tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46422202185071094612024-03-13T19:06:04.485+01:00Saumur 2010IUHPFL's first year in Saumur, FranceBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-76513204303588832392010-08-09T16:51:00.002+02:002010-08-09T16:54:18.835+02:00Paris PicturesWell, our program is sadly over. I put the pictures from our three day trip on the Picasa website, you can see them by clicking here: <br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/brimurray"><br />picasaweb.google.com/brimurray</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482842832471881404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-79419959466111337132010-07-25T00:31:00.009+02:002010-07-25T01:12:53.630+02:00Fête des famillesThis week was a very busy week. We finished our last classes on Wednesday, the students to a test to see how much they improved on Thursday, and they rehearsed and performed in the Fête des familles on Friday. Thanks to a French host father, some of us even got the chance to go to the army base and ride in a tank:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zQR6sUu9W5w2_QcrWwBdZmi7_kw8l2INkwY45vu5Pdo7JVaVN8Q8SKIlVNgMX2WgAoQtRJz0RkIVV4Xxo3gjZCXPw1Jv1tlvvcTj32q1SZDRsNp1SklRgpBwUnwAVaIoFBZ3jGJirHYY/s1600/SDC11903.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zQR6sUu9W5w2_QcrWwBdZmi7_kw8l2INkwY45vu5Pdo7JVaVN8Q8SKIlVNgMX2WgAoQtRJz0RkIVV4Xxo3gjZCXPw1Jv1tlvvcTj32q1SZDRsNp1SklRgpBwUnwAVaIoFBZ3jGJirHYY/s320/SDC11903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497611489077864018" border="0" /></a><br />We spent each each afternoon rehearsing for the <span style="font-style: italic;">Fête des familles</span>. Below is a photo of some of the students rehearsing for their sketch about French stereotypes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1e-pSvSiZvU37cYO3p8uB2LVxqehS5E7i5gUQpH03DTR9KexaIFovfLSwuII2wPFabT2Wj8OaeR9edG0ICt463-xS6uyWMVzyN6Hx9zIq_fM-oNRMnu9I7golQrNdPtdfahCjigNwVY4/s1600/SDC11940.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1e-pSvSiZvU37cYO3p8uB2LVxqehS5E7i5gUQpH03DTR9KexaIFovfLSwuII2wPFabT2Wj8OaeR9edG0ICt463-xS6uyWMVzyN6Hx9zIq_fM-oNRMnu9I7golQrNdPtdfahCjigNwVY4/s320/SDC11940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497608589231759874" border="0" /></a>On Friday, we took a break from rehearsal and took a tour of the school and its amazingly beautiful chapel. Below is a photo of all of the students in front of the school:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_xPh8MQbUV1_HUoky6Oqv4CozhCR_IYFD990KAHqtdeiS9igIW4BOj1S5l-HmiiUuBaEzLsqq47taEcy34P2UfnrBrp2npNDXkL5KmljtqsGoAGSrk0Pp0-RIVW3lGr9xEf6P1kfa5ht/s1600/SDC11948.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_xPh8MQbUV1_HUoky6Oqv4CozhCR_IYFD990KAHqtdeiS9igIW4BOj1S5l-HmiiUuBaEzLsqq47taEcy34P2UfnrBrp2npNDXkL5KmljtqsGoAGSrk0Pp0-RIVW3lGr9xEf6P1kfa5ht/s320/SDC11948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497609434345148946" border="0" /></a>During the visit of the chapel, we had the students sing a song for us, you can see that video on my picasa site <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/brimurray">http://picasaweb.google.com/brimurray</a><br /><br />Most importantly, last night was the first IU Honors Program <span style="font-style: italic;">Fête des familles</span> in Saumur. This is an evening where the students thank their host families for everything that they have done for them through short plays and song.<br /><br />In the beginning of the program, we told students that we wanted them to write their own skits about a common them to be chosen by the students. It was not surprising that the students chose to write about experiences similar to the ones that they had. Each sketch had at least one American character and took place in France. The students wrote about stereotypes, the arrival in to their host family's home, the classroom, and the festival of music. Each sketch had at least one song.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbqsCGVbAeZyhwEUEDVAjCTBf-76H-m6sxLpMKHvBJDYxio3ElnTGE9R6TZSdWsDFVC1d6hgHuF4nQn-fF5NDWm72nV8IJxkMxzSdQcUUWH8SkTehjQGJl3g3JOGtUbzGjag9acqapj2Q/s1600/SDC11996.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbqsCGVbAeZyhwEUEDVAjCTBf-76H-m6sxLpMKHvBJDYxio3ElnTGE9R6TZSdWsDFVC1d6hgHuF4nQn-fF5NDWm72nV8IJxkMxzSdQcUUWH8SkTehjQGJl3g3JOGtUbzGjag9acqapj2Q/s320/SDC11996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497612583306818594" border="0" /></a><br />You can see all of my photos and video on the picasa site. Sorry for the image quality, my camera doesn't work very well in low light situations:<br /><br />Last but not least, this Thursday was Sarah L.'s birthday. She surprised her fellow students with some cookies. Joyeux anniversaire Sarah!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUHe-H7vzqH14RdYX9GZlODwCbK5YSTrhX9iJ2TndzPS-cZFa9ybg66pTHJUUcaVOOtEPrKj5abKyQzk_19Ws-hS0wxpAehXGpuGQXQRlLgad1RC8gxB82GWK3iodzDZ0vQ-hZw49Nfd8/s1600/SDC11935.