From France… News and articles

Benefits Arising from having a Mother Living in France

September 1st, 2010

My wonderful friend Ginnie has often talked about her mother’s life in France. Having just returned from a visit there, this is what she had to say:

My mother took early retirement from her teaching career in London, and moved to a beautiful, old farmhouse in South-West France’s Anglars Nozac commune (in the Lot region) about seven years ago. My first thoughts on learning of her intended relocation were:

a) Oh no … one grandparent less to fulfil regular babysitting duties for my then toddler son, Oscar!
b) Fantastic! Oscar and I will benefit from cheap and glorious holidays with a granny/mother who having always been somewhat of a Francophile, would soon be in her element; happy, relaxed, surrounded by gorgeous countryside and enjoying a language and culture she has always loved.
c) I must learn French!

The following is a list of some of the activities Oscar and I will most
miss until our next visit to see her:

Picking, cooking and eating local produce

This region of France is heaven for foodies like us. There appear to be as many ducks and geese as local inhabitants!

These form the basis for the luxuriously rich confits and magrets I adore eating, and also provide beautifully rich foie gras. The trees drip with jewel-like plums (and many other fruits) which are used in delicious tarts and aperitifs. Oscar’s granny assisted him in making plum crumbles using those that grow in abundance on her land. These were made even more scrumptious by a generous sprinkling of cracked walnuts – also grown locally, and featuring in local aperitifs, cheeses, salads, oils, cakes, breads, pates and mousses.

There are many pretty settings in the region in which an hour or two may be happily idled away by adults and children alike catching trout which may be taken away for cooking at a reasonable price. Alternatively, Au Milinnou at Masclat (Tel. 05 65 37 66 45, open evenings Mon. to Fri. and lunchtime and evenings at the weekend) offers the most idyllic of lilly-covered, trout-filled lake setting where locals and visitors enjoy a simple and cheap, but delicious set menu comprising hearty tomato soup, tomato, salad, cheese, trout and wine with coffee and ices costing extra.

For a more sophisticated experience, the Henri Giron Musee at Le Vigan (Tel. 05 65 41 33 78) offers weekend diners the chance to peruse its namesake’s appealing artwork before being seated for an exquisite multiple course lunch served by the most charming staff, and enjoying some unobtrusive entertainment (we enjoyed a delightful husband and wife duet – he seated with acoustic guitar, she standing to sing).

Canoeing and other sporting activities

The Dordogne provides a divine setting for working off some of the weight gained enjoying the local fayre! Oscar and I joined friends to canoe from Grolejac to Vitrac, which took just under two hours allowing for a half hour swimming break during which the children squealed with delight as they were carried along in the clear water’s surprisingly strong currents. The effort of paddling is pleasingly diminished by the stunning and entertaining scenery; chateaux precariously perched atop cliff edges, cafes and restaurants set amid cool glades and other paddlers capsizing!

Oscar and I also adore cycling past the region’s verdant crops of maize and tobacco, lapping up the cool showers from their sprinklers.

Exploring the local caves and pretty villages and towns

The Gouffre de Padirac are underground, part-traversed by gondola and have lifts for those who are unable or unwilling to ascend or descend the steep stairways in order to admire stunning stalactites, eerily and beautifully lit green/blue pools, and an amazing dome.

Nearby is the breathtakingly beautiful Rocamadour, a village set in a gorge above a tributary of the Dordogne, whose churches, hotels and restaurants rise magisterially from the gorge’s sides. Most famous as a pilgrimage site, it is also acclaimed for its award-winning cabecou (goat’s cheese) and also offers an array of boutiques and shops. The Lot is packed with picturesque villages and towns offering visitors glorious buildings, vibrant markets and galleries and boutiques to browse.

Spectacles and shows

Oscar particularly enjoyed ‘Le Rocher des Aigles’ spectacle where various birds of prey have been trained to swoop over and in front of spectators (some of whom are invited to interact with these spectacular creatures) performing deftly executed tricks and showing off their preying skills.

