SPI en France

On continue...

2011-07-05T10:27:00.006-05:00

Jour 6 jeudi - Quatrième jour des cours

Today's weather was ideal for touring Biarritz. We started off by purchasing bus passes at a local tabac, then made our way toward Les Halles, a market in the city center. Students got a chance to purchase fresh produce, handmade jewelry, and handmade handbags at a discount (thanks to Ingrid, who is a host mother to two of our students.) Our second stop was in the église St. Eugénie, a stunning neo-Gothic church in Biarritz's city center. We then walked a few steps to my favorite glacier, where students were treated to a glace of their choice. We continued on our path to the Casino Municipal, which was built the same year the stock market crashed. It's style is Art Déco and it can house more than 700 people in its grand théâtre. Before students were dismissed for some much-needed beach time, our tour culminated in a visit to the Hôtel du Palais. This monument is a testament to Napoléon's love of his Impress Eugénie. Following our tour, many of us continued on to see a panorama of Biarritz, Anglet, Bayonne, and Espagne from le phare, the lighthouse. The view was definitely worth climbing the 230+ steps.

Jour 7 vendredi - Cinquième jour des cours

Today was dubbed the journée du chocolat. After class, we walked over to the Musée du Chocolat, where Maya, our wonderful tour guide waited for us with chocolat in hand. We nibbled on milk, dark, and white chocolate as we watched a film on the history of chocolate and how it made its way to the Basque region from Spain (through the port at Bayonne). Maya then gave us a guided tour of the sculptures that were made out of chocolate that the museum still houses, as well as a look at some of the early machinery that was used to produce it. The tour culminated with us sipping le vrai chocolat chaud - not the powdery stuff that many of us mix with water at home, but REAL hot chocolate. The students got a nice surprise once they finished sipping. They had a chance to become artistes themselves by participating in an atelier du chocolat. Serge Couzigou, creator of the museum and master chocolatier, was present during the atelier and complimented the artistic skills of our students. It meant the world to them, especially since he's Nicolas Sarkozy's personal chocolatier!

Jour 8 samedi - Deuxième excursion

Today was an ideal day to spend in the mountains. We met at 8:15 to take a bus to La Rhune in the Pyrénées. Once we arrived, we took a charming little train built in 1924 up the mountain. Students marveled at the views, as well as the native Pottok (Basque horses) that grazed all around us. They also had time to shop in the bentas, or markets at the summit, perfect their Spanish (you're in France when you board the train, but in Spain when you reach the summit), and reflect. After a few hours of hiking about La Rhune, we descended and headed to St. Jean de Luz. While there, some students flew kites, some students toured the maison Louis XIV, and others toured the beautiful church in the city center and shopped.

Jour 9 dimanche - Jour de repos

Today was a day of rest. Most students spent time on the beach, working on their tans and surfing.

Jour 10 lundi - Sixième jour des cours

Today was our first day of class in our new school. Following class, we went to the newly inaugurated Cité de l'Océan, which is a museum dedicated to the history and science of the ocean. Although there were a few power outages during our stay, many students enjoyed the interactive exhibits that the museum has to offer.

Check out the second phase of photos at the slideshow! A+.

On s'installe!

2011-06-29T22:48:00.009-05:00

Bonjour à tous!

I am thrilled to report that we are nestled in our host families' homes in Biarritz. Below is a recap of what we have experienced thus far:

Jour 1 samedi - Arrivée à Paris

Ah, Paris (sigh). After several adventures in the airport, we made it safely to this glorious city. We fought our jet lag, took a bus to the hotel, stored our bags, and immediately began our tour of Paris. We walked to the marché Edgar Quinet, where students were encouraged to purchase items for a picnic lunch in the Jardin du Luxembourg. The weather could not have been more beautiful. Corinne, our magnificent tour guide, told us that we were lucky that it was on 80 degrees, as it had been raining consecutively for over a week. Following the marché, we paused at the jardin to eat. Some of us had the pleasure of seeing a middle school band perform during lunch. We then headed to the Louvre to marvel at the three key works that any tourist must see: Venus de Milo, Napoleon Crowning Josephine, et bien sûr, La Joconde (Mona Lisa). We exited the museum and headed toward the Place de la Concorde, which is where we said our goodbyes to Corinne. We then took the métro back to the hotel for a bit of respite, as most of us had been up for over 24 hours at that point. That evening, we all turned in early after going out to eat.