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUHe-H7vzqH14RdYX9GZlODwCbK5YSTrhX9iJ2TndzPS-cZFa9ybg66pTHJUUcaVOOtEPrKj5abKyQzk_19Ws-hS0wxpAehXGpuGQXQRlLgad1RC8gxB82GWK3iodzDZ0vQ-hZw49Nfd8/s320/SDC11935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497607816240746802" border="0" /></a><br />Early tomorrow morning the students are going to say goodbye to their host families and Saumur because we are leaving for Paris. I would like to thank the host families for everything that they have done for their <span style="font-style: italic;">stagiaires <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>and hope that their first experience with the program will be unforgettable.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482842832471881404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-45544029192476994292010-07-18T13:50:00.012+02:002010-07-18T15:06:50.612+02:00Le 14 Juillet and Le Carrousel de SaumurI would like to start this post off by wishing Rachel B. a happy 18th birthday! Joyeux anniversaire Rachel!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TELytjt-0gI/AAAAAAAABmc/v5EUMvStJvs/s1600/SDC11635.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TELytjt-0gI/AAAAAAAABmc/v5EUMvStJvs/s320/SDC11635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495221359841563138" border="0" /></a><br />It has certainly been a busy week full of class and activities for all of us here in the program. Here is a photo of all of us in the school courtyard. The groundskeeper Rémi wanted us to feel more at home and put up a Statue of Liberty and an American flag.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL4LFeMMhI/AAAAAAAABm8/RVDlhQTT0sw/s1600/SDC11636.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL4LFeMMhI/AAAAAAAABm8/RVDlhQTT0sw/s320/SDC11636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495227364676481554" border="0" /></a><br />On Wednesday, we were invited to witness the 14 juillet (Bastille Day) military ceremony and parade. If you were not aware, Saumur is a city that has a large military presence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL2JX9MFxI/AAAAAAAABmk/yumvxM5QdvY/s1600/SDC11646.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL2JX9MFxI/AAAAAAAABmk/yumvxM5QdvY/s320/SDC11646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495225136255342354" border="0" /></a>After the ceremony, we were invited by the city to have what the French call "un verre d'amitié (a drink of friendship)" and listen to a speech by the mayor of Saumur. The students who went to the event ask the mayor if they could take a photo with him:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL2_1QcmyI/AAAAAAAABms/mJU_E4xh5pE/s1600/SDC11663.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL2_1QcmyI/AAAAAAAABms/mJU_E4xh5pE/s320/SDC11663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495226071833680674" border="0" /></a>During the evening, there was a fireworks show over the Loire:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL3gNgpPRI/AAAAAAAABm0/7QB96qDHtpY/s1600/SDC11718.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL3gNgpPRI/AAAAAAAABm0/7QB96qDHtpY/s320/SDC11718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495226628099882258" border="0" /></a><br />Horses, dirtbikes, and tanks oh my! On Friday afternoon, we were given free tickets by the city to see the famous Carrousel de Saumur put on by the military.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL4iLxOl_I/AAAAAAAABnE/qBEC5ET80Jw/s1600/SDC11753.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL4iLxOl_I/AAAAAAAABnE/qBEC5ET80Jw/s320/SDC11753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495227761503934450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL41zbqgYI/AAAAAAAABnM/9Dj3hlOvqIk/s1600/SDC11765.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL41zbqgYI/AAAAAAAABnM/9Dj3hlOvqIk/s320/SDC11765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495228098568421762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL7xw9U0LI/AAAAAAAABnc/VLg_81ignXI/s1600/SDC11786.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL7xw9U0LI/AAAAAAAABnc/VLg_81ignXI/s320/SDC11786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495231327719706802" border="0" /></a><br />There was even a presentation of the evolution of tanks. My favorite was the American tank, the biggest one of them all.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL5vJiocyI/AAAAAAAABnU/CvAKHLBFz4Y/s1600/SDC11795.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TEL5vJiocyI/AAAAAAAABnU/CvAKHLBFz4Y/s320/SDC11795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495229083755770658" border="0" /></a><br />I would like to thank the city of Saumur for being so kind to us during this program. Without their generosity, we wouldn't have had the chance to see as much.<br /><br />It is hard to believe but the Stagiaires (that's what we call them here) only have one more week left in Saumur. During this next week, students are going to have their last classes, take a test to see how much they improved during the program, and rehearse for something we call "La fête des familles" (an event full of music and skits for host families).Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-71779032219300715722010-07-10T23:39:00.006+02:002010-07-10T23:59:45.425+02:00Trip to AngersToday (Saturday), the students had the choice to take the train and spend a few hours in the city of Angers. More than half of the students came.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjprfgj8jI/AAAAAAAABl4/B_Ju6JY56L4/s1600/SDC11593.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjprfgj8jI/AAAAAAAABl4/B_Ju6JY56L4/s320/SDC11593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492396678980039218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We took in the sites such as the chateau and many of the students did a lot of shopping.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjpX2n7kYI/AAAAAAAABlw/r17TYc_XvrM/s1600/SDC11587.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjpX2n7kYI/AAAAAAAABlw/r17TYc_XvrM/s320/SDC11587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492396341587579266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjtDqThQMI/AAAAAAAABmI/3-HbDdrjcig/s1600/SDC11601.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjtDqThQMI/AAAAAAAABmI/3-HbDdrjcig/s320/SDC11601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492400392729870530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Gordon took home the first prize of biggest and heaviest bag. Bravo Gordon! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjsoWlPXxI/AAAAAAAABmA/wO9eQQkoLNI/s1600/SDC11623.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjsoWlPXxI/AAAAAAAABmA/wO9eQQkoLNI/s320/SDC11623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492399923579019026" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-27943927746503144312010-07-10T22:15:00.007+02:002010-07-10T23:05:00.111+02:003rd Excursion (Ile de Ré, La Rochelle)Yesterday was our third excursion for the program. We first took the bus to the very edge of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Ele_de_R%C3%A9">Ile de Ré</a>, an island that is just off the coast of France. We started off our visit with the Phare des Baleines ("Lighthouse of the whales") located in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjV8oH5suI/AAAAAAAABkw/yfpeIJZjuE4/s1600/SDC11478.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjV8oH5suI/AAAAAAAABkw/yfpeIJZjuE4/s320/SDC11478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492374983117746914" border="0" /></a><br />We climbed the 257 steps and got to see a fantastic view.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjWp1o27hI/AAAAAAAABk4/ZiwMZLcA1P4/s1600/SDC11483.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjWp1o27hI/AAAAAAAABk4/ZiwMZLcA1P4/s320/SDC11483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492375759839751698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjXtjJ1TcI/AAAAAAAABlA/Juetv9XluCo/s1600/SDC11496.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjXtjJ1TcI/AAAAAAAABlA/Juetv9XluCo/s320/SDC11496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492376923108888002" border="0" /></a><br />After the lighthouse, students explored the small village and its many different souvenir shops that it had to offer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjYH8DMGVI/AAAAAAAABlI/qOkXCAJ38AU/s1600/SDC11503.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjYH8DMGVI/AAAAAAAABlI/qOkXCAJ38AU/s320/SDC11503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492377376468506962" border="0" /></a><br />We picnicked with a view of the ocean in the port town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Martin-de-R%C3%A9">Saint-Martin-de-Ré</a> and then the students discovered the town in small groups.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjZZ0bLWQI/AAAAAAAABlg/HlQoztazmW4/s1600/SDC11509.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDjZZ0bLWQI/AAAAAAAABlg/HlQoztazmW4/s320/SDC11509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492378783170910466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooHXPyGEsua6sg4P57tb_IxTJyETx0bg_6RQ9c1khdYapfaYCNNaiu4fvnkBh4UC16s1ZoY2rNyVOjaYEZiboLMr6YVXlB_BHcKP_-2wGPoxwGWgbEEXD3Fsp_YmoroSclXpzC4jlWnwB/s1600/SDC11517.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooHXPyGEsua6sg4P57tb_IxTJyETx0bg_6RQ9c1khdYapfaYCNNaiu4fvnkBh4UC16s1ZoY2rNyVOjaYEZiboLMr6YVXlB_BHcKP_-2wGPoxwGWgbEEXD3Fsp_YmoroSclXpzC4jlWnwB/s320/SDC11517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492381311593731810" border="0" /></a><br />After our visit of the city, the students finally got a chance to go to the beach and cool off in the water:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EsYTB4xi0kRMRjWX5uSFFZ1tABcmY_xDQdr_dvCdc_CY_LOrAEIw872s4p2Jl2jL5OmIEcZaKQlr09St3ZbM7f-MOBcd5zTpMOZedpzAbYbIDB25AGmI5QZZbdTfFgKvUN8ztWi_2PbR/s1600/SDC11548.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EsYTB4xi0kRMRjWX5uSFFZ1tABcmY_xDQdr_dvCdc_CY_LOrAEIw872s4p2Jl2jL5OmIEcZaKQlr09St3ZbM7f-MOBcd5zTpMOZedpzAbYbIDB25AGmI5QZZbdTfFgKvUN8ztWi_2PbR/s320/SDC11548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492381988727329810" border="0" /></a>We finished our excursion with a quick trip to La Rochelle, a city connected by a bridge to the Ile de Ré.