We also enjoyed viewing some of the many local free shows to be found in the area during the summer months. This year we admired some Spanish show men and women in traditional attire performing on magnificently groomed and conditioned horses in Gourdon’s centre whilst slurping sumptuous ice creams.

Unfortunately, career-related studies have taken precedence over my learning French. However, I have been thrilled to note that any efforts I have made to communicate with my mother’s French friends and neighbours in French or even ‘Franglais’ have been enthusiastically responded to and encouraged -especially when they involve proclamations of delight and gratitude as I gorge myself on scrumptious local fayre, as has been the case in many of their homes and at the Salle de Fetes where the locals are happy to receive guests who purchase tickets and drinks in order to be a part of their summer village festivities.

By Ginnie and Megan Oliver

Posted in Destinations

The final leg

August 19th, 2010

Vézénobres

After breakfast, we continued on our way. One of the great pleasures of driving in France is the motorway aires. Service stations in England are often unattractive and rather seedy; in France, possibly due to the cost of travelling on the motorways, there is a huge range of aires. French government regulations stipulate that aires must be placed at a maximum of 20 kms apart so there is never one far from you. Some aires are simply picnic areas with an emergency telephone and toilet facility (some containing only the dreaded “Turkish toilet”!) Others are stunning with unique features and beautiful views. One of my favourite aires, the Aires des Volcans, is on the A71 on the way to the Auvergne, about 30km north of Clermont Ferrand. As soon as we stop there I know that we have almost arrived and I can start to breathe the clean air and let the sense of peace overtake me.

Our first stop was the Catalan Village Aire on the A9 autoroute leading to the Spanish border. It was a burning hot day (the hottest we were to experience during the whole of our trip) and the theme of Catalonian architecture gave us a taste of what we were to find in Spain. It was an unusual aire: vast and rather soulless, in our opinion,but there was plenty of parking and the facilities were clean.

On arriving in the outskirts of Barcelona, we took one exit too early from the motorway so got slightly lost. Luckily, the sat nav was able to help out. To help ease our transition from France to Spain, we ordered a jug of sangria to drink by the pool after a refreshing swim. We then took the short train journey to the centre of Barcleona. We ate paella and after a short wander around we returned to our hotel as it was getting late. We noted that the people did not have the same welcoming, hospitable manner which we had encountered throughout France.

We spent the next day in Barcelona. It was raining but still warm. Obviously Barcelona is a destination worthy of far more than a day but we felt that we got a taste of what it had to offer and, yet again made a note to return! The cathedral was spectacular and the views from the roof were stunning. After spending sometime in the cathedral, apart from anything else sheltering from the rain, we wandered down to the beach then on to the port area from where we took a cable car up to Montjuic from where we were able to admire Barcelona spread out below us. The funicular metro took us back down and we decided to head off the beaten track a little towards the market area where we were able to share tapas with the locals as opposed to the many tourists to be found in Barcelona. There is no doubt that Barcelona is a fascinating city with much to offer, but I had left my heart in France and was glad to be returning the following day.

Carcassonne

The traffic was busy that morning and we eventually arrived in Carcassonne in the early afternoon. We headed up to the fortified Cité de Carcassonne which consists of a double ring of ramparts and 53 towers. The history of Carcassonne is re-told in the Kate Mosse’s novel, “ Labyrinth” which I had just finished reading, so this visit brought it to life somewhat. The medieval city is still home to approximately 120 people and contains a large number of shops and craftsmen. On entering the city it was rather alarming to find a car trying to squeeze through the narrow streets thronging with people! There was much to see in the city and as usual on this trip we did not have much time. We had a late lunch whilst watching, ironically enough, Spanish musicians who were so full of energy that they were really drawing in the crowds. It was great fun. We then walked past the 17th century castle which was the residence of the Trencavel (the viscounts of Carcassonne) and up to the cathedral: the

Basilica of Saint-Nazaire

Basilica of Saint-Nazaire with its beautiful stained glass windows. A windy walk around the ramparts allowed us to see all the sights around. I was left with a memory of a fascinating city which, despite the number of tourists crowding through the narrow streets, still carries a certain atmosphere of days gone by.

