Bonjour tout le monde!

I am off to Nouvelle calodonie on the 8th of octobre .Ooo la la!So looking forward to the 2 week trip.Will keep you all posted regularly  from Noumea.
Bonne chance a moi!

Au revoir et Abientot!

Bonjour tout le monde!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello & welcome everyone


It's been a long time since I've posted anything on my blog.Just been very preoccupied with a lot of things ever since I returned from France.What a memorable trip I had!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another  memorable event in my life (our lives in fact) was my daughter's wedding in Dec.Honeymoon's over &  its back to reality now &back to teaching French at school.
Last week was my first class.Iam teaching about 25 , year 7 and 8's who are in the age group of 12-13.It was an amazing experience being able to teach the language  again.Good Luck to me.Hope I can do decently well. We started with a song on greetings .Then I shared  some of my  cherished experiences  about my visit to France.We watched a video briefly & learned some greetings & phrases in French.We ended our lesson with a few songs.Tomorrow is my next class .I am looking forward to it.I am hoping to get in touch with Valerie my mentor in Romilly asap so that I can start the communication link up & running between the students of Viscount Primary school & the students of the Lycee at Romilly.
Au Revoir ! Abientot


Bonne weekend!!!!

My last day at school!

I can't believe that I've been in France for one month.Time flew so fast specially the last few weeks/days.It was so hectic since morning,didn't have any classes .I was just meeting people to say" Au revoir".

I was invited by Nazia (final year student at the Lycee)for lunch.She wanted me to meet her parents as they were very keen on meeting me.

So Nazia's dad picked us up from school and what a grand welcome I received from the whole family.Her mum had prepared a huge feast for me.Well Nazia is from Pakistan & has been in France for the last 4 years.Her dad's been living for the last 30 years.They kept serving me one after the other- biryani,curries,salad,rotis,chutney,Kheer & what not.Her mum was going to make pakodas too.Since I had to get back to school I told her not to.I had a delicious meal  after nearly a month.Guess what 's happening  next...

they are packing food for the night  .I was overwhelmed by their hospitality

It hasn't ended yet.then when I'm about to leave I'm showered with gifts  Just when I was about to leave I met another lady (the only other Pakistani family at Romilly) who dropped in to meet me.She insisted that I visit their house.But I apologized saying that I had to leave as one on my colleague was waiting for me.She left immediately.I didn't bother much as I just met her for a few minutes.She appeared in no time with some gifts for me.I was shell shocked." UNBELIEVABLE".I probably was embarrassed too not knowing how to react.

She kept saying that when you give something to someone you do it without expecting anything in return.She was so happy that she had this opportunity to give me something.I'm still in a state of shock after I experiencing all the pyaar & Mohabbat from these 2 Pakistani families settled in France.

Honestly I have no words to describe about this genuinely kind & generous family.All I can do is wish them happiness,peace & prosperity & pray that all their dreams & wishes that they have for themselves & their children come true.

After the grand lunch I returned back to school.Margaret drove me  around Romilly for one last time.I came back at 4 pm as Talia was picking me up at 4 pm. so I hurriedly went into the staffroom to pick all my gifts & food parcels from Nazia's family.

wow!!!!!!!!!Valerie had organized a petite farewell for me.When I left home for school in the morning didn't even have a wee bit of clue that it would be so very special for me.I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY .The teachers had written me messages on a calender for 2011.The calender was of Claude Monet's paintings.I have become a fan of Monet & van Gogh  now. Strange for someone who didn't know much about what Naturalism or Impressionism or symbolism means.Things change !!!!!!!!

 I was  now completely at a loss for words,but managed to say a few phrases in Francais .As was expected cried too.Very typical of Harini .I had never dreamt that it will end like this.I don't know whether it was a dramatic end or something else.

All I can say is this experience has taught me so many lessons & began to think about the different kinds of relationships we build during the course of our lives.

