January 2010
10 posts
Over...and out.
Closing down the blog…
Turns out that I was the only blogger this Winter Term, but that just means that the students had more interesting ways to use their time (and more power to them!).
Tomorrow we’ll all be up bright and early to catch our plane to Paris, then Atlanta, and finally Tampa. France has been lots of fun, but it’s always nice to come home.
Ce n’est...
Countdown to Tampa
Thursday night and all of Friday left in France. Our plane to Paris takes off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, and our trip home will begin.
We came, we sang, we suffered…Music lesson today with Jérémie. I’m tone deaf, but I managed to belt out some songs. But it was a little tough for everyone to sing without knowing either the tune or the pronunciation of the words. Jérémie did his best to guide us along on our musical journey, but I think we got lost somewhere along the way. Meanwhile, he was playing guitar, harmonica,...
Avignon
Today we had a full-day excursion to Avignon. Saw the famous bridge, what’s left of it, at least. Extensive visit of the Papal Palace. And because we had a nun in our tour group, we had special access to a room in the cathedral where all the old vestments and ceremonial objects are kept. Avignon has a very good vibe, but it’s less evident in the winter than in the summer. Montpellier,...
Cooking class
Today we had a cooking class with a chef named Valérie, who showed us how to make risotto with coconut milk and chicken skewers. It was yummy and not too hard to do. Though as Valérie said, good food requires patience…not the easiest thing for young Americans. Good class, good food, good company and Harry discovered that little dogs can be scary…
Christina
Arles, etc.
Saturday we went to another fascinating old city called Arles. We saw what remains of a Roman arena and a theater. It’s just amazing that they are still around. We also visited a very small town, Saintes Maries de la mer, that is the site of pilgrimages to honor Marie Salomé and Marie Magdalene, who are thought to have landed there after Christ’s crucifixion. Gypsies also do a yearly...
Aigues-Mortes
Afternoon excursion to a medieval town situated in the middle of salt marshes, the site of lots of fighting in religious battles (Catholics vs. Cathars; Catholics vs. Protestants) and political ones, too (100 Years’ War = Brits vs. French). Apparently, after killing the British knights, the French could not bury them in the ground, so they stacked them in a tower and salted them to keep...
Crêpes...mmm...
We had a group lunch today at a crêperie…Enough said!
Christina
Arrival and classes
We arrived safely to unseasonably chilly temperatures…Seems like we can’t get away from them! The students are safely and warmly ensconced in their host homes, where they are apparently eating delicious food. Placement test and first classes today, followed by a guided visit of the town. Lots of history and narrow winding streets with hidden cafés and boutiques. So many discoveries to...
December 2009
3 posts
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Ready, set, go!
Classes are over, finals are graded…Can we go now?
C Chabrier
About This Trip
WTI-5G French Language and Culture in the South of France Professor Christina Chabrier
In this course, we explore the south of France while learning French at an accelerated rate. Montpellier is ideal for combining language study with an experience of French culture and history. Its numerous universities contribute to the vibrancy and youth of the population, while its foundations remind...