Having had to wake up early to be ready for the school bus, many of us are treated to a wonderful ride through les montagnes to reach le Collège de Luz. As le groupe gathers in the courtyard, we get our schedules, and after a half-hour of debriefing with Tracy and me, students will visit the school, and then, in groups of three, attend regular classes. They experience Anglais, Français, Espagnol, mathématiques, physique, techno(logie), histoire et géographie, navigating through the three school buildings, until recess in the vast courtyard. The view over the mountain tops from many of the classrooms is unbelievable!
After recess, we meet as a group again, to refine the presentation we will make to the English classes as part of the whole school international project of research on water: we will present in French(!) about water in NYC, and the seventh graders brought all the documents with them to share with our whole group. After much brainstorming, we have a plan, we practice, and we feel ready for tomorrow's presentation, armed with some books and materials we brought with us to share. The English classes will present to us about water in the Pyrénées.
At lunch time, we find le menu du jour posted: salade mixte avec noix et jambon de pays (mixed salad with walnuts and local prosciutto), canard à l'orange (!) avec pommes dauphines (duck in orange sauce with dauphine potatoes, a great success), fromage, pomme au four sauce au chocolat (baked apple with chocolate sauce).....Teachers have lunch in the teachers' room, with wine!
The rest of the day, students follow their classes and Tracy and I visit Luz, which boasts l' Eglise et le Château des Templiers, and le Gave d'Héas, the little torrent which continues to flow rapidly down the valley to the Usine Hydro-Electrique de Pranières.
May I mention that at this point, every French adult in the town who has encountered one of our students goes on and on about how wonderful they all are. A couple of them might not come back, as they are about to be legally adopted!
4 comments:
so, did you do us proud with your presentation about New york water?
I am in the department of motor vehicles waiting to renew my license and they have free internet service...you all look like the temperature is warm. it is cold and very gray here.
Janet Villas
Ah the motor vehicle dept. I am sure it goes better in France!
It looks wonderful! I found a "web cam" of Saint Sauveur, I think it is to check the weather. It is funny. I see some other pictures googling around. Duncan, Sazos looks incredible! very very old.
Duncan, I know we said not to bring us anything back, but we changed our minds when we found out that "La Ferme des Cascades" where you are staying, is not "The End, or Close, of the Cascades" but is "The Farm of the Cascades" - Cascades of the Luz River I suppose. A farm.
AND THEY MAKE CHEESE THERE >> > BRING HOME SOME CHEEEEEESSSEEE PLEEEAAASSSEEE! It sounds WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!! You are a lucky dog! Un chien avec de bon chance!
Love the pictures I saw on a web site of the sheep too. So lovely, beautiful countryside.
Sounds like you are having a great time.
Mom and Dad
Janet,
Yes, we did a great presentation, all in French, they were impressed! Today the snowboarding team (including my nephew) will know if they are France's champions!!!!!! We are waiting with impatience! They were competing against 29 other teams!
We will go to Observatoire du Pic du Midi, one of the best in the world, at about 9,000 feet! I will be thinking of you!
Marie-Christine
I like Jordans Picture. It brings out his inner intellectual! As for mine, half of my face is missing....
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