Next stop was Toulouse. We were nearing the end of our trip and felt a certain sadness as it had been all too short and we had seen so much that we would have liked to explore further. We were staying in a comfortable but soulless hotel on the outskirts of Toulouse. The rather grubby pool and the miserable weather only added to our sense of gloom. However, we wanted to make the most of the remnants of our trip so we headed for Toulouse centre. On entering Toulouse we discovered why it is called La ville rose. We drove into a lovely square edged with pink buildings. We parked and wandered down some of the side streets and found a cosy restaurant at which we drank our final apero of a coupe de champagne. We had a fantastic last supper before heading back to our hotel for the night. Toulouse is a beautiful city which is lively and contemporary yet rich in history. There are many sights to visit and, yet again, we noted it as a place to return to.

Toulouse

The following morning we set off for La Rochelle, the end point of our road trip. The capital of the Charente-Maritime department is reputed to be the most attractive and unspoilt seaside town in France. We spent very little time here on this occasion so that exploration will be for another time.

We had a fantastic and fascinating time and felt that, although we had covered a vast distance in a very short space of time, our trip had served its purpose: an introduction to some of the best which France has to offer and a taste of wonderful trips yet to come.

By Megan Oliver

Posted in Destinations, Travel & vacations

The Road Trip Continues

August 17th, 2010

Palais de l'Isle jail

We awoke early and had a very civilised buffet breakfast. After loading up the car again, we made our way back to the lake. Annecy is situated at the northern end of the lake. It really is stunning with the mountains rising up behind it. Many people were swimming in the clear blue water. Sadly we could not spare the time to swim so had to make do with a paddle this time and yet another note to come back with more time in the future. Before we left Annecy, we wanted to find the Palais de l’Isle jail (the old prison) which is apparently one of the most photographed monuments in France and the Pont des Amours (Lovers’ Bridge). Having made our token visits, we noted that there was plenty to return to including the The Château d’Annecy (Annecy Castle) which houses the Art and History Conservatory of Annecy and the Regional Office of the Alpine Lakes, and the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre which was built in the 16th century and is home to a number of artworks and baroque pieces from the 19th century. For now, we had to get back on the road to find La Grande Chartreuse.

Musée de la Grande Chartreuse

We made our way to St Pierre de Chartreuse for lunch. This was a pretty town with stunning alpine scenery. We feasted on sumptuous salads whilst gazing at the mountains surrounding us. It was like a fairy tale. We had to ask for directions to the monastery and then discovered that not only is it not open to the public but that vehicles are prohibited on the surrounding roads. Grande Chartreuse is the head monastery of the Carthusian order and is supported by the sales of Chartreuse liqueur, a liqueur which can be either green or yellow and is aged with around 130 herbal extracts. Luckily we discovered that it was not a wasted trip as the Musée de la Grande Chartreuse (museum) which was formerly La Correrie monastery was open to visitors and offered a fascinating insight into the life of the Carthusian order. This former monastery is in a beautiful setting, standing in the mountains with forests all about. I am not usually too interested in museums (I blame a very boring history teacher at school!) but this one really did give us a feel for what life in a closed order might be like and we left with a real sense of peace.

We were now far behind our self imposed schedule but we felt that it was well worth it, considering all that we had discovered. We hit traffic which meant a late arrival at our guest house in Vézénobres. Vézénobres is a medieval town sitting on top of a hill and is known for the religious wars which lasted for hundreds of years. Its proximity to Nîmes airport and town with its important remains of the Roman Empire meant that, yet again, we noted a place to return to. Our guest house was an absolute delight. The rooms were set around a courtyard with a beautiful swimming pool at the end of it. The room itself was furnished beautifully with great attention to small detail, including a CD player and a selection of relaxing CDs. After settling into our room followed by a quick swim, even though the sun had gone down, we wandered up to the town. Unfortunately, we could only find one restaurant in the town and it was fully booked, a pity as it had a very pretty courtyard where one could eat under the stars. We had to make do with crêpes which were nice but not quite what we had in mind after a long day.

