Today in Uzes.

Ok....a challenge for you!

And...here I am doing the Karaoke!

Sandy, one of my teachers is on the left, Karen, the other one is next to me. 

On Friday there is a bit of a competition at school between the classes. Its Karaoké...yes I said that! This is the song my class of 10 people from around the globe are going to attempt to sing. I challenge you to learn it too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKexH9Fu9LY

The things you do...

I went to see a French Movie today called Deux jours, une nuit...1 hour and 30 minutes later I have NO idea what it was about... That will teach me! ;-) Will have to google the synopsis!

Today in France

I took a ride on my bike to Plage de Palavas today and had petit dejeuner on the beach! Saw some horses on the way, it's a 26km return trip...phew! 

Saw this dog yesterday in the Place de Comedie, pretty cool huh! 

Rebecca made my day!

Thank you Rebecca! It was cool how you researched the cathedral! I am impressed! I am off there again tonight for  a musical concert. Mozart! FLASH!

Arles Amphitheatre

Arles Amphitheatre. on PhotoPeach

Yesterday I went on a tour to Arles Amphitheatre. Wow, just wow...again. This structure was built in around the 11th Century and in its prime had 200 houses in it. This part of the South of France was very Spanish, we went to a store that sold outfits for Spanish cowboys! Cool!

Arles and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (UNESCO world heritage) Once you have been to Arles you will understand why this city attracted Artists like Van Gogh or Picasso. Its unique light and important architectural heritage make Arles to one of the most beautiful cities in Provence. With Saint-Maries-de-la Mer we also visited another jewel in the heart of Camargue, the well preserved natural Delta of the Rhone, home to Flamingos, the Camargue Bulls and white horses.

Mr Van Gogh on PhotoPeach

The NZ Exhibit

This week has been another busy one! I finally got sick of walking about and bought a bike! I am having loads more fun now I have 'wheels'. This week the topic at school was "What makes us sad". I thought it was a very odd topic to discuss with people who were quite a distance from home so I took my last bag of pineapple lumps to school to cheer the class up! Hello 9 happy people again! We also found a New Zealand Exhibit, the display was made by a woman and her husband who lived in Christchurch for 4 years. It was pretty cool to hear some Maori being sung in Montpellier! Oddly, the dancing was Tahitian...further fuelling the idea that NZ is an island where people run around in grass skirts. Oh well. I have also moved into the A2 class. Hopefully now I'll start being able to speak more French.

The New Zealand Exhibit on PhotoPeach

Regarde!

Ma velo! 

Roqufort and a big bridge!

Samedi, je suis alle a Sete dans le train. J'ai marche pour quelque heures et a eu un bon dejuner, fruits de mer! Dimanche, je suis alle a Roqufort pour le touree de formage avec un ami.

Sete

Today I went to a little fishing village called Sete. Very relaxing place for a stroll! 

Cirque de Navacelles

Au Vigan, Cirque de Navacelles on PhotoPeach

Hier je suis allé à Au Vigan et le Cirque de Navacelles avec un ami. La vue était incroyable. Le samedi, nous sommes allés à Molières-Cavaillac pour le déjeuner!



Sunday in France on PhotoPeach

So, 3 weeks down!

Today I am going to reflect on the last 3 weeks in France. Boy, what a time! There have been many, many challenges, wow moments and obstacles to overcome.

Each week I have been trying to judge my improvement in spoken French. A challenge itself. I can now understand a bit more of what is being spoken to me most of the time, but responding is still an issue. It's only early days. 

My class had a rough start, with 4 different teachers in a week because our principal teacher hurt her back so that was not the best introduction. It takes a while to understand the teachers accent so we all struggled that first week. There was the odd unexpected tear or two of frustration! 

The pedagogy is a little different and I'm taking a while to get used to the whole worksheet system and a test each Friday!  This week we had to do an oral test which was questionable because we hardly speak at all in the classroom! When in France! 

Yesterday I went to the park and learnt some Occitane dancing with Heike! It was fun but there was quite an audience! 

I get pretty excited as you can imagine when I manage to speak a whole sentence to anyone, I have started preparing things to say at dinner time and practice the sentences all the way from my apartment to Daniele's house! Hehe. I can ask her how her day was now without looking at my list! Success!

Last night (hier soir) the 2 Mexican students left the apartment to go back home so it will be a much quieter place, sadly, they were nice boys! Leon was pretty excited when I told him I lived not far from the Middle Earth place!

This week I caught up with Robin Ferris's daughter Kyla and her husband Alex for dinner. It was really nice to make a kiwi connection! Kyla was able to explain some spoken French that was far different than the verbs I have been conjugating! I still can't understand how alle changes to je vais! Hmmm! 

So, so far so good, the time is passing quickly, keeping busy is the key, each week I set goals for myself, each achievement is such a buzz! I have stopped questioning my sanity and am focusing on enjoying each moment, there is always a reason we are put into situations, onwards and upwards! 

Today I am going to brave the tram alone to the shopping centre! Hmmm.


This is Heike learning to dance. I PROMISE I did it too, but I stopped to take the movie!

Dancing.