The Hurners in France

08 October 2011

Fulbright orientation in Paris

This past week I went to Paris for meetings and informational sessions relating to the French educational system and the approach to language learning in general. We observed French teachers, something that is very difficult to arrange. The organizers explained that is was difficult to find teachers who would agree to having us, particularly so early in the school year. They have been working with this particular Collège (middle school/junior high) and Lycée (high school) for several years and they are welcoming and used to the whole idea. It was quite eye opening and great to have a sense of what French students are used to experiencing in class.

Our time there included one day with the Fulbright Scholars spending time in France as well as a lavish reciption welcoming us all to France. One night the teachers were invited to experience dinner served by high school students training to work in restaurants.
Here's the link:
High school (Lycée Professionelle) with restaurant program

07 October 2011

Burt finally meets our new friends

So Burt finally made it back for ten days and had a chance to meet everybody. Up until now he really couldn't relate to what was going on in our world with all these new people. There was only one free weekend and we ended up with a great crowd at the house. Since I'm not know as an extraordinary hostess, I was comforted by the laid back ritual of our gatherings with friends. Everybody brings something and we share. We probably could have made some more food, but we're figuring it out...

This is Richard who should really be in Hollywood. It's incredible.

Boys playing games in the street behind the house

Nate took this one of Corto

Can anyone beat Thierry? Our ping pong tournament....

19 September 2011

A change in the weather

Well, because of my crazy school schedule (classes from 8-11am and then 4-5pm on Mondays, for example) I'm at home on this rainy afternoon. Teachers in France prepare their lessons and have an office at home. (Yes, they purchase their own printers and ink and keep all their teaching books at home.) Sandrine, my exchange partner, tells me that mine is the worst schedule she's seen in her 15 years of teaching. Interesting. Well, I just have to make the most of it somehow but this class from 4-5 will be especially annoying on Fridays, I'm sure! Needless to say, last week was a lot of work with school. I have 4 different preps and because I use technology often normally this is (it seems) expected. However, my room has a chalkboard and separate devices for speakers and projecting (which I'm lucky to have) that I have to connect and plug in. Different teachers use the rooms which means I need to set up the stuff for each class (wasting our time, no doubt). So, is it worth it?

This weekend we've been going non-stop. We had two invitations for Saturday night so I had to turn one down. It was the celebration of the heritage of Crest so there was a lot going on in town. Nathan played in an all day soccer tournament on Saturday and brought home a trophy. That evening we went to a great birthday party with dancing and great food. Sunday, we ventured out to Aurel, where we were invited to lunch with a friend from school and her family. We enjoyed home-raised "mouton" and mushrooms that had been foraged in the surrounding hills. Fortunately, she has children and Nathan was happy to enjoy ravioli. I must say, though, Laurence's children do eat all these wonderful things! The meal was followed by a stroll around town which is known for it's vineyards for making 'Clairette de Die,' the delicious local sparkling wine. There is a even one room school house (still active with 12 students grades K-5)! The town is not so isolated (5k from next town) but lovely.

Lunch at Rosabla's (Italian teacher) on Wednesday

Waiting around the stade (Can't wait for Burt to get here...can you see, this is what the guys do!)

The girls (Sarah, Mary, and Esther)

Pascale et Véro

Corine, Pascale et Claude

The boys (Nate's still at foot!)

Pete and Paul

Les Trois Becs-This was on the way to Aurel. I have plans to hike up there. There's a refuge but not "luxe" like the ones in the Vanoise. Luxe is a relative term here : ).

Note to self: Just ask people to pose for photos. I really am enjoying getting to know all these people, may as well have them look at the camera!

Aurel

Chateau du Piergros

One unhappy girl

12 September 2011

Loving life (so far) in Crest

It's funny how Mary keeps reminding me that it's the "honeymoon" period (I had explained to her some of the feelings many people have when spending a year away from home like this) but I'm really loving life here. Yes, it's all different and new (some great things, some difficult) but the pace of life in general seems to be more reasonable. Anyway, here you can see some of the people who have been incredibly welcoming. Sandrine does have some fabulous friends and we're so appreciative of how they've included us in their lives. It doesn't hurt that there's another Fulbrighter who lives 40 minutes from here, Margaret. She and her son, Jed, joined us for a day at Vallon Pont d'Arc and the Gorges d'Ardèche.

Pascale helps Mary find the good "murs" while Nate's playing soccer

Mary waits impatiently while Nate's practice is finishing up

Evening à la rivière (la Drôme)

Us at the river eating hot dogs and lamb chops

Vallon Pont d'Arc

Mary swings off a rope at Vallon Pont d'Arc

02 September 2011

la maison, le jardin et la rentrée des profs

So just a few pictures of the lovely home we'll be living in for the year, the cat, and Margaret (a fellow Fulbrighter).

Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera for the rentrée des profs. We had meetings all day and I met some really nice people. So friendly and smiling...I know it's the après summer glow but it just seems like people here are so warm and down to earth. We had some general discussions with a good amount of chatter followed by the unveiling of the "emploi du temps." This was followed by comparisons and possible schedule changes and finally a "pot" which included some fabulous finger foods (like pruneaux wrapped in a kind of bacon...mmmmm) and some juices. No wine, it's "forbidden" in schools as of several years ago. This said, I heard reports of wine at other schools today and saw champagne being poured at a rentrée on the news. In any case, it was a big day.

la piscine

les raisins

Pas-touche - She returned to us after her flea bath!

Mary enjoys the playhouse she just tidied up.

La drôme - the river that runs through the center of town.

Margaret, Mary, Jed, and Nathan....Margaret and Jed are Fulbrighters in Montélimar.

These are the lovely gifts my new colleagues brought over!

29 August 2011

la Tour des Glaciers

So our tour of the glaciers of the Alps started in Pralognan-la-Vanoise, which I'd visited 20 years ago as a nanny for a French family's vacation with their three young children. I had great memories of the ski trip and fun interaction with the family....they played Scrabble with me in French, made sure I had a chance to ski, and shared a special raclette dinner with their local friends toasting to the Americans for the end of our first war in Iraq.

Alas, I was back with the family and embarking on a crazy adventure. Truth be told, we had NO CLUE what we were getting ourselves into. The first day involved an extreme climb of "Col d'Aussois." Mary surprised us by leading the family up the steepest section. As she said, "You don't need to know where the path is, you just need to know which direction you're going." The hiking was very up and down....little level walking, and the last bit to the "Refuge de la Dent Parrachée" followed a waterfall straight up. Thankfully, there was rice with cooked tomatoes, pork, and a gorgeous homemade Tarte Tatin awaiting us after our hardest day of hiking. The animated host of the refuge offered us the "guide" room instead of a spot for a tent (which is what we'd reserved). This also meant privacy which is not typical of the many "refuges" in the area. Of the three we visited, this was the best refuge, complete with warm croissants in the morning. Our table included 4 Germans, a French couple, and the Hurners.

The photos will tell the rest of the story. No other refuge compared to the first, though we did meet Australians and a Kiwi along the way. The sheepdog picture is for Casey.