Breakfast the next morning was fresh melon, bread, hams, cheeses, jams and vanilla yoghurt. Bliss! This was a definite find and well worth coming back to. No children allowed but perfect for a weekend break. Next destination: Soutwards.

To be continued…

By Megan Oliver

Posted in Destinations, Travel & vacations

An Introduction to France – A Road Trip to Remember.

August 13th, 2010

My partner, although well traveled elsewhere, had never been to France other than a few towns in the Nord Pas de Calais on daytrips. I love France. Time to introduce him then to some of the delights it has to offer! We only had a week and, as ever, we were over ambitious. However, it worked as any taster does: it whet the appetite and we are keen to return.

Not only did we want to cover as much of France as possible, by car, in just 8 days, but we also wanted to fit in a visit to a friend and dip into Spain for a quick look at Barcelona. It was a fantastic experience which could only have been improved with the addition of more time. We visited Montreuil sur Mer in the Nord Pas de Calais; Brécey, Dinard and Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy; Annecy in the Rhône-Alpes region; La Grande Chartreuse in the French Alps; Vézénobres in the Languedoc-Roussillon region; a brief hop into Spain to Barcelona; then to Toulouse in the Midi-Pyréneés region via Carcassonne back in Languedoc-Roussillon; finally arriving at our end point of La Rochelle in Poitou-Charentes.

It was August. We set off from Folkestone through the Tunnel sous la Manche; the crossing only delayed by an hour which we found perfectly acceptable for one of the busiest times of the year. On arrival in Calais, we headed for Montreuil-Sur-Mer, a charming walled town immortalised by Victor Hugo when he used it as the setting for Les Miserables. As our place mats on our lunch table described, Les Miserables is performed each year in the summer in an outdoor son et lumière. We had just missed it; I made the first note of something to return to. We knew this was a whistlestop tour so did not have much time to explore, but we could see that Montreuil was a place worth returning to, maybe for a weekend or even a daytrip at just under an hour’s drive from Calais.

Our next destination was Brécey, where our friend has a house in Normandy. We were the proud new owners of a Sat Nav, fondly named Kate. Sadly we hadn’t read the instructions thoroughly. The journey was supposed to take around four hours; it took us nine! On closer inspection, on arrival, we discovered that it had been set to avoid tolls and never ask again. I suppose it was a prettier route than the toll roads. We had opted to stay in the only auberge in the village as opposed to camping in the garden and using a hole dug in the ground, should we need to, in the night. Our friend was just starting to renovate her property and, charming though it was, it did not yet have many amenities. We had been warned that the auberge was basic and it was, but it was clean and, after a short time to thaw, the owners were friendly.

Base Camp 1

We arrived at our friend’s during late evening. There were about nine other people camping there and they were all sat around a fire pit near the entrance to the property. They had named this base camp 1. It was l’heure de l’apéro, so we chatted as we enjoyed our drinks before dinner and It soon became clear that they had been in France for some weeks already and were beginning to tire of each other’s company under conditions which weren’t easy due to the slow progress of renovation. I have never watched Big Brother, but they assured me that they were just as excited as the contestants were whenever there were new arrivals. We were treated like royalty and felt like a breath of fresh air wafting in from overseas!

After a while, we moved to base camp 2 which was an even larger fire pit, edged with stones, and a huge dining table, dressed with linen cloth, foliage and candelabra. It was beautiful! After sharing a delicious meal, the preparation of which everyone took part in, except us as honoured new arrivals, we moved to base camp 3: a huge fireplace in the lounge of the stone house. The wine flowed until we left at about 3am.