Jour 2 dimanche - Paris/Biarritz

Today we woke up early so that we could spend a leisurely morning in Montmartre. Students mapped the way via the métro, which proved to be a great learning experience for them. We were serenaded by an accordionist on our way there. We got off at the Abbesses stop and walked up several flights of stairs to reach Montmartre. Students commented on the beauty of Sacré Coeur and enjoyed seeing the artists and live performers at every turn. After a few hours, it was time to head to la gare. We took the five-hour train ride to Biarritz, where students settled in with their host families.

Jour 3 lundi - Premier jour des cours

Qu'est-ce qu'il fait chaud! Today was officially the hottest day in Biarritz. It was over 100 degrees, which may not seem like much to some of us in the group, but this is not the same kind of sun. Following placement tests and classes, we walked to the beach so that students could cool off. It was their first jour de repos.

Jour 4 mardi - Deuxième jour des cours

How quickly things change! Today the weather was cool, in the upper sixties and rainy. It was another good day to give students time to walk around Biarritz, purchase warm clothing (there are great sales happening now!), bus passes, sim cards, etc. They had their second jour de repos.

Jour 5 mercredi - Troisième jour des cours

We took a bus to Bayonne once the students finished class today. As we made our way to the Musée Basque, we saw the Hôtel de Ville and stunning Cathédrale. Students were assigned some questions that they answered while walking around. This museum contains an in-depth ethnography of Basque culture. Each floor is dedicated to a specific aspect of Basque life, such as commerce, customs, art, and funerary practices. Based on the quality of their answers, the students have learned a thing or two.

Pictures from our picture gallery are on their way. Please stay tuned.

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10 Things To Do Before You Depart

2011-06-15T10:08:00.002-05:00

10. Learn more about France.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries

9. Register your travel with the State Department.
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

8. Sign and fill out emergency information page in passport.

7. View the current exchange rate.
http://xe.com/ucc

6. Make copies of passport, medications, credit/debit cards, traveler's checks, itineraries - anything that has paperwork.

5. Check out the school where you'll be studying.
http://www.biarritz-frenchcourses-institute.com

4. Pack Lightly.
Carry On - Include one full change of clothes, toiletries, prescriptions, snacks, pullover or sweater.

3. Pack Lightly.
Suitcase - Ask yourself "can I lift my suitcase over my head and carry it far distances?".

2. Buy a gift for your homestay.

1. THANK YOUR PARENTS!!!
This includes but is not limited to a big hug, kiss, and pledge of your eternal gratitude for this transformative experience.

On continue

2010-06-21T03:09:00.008-05:00

Salut à tous!

We have continued to make the most of our trip in spite of the rainy weather we've had. Here's hoping that the sun stays with us...

Jour 7 (à Biarritz) - jeudi, le 17/6
Today we splashed our way to the Musée de la Mer, where our guide, Stéphane, led us on a fascinating tour of marine life in the Pays Basque. We learned everything from how some mammals' noses evolved from being what we would consider their faces to the backs of their heads, how they manage to breathe, what species of marine life are endangered, and more. We also learned marine vocabulary as we toured, which is great for our visual learners. Ask your child to tell you about the coquette fish - prepare for your jaw to drop. Our tour ended at the top of the museum where les phoques, or seals were. We watched them put on a show as they were being fed.

Jour 8 (à Biarritz) - vendredi, le 18/6
Today was our first trip to Bayonne as a group. We roamed around the Musée Basque du Biarritz, so that students could glean additional insight into Basque culture. The performing artists in our group were fascinated with Basque dance and music, whereas our athletes enjoyed la pelote Basque, which is played with a ball and a raquette that is wrapped around one's hands. Before returning home, the students wandered through the old ramparts of Bayonne.

