Mont Saint Michel + Soirée

Today was a busy day.  We boarded the coach to head to Mont Saint Michel in Normandy.  As with many days here, it was a bit chilly in the morning but then we had a beautifully sunny day to enjoy this 1000+ year old landmark.  We ascended to the top where the Abbey is located to start our tour.  Aided by audio guides, students were able to take their time walking around the Abbey, home to Benedictine monks and a destination for many pilgrims as well as tourist
s like us.  Then, students stopped to enjoy their picnic lunches from their French families.  Then there was more free time to enjoy the ramparts, the shopping and cafés.

We then left for Saint Malo, a charming walled back in Brittany.  Students had free time to wander this seaside town.  Some shopped, stopped at cafés or walked the ramparts.

Then it was back on the bus for the soirée organized but the principal, Mme LeGrand, M. El-Amiri and the parents who all brought something to eat for this potluck dinner at the school.  We received many compliments about how much the French families have enjoyed having the American students stay with them.  Then it was time to go home to pack bags since it's an early departure tomorrow for Paris.  Hopefully there is wi-fi at the hotel so I can continue to post updates.

Here is a link to an article that appeared in the local paper today about our visit to the town hall yesterday: http://www.letelegramme.fr/morbihan/vannes/l-image-du-jour-17-04-2014-10128764.php
That was one of two newspapers that reported on our visit!

Tour of Vannes

Today was the day to tour the downtown part of Vannes.  Mr. El-Amiri, the French teacher who organized our outings, introduced students to Christine Joucla, a former English teacher at the high school who gave us a guided tour of Vannes.  We started at the Porte St. Vincent - the door by the port through which you enter the oldest part of the town.  She gave us a detailed history of the town and its role in French and Britton history.  She passed out a questionnaire for students to answer as they toured the town.  She was very impressed by the students and how well they paid attention during her tour.  After the tour, students had an hour of free time to meander through the town and do some shopping in the market and shops.

Then, we met up for lunch at the Vieux Port Crêperie.  Students had a choice among four savory crêpes, or galettes as they are known in Brittany (which specializes in crêpes). Many got the local specialty of ham, cheese and egg on a buckwheat galette followed by a chocolate crepe and vanilla ice cream.

After lunch, we were greeted at the town hall.  We had our picture taken and were interviewed by two local newspapers about our experience here.  Then, we were welcomed by the deputy mayor who spoke about the necessity of these types of exchange experiences and their role in creating international understanding.  She also hoped that students would came back to Vannes in the future with their families.  A recent college grad serving as the deputy youth mayor also explained how young people are the future and these international exchanges facilitate international relations.  The deputy mayor asked students about their impressions of Vannes and she was delighted to get a few responses in French from Sophie and Malcolm.  After a short video about Vannes, they presented us with refreshments and souvenirs from Vannes.

Finally, their correspondants picked them up for a free afternoon to enjoy the beautiful weather and see some last sights since tomorrow is the last full day and they are fully booked.

Les Chars à voile

Today students went to an hour of class in the morning before our field trip today to Quiberon - about 45 minutes from Vannes.

We were blessed with another beautiful day to do the chars à voile - land sailing.  The instructor gave the students a lesson on how to handle the carts - how to steer, how to speed up/slow down and how to adjust for the wind.  Students were split into two groups of 12 - including a few French students who joined the outing today.  Some students got it right away, cruising around the course marked on the beach.  Some needed a bit of coaxing to get around the turns.  Overall, Christian and Olivier were the two flying around the course with ease.  A few students caught a little air when one wheel lifted and there were one or two who toppled.  Overall, it was a fun adventure.

After two hours of les chars à voile - it was lunchtime.  We settled in on a local beach in Quiberon for  our picnic lunches.  Students had two hours to eat, play on the beach, get some sun, buy some snacks or just walk around.

After lunch, we took a quick tour of the côte sauvage - untouched rocky beach/nature preserve.  Then it was back on the bus, back to meet up with their correspondants. Some still have class until 7:00 while others are done for the day.