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0tR_VCipw_cjUEWzcb6Stir2u5jNH8UXRuNzJh8yT77Ty8XnvHZDPLpyu9ecrc5hddihizvZIYXeulIPsXUSwf4qMs09mQpOX5D-NRVrQnpn7YS0-ulR8aSMo1h-7TC5HROIHHLdXJWJ/s1600/SDC11565.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0tR_VCipw_cjUEWzcb6Stir2u5jNH8UXRuNzJh8yT77Ty8XnvHZDPLpyu9ecrc5hddihizvZIYXeulIPsXUSwf4qMs09mQpOX5D-NRVrQnpn7YS0-ulR8aSMo1h-7TC5HROIHHLdXJWJ/s320/SDC11565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492385087385419618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Below you can see a group photo of all of the students under the arcades:<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAzKDBQ7jIONpnE01sK9sX5O70QsGOkx9EQ3fSNrzGCGz5utwOSFMBLiK0snHOP3a4zkLYloyvX2mAFRRNdycthmxIVyRaKt3peUt3qaPz2Y6HjfGBz7y21PqOW4l0-23Il5R_AZQL9Cv/s1600/SDC11576.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAzKDBQ7jIONpnE01sK9sX5O70QsGOkx9EQ3fSNrzGCGz5utwOSFMBLiK0snHOP3a4zkLYloyvX2mAFRRNdycthmxIVyRaKt3peUt3qaPz2Y6HjfGBz7y21PqOW4l0-23Il5R_AZQL9Cv/s320/SDC11576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492383663506564658" border="0" /></a>We took the bus back to Saumur. We made the time go by quicker by singing songs in the bus. :)Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-85379751391486547972010-07-06T18:52:00.003+02:002010-07-06T19:06:23.476+02:00In the newspaper...We have been mentioned three times by the press (that we know of) since we have been here in Saumur. The first time was a small description on the local newspaper <span style="font-style: italic;">Le Courier de l'Ouest - Saumur.<br /><br /></span><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Brian/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDNiFLJTHXI/AAAAAAAABko/CO0aKy6t5Hs/s1600/Saumur+Press+2010+-+1.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDNiFLJTHXI/AAAAAAAABko/CO0aKy6t5Hs/s320/Saumur+Press+2010+-+1.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490840211725426034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span> Our second mention was for the diner with the US consulate, there was just one line about the program. <br /><br />In today's Saumur-Kiosque, an online newspaper, there was description of the program. You can see it at the following link:<br /><a href="http://www.saumur-kiosque.com/infos_article.php?id_actu=4153">http://www.saumur-kiosque.com/infos_article.php?id_actu=4153</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-90564684740593535542010-07-05T20:23:00.001+02:002010-07-05T21:05:25.670+02:00Guided tour of Saumur, Reception at city hall, Saumur's Calvary museumInstead of having class today, the city of Saumur offered the students a guide tour of the city of Saumur.<br /><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIjGyCNOHI/AAAAAAAABjY/v0CBnNrLwsY/s1600/SDC11374.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIjGyCNOHI/AAAAAAAABjY/v0CBnNrLwsY/s320/SDC11374.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />The guide taught us much about things such as the history and the architecture in the city. After the tour, the guide took us to city hall for a reception with representatives from the city of Saumur.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIjHqV84KI/AAAAAAAABjg/LFfsJ7KwENY/s1600/SDC11387.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIjHqV84KI/AAAAAAAABjg/LFfsJ7KwENY/s320/SDC11387.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />During the reception, the representatives had us discuss their favorite moments in France and then asked us to draw them...<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIjIx-sROI/AAAAAAAABjw/v8yHIGJMHKI/s1600/SDC11401.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIjIx-sROI/AAAAAAAABjw/v8yHIGJMHKI/s320/SDC11401.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">...and present them to everyone else. Many of the common themes were excursions (chateaux, Normandy) and the city of Saumur.<br /></div> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDImIY_tH4I/AAAAAAAABkQ/KBqb3BfCyFg/s1600/SDC11404.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDImIY_tH4I/AAAAAAAABkQ/KBqb3BfCyFg/s320/SDC11404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490492821308514178" border="0" /></a><br />My favorite part of the reception was when the representative put down a red ribbon on the floor and told us that one end represented someone who did not speak French at all and on another end represented someone who spoke French very well. Most of the students put themselves at the end that did not speak French very well while the professors put themselves closer to the other end. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIlkfw6iMI/AAAAAAAABkI/_JLZdKIItbU/s1600/SDC11407.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIlkfw6iMI/AAAAAAAABkI/_JLZdKIItbU/s320/SDC11407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490492204650236098" border="0" /></a>That same representative then asked us where we would like our French to be later on. As you can see, our students all want to become better French speakers.