Base Camp 2

We returned the following morning for coffee at base camp 1. We then drove in convoy to Dinard. Had our friend not missed the turning off the motorway and thereby misled all the following cars, the two and a half hour journey would only have taken forty minutes! After some difficulty in parking, we shared a lovely lunch of moules and goat’s cheese pastry salad. After lunch we wandered around. I enjoyed walking through the tunnel to get to the beach and the distinctive blue and white striped changing tents.

Later, we decided to drive to Mont Saint-Michel. However, it was late in the day and the queue of traffic was horrendous. We decided to buy a guide book, take some photos from the distance, make a u turn and make a note to return on another visit. The abbey is supposed to be well worth closer inspection. We returned to Brécey for a simple yet delicious dinner and wine and music around the fire.

Base Camp 3

The following morning we set the sat nav to avoid Paris and headed in the direction of Annecy. We set the radio to France Bleu which moved seamlessly between the different regions throughout the rest of our trip and thus set the mood for France. We drove past the outskirts of both Saint-Étienne and Lyon, clearly not the best advertisement for either town, both outskirts being industrial and graffiti ridden and, as we had no time to go inwards and explore further, we made another note to return when we had more time.

We arrived in Annecy 11 hours after leaving Brécey. We found our hotel, drove to the lake (Lac d’Annecy) and enjoyed good food with a nice local wine from the menu. After dinner we strolled along the shore of the lake. It was truly beautiful with the mountains in the background. We would explore more the following morning.

To be continued…

By Megan Oliver

Posted in Destinations, French Language, Travel & vacations

Lost in France : Discovering the Auvergne

August 12th, 2010

Lac Pavin

I didn’t mean to go there, it wasn’t my intention at all, and yet what better proof is there of the old adage, “Everything happens for a reason“? Perhaps it was a combination of driving on the right hand side of the road and driving in a right hand drive vehicle. Perhaps it was fate. Whatever the reason, I ended up in the Auvergne, a place I had never heard of before, and I never wanted to leave!

The Auvergne is in the centre of the Massif Central. Of course, being in the middle of France means that it has no coastline. Usually this would be enough to put me off a region but there is enough water in the form of clear blue lakes (lacs), many of which one can swim in, to satisfy my aquatic nature. It is made up of four départements: Puy de Dome, Haute Loire, Cantal and Allier. The capital city of the Auvergne is Clermont Ferrand.

Since first discovering the Auvergne, I have been back many times. Each time I discover something new which delights me as well as rediscovering old favourites. From the volcanic scenery of the Cantal and Puy-de-Dome départements to the plateaux and pine forested landscape of the Livradois-Forez area of the départements of Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dome, this ever-changing scenery is enough to capture anyone’s heart. One of France’s longest rivers gives its name to the Allier département; its source is in the Lozère and it continues to wind through many places including the Gorges de l’Allier in the Haute Loire before it reaches the Loire. west of Nevers.

The city of Clermont Ferrand, the economic and cultural centre of the Massif Central, is also well worth a visit as it has not only the many shopping, cafés, bars and restaurants which you would expect of any French city but the Auvergne’s capital is also filled with architectural treasures: most notably the gothic style Cathedrale Notre-Dame, which is built out of black lava, and the Basilique Notre Dame du Port, which was built in the 1100s.

Just as one visit could never be enough to see all that the region of the Auvergne has to offer, so one article can never be enough to describe all that there is to discover. For me, the lacs are probably the most appealing feature: most notably Lac Pavin and Le Gour de Tazenat.

Lac Pavin

Lac Pavin, which has a wonderful circular walk around its perimeter and water which changes colour as you view it from different perspectives as well as changing with each season, is the deepest lac in the Auvergne and is surrounded by magnificent scenery. This crater lac was formed by a huge volcanic explosion. Visiting Lac Pavin is like stepping into another world as there is often snow on the surrounding Monts d’Auvergne, even when it is warm enough to eat outside in a lower part of the Auvergne. The town of Besse and the ski resort of Super Besse have a distinct Alpine feel.

My other favourite is Le Gour de Tazenat with its forested banks. My children prefer this lake as not only can they swim in it but they can also use their rubber dinghy. Again the surrounding scenery is magnificent.

