Week 2

This week was not terribly exciting, just the routine of classes, lunches and activities – until it wasn’t like that.

Our bowling night has been postponed until July 11 because this year, the bowling alley has decided that they can’t accept groups during weekends. They gave us the choice between July 3 and July 11. Next week is going to be crazy with events, so we went with July 11.

For one of our sports activities this week, we went to the beach. The kids loved it, but many of them asked me not to take pictures of them. I think they are shy of their beach attire. But I still got some fun shots.

Alisa and Sophia building a sandcastle

Miranda and Chloé are beach buds!

Nathan is very beach pro-active

Marlene has the right idea: summer sun and cool ocean waters.

We’ve had two birthdays while we have been here. Madeleine celebrated her 17^th birthday on June 21 and Chloe celebrated her 17^th on June 26^th (even though we celebrated on the 27th.)

And Friday happened. For culture class, I took each group to Les halles Saint Martin. This is a building that houses a food market (like the City Market in Indy) and a flea market all around the outside. It really was a cultural moment for them, and they seemed to really enjoy it.

Duncan chooses a crêpe

Pain au chocolat anyone?

Miranda thinks that pain au chocolat will do just fine.

So far, I only have pictures of Emily eating.

Does the crêpe please Sophia? Why yes, it does.

Why are Duncan and Nathan so interested in greeting cards?

Marlene is dangerous at a flea market.

And of course, Aaron feels that Chinese food
is just right at 10:30 in the morning.

Madeleine and Olivia check out the children's books.

Erica went for the far Breton, a kind of cake.

Zoe stands by the almond croissant
 choice.

McKenna's new favorite people are the crêpe makers.

Tara selects fresh raspberries.

The children's books continue to draw attention.

Jack's classroom name is Olivier.
I'm not sure he realizes that
this is a romance novel.

The second hand books and magazines attract the attention of Maria
and Erica.

Shivani and McKenna shop for bargains.

One more picture before it's back to class.

Late Friday afternoon, Noëmie took a group of students (19 or our 23) to see Toy Story 4 at the Cinéma Liberté. The film was of course in French. It was great practice for listening comprehension.

  Friday evening Noëmie hosted a smaller group to watch the France vs. US Women’s World Cup quarter finals match. The students kind of had mixed emotions when the US won. We’re in France after all. Had the French won, there would have been street celebrations long into the night.

Madeleine and Tara sport "les traces" of the French flag.

Saturday, I lead our annual bicycle tour of Brest. This year, eleven signed up for the six available bicycles, so we went in three groups: morning, noon and afternoon. Everyone enjoyed the tour, while discovering just how hilly Brest really is. Once or twice a few students had to walk their bikes up a hill. But I’m not saying who or how often.

McKenna, Duncan, Sophia and Muntaha at the Jardin des
Explorateurs, the first stop.

The noon group was just Chase, Nathan and me.

The afternoon group: Madeleine, Olivia, Jack, Maria and Lupe.

When I asked Lupe what she was thinking, she said, "I want a boat."

Our botanists in the garden.

Madeleine and Jack join the "Brestois" contemplating the world. 

Jack apparently wishes to eat a dandelion...

Maria has crazy cartwheel skills!

So does Olivia!

And Jack is Jack.

Our next adventure begins Monday morning as we head off to Normandy. On Wednesday, I’ll post tons of pictures and descriptions of our two days there.

First excursion

Friday was quite an adventure for us. We took public transportation from Brest to the city of Roscof on the English Channel, in French La Manche (the sleeve). France has this amazing bus system that links big cities to small towns, even to villages.

Old people, school kids, moms going to the market, lots of people use this system. A group of 26 Americans was a bit of a shock to the system, but it worked out. In two hours, we were boarding a boat at the port of Roscoff that took us to the Île de Batz (pronounced “ba”).

The city of Roscof, from the water.

Zoe, Shivani and Tara - always happy

Jack, Maria and Erica inbound for Île de Batz

Madeleine and Olivia soaking up some sun on the boat ride

Alisa, Sophia, Vivian and Chloe

Natalie, Aaron and Maria

The dudes: Nathan, Duncan and Mason

Is Chase upstaging Miranda, Zoe, Shivani and Tara?

This island has a permanent population of just 500, but vacation homes double that in the summer months. We disembarked and headed up a steep hill and onward toward the Jardin Georges Delaselle, a garden of exotic plants.

Delaselle was an insurance executive in Paris who came upon the island in 1897. He purchased land on Île de Batz and created a garden of plants from around the world from 1897 until 1918, when he fell ill from tuberculosis. From 1918 until his death in 1944, he worked to maintain his garden in spite of ill health. Today, it is maintained by the group, Friends of Georges Delaselle.

Our students wandered the gardens and had their picnic lunches there.

Jack is kind of enthusiastic.

An Arabian horse, in the middle of a field: the kids went crazy. I thought it
was bad when they saw dogs and babies.

Don't know if Georges Delaselle ever imagined this group!

Who's up for a picture? Evidently Chloe and Vivian.

And who's up for lunch? Emily!

Picnicking in a field overlooking a field of poppies and the English Channel.
It's tough, but someone has to do it.

Next, it was off to the other side of the island, a 45 minute walk to the lighthouse. Just 198 steps up a spiral staircase, and we were at the top. The views are incredible. On a clear day, like we had, you can see 50 miles in any direction. The students tried to see England or Ireland, but they are just a bit too far away.

Guadelupe takes it all in.

Muntaha enjoying the view

BFFs on top of the world, I think so.

Killer profile Sophia!

Always happy, Noëmie

Natalie scared of heights? No way! Yes way! Lots of courage, just to get to the top. We're proud of you Natalie!

Nathan, Tara and Olivia on top of the world.

How cool! Miranda, Erica, Chloe and Sophia

Who meditates on top of a lighthouse? Emily, that's who!

The Martin-tucky pair!

Maria

"You know, the graphics here might be better than in my favorite video game,"
said Alisa.

Another 20 minute walk brought us back to the port and our boat ride back to the mainland. The amazing bus system delivered us back to central Brest where families awaited us.

According to my Fitbit, we recorded just over 22,000 steps on Friday. That’s nearly ten miles!

Light filtering through the stained glass windows of
Notre Dame de Bon Sécours.

Maria contemplates the sea.

And back in Brest, sometimes you need your friends to help keep you warm.