German Visitors

At lunchtime today at Notre Dame de l'Assomption, the school group of 12 and 13yr olds from Germany arrived for their cultural exchange. The french kids were just as nervous as ours pending the arrival of the bus. When they arrived the German teachers were encouraging their kids to greet  the french kids in the appropriate way, but they wouldn't have a bar of it!  Well done to my TIS kids who always give it a go!



I had a class of Yr 8s by myself this afternoon so that Chantelle could spend time with the German kids. It was great. I just did what I have done many times with my french classes at home - just changed it so that they had to speak English instead of french. I brought over lots of NZ stickers and they worked a treat to encourage correct answers!
Later in the afternoon I had a long chat to one of the German teachers. She is a lovely girl of about 30 and I discovered why she spoke such good french. She is french, brought up in Paris but went to Germany to study and ended up marrying a German. She was so interested in the education system in NZ. She understood how formal and regimented the french system is and said the German system is far better but not as good as NZ! She has heard so many great things about our country and it is a dream of hers to go there.
It never ceases to amaze me how the french cling on to such old systems and ideas. Marionelle was very critical of the french education system. I was interested in the work the kids were doing and saw the huge preparation both the french and the German teachers had put in earlier for this exchange. They have a theme every couple of years and work together with each other as well as teachers in Holland. The theme for the next two years is, "We Will Build Tomorrow's Cities".  I have some interesting new ideas to incorporate into my exchange with Noumea next year.
Before dinner tonight, Danielle, Bernard and I went around the village dropping a flier into everyone's letter box advertising an upcoming production in the village that one of Bernard's friends is in. It is in ch'ti so it will be all beyond me!  How great it would be to stay here, continue to improve my french, but also study the dialect. It is so fascinating when things are explained to me. Words are shortened and run together and 'voila' - a new language!
My ears are continuing to be a hassle, having never come right after an ear infection before I left NZ. I have already been to a doctor here earlier and got more antibiotics, but to no avail. Therese, the head of AFS in this region, has a husband who is a doctor and he has said he will be happy to see me tonight. He's a gynocologist - but Danielle assures me he'll know the difference! She will take me to see him when he gets home from work at 9.30pm! How is that for friendly service?

Walking  Dora the dog (Bischon Frise) beside the stream in a beautiful little village to yet another Belgian pub late yesterday afternoon. Dogs are just as welcome as people anywhere!