Well another time on this topic. I can very proudly say that I 'm really happy for  embarking on this journey.Definitely a remarkable & a life changing experience.

I had to pen these thoughts tonight before I lost them.Probably I will return to edit /add some more.

Till then Bonne Nuit!

Harini

My third Weekend

Salut tout le monde


Comment allez vous?Cava!
I didn't plan anything this weekend because we had this AFS -Language day celebrations on Sunday& I had to do a presentation on languages.
Talia suddenly asked if we wanted to go to Euro Disney(Mary & me)We said OUIIIIIIIIIII(yes)So off we went on Sat morning.A very interesting trips unlike the previous ones but enjoyed a lot.Some attractions were really awesome.I loved the one that 's called -It's a small world with toys from all around the world.The whole atmosphere of the place was so vibrant  & happy . I think this attraction can change even the moodiest & gloomiest person  for the better.There were a lot of others that were cool too.I think I would have walked miles & miles for approx 10 hrs.We went to the Euro Disney studios where we watched some movies,special effects.You can imagine my condition on Sunday.But had to go again on Sunday to Troyes for the presentation.
Anyway,The presentation went off very well.I spoke about NZ,Maori language & culture & a little bit about Indian languages too.My AFS support person wanted me to speak about Indian languages too.
The audience were keen to know about Maori language & they said they learnt a lot about languages they weren't aware of.
oh yes forgot about the Les  escargots we had for lunch.Check out the photo on FB.You can't believe it Can you ????
Monday:A long day-8am -6pm.Je suis tres tres fatiguee.(Very very tired)mal a la tete.(Have a bad headache)
But the day went very well as we celebrated the languages day at school.Again had  an English class .After lunch had 2 English classes.The students were asked to cook some recipe & bring it to school.They had such a variety of recipes from allover-Moroccan,German,Tunisian,Creole,Russian,French cuisine of course,Middle Eastern,Danish & danc(then)...Kiwi Whoooooooooooo!I made a lolly cake.Thanks Fran for telling me about this recipe.I had never made it,its the easiest & quickest.They liked it ,I felt it was too sweet.
Did you what a lolly cake is????????????Tres excite!mais plus long jour!(very exciting .but a very long day)
Je mange carotte et avocat avec pain et yaourt pour le diner.
Now time to go to bed.
A demain.Bonne Nuit.
Harini

Valerie & Me

Semaine Trois

Aujourdhui ,j'ai parlé de la NZ à 6 classes.Je leur ai monté une présentation sur la NZ.c'est très interssant pour des élèves.Ils ont posé beaucoup de questions sur la NZ.Tout le monde connait les All Blacks et le Haka!Je leue ai parlé de l'art et de la culture maori.
Maintenant ,je suis en aide aux devoirs pourdes enfants.J'apprends le français avec des enfants.Annie m'aide .merci beaucoup Annie!Je lis de l' histoire et He comprends.Le titre del' histoire est "une histoire a quatre voix".
Je suis trés fatiguée.Je fais beaucoup de choses.Abientot!Au Revoir!

Today I had to teach in 6 classes .I did  a PP presentation on NZ.The students found it very interesting & asked a lot of questions.They  all  knew about All Blacks & haka about NZ.I talked about Maori  language, art & culture too.
After school I went with Annie to  the Homework Centre for Primary school students.I learned some French with them,helped them with their maths homework.I read a story in French & Annie asked me some comprehension questions.Found it funny being an  8 yr old student.
I'm very very tired today,I did a lot of different things today.
Goodbye!!!!!!!