Jour 9 (à Biarritz) - samedi, le 20/6
Pas trop de chance...We met at BLS early this morning to take a trip to La Rhune, one of the major mountains in the Pyrenees. It was charming to take Le Petit Train that was built in the 1920s to the summit. Unfortunately, it was too foggy to see anything. We still made the most of our trip. The students sipped hot chocolate and shopped at the Bentas. Some of them made use of their Spanish skills, since we were officially in Spain. As we took the train ride down, the sun started to come out (naturellement). We then drove to Cambo to view what is called La Petite Versailles, but it was closed. The students had the rest of the day to enjoy a bit more free time. Ainsi la vie.

Jour 10 (à Biarritz) - dimanche, le 20/6
Today was another jour de repos - a time for students to spend with their families. It was our first full day of rest and enfin du soleil!!!!

Mercredi à Biarritz

2010-06-16T05:03:00.009-05:00

Greetings from the Pays Basque!

We are now on our third day here in Biarritz. Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been as pleasant as expected. It has been mostly rainy, with intermittent sun. Nevertheless, we are making the most of our trip as you can gather from below:

Jour 4 (à Biarritz) - lundi, le 15/6
Today was our first official day of classes. After school, we took our first bus ride to Biarritz to purchase tickets and see some of the attractions it has to offer. Students had time to take a rainy walk on their own before making their way home to dinner.

Jour 5 (à Biarritz) - mardi, le 16/6
What a day! After class today, we learned first hand about la grève, or strikes in France. Some buses were not running today due to drivers striking against the rising retirement age from 60 to 62. Fortunately, neither the strike nor the rain could affect our surfing excursion. The students had a blast during their first surf lesson in Biarritz with 2 French experts. They all look forward to returning next week with better weather.

Jour 6 (à Biarritz) - mercredi, le 17/6
Today is the students' jour de repos or day of rest. They plan to venture out in spite of the rainy weather. Quel courage!

de Paris à Biarritz (deuxième partie )

2010-06-14T03:38:00.013-05:00

Jour 2 (à Paris) - samedi, le 12/6

We began our day at the Marché Edgar Quinet. How thrilling it is to shop with local Parisiens at this market! There we bought a few souvenirs (for ourselves and loved ones back home), as well as items for our picnic. The weather was ideal for lunch at the Jardin du Luxembourg, our next destination. After a bit of respite in the gardens, we took the métro to the Louvre. As you well know, it is impossible to tour the world's largest museum in such a short timeframe. Fortunately, we had Corrine to show us the highlights on a few key works such as La Joconde (Mona Lisa), Venus de Milo, the Sacré de Napoleon, and La Radeau de la Méduse. We were in awe of the scandals surrounding some of these oeuvres d'art which Corrine shared with us. The students had some time to shop at the stores in the museum after which, we boarded the crowded métro and headed to Montmartre. We spent a few hours seeing the Moulin Rouge, Moulin de la Galette, Bateau Lavoir, a major hub for artists such as Picasso, the Passe Muraille, and the stunning Sacré Coeur. Our séjour à Paris ended at the Eiffel Tower. We made it just in time to see it light up the Parisien sky. Quelle chance!

Jour 3 (de Paris - à Biarritz) - dimanche, le 13/6
Today was a day of travel. We stowed our bags on the TGV and enjoyed the bucolic views from the train. Our host families met us at the train station around 3. We spent the rest of the day getting to know them and our environs.

de Paris à Biarritz (première partie)

2010-06-14T02:38:00.007-05:00

Greetings to you all!

I am pleased to report that we made it safely to Biarritz and that students are adjusting to their host families as well as to the first day of classes. In the two posts that follow you will find a recap of our séjour à Paris.

Jour 1 (à Paris)- vendredi, le 11/6
After depositing our bags at the hotel in Montparnasse and putting on our walking shoes, we were off to tour with Corinne, our local tour guide. We first marveled at the architecture of Notre Dame - a must for anyone traveling to Paris. We then strolled to the Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was detained and subsequently met her fate. From there we visited the Palais de Justice, the French equivalent to our Supreme Court. We took une pause to have icecream at Paris's most famous glaciers, Berthillon. Following Berthillon, we went to the Place Dauphine, crossed the Pont Neuf and ended our tour at the Palais Royal.

