Monday, June 30, 2014

My final week in Montpellier!

Alors, ma dernière semaine commence. Il a été un intéressant 3 mois! J'ai beaucoup à réfléchir sur. cassée ma tête!

Now to just fit 3 months of shopping back into my suitcase!

I have really enjoyed my time here in Montpellier. I have met many interesting people in all stages of life. We all have the same goal, to try to make sense of the French Language! Never easy! While the pedagogy seems weird to me, I have learnt plenty of French, some not repeatable here. I have really enjoyed looking around this part of France and every weekend has been something new to look at, a new place to see! I think it is important as teachers to put ourselves into situations where we DON'T know stuff to gain real understanding of how much of a struggle it is to learn. How quickly your brain turns off when you have little comprehension of the task. A very humbling experience for any teacher.

The people I've met along this journey have been amazing, Therese, from my time in France in 2009 to us on a magical journey through the mountains to view some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen!


I have enjoyed keeping in touch with my class in New Zealand, what a great time I had talking to them on Skype, they grow so fast! I've had many emails from my class, and a whole bunch of letters, which I showed everyone who would look. I have purchased so many resources, games and carambars!

So, onwards and upwards, over the next month I get to spend time with Kelvin, Kelsey and Marc, looking around the north of France and going to Venice. A little relaxation before I venture South for the winter.

 Thanks to Prue, AFS NZ and Maeroa Intermediate for the opportunities I have had here in France. Learning is NEVER wasted!

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Nimes

Today I went to Nimes in the train for a wee look. It was really cool, Nimes has an arena where they still do bull fighting! Only now they don't kill the bulls, they only put ribbons round their horns! 

Friday, June 20, 2014

Friday, June 13, 2014

Montpellier by night.

Ok, Aiden tells me I've been too quiet lately so here is what I've been doing this evening. It's been really, really hot this week, 37 one day, 40 the next in the full sun! I've been trying to keep indoors because it's much cooler! It's not a good plan  to even open the windows because it lets the hot air in. Montpellier needs some trees! So, night time pics...
Everyone is soccer mad here, the people gather around any tv screen and get VERY excited about something ??? :-)

Soccer anyone? 




Monday, June 9, 2014

A visit to Strasbourg

Strasbourg on PhotoPeach

Nature Tour

Today I went on a Nature tour to see the Camargue Horses and the Flamingo. This tour was in a 4X4 truck. An experience! The guy running the tour took his time and we saw plenty of wildlife! 


A tour to see the white horses and the Flamingo on PhotoPeach

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

La Traviata

Last night I was lucky enough to go to the Opera. One of the people staying in the same place as me is an Opera singer. He gave my host a ticket to the dress rehersal. So, on I went to view La Traviata!

The theatre was built in 1888, Montpellier was built around then to model Paris. It even has an Arc de Triomphe!

So, I really enjoyed the Opera! almost 3 hours of it! But seriously, it was super cool!

 One odd thing though...there were subtitles in FRENCH above the stage on a screen...

The painting on the ceiling of the theatre was so beautiful!
la-traviata