Monday, March 7, 2011

March 7, 2011

Monday afternoon...

Today began with much anticipation since the students were introduced to their supervisor and to the children in their class.  The big eyes of the children said it all; who WERE these students from the USA?  Are they real?  Can we play with them?  Why must I repeat my words to them?!  

Each GS student is with one or two others in the same school (5 different schools in all).  For more of a "one-on-one" experience, we have placed one GS student in one class so there will be more interaction between the GS student and the children or the main teacher.  Everyone stepped into their new role with much grace and with a smile on their face.  It is 2:00 now and they have returned for the afternoon to their newfound little friends.  Tonight, after a full day of assisting the teachers and students, they are guaranteed a sound night's sleep!

For their days of service, their usual schedule is as follows:  drop off before 8:00 at the high school (Lycée Kastler) where their host sibling studies; walk to the pre-school location by 8:30;  classroom activities until around 11:30; return to Kastler for lunch with hosts; back to the classroom by 1:30; return to Kastler around 4:15.  On certain days, our students will go to class for the last hour of class from 5-6.  Most days, they will simply go home with their host.

On Saturday evening, all 24 of the GS and Kastler students went out bowling.  It was a great ice-breaker.  Most of the students visited Guebwiller and/or the surrounding area on Sunday with their host family.  They are already getting their bearings!

We will see them daily, of course, and check in...  But, so far, so good.  They are a fine group of young adults.  Thank you for entrusting them to us!

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Taylor is in demand

Taylor is in demand

Taiwo's new friends

Taiwo's new friends

Greg checking spelling

Greg checking spelling

Sandy Zander with playmates

Sandy Zander with playmates

Katelyn organizing the girls

Katelyn organizing the girls

Sean in art class

Sean in art class

Martin making his move

Martin making his move

Marilyn restoring order

Marilyn restoring order

Daniel anticipating the next attack

Daniel anticipating the next attack

Jake the train conductor

Jake the train conductor

Chestnut, UFO and Bliss, Cheri's friends (at host home)

Chestnut, UFO and Bliss, Cheri's friends (at host home)

The Chocolate Museum

The Chocolate Museum

Cocoa beans

Cocoa beans

Our boat ride

Our boat ride

Old Quarter Strasbourg

Old Quarter Strasbourg

La Cathédrale de Strasbourg

La Cathédrale de Strasbourg

The Astrological Clock

The Astrological Clock

Entrance to Struthof Camp

Entrance to Struthof Camp

Around the edges of the camp

Around the edges of the camp

Monument commemorating the victims

Monument commemorating the victims

Hannah

Hannah
At work with one of her 3 year-olds

Lunch time - Bon apétit!

Lunch time - Bon apétit!

Little toilets for little people à la Creche

Little toilets for little people à la Creche

The nap room

The nap room
It's hard enough to get one child to sleep; I cannot imagine 20 at once!

Emily's new friends

Emily's new friends
Overseeing her class at lunch.

More of Emily's little pals.

More of Emily's little pals.

"Tu peux me servir de l'eau?"

"Tu peux me servir de l'eau?"
"Can you pour me some water?"

Cloves

Cloves
Poster in class for 3 year-olds.

Garlic

Garlic
Poster

Pepper

Pepper
Opening young minds to the foods around them.

Paris

Paris
La Pyramide du Louvre

On the Seine near the Tour Eiffel

On the Seine near the Tour Eiffel
A Happy Birthday River Cruise for Taylor!

Notre Dame

Notre Dame
Zander, Greg and Daniel (did Greg shrink?)

Notre Dame

Notre Dame
Rather, Notre Groupe

Place Vendome

Place Vendome

L'Opéra

L'Opéra
very close to our hotel

Des croissants

Des croissants
hard to resist

Official "metre"

Official "metre"
The official French measured meter on the wall of a building on the Place Vendome

Paris Bike Chic

Paris Bike Chic

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay
First floor hallway.

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay
First floor hallway

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay
Original clock from the former train station

Recycling?

Recycling?
or, is this a homeless guy?

Marilyn

Marilyn
hmmm.... must be Marilyn was shopping....

Le Centre Pompidou (Beaubourg)

Le Centre Pompidou (Beaubourg)
modern art museum and cultural center

Le Jardin du Luxembourg

Le Jardin du Luxembourg
Site of much intrigue in text "French in Action"

Un chat dans un café?

Un chat dans un café?
Oh, oui... owners' pets are always welcome!

Latin Quarter

Latin Quarter

La Sorbonne

La Sorbonne
First university of Paris

Latin Quarter café

Latin Quarter café
Not just "any" café...

Versailles

Versailles
approaching the entrance

Versailles

Versailles
Notre famille royale

Hall of Mirrors

Hall of Mirrors

"VeliB"

"VeliB"
Parisian rentals all over the city - insert money, take bike, drop off at destination et voilà!

Lycée Kastler

Lycée Kastler
This is the front of the main building. That's Zander playing frisbee standing in the middle of the photo in the white t-shirt!

Lycée Kastler

Lycée Kastler
Looking toward the side street

"Batiment B."

"Batiment B."
Language, economy and history classes are taught in this building.

La Passerelle

La Passerelle
This bridge leads to the cafeteria.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras
How am I going to participate in class?!

Un petit (gros) lapin

Un petit (gros) lapin
Claudie trying to figure out WHO is behind the mask....

Joining in the fun...

Joining in the fun...
Greg, Sean and Taiwo ready to entertain.

Petit chou

Petit chou
or, petit chat?

Jake and friends

Jake and friends

Daniel and friend

Daniel and friend

Marilyn and friend

Marilyn and friend

Alsacian vineyard landscape

Alsacian vineyard landscape
Winemaking is huge in Alsace.

Waiting for warmer weather...

Waiting for warmer weather...
In Spring, these vineyards will come alive.

Student union gathering area in Lycée Kastler

Student union gathering area in Lycée Kastler
This is where our students will meet their hosts daily.

Selling petits pains

Selling petits pains
The procedes help the French students cover costs on their trip to GS.

Ecole Maternelle Kienzl

Ecole Maternelle Kienzl
Marilyn, Daniel and Jake's school

Ecole Maternelle Les Bruyères

Ecole Maternelle Les Bruyères
Greg, Taiwo and Sean's school

La Crèche

La Crèche
Hannah and Emily's school

Ecole Maternelle Storck

Ecole Maternelle Storck
Katelyn and Taylor's school

Ecole Maternelle des Remparts

Ecole Maternelle des Remparts
Martin and Zander's school

Catching up at lunchtime

Catching up at lunchtime

Martin and Daniel's healthy lunch

Martin and Daniel's healthy lunch

Friends at lunch

Friends at lunch

Yum, yum

Yum, yum

Great food, great company

Great food, great company

Time for dessert

Time for dessert
French yogurt makes me so happy.