Later that evening, we returned to our hotel to freshen up before heading to the Crêperie du Breton. It was an immersive experience, as students ordered their meals en français, and conversed with two native French students of Corrine's who dined with us.

10 Things To Do Before You Depart

2010-05-17T11:38:00.012-05:00

10. Learn more about France.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/france-guide/

9. Register your travel with the State Department.
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

8. Sign and fill out emergency information page in passport.

7. View the current exchange rate.
http://xe.com/ucc

6. Make copies of passport, medications, credit/debit cards, traveler's checks, itineraries - anything that has paperwork.
**You should inform your bank or credit union that you'll be using your credit card(s) abroad.**

5. Check out the school where you'll be studying.
http://www.biarritz-frenchcourses-institute.com/

4. PACK LIGHTLY.
Carry On - Include one full change of clothes, toiletries, prescriptions, snacks, pullover or sweater.

3. PACK LIGHTLY.
Suitcase - Ask yourself "can I lift my suitcase over my head and carry it far distances?".

2. Buy a gift for your homestay.
Consider your favorite things, souvenirs of your home city/state, or collages of your family/friends. Dallas Mavericks fans, you may want to buy memorabilia. Allez, les Mavs!
Make sure that it is not too fragile and that it is easy to carry.

1. THANK YOUR LOVED ONES!!!
This includes but is not limited to a big hug, kiss, and pledge of your eternal gratitude for this transformative experience.

Week 1 Ends, Week 2 Begins...

2009-06-22T04:10:00.006-05:00

Below is a recap of our end-of-the-week activities.

THURSDAY
Today was our first free day. Fortunately, the weather was nice enough for interested students to enjoy the beach.

FRIDAY
After class, the students and I took bus number 6 to the Musée du Chocolat in Biarritz. We learned about how Biarritz became the gateway city for importing chocolate throughout France in the 17th century. We were forced to eat a variety of chocolate, and drink real chocolat chaud (not the powdered Swiss Miss to which many of us are accustomed) throughout our guided visit. No one was harmed in the process.
After viewing a short film on the trans-Atlantic history of chocolate, as well as looking at some amazing chocolate sculptures, our visite culminated in the chocolaterie, where we filled our sacs à dos with goodies.

SATURDAY
What a day, What a day!
We arrived at at Cambo at 9:45, where we marvelled at Edmond Rostand's (the reknowned author of Cyrano Debergerac) gardens, dubbed the petit Versailles. We then took a guided tour of his manoir, consisting of 40+ rooms, including a sauna, library, servants' quarters(he had several), dressing room, and plush gardens. This year, they've opened up another room to the public, so we got to view Rose's (Rostand's wife's) living and bathing quarters.

Following the museum, we ate lunch in Rostand's gardens. We took a few photos, and had a surprise visit from a peacock while we ate. We left the museum around noon and headed to the Pyrenees, La Rhune to be exact. Our guide Philippe was there to greet us and gave us the option of hiking La Rhune, or taking the charming little train up. We hiked 900 meters (over 2900 feet) to the summit. A fun fact about La Rhune is that you're in France until you reach the top.

Endurance awards go out to Gray, Gwen, Savannah, and Stephan for their ascent/descent by foot. Rob gets a Medal of Honor for encouraging us (namely me) to stick with it. He also gave useful hiking tips. Finally, since there are no words to describe this experience other than to say "si se puede," Katrin, Kathy, and me get the award for embracing the challenge.

SUNDAY
On the seventh day, we all needed to rest. Many of us enjoyed a day at the beach, in addition to the Fête de la Musique, which is taking place all over France and in much of Europe.

Pictures to come. Post a comment if you're following our blog.

À Suivre...

One Week Already???

2009-06-18T04:17:00.004-05:00

My how time flies! I can't believe it's already been one week since we've landed en France.

TUESDAY
We had a scavenger hunt in Biarritz, which got delayed due to the rain. Fortunately, the students made it safely to the Poste de Secours; our designated meeting point. Once it ended, we went window shopping and for some ice cream in the Place Clemenceau.

