Montpellier, France

My second visit to Montpellier welcomed me with the same blue skies and very warm temperatures, magnified by the large stone pavements found throughout the city and especially in the Place de la Comedie in the heart of the old town. The French immersion host families greeted our anxious students with smiles and excitement at the meeting point. Each was wondering what the other would be like. The bonds that our students forged with each other during the two weeks in Toulouse would have to take a break during this week in which each student is expected to integrate as much as possible into their host family’s life. This is the part of the program where a student’s language skills can really take off. The more effort they put in the more easily they will be able to express themselves in French.

After just three days in the city, things seem to be going very well for our students, some challenged more than others with the French language and opening up to their families. Some have travelled with their host families to Marseilles and Avignon, while others have been out and about town with their host brothers and sisters, partaking in conversation over an ice cream cone or a kebab. Tracy and I have seen many of them during our day and evening walks, unbeknownst to them, and we have even made it a game of “face bingo”. So far, Tracy is up 4 to 2, having seen Jordan, Danny, Aaron, and Vanessa, while I have only caught a glimpse of Rachel and Paige.

I hope that the students all appreciate what an interesting Montpellier is. Quite a bit different from Toulouse in its ambiance and street layout, Montpellier is full of palm and umbrella covered terraces where locals and tourists can lazily pass the time sipping Perrier à la menthe, Orangina, or café crèmes. This is a city with windy, narrow streets, sandy stone facades, and palm trees. The brick covered buildings from Toulouse seem very far away now.

One way to escape from the heat is a trip to nearby Carnon, a beach town about 15 minutes south of Montpellier. Just before arriving on Sunday afternoon, all our students were able to bask in the Mediterranean sun on the Carnon beach before meeting their host families. For many, this was their first experience on a French beach. The water couldn’t have been more refreshing and all the elements of a bronzage à la française were there – men in skimpy speedo swimsuits, topless women, the ice cream vendor with her mobile cart, kite boarders, and even a library on the beach where you can peruse your favorite magazine just yards from the sea. This was a great way for the students to transition into this second half of the ECI experience.