Le Gour de Tazenat

Apart from water, my other main priorities on holiday are food and drink and the company of friends. As with any French region, there are many specialities. Amongst my lunchtime favourites is a salade Auvergnate comprising a variety of salads, sometimes walnuts, and the melt in your mouth Bleu d’Auvergne cheese or La Fourme d’Ambert which is a milder blue cheese with an almost nutty flavour. Other notable cheeses are St Nectaire (the children’s favourite) and le Cantal. Auvergne wines are little known outside of the region and I hear that no Appellation Contrôlée (AOC) wines are produced there although several VDQS wines (Vin délimité de qualité supérieure) are. Something for us to explore further during our next visit!

No matter what time of year I have visited the Auvergne, there is always something worth visiting. When we last visited during the summer, I thought I already knew what there was on offer but suddenly we stumbled upon a garlic festival in a small town near Clermont Ferrand. We spent a large part of the day browsing the many stalls, not only of garlic but also many other local specialities, and watching the people go by from the terraces of the cafes. I bought a selection of different varieties of garlic and the children, of course, bought beach towels which could have come from any market in any country in the world!

My overriding recollection of the Auvergne, and what takes me back time after time, is that of fresh, clean air; cool, clear waters; the most amazingly friendly and hospitable people and an overwhelming sensation of peace.

by Megan Oliver

Posted in Cuisine, Destinations, Travel & vacations

Maintain your Brain

August 10th, 2010

Why bother to learn another language, especially once we’re older? It is not for everyone, I know, and, as a person who is fascinated by linguistic intricacies, I admit that I am more of a zealot than most. However, let us take a few minutes to reflect: let us not dismiss the idea straight away. It could be that learning another language will change our lives!
Let’s start by considering what we have to lose by trying. What’s the worst that could happen? We might find that other things in our lives are more important and have to take priority so we give up learning for the time being. What have we lost? Nothing. We’ve tried something; we’ve made a start. We can start again at any time. I am a great believer that it is never too late to learn. My grandmother was learning new languages in her 80s.
The time we spend learning a new language will never be wasted. We will never forget everything we have learnt: the brain just doesn’t work that way. When we least expect it, it will start trickling back into our conscious minds. As long as we don’t set up any barriers in the form of not believing in our abilities, it will always be there when we need it. There are many ways that we can learn another language but probably one of the most flexible and successful is online. No matter how long we persevere, whether we just dip our toes in the water or whether we commit time and energy to fully master the language, it will be time well spent.
Academic learning is often thought of as a solitary activity, especially if you don’t attend classes and, instead, work on your own in your own time, yet learning a second language is one of the most beneficial ways to expand your social life. Suddenly there are whole countries full of people that you can communicate with. Not only that but by expanding your interests and your horizons you immediately become a more interesting person to other people.
How easy it is to let our brains snooze through life once we have left full time education. How comfortable the thought that there are no more great challenges. The flip side is that a lack of mental stimulation leads to boredom and a lack of energy. It is well documented that those who continue to exercise their brain tend to live longer and be happier in much the same way as those who regularly exercise their bodies lead longer, happier lives. The more we use our brains, the more they are capable of doing.
Not much is certain in life but of one thing we can be sure: if we change nothing then nothing changes. If we don’t find new ways to challenge our brains we are not going to learn anything further and our brains will stop developing, What could be better than taking things at our own pace, fitting our learning, or exercise, in with our existing lives? What could be more rewarding than being able to use that learning almost immediately to expand our minds and our horizons? And what better example is there to give our children? Certainly, we can never live in their world, as much of it is yet to come long after we have gone, but they can learn from our experiences and start to understand that learning is a lifelong process which enriches and brings many rewards. What better gift to give than a love of learning?

Mastering a new language is like being given a key which gradually unlocks the secrets of another world! Can you resist?