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIn2O7wYGI/AAAAAAAABkY/U-cwRU4G5WU/s1600/SDC11409.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIn2O7wYGI/AAAAAAAABkY/U-cwRU4G5WU/s320/SDC11409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490494708393205858" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here is a group photo of everyone together (including Sonya Stephens - without her help this program would not have been created):<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIjbW0sLjI/AAAAAAAABj4/33glUxt8htc/s1600/SDC11420.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIjbW0sLjI/AAAAAAAABj4/33glUxt8htc/s320/SDC11420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490489848608075314" border="0" /></a><br />After lunch, the students and teachers went to the Cavalry Museum of Saumur for a visit...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIj9QHHYLI/AAAAAAAABkA/af4AGxFhoQg/s1600/SDC11427.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIj9QHHYLI/AAAAAAAABkA/af4AGxFhoQg/s320/SDC11427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490490430921859250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">...followed by a stroll along the Loire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIs1IAgSuI/AAAAAAAABkg/XBzsVbl-BU8/s1600/SDC11437.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIs1IAgSuI/AAAAAAAABkg/XBzsVbl-BU8/s320/SDC11437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490500186912344802" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-88525263447966195312010-07-04T18:08:00.008+02:002010-07-05T19:40:11.643+02:004th of July (La Boule de Fort, Picnic, Scavenger Hunt)Happy 4th of July from Saumur!<br /><br />Today, we started the day off with a lesson of the local game "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boules">La Boule de Fort</a>," a game similar to<span style="font-style: italic;"> la Pétanque</span> (Bocce). However, instead of throwing the ball, the ball must be rolled. Also, the players have to where slippers and can't roll the ball too hard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNVHmYOW3NWfLFPMEiBfIvhYOAwZBHeICTOOQK2mTJ6DEwOmqpBOPVBdSPSlEZYVP2DfC7Tl0GNlezZLgBnfEFau6Jtp-wElprf18vmLAZxoMMlPC5fB6AeIvcOWHUJim2nLB6MlI-9HX/s1600/SDC11296.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNVHmYOW3NWfLFPMEiBfIvhYOAwZBHeICTOOQK2mTJ6DEwOmqpBOPVBdSPSlEZYVP2DfC7Tl0GNlezZLgBnfEFau6Jtp-wElprf18vmLAZxoMMlPC5fB6AeIvcOWHUJim2nLB6MlI-9HX/s320/SDC11296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490086674256610354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Following our lesson on the local game, the families and students all went to Montreuil-Bellay and picnicked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CvWTTS-MK_UVRWdKUG1Rcj1Agic28vANV70SDtJLiGEQRttTX73ZP4Dvcrxl0kyg5hQ3wun02Imvzpl4JmloG7HBwv8wHwdn1QgiNzGlm45cIq6Gxj9BjSxd7wLtaun9dnQqAi3EDyJL/s1600/SDC11318.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CvWTTS-MK_UVRWdKUG1Rcj1Agic28vANV70SDtJLiGEQRttTX73ZP4Dvcrxl0kyg5hQ3wun02Imvzpl4JmloG7HBwv8wHwdn1QgiNzGlm45cIq6Gxj9BjSxd7wLtaun9dnQqAi3EDyJL/s320/SDC11318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490087719229230434" border="0" /></a><br />During the picnic, the students sang both the Marseillaise and the Star Spangled Banner for their French families. The families very much enjoyed their effort into singing both national anthems.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jvU1WjPg83w&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jvU1WjPg83w&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Finally, the families participated in a scavenger hunt around the city of Montreuil-Bellay so that they can bond with they other families and students along with their own student.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bCqrVS0ePHi_2L9mTURSD4_yiktgZsQAslTV3UZ29jCEUbsOIh5kvjwtzQ383qpFNVnIki9uSMz_9hkd9s_Dmlm0zTdMnEs7axDBrwvtIzdXkuPTHiyF-38HVRy8cHK9vuXxWvncqvTc/s1600/SDC11331.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bCqrVS0ePHi_2L9mTURSD4_yiktgZsQAslTV3UZ29jCEUbsOIh5kvjwtzQ383qpFNVnIki9uSMz_9hkd9s_Dmlm0zTdMnEs7axDBrwvtIzdXkuPTHiyF-38HVRy8cHK9vuXxWvncqvTc/s320/SDC11331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490088898681209666" border="0" /></a>We had a great time with the students for the 4th of July. We are lucky to have such nice students and families!<br /><br />Last but not least, July 4th was Sarah D's birthday. Joyeux anniversaire Sarah!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIYbiJ4BqI/AAAAAAAABjQ/Nlm8-9avjm4/s1600/SDC11349.