Semaine Deux

J'ai décidé que je devrais d'écrire mon blog dans le français.cette semaine j'ai des cours de le management,l'espagnol,anglais ,de droit et le français.C'etait très interessant d'aller dans ces classes.J'ai appréciéla plupart des matieres.Je ne pouvait pas comprendre un mot d'espagnol au dé,mais a la finj'ai apppri deux ou trois mots:estan,estay,benidorm,visitando un museo.l'anglais était le meilleur ,naturellement .ha Ha !!!!!!La droit et l'admistartion.J'ai pu comprendre quelques termes qui étaient communs et j'eesayais de comprendre les phrases aussi.Tres Bien!!Le mercredi aprèsmidi iln'ya pas classe.Il reste 2 jours avant ce weekend .je ne sais pas que je fais ce week end.je vous le dirai et j'espere que  va bien dans le travail en NZ et à la maison.
Le temps est un peu mauvais il a plu toute la journée.
Je dois dire que j'ai utiliser le traducteur ou demander à mon AFS support personne Valerie de corriger mon travail.
BON WEEKEND ET BON SEMAINE!
ABIENTOT!!!!!
English Translation:
I decided to try to post in French this time.This week I had been to many classes ,Wide range of subjects like :Law,Management,Spanish,English & French.It was vey interesting as in some classes I did not undersatnd much specially sapnish.But when I left I did 2-3 words.I must check  with the Spanish ladies in my school.Of course English was the best naturally!!!!!!!Ha Ha!!
Hey!Today is Wednesday ,it is half a day at school because the students do sports on Wednesday afternoons. Two more days for weekend ,I do not know what Iam doing this weekend .I will keep you posted.Hope all is well at work & home.
It had been raining for the last 2 days all day mostly.
I had to use the translator and also get my AFS support person Valerie to correct this passage  in French for me.
Have a great weekend!See you soon !

Weekend in Switzerland - the land of milk ,watches,chocolates again!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone!!!!!!!!
This weekend I ventured out on my own from Romilly to Geneva.Took a train to Paris & then another one -TGV to Geneva.I reached a little after 10pm .The train station seemed like an airport-crowd,customs ,police etc.I came out very confidently &when I got out of the main entrance everything seemed alien.Walked to the road & asked the cop because I was told my hotel was located just 300m away from the station.He asked me if I was alone ,when he heard I was indeed alone ,he said he would accompany me to the hotel. I couldn't believe my ears.YES,he did take me in the cop's car  along with another cop & dropped me off at the hotel.He said that after 10pm it was not all that safe  specially because I was alone.I was absolutely surprised & of course delighted  at this gesture of these 2 good Samaritans.Thank you Swiss cops!!!!!!!!!!!!! Goes to prove that there still are many many lovely people. in this world.I have taken a picture with them too.
Day1
In the  morning I  went to the tourist info centre which is close to my hotel to try & book some tour , because I didn't have much time to  research & then book my tours before I left Paris..The ones I had looked online were all booked up,specially I was keen on Gruyeres.I really had taken a chance.As this trip was not planned properly I thought to myself I should have done it next week  so that I could have been better prepared..Anyway since I didn't have anything else except the Geneva city tour , I decided to do that .Then out of the the blue comes  this tour operator who was taking a trip to Gruyeres the place I wanted to go.he said he had a place in his mini bus.So I jumped on the bus & had a wonderful trip to  Gruyeres, Chocolate factory,cheese factory,medieval village -this village is supposed to be one of the beautiful villages on the planet(according to UN)Montreux & of course the Alps.We went up a little over 2000m, on a funiculaire (which is like a train)But unfortunately since  it was cloudy the clarity wasn't very good.Could see lot of snow on the peaks.It was hard to capture on the camera.


In all this excitement didn't remember to charge my camera  Daaaaaaaaaaaa, so couldn't take many pictures but have taken videos instead which I will post soon on FB.
This experience has truly enhanced my cultural understanding  of three different French speaking countries.Thanks to my guide who provided the input.I also found myself using more French on this trip than before. (Asking directions,asking for help,ordering food,buying things from the shop.)
Had dinner at Bombay restaurant on my way back to the hotel.
Bonne Nuit!!!!!!!!!!A demain