By Megan Oliver

Posted in Education, French Language, Travel & vacations

Dreaming of France

August 9th, 2010

Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a fascination with France and all things French. This certainly wasn’t a result of my initial experience of the language which was badly taught in a rural country school by a teacher with a strong local accent! If anything, that would serve to put anyone off as I experienced none of the beauty and melody of the language until my first visit to France at age 15.

I stayed with a French family, my mother’s pen pal from her own schooldays, and that first time my older brother was with me. We made friends quickly and played French street games and went along to classes at the Lycée for a week. I quickly learned that my knowledge of French was pitiful in comparison to French students’ English. On my return to England, I eulogised about the French way of life: it was so much better than England! I had my first real taste of freedom and a more exotic way of life.

The following year I returned in preparation for my French oral exam. This time I was alone. Despite the fact that my hostess taught English, I was only allowed to speak French. This had the effect of dampening my usual chatter but after three weeks I began to feel more confident. It taught me that a total immersion in the language, even over a relatively short period, could work wonders, even with a very shaky, rural taught basis!

I was to return to France for many holidays with my own family over the years and eventually made friends with a French family who welcomed us into their home. This was so different to the gîte holidays where we had been able to taste aspects of French life but never really felt we were living it. That overwhelming hospitality which is so common amongst French people never ceases to amaze and delight me.

And now I find myself in my early forties. My family are almost grown up and becoming more independent every day. I start to look to my future. Life seems to get ever more frantic here in England; costs rise day by day. The morning commutes to work take longer and longer. My thoughts return to France.

Why? This is probably the hardest question to answer and the easiest way is to perhaps ask instead: why not? If I stay within my comfort zone for the rest of my life I may be comfortable but how much will I learn? If I live in France, every day I will learn something new. Not only will my ease with the language grow and grow but I will learn to adapt to a new way of living. It is impossible to generalise, I know: France is vast. Each region is very different; each with its own unique flavour. Maybe that is part of the allure?

The food though…the food…. Even the thought of it evokes images of crisp fresh salads, juicy steaks, wonderful seafood, crusty fresh bread and a choice of cheeses to make the eyes, as well as the taste buds, water. France is a country where food is taken seriously and the consumption of it is not just something to be squeezed into a busy day but something to be appreciated, savoured and shared with friends. The wine too adds to the sense of occasion felt at mealtimes.
I am a dreamer and probably always will be. Yet I do know that living and working in another country will be a far different reality to that of holidaying there or staying with friends. However, how much more pleasant it would be to live and work somewhere where the pace of life is slower, friends’ company can be enjoyed over lingering meals of superb food and delicious wine, and life can be lived more outside…

Every day, advances in technology bring people closer and closer together even when they are far apart geographically. Improved transport links make it easier and easier to be at someone’s side in their hour of need, quickly. The cost of communication gets less and less.

I can start building now towards the future I dream of. Start making links with the help of the Internet and friends I have who are already living there. I can continue to improve my French language skills, again with the help of the Internet. And then, when the time comes, I’ll be ready to leap outside of my comfort zone; ready to embark on the next stage of my life and continue learning.

And what If it doesn’t work out? It’s not so far to come back…

By Megan Oliver

Posted in French Language, Travel & vacations

Le Baccalauréat

July 7th, 2010

At this time of the year many French students are awaiting or have resceived the results for their Baccalauréat, the end of school exam. Obtaining a result is cruicial to continue an educational path, as a good result will provide university entrance, whilst a failure means the doors will close and the student will either redo a complete school year or simple give up and try something else.

The “Bac” as it is know, is now spread across two school years and no longer just a single exam. Students can also specialize in different types of a “Bac” such as Science, General or Literature, depending on the path he wishes to take later.

There is of course a terrible stress as the examination dates approach, but also the waiting for the results.

Here is the point of vue of a 17 year old, who is awaiting the results for his first subjects.

French text

Pour tous les élèves qui décident de suivre une voie générale et technologique le bac n’est que le début d’une longue série d’année d’étude.

