Week 2

We look pretty good, don't we?

Monsieur Fortuné Pellicano, Deputy Mayor of Brest

Who are these girls?

Our week started off normally. Mondays we start the day with our success groups. This is a time for us to discuss any problems or successes and to do some sort of reflection activity. We went through classes and lunch, then worked on our projects for the family spectacle for the end of the program.

Everyone left a little early because we would be back together in few hours for the Mayor’s reception. This is a reception in the huge meeting hall of the city hall, overlooking the main square, Liberté. A representative of the mayor gives a speech, followed by one of the teachers and two of the students.

We were greeted by the deputy mayor of Brest, Monsieur Fortuné Pellicano. This year, Loïc was the teacher representative while Mari and Ash were our student representatives. You may not understand what they say in the video, but it’s cool to watch. We are so proud of Mari and Ash. Mari’s speech was emotional, and like any good speaker, Ash lead with a joke.

I have put together a video of the speeches and posted it here. In the message section, please let me know if this worked. If it did, I will add more video.

After speeches, everyone shared conversation in the way that only French people can. Everyone asks about everyone’s family. They discuss the weather. The talk about a little of this and a little of that.

Everyone was happy to go home and change out of their nice clothes. And it was just Monday!

Abby showing her form

Who knew Rosie could be so agressive?

I think the girls are getting it!

Nick is a strategist

Such intensity!

Skying!

Gotcha dude!

Is this actually sports?

As I understand it, this was about ballroom dancing.

Come on guys, this is serious stuff.

How are we going to keep straight aces during this?

It's not American Sign Language.

This group will come up with something extraordinary!

Tuesday, instead of other activities, it was sports day! We went down to a park across from the chateau (a mediaeval fortress on the port), and learned to play pétanque, the traditional French ball throwing game. (Think bocce, but with more strategy and skill involved.)

I learned pétanque in Montpellier many years ago and have refreshed my memory from the internet. I needed a little help from Évie to get the rules just right. Everyone seemed to enjoy him or herself, with some students showing a surprising competitive streak.

For some, the slow pace of pétanque was not quite suited. Lindsey led them to the gym for a hard workout of basketball and whatever kind of games it is that they make up. We were quite relieved that our ardent basketball players were not really picky about rules like traveling and double dribbling. (Thank you Alec and Micah.)

The next afternoon, students plunged themselves head-first into their projects for the family spectacle. At the end of our time in Brest, we will present a performance for our host families. This is totally student generated, with guidance from us teachers.

This year’s performances are going to be fantastic, with a skit reminiscent of a Friends episode, to lip synching, to individual musical performances, to signing of a popular French song. I’m sure I have left something out, but it is going to be pretty amazing. The students are working hard. Difficult to believe, but it is less than three weeks away.