WEDNESDAY
After class, we took the bus to Bayonne. We headed straight for the Office du Tourisme, so that students could pick up maps and literature on things to see and do there. We had a visite guidéé at the Musée Basque, which was previously the home of the Daguerette family. Our guided tour was quite informative, leaving us feeling more knowledgeable on Basque daily life, religion, and architecture. Ask your child why a typical Basque home is red and white and s/he will enlighten you. Some students lingered around Bayonne to explore and shop. This was their first time to make their way home to Anglet, and they succeeded in light of some minor challenges.

Today is a journée de repos, so weather permitting, the students can enjoy a day at the beach.
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Ça y est!

2009-06-16T04:03:00.015-05:00

A WORD OF CAUTION: EN FRANCE THEY USE THE AZERTY KEYBOARD. PLEASE EXCUSE ANY TYPOS.

We have arrived in Biarritz!
Below is a recap of our travels thus far:

THURSDAY/FRIDAY
After several hours of delay due to inclement weather (more than 6 for some of us), we arrived in Paris Friday afternoon. We made it just in time for Josh, notre guide dynamique to give us a tour of the environs. He took us to Sainte Chapelle, the Palais de Justice, and Notre Dame to start. It was rather fascinating because Josh's perspective is that of an artist, architect, and historian. For instance, we learned that most of the red brick architecture found in Paris was a result of Henry IV's Edict of Nantes.
Our energy started to wane due to jetlag, so we stopped to re-charge with une coupe de glace at Berthillon; arguably the world's best ice cream. We ended the day with a stroll on the Pont Neuf to the Institut de France (more specifically, the Academie Francaise), where all decisions concerning the French lexicon are made. Next, we marvelled at the Louvre, Pyramide, and les arcs. Our first day en France culminated with dinner in Montparnasse, followed by a group de-briefing.

SATURDAY
We had a typical French breakfast consisting of pain, jambon, fromage and several cups of café. Upon finishing, we strolled over to the marché de Montparnasse. We were serenaded by an accordionist as we passed through the array of cheeses, meets, fish, délices, clothing, shoes, and accessories. Some students' stomachs turned at the sight of tongue, brain, and other items they wouldn't dare try. We later walked to the Cimitière de Montparnasse and the Catacombes - Josh previously warned us that death would be our theme du jour. We didn't spend too much time feeling morbid, however, since we had lunch in the verdant Luxembourg gardens. Following lunch we hiked to Sacré Coeur. This part of the tour was somewhat frenetic, given the crowds. Heureusement, Josh knows all of the raccourcis, or shortcuts, so we avoided them when we could. After seeing the Moulin de la Gallette and the Moulin Rouge, we said our goodbyes to him at Pigalle. We ended the day with dinner in Montparnasse and a boat cruise on a bateau mouche. We went to sleep early, so we could make our morning train.

SUNDAY
Prior to taking the train, we had one last breakfast, along with another group de-briefing in Montparnasse. During the 5-hour ride, Stephan showed me how to do Sudoku. Although he had the brown belt edition, he's at least a second degree black belt. Our families were there to meet us in Biarritz promptly at 3:30. After the first two nights here, the students have adjusted to their familles d'acceuil as well as to la vie basquaise. I must say that I'm quite impressed with how cohesive they are; they are inclusive and considerate of one another. Furthermore, they're punctual. May they continue to be so!

More to come later. Yesterday, we took time to explore Biarritz and Anglet, in addition to going over logistics and transportation. Today the students will participate in a scavenger hunt to test their knowledge of the French language, Basque culture, and geography. May the best group win!

Avant de partir...

2008-06-10T22:31:00.003-05:00

Salut à tous!

Now the countdown begins. The first thing you should do is give your parents a big hug for their amazing sacrifice and thank them everyday until we depart!

If you don’t already know, I’m Mlle. May, Director of SPI in France. In addition to French and English, I speak Spanish, Japanese, Russian, and a little Chinese. I’ve lived, studied, and worked in the US, France, and Japan. I’m just as excited as you all are since this is my first trip to Biarritz.

Please stay tuned and check out the BLS school in Biarritz when you get a moment!
http://www.bls-frenchcourses.com/school-biarritz-GB.html

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