmas list, so obviously much more effort will be given. Well since last Sunday, I have done a lot I suppose. Sunday night we shared a nice meal because it was Virginie's last night here. She was a swell young lady who always had a smile on her face and it was fun joking around with her. I wish her the best of luck in the south of France and we'll miss her here. Monday was the first day of classes at Rennes 2, the French university that I attend. I have classes at 8 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but on Monday mornings I have ... read more

This is the last evening of my five day stay in La Gacilly, Brittany. It has been a restful few days which have done me well but I think the tiredness of the past few weeks before I came here have caught up with me in the form of a cold!!! What joy!! Cecile has given me tablets and mouth spray and yesterday I purchased a very expensive packet of Strepsils from a pharmacie in Redon but nothing seems to be working so far! On top of all that I have drank what must be now litres and litres of French herbal tea (not my preferred choice of drink) and water (again not something I like to drink in large quantities). I pray and hope it will be gone by tomorrow afternoon so I can greet ... read more

Rain in the night. Not supposed to do that when we have left the chairs out. Bob had to leap up and tuck everything away. By the time we got up it was ok again and sky was reasonably blue so we set off on the scooter. Took the cycle track to St Jacques as campsite owner said we could. This is a little fishing port with a very rocky shoreline and the type of fishing is odd, to say the least. We don’t understand what it is that the French do when they stand around, bent right over, in muddy seawater with buckets and knives. We think they are digging up crustaceans but not sure what sort – mussels, oysters, scallops ? Whatever it is they do there were a lot of them doing it ... read more