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
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!!!!!!!
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 !
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
Yes,can't believe myself ,I've been to Belgium for a day trip.Oui -to Belgique,to Belgique!!!!!!!!!! to look at the chocolates,diamonds,lace ,palaces etc!Voila!!!!!! An amazing city ,full of history in every nook & corner.The architecture blew me completely.Everywhere we went such massive old buildings resplendent & reminding of us of the glorious past.
Of course I did have a good look ,I mean only good look at the Belgian diamonds & guess what there was this this Diamond shop owned by an Indian in the centre of Begium.Whooo!!!!!!!!!It was great to see the shop.I did have the Belgian waffle as well ,will be shocked at the size of the waffle with chocolate, strawberries & banana!. I wasn't hungry, was more tired walking but I insisted that I should have one.Great ,couldn't eat all of it though!
Oops, forgot about Belgian Chocolates,rows & rows of shops selling chocolates .The displays were so interesting.Have heaps of photos.Last but not the least the lace,so dainty & delicate,but trop cher!very expensive.Most of the souvenir shops were run by Pakistanis & Lebanese.
My Monday- you can imagine ... how could it be?Very tiring,can't stop yawning.But somehow getting through the day.Hopefully will have an early night .Have a couple more hours to go before I go home.Today I was in a Spanish class,should tell Leanne that I learnt quite a bit of it.I was in an English class too.That was interesting .The instruction is mostly for the whole class mainly from the text book.Was reminded of the Indian system.The english Dept here is quite big & the teachers are quite nice.Mealtimes are so very different.Will take pictures tomorrow.They serve a full 3 course meal ,unfortunately or fortunately may be,I can't have most of it.
I will be doing my presentation this week & next week too.Hope it goes well.
I think I will log off now & go for a walk as I don't have the last class today.
Missing everyone heaps!!!!!!!
sayonara!!!!!!!!!!
PS:Well everyone insists that I speak to them only in French,which is a bit difficile (difficult) as they are so fast so I have asked them to speak plus lentement ( speak slowly)Hard Task,have to do ,that's why I'm here.Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks everyone -my family& friends who have been emailing & reading my blogs.Would love some comments too!!!!!!!!!Merci Beaucoup!
Yesterday was Ramadan & my host family had their celebs. I think meal times on special days are much longer than the usual 1 hr dinners everyday.Can you believe it went on for full 2 hrs.One after the other -Starters, main course,salad,coffee with dessert.Found it very interesting.TRES INTERESSANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weekend so far has been quiet everyone doing their own chores.May probably go to the supermarket with Talia.Talia's son Adel was here last night for the weekend.
Talia has another guest from Sydney.Her name is Mary,she is 15 yrs old & goes to the same school .She is here for 5 months.
Sign off now.Will be back soon!!!!!!!!!!!!
MY FIRST DAY AT ROMILLY!!!!!!!!
Rush Rush & Rush in the morning to get to school by 8 am.Reached school & met Valerie the support person from AFS,an absolutely delightful personality.Very helpful took me around & introduced staff & the principal !!Everyone had been so welcoming so far.The English Dept has 5 teachers?
Lunchtime had a great experience all the teachers have lunch at school which is free- starters,salads,maincourse & dessert.It's a different thing that I can't eat 90% of the stuff.The school has over 100 teachers & a roll of around 1000 students ranging between 15-21 yrs of age .The teachers & the students look alike all hep & classy.Everyone is very well dressed men too & some of them in suits .School buildings are massive with all the latest equipment & the staff room is so noisy all the time,looked like the staffroom in my school in India.Went into an English class to observe ,found it interesting !!!!!!!Still have an hr and a half at school before it ends for the day.A LONG DAY - FROM 8 AM -6PM !!!!!!!!How is this Viscount????????But they do have free time in between & if they finish early they can go home too.COOL!!
Just can'twait to hit the bed tonight!!!!!!!!!!
Au Revoir!!!!!
Day 2 in Paris:
Had to wake up early again to go to Le Louvre -The museum.Ann Marie (the teacher from Wellington) & Harini started yet another adventure .Took 2 trains -Metro to the museum & what do we see?Long serpentine queues to buy the ticket.Took almost an hour ,well it definitely is worth the wait !The pyramids we see in the pictures are awesome.The museum is housed in an enormous palace with massive halls filled with sculptures,paintings & what not.YES ,I did see MONA LISA finally ,I always wondered about this painting of Da Vinci.You really have to see to believe it,the crowd in front of the paitning unbelievable,had to squiggle & jiggle to finsd a spot to click pictures.Could have spent hours & even days there but had to leave to catch a train again to ROMILLY -my actual destination.
I took a taxi to the train station ,with 2 pieces of luggage - 1 massive & the other OK ,walked into the station which reminded me of stations in Mumbai in terms of size & crowds but of course very organised.Found my train & platform boarded the train without knowing that I needed to validate my ticket.Just realised when there was barely 5 min. left for the train to depart as I looked at the ticket it said something that I managed to comprehend.Tried asking few people but they couldn' t do much.Finally one lady took my ticket & got off the train towards this man with a hat on who validated my ticket.GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME!!!!!!!A huge thank you to that lady who saved me.Can't imagine what could have happened.....
Anyway reached Romilly safely & was met by my lovely host at the station. Guess what,she has an Australian student from Sydney living with her. My host Talia has a beautiful French villa far away from the school.That was the end of day 2...........An amazing mix of excitement & anxiety.
Merci!!!!!!!!!!
Bonjour tout le monde!!!
Day1:
Landed in Paris at 8.30 am on 7th Sept after about 24 hrs of flying.JET LAG ?????????(Didn't have time to think.)Four NZ teachers( who never met each other) ventured out on a sightseeing trip around Paris!!!!!Ooh La la!!!!An amazing adventure I must say!!!!!!We went on a boat trip around the famous sights .Imagine sitting in a restaurant in Paris at 9pm(I was only having juice though) before the night trip to explore the sights again on a open double decker bus.I can't believe that I was at Eiffel Tower ,Champs Elysees,L'arc De Triomphe & the Louvre(I did pinch myself)It all seemed surreal.What a spectacular sight that was!!!!!!!!!I was completely blown away.Finished the trip at 11 pm & we returned back to the hotel at MIDNIGHT ON THE METRO!!!!!!!!WOW!Bonne Nuit!Au Revoir!
Hi
What a busy week it was!My excitement was quite high after the visit to Bochon Creperie in Kingsland.But to my surprise I found that I started to feel nervous as the day was nearing.Last few days have been hectic shopping collecting resources to take & of course packing.Today was my last day at school prior to my departure on Monday. Made pike lets ( NZ crepes) in the class for shared lunch Thanks Sandra for helping me out.(You may find me at school on Monday morning setting up the class before I board the plane.Ha Ha!!!!!!!!)
Thanks to my mandali at school ,we caught up at Toby's jug for a little while. That was great .Had plenty of advices to try snails & of course WINE & CHAMPAGNE! I definitely will ,don't worry Viscount I won't disappoint you.(Ha Ha!!!!!Meafou & Diana)
Before I sign off I must thank my lovely kids & husband for pushing me to do this,for challenging & encouraging me always without their support I wouldn't have even thought about this whole AFS saga.Thanks Kirti & Ricky!!! Thanks Sumi for helping in many ways.Love you all heaps !!!!
Au Revoir & abientot!!!!!!!!!