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TDIYbiJ4BqI/AAAAAAAABjQ/Nlm8-9avjm4/s320/SDC11349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490477757021816482" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482842832471881404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-43591737298577337872010-07-04T01:24:00.015+02:002010-07-04T02:45:40.156+02:00Trip to Brittany and NormandyI can't believe that our second excursion has come and passed. On Thursday and on Friday, we went to one location in Brittany and several other locations in Normandy. <br /><br />Our first stop was in the city of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Malo">Saint-Malo</a>, a port town best known for its surrounding walls. Upon our arrival, we pic-nicked outside of the city walls. I always like this moment because the students discover how many sandwiches their host-parents packed for them. Most students get two sandwiches, but on occasion, students can get three. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpOfhmpehZxqQhVITvW6Efxa3sH5vE-72dLL5nctNKZGISDcNUjedpRekKiSc6pYKFsOUJee0QyyakF9QjpP7_QIULAI3JxSk65VjWq8PAWO8aWOUbzv8O01ugKRpaSRc2B7RfPXVu2yX/s1600/SDC11087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpOfhmpehZxqQhVITvW6Efxa3sH5vE-72dLL5nctNKZGISDcNUjedpRekKiSc6pYKFsOUJee0QyyakF9QjpP7_QIULAI3JxSk65VjWq8PAWO8aWOUbzv8O01ugKRpaSRc2B7RfPXVu2yX/s200/SDC11087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489825450571670098" border="0" /></a><br />This is a street level view of the city:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lfbOIJu8ZJYI7oMf7WiflSSCtEihd2z6snNGbihD6l3VfxexHrwWA0E2Xv6arNUKjVwJeakgsa8O_ITqzBS2TBRmLUwmoseBcuS9OEsTFD_kZRlpqRfKrXq_-oBW_uvDvlKUnPBP0EFg/s1600/SDC11095.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lfbOIJu8ZJYI7oMf7WiflSSCtEihd2z6snNGbihD6l3VfxexHrwWA0E2Xv6arNUKjVwJeakgsa8O_ITqzBS2TBRmLUwmoseBcuS9OEsTFD_kZRlpqRfKrXq_-oBW_uvDvlKUnPBP0EFg/s200/SDC11095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489826706541085202" border="0" /></a>Before leaving town, we took a few photos on the beach. Below you can see the group posing with the tree trunks:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ-8KTIvkjimgCx9AcFfs8sEv0-nZHzRSpbdMDNOEb_Ko2s2ZECOlKPeGe1mQ7457s0ZZLmNABDERLEInAwDb2QdixHoqh716eNZUTmT0PGdqA7LZLw9aWBNlNM8qf5VTZsNG3UzAeyP1/s1600/SDC11125.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ-8KTIvkjimgCx9AcFfs8sEv0-nZHzRSpbdMDNOEb_Ko2s2ZECOlKPeGe1mQ7457s0ZZLmNABDERLEInAwDb2QdixHoqh716eNZUTmT0PGdqA7LZLw9aWBNlNM8qf5VTZsNG3UzAeyP1/s320/SDC11125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489827867370478514" border="0" /></a>Following our visit, we went over to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel">Mont Saint Michel</a>, a place that is considered by some as Breton and by others as Normand. Anyways, this abbey is a genuine tourist attraction and they are literally everywhere.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1c0rESNbsKkC1R3YlJp3j-jSrpPqxGPQ08ImuS9cQqgm7UAzB_3D4qFaWQiN5OFQLhMTceJQnRICm9mJGjTHS5bdTB47UmB0erFA2IOWYF6z1lloidlhpOFRa0KyXnq-8GQqrC4EXONG/s1600/SDC11133.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1c0rESNbsKkC1R3YlJp3j-jSrpPqxGPQ08ImuS9cQqgm7UAzB_3D4qFaWQiN5OFQLhMTceJQnRICm9mJGjTHS5bdTB47UmB0erFA2IOWYF6z1lloidlhpOFRa0KyXnq-8GQqrC4EXONG/s200/SDC11133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489828361617916386" border="0" /></a><br />Below is a another group photo of all of the students. Be proud of them all, it was a real work-out to get up that high.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmta6mWzvjbppCv3AaS-IywMAJSzIpRyuGAgyegUt3LuvOq7XdWY3SHaIVtAwCRzixi1Mf6b_iwMSX-VXPuOmJ8okCg-CWLjPUSbND9EIBBh2mWfkY7KFz-A9BIoIya4WV3IZXG3Us-gR/s1600/SDC11149.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmta6mWzvjbppCv3AaS-IywMAJSzIpRyuGAgyegUt3LuvOq7XdWY3SHaIVtAwCRzixi1Mf6b_iwMSX-VXPuOmJ8okCg-CWLjPUSbND9EIBBh2mWfkY7KFz-A9BIoIya4WV3IZXG3Us-gR/s320/SDC11149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489828862707502850" border="0" /></a>Here is a small group of students posing for a photo in the cloister:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ7bNT9cakClUWF7r0vNQ25ykl2Rgoo_1FxoP0ST5agS_y0NxYb9p6GpqTbcMnM0Q-tuAqLWZuT1ofR2U2o6nuN5qi0rqoTwHzHIEdXJavuln85QWW3Yb4oo26qGT1pFiRa75CS_EkFlz/s1600/SDC11166.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ7bNT9cakClUWF7r0vNQ25ykl2Rgoo_1FxoP0ST5agS_y0NxYb9p6GpqTbcMnM0Q-tuAqLWZuT1ofR2U2o6nuN5qi0rqoTwHzHIEdXJavuln85QWW3Yb4oo26qGT1pFiRa75CS_EkFlz/s320/SDC11166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489829645028651378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnL3FT9pfzmzWuclT-UV7Q17tRMRSAkQDDtkNQi6jXJ_HDeCNT3yni5Llh9i-W42mSKOFeTHKo5NRdP-JU8Z1vAqW3mZXIq-CUadLzV_v8C3L47oKez0Rh4nJg1XOLxAGEx1pbXeG8PgGO/s1600/SDC11253.JPG"><br /></a>Following our visit to Mont Saint Michel, we went to our youth hostel in Lion-sur-Mer. We also met up and dined with the students and teachers from the Brest team. After diner, we played them in a game of volleyball. The Saumur team lost at the very end, even after dominating the sand. Anyways, both groups had a lot of fun and very much enjoyed themselves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm5K7V0wKG4W2rRmpQ9BKnhEDibQLqw7uSx0hxQ6EEa4blJ0R6D26SzWawyz4Q80bUmiz4FteeeHKcRyWrY-rP9tgcie8qNTp4O_6Kjn2Ro0eLh77VMKiNTR_vdK75dL6YpAQ3uXzHBhy/s1600/SDC11231.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28rl3CH5VF7MwG-xY-GOuwjlSK4HnxObizoAaTvM-Tgrd3NBujZ7ioMlABs9uoQOmNxNxl-9ckI6L49BtCltvdb-FwaBxqQA7CrngDkOqI56N0E8DjbgPOCyibWfNOksRpYtEpRcrZ7w7/s1600/SDC11205.