Last days in Toulouse

Well, we have had a jam-packed week. Wednesday we visited the Modern Art Museum of Toulouse and students were both amused and bewildered with the exhibit on the future that included children warriors and mutated breeds of animals. Wednesday night we had our final language partner session. It was nice to see many students exchanging emails and giving one last bise to their new French friends. Thursday we visited the town of Foix, which is at the base of the Pyrénées and home to a medieval castle. Most came away with the notion that living in that time period was not so much fun. Imagine having to be a knight and wearing a suit of armor that weighed between 50-60 kilos and needing a pulley system to get seated on the horse (cross your fingers that you weren't knocked off). Trips that we take for granted in a car that take minutes often took hours and days to complete in the Middle Age. Friday was our last day of classes and everyone had a free afternoon for some last minute shopping or visiting Toulouse. Those students, however, who are seeking university credit finished a difficult final exam that enabled them to show just how much they learned in a short amount of time. We also had a French conversation hour in a Salon du Thé called Bapz House. The fig and raspberry tart was my personal favorite, but scones and tea were the hit for quite a few of the kids. Today (Saturday) we went kayaking in the Gorges of Averyon and it was a great way to finish our time in the Toulouse area. Nobody capsized their boats, but everybody still managed to return drenched with water from the small rapids we did encounter.

Now it is off to Montpellier tomorrow morning. Students will be with their new host families for a full week of true immersion. Everyone's stories will be different so I hope that many of your children will get the chance to write descriptive stories of their personal experiences.