En effet le Baccalauréat en lui même ne représente rien si les bacheliers ne continuent pas par la suite ( contrairement au voies professionnelles qui permettent très rapidement d’obtenir un emploi après l’obtention du diplôme ).

Il faut aussi avouer que le Baccalauréat attire énormément de gens étant donné que l’on le généralise souvent comme LE seul diplôme étant valable, mais les chiffres parlent autrement alors si on très rapidement des ambitions professionnelles dans l’artisanat par exemple, pourquoi s’embêter à passer 10 ans de sa vie à faire des études avec au final, des chances de ne pas avoir d’emploi par la suite.

Donc si vous voulez passer un Baccalauréat Général et Technologique, soyez certain de vouloir continuer au minimum deux ans après l’obtention du diplôme pour pouvoir faire quelque chose.

Posted in Education

Some French jokes about football.

July 4th, 2010

Well in France, most people are remaining calm about what certain people call a national disaster.

We thought it would be fun to share some of the jokes which you which are flying around. The jokes are in French with an English translation and some explanations about the play on words.

Joke 1 :
Deux africains arrivent et disent à l’équipe de France ” Et bien, vous vous en allez déjà ? ”

Translation
Two Africans arrive and say to the French team “Oh well, are you already leaving ?”

( vous vous en allez : vuvuzela )

Joke 2 :

En 2006, l’équipe d’Italie et l’équipe de France ce sont rencontrées en finale, cette année c’est à l’aéroport.

Translation
In 2006, the Italy team and the French team meet in the final, this year the meet in the airport.

Joke 3 :

Ils sont venus, ils ont vu et l’on eu dans le cul. Si vous voulez voir des Bleus gagner, regardez Avatar.

Translation
They came, they saw and they go it in the ‘backside’. If you want to see the Blues win, watch Avatar.
You have a play on the latin “Veni, vidi, vici”. The nickname for the French team is the “Blues”

Joke 4 :

Zidane la tête, Henry la main, Ribéry le sexe, à quand le jeu au pied ?

Translation
Zidane with the head, Henry with the Hand, Ribéry with his ****, when will the game be played with feet.

Posted in Sport

Do they strike in France ?

June 22nd, 2010

Well yes, sometimes for good reasons, sometimes for no reason at all.

In French strike is “GRÈVE”.

The French do have a bad reputation for striking and at lightning speed. The Métro in Paris and the SNCF (the trains) are good examples. A strike may be launched for next to no reason and the whole country comes to a total stand-still.

Workers unions retain a strong position of power, not only in the civil service but also the private sectors such as the farmers and truck drivers. Roads can be blocked, tonnes of grapes can be dumped on the road and Mayors can be walled into the town hall from the outside.

I’ve seen people having to leave home at 4 am to get to work at 9am because there are no trains, buses or taxi’s, with freezing temperatures.

I’ve seen workers ready to blow blow-up factories trying to save their jobs as the investors run off with government grants (tax money.

I’ve seen nurses receiving no salary as they fight for hospital beds to heal the sick.

I’ve seen fishermen blocking harbors because they can no longer earn a living because of a decision by person in the EEC who has never been to the seaside.

I’ve seen the Police and Firemen hitting other Policemen as they fight for better conditions.

I’ve seen university students, school students and teachers pleading for more classrooms.

I’ve seen manifestations of retired people who can no longer pay heating bills.

Have you every seen homeless people asking for a bit of food, and shelter ? Who live in a tent to stop the rain, as they camp along the banks of the river Seine.

There are also other ways to strike, some strike for gold in the Olympics, many of these people are own know to us all and practice a sport only pleasure (and of course ambition) with very little financial benefit.

In football there are two methods in striking, we all know about striking as in shooting, striking for goal. This week we have learned about another method.

Strike and not play but get payed.

These are difficult times for many people throughout the world. The least we can expect from the French football team is to “STRIKE HOME”, and with the money most of these top players earn, pay back some of those who are in need and stricken out by our modern way of life.

Let’s hope for a different way of thinking in 2014.

Posted in News