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28rl3CH5VF7MwG-xY-GOuwjlSK4HnxObizoAaTvM-Tgrd3NBujZ7ioMlABs9uoQOmNxNxl-9ckI6L49BtCltvdb-FwaBxqQA7CrngDkOqI56N0E8DjbgPOCyibWfNOksRpYtEpRcrZ7w7/s320/SDC11205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489830139710130738" border="0" /></a><br />Here is a photo of both groups of students together doing what the Brest teachers call the "Disco" photo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nKRK3hv2P33rumEDSAgVBFTC5irUqrtvLbTYs_gjHaGH_QdUiRSHjPeDi-3o5KimSY2eDjeVyX1LEh8jTczzY7ZLBe8_qJuSK_NoSMOD0aQ1NTphT5CgEoFDg-9Fd2gHfamRoN64rAuC/s1600/SDC11214.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nKRK3hv2P33rumEDSAgVBFTC5irUqrtvLbTYs_gjHaGH_QdUiRSHjPeDi-3o5KimSY2eDjeVyX1LEh8jTczzY7ZLBe8_qJuSK_NoSMOD0aQ1NTphT5CgEoFDg-9Fd2gHfamRoN64rAuC/s320/SDC11214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489830523553108962" border="0" /></a><br />Following our lovely stay at the youth hostel, the next morning we went to the<a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/caen-memorial"> Caen WW2 Memorial </a>and had a history lesson.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm5K7V0wKG4W2rRmpQ9BKnhEDibQLqw7uSx0hxQ6EEa4blJ0R6D26SzWawyz4Q80bUmiz4FteeeHKcRyWrY-rP9tgcie8qNTp4O_6Kjn2Ro0eLh77VMKiNTR_vdK75dL6YpAQ3uXzHBhy/s1600/SDC11231.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm5K7V0wKG4W2rRmpQ9BKnhEDibQLqw7uSx0hxQ6EEa4blJ0R6D26SzWawyz4Q80bUmiz4FteeeHKcRyWrY-rP9tgcie8qNTp4O_6Kjn2Ro0eLh77VMKiNTR_vdK75dL6YpAQ3uXzHBhy/s320/SDC11231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489831181140348434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ7bNT9cakClUWF7r0vNQ25ykl2Rgoo_1FxoP0ST5agS_y0NxYb9p6GpqTbcMnM0Q-tuAqLWZuT1ofR2U2o6nuN5qi0rqoTwHzHIEdXJavuln85QWW3Yb4oo26qGT1pFiRa75CS_EkFlz/s1600/SDC11166.JPG"><br /></a>After lunch, we visited <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach">Omaha Beach</a> and the American Cemetery. As always, the students are very respectful of the site.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmta6mWzvjbppCv3AaS-IywMAJSzIpRyuGAgyegUt3LuvOq7XdWY3SHaIVtAwCRzixi1Mf6b_iwMSX-VXPuOmJ8okCg-CWLjPUSbND9EIBBh2mWfkY7KFz-A9BIoIya4WV3IZXG3Us-gR/s1600/SDC11149.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXCozKCde_X17bAUTj95o1cOEhUFkRzrreYitVLIaqLasmNXC4J-K80C0SoBov5_mUMyXT7kTNwHE62FuuyKza0obhL37dSC916IDsNuYbNWg1Y4bOLsG8SFMe-7yiiP1pb_Dn1i1hHSJ/s1600/SDC11240.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXCozKCde_X17bAUTj95o1cOEhUFkRzrreYitVLIaqLasmNXC4J-K80C0SoBov5_mUMyXT7kTNwHE62FuuyKza0obhL37dSC916IDsNuYbNWg1Y4bOLsG8SFMe-7yiiP1pb_Dn1i1hHSJ/s320/SDC11240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489831962766947586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1c0rESNbsKkC1R3YlJp3j-jSrpPqxGPQ08ImuS9cQqgm7UAzB_3D4qFaWQiN5OFQLhMTceJQnRICm9mJGjTHS5bdTB47UmB0erFA2IOWYF6z1lloidlhpOFRa0KyXnq-8GQqrC4EXONG/s1600/SDC11133.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnL3FT9pfzmzWuclT-UV7Q17tRMRSAkQDDtkNQi6jXJ_HDeCNT3yni5Llh9i-W42mSKOFeTHKo5NRdP-JU8Z1vAqW3mZXIq-CUadLzV_v8C3L47oKez0Rh4nJg1XOLxAGEx1pbXeG8PgGO/s1600/SDC11253.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnL3FT9pfzmzWuclT-UV7Q17tRMRSAkQDDtkNQi6jXJ_HDeCNT3yni5Llh9i-W42mSKOFeTHKo5NRdP-JU8Z1vAqW3mZXIq-CUadLzV_v8C3L47oKez0Rh4nJg1XOLxAGEx1pbXeG8PgGO/s320/SDC11253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489832849702162754" border="0" /></a><br />Not too far away from Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc">La Pointe du Hoc,</a> the last site that we visited. This is an interesting site because the students had the chance to see the bomb craters caused from the Americans attacking the German base. Below you can see several students in one of the many craters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ip3GiNcTRLVy9JVU5X6n-yAz5ZBFtOk5A_K1KyI-q62y7r3pUYBe-q6nm0GI0DjoG4sRpv2tdl15b_HuxugCe8XfcGd1MocDe0g44AfWN9RuvMcdd30255bIR7wn9faWiuZMMZDGQ7fS/s1600/SDC11280.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ip3GiNcTRLVy9JVU5X6n-yAz5ZBFtOk5A_K1KyI-q62y7r3pUYBe-q6nm0GI0DjoG4sRpv2tdl15b_HuxugCe8XfcGd1MocDe0g44AfWN9RuvMcdd30255bIR7wn9faWiuZMMZDGQ7fS/s320/SDC11280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489833317147236194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lfbOIJu8ZJYI7oMf7WiflSSCtEihd2z6snNGbihD6l3VfxexHrwWA0E2Xv6arNUKjVwJeakgsa8O_ITqzBS2TBRmLUwmoseBcuS9OEsTFD_kZRlpqRfKrXq_-oBW_uvDvlKUnPBP0EFg/s1600/SDC11095.JPG"><br /></a>We had a fantastic visit with great weather. However, when we got back on the bus and went back to Saumur we were welcomed by the rain (just like when the students arrived in France). As always, you can see more photos at <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/brimurray">http://picasaweb.google.com/brimurray</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpOfhmpehZxqQhVITvW6Efxa3sH5vE-72dLL5nctNKZGISDcNUjedpRekKiSc6pYKFsOUJee0QyyakF9QjpP7_QIULAI3JxSk65VjWq8PAWO8aWOUbzv8O01ugKRpaSRc2B7RfPXVu2yX/s1600/SDC11087.JPG"><br /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482842832471881404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-55442409476101892072010-07-03T23:55:00.003+02:002010-07-04T00:41:09.983+02:00Festival des Géants et des MasquesLast Sunday was the Festival des Géants et des Masques here in Saumur. It was a parade that consisted of thirty or so groups.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6YnT29Nxw4NGzC3BniBRou06eFpjphyvhosrOR_Wp3bQWF1E1p0nWgBXwfAxE1J8vPuwNQjfXhBaG26U8dDREpDZhuVHBb4GM6YNco4hCyp0UCzJo7-S5zOslEeWYstO79FRWizHeqar/s1600/SDC11075.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6YnT29Nxw4NGzC3BniBRou06eFpjphyvhosrOR_Wp3bQWF1E1p0nWgBXwfAxE1J8vPuwNQjfXhBaG26U8dDREpDZhuVHBb4GM6YNco4hCyp0UCzJo7-S5zOslEeWYstO79FRWizHeqar/s320/SDC11075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489812170734248850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />If you would like see some video of this festival, please click <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdwfuk_saumur-geants-et-masques-2010-a_creation">here</a>.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482842832471881404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-82865433359816479022010-06-23T23:51:00.010+02:002010-06-24T00:27:30.120+02:00Dinner at the Château with a visit from the US consulate of Rennes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRCCho2N-iLF57zn31CZmIlvzXenPUkCimdwXfT_B6imrtC1kAMITAspl9DAB67TOwX9gzs-6B3LvUzVY7VFO0EAoknTm0CjtA2MVWY3GUn81Hudl-KwG2QxAS-WWr2hMwneZxM_xGRo7/s1600/SDC11047.JPG"><br /></a><br />Today, the students from the program along with several young Saumurois, elected officials of Saumur and the US consulate from Rennes were invited by the city of Saumur to dine in a restaurant right next to the château of Saumur. The evening started with the city officials teaching the students how to play local games. This was followed by several speeches, notably by Molly and Evan (Bravo les stagiaires !) and then we sat down to eat. We ended the evening with several group pictures and with a sunset over the Loire and the city of Saumur.<br /><br />I honestly can't believe how well we have been treated this year and I have a great appreciation for the Saumurois.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2R_UeO7lUhe4kljG5CxPcvDcaqaUIJnG_8k8OWEDzLnqg-xDIV_5jzSxN1FKXzPntd3E-D5MA1qjPoOICri2VjeUFT8blBtec8DkOC9iVgWMNf-o1CdBVDquMNpHSAO-Oz_V3SZ4FFU1L/s1600/SDC10953.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2R_UeO7lUhe4kljG5CxPcvDcaqaUIJnG_8k8OWEDzLnqg-xDIV_5jzSxN1FKXzPntd3E-D5MA1qjPoOICri2VjeUFT8blBtec8DkOC9iVgWMNf-o1CdBVDquMNpHSAO-Oz_V3SZ4FFU1L/s320/SDC10953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486093998093171410" border="0" /></a>Before the event. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4rWsl0mCMNPOvrcKqDfwialEC-idEd-tvszJW1m2Y924KnvDmcTvLGVZmrwwezCi7bSJn9SNjoGUonpGYIGu7HYF3X83zuO4AeHxPSV3y3J-j3S2xM2zfZlNNy13JbGzD4u_E34r9c71/s1600/SDC10989.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4rWsl0mCMNPOvrcKqDfwialEC-idEd-tvszJW1m2Y924KnvDmcTvLGVZmrwwezCi7bSJn9SNjoGUonpGYIGu7HYF3X83zuO4AeHxPSV3y3J-j3S2xM2zfZlNNy13JbGzD4u_E34r9c71/s320/SDC10989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486095558442825618" border="0" /></a>Evan giving his speech.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8Cvhzh_HF3vsXrxRPDh4Z0D1WVPL_2WWI7W3LLUjyXjh11KAzsK2YS1wtykVgYpdh1NbuKsmXHUXSCx8MRzWVqOsBea3Bq_kKcQI6DG7GE12sR1vDW6voPQvzx8v1Dz-C17XWEdMz32U/s1600/SDC10992.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8Cvhzh_HF3vsXrxRPDh4Z0D1WVPL_2WWI7W3LLUjyXjh11KAzsK2YS1wtykVgYpdh1NbuKsmXHUXSCx8MRzWVqOsBea3Bq_kKcQI6DG7GE12sR1vDW6voPQvzx8v1Dz-C17XWEdMz32U/s320/SDC10992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486096688961727570" border="0" /></a>Molly giving her speech.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR4M6yaf_DNZqkOM2cWbMJdxCtSw53YfgR_VDgalkLAyzrLtCNlMONyXV9HaKHt6vwVbo-l3rYln7K-TBDhifoKfYNLbhUkbc-AvRWfrCTPUJV3gCdhypsLzFqb1W7UTbZI1YeIF6ZvIV/s1600/SDC11023.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR4M6yaf_DNZqkOM2cWbMJdxCtSw53YfgR_VDgalkLAyzrLtCNlMONyXV9HaKHt6vwVbo-l3rYln7K-TBDhifoKfYNLbhUkbc-AvRWfrCTPUJV3gCdhypsLzFqb1W7UTbZI1YeIF6ZvIV/s320/SDC11023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486096099109319650" border="0" /></a>Group photo of everyone, even the Saumur and US officials.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRCCho2N-iLF57zn31CZmIlvzXenPUkCimdwXfT_B6imrtC1kAMITAspl9DAB67TOwX9gzs-6B3LvUzVY7VFO0EAoknTm0CjtA2MVWY3GUn81Hudl-KwG2QxAS-WWr2hMwneZxM_xGRo7/s1600/SDC11047.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRCCho2N-iLF57zn31CZmIlvzXenPUkCimdwXfT_B6imrtC1kAMITAspl9DAB67TOwX9gzs-6B3LvUzVY7VFO0EAoknTm0CjtA2MVWY3GUn81Hudl-KwG2QxAS-WWr2hMwneZxM_xGRo7/s320/SDC11047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486097785341943618" border="0" /></a>Ma maison :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlKbfwS_76Y00M3GZoqWXKjxSYLgZps9yT6Wi704HgZgcor8_hKEiBr1-fSoiwf8KQgIyvNkkNPaTwahtqTD9rzZsNH2DdEPXXHCxRoKKhMhf35rXijowVOdw4cWto3ovYsY0XNeIT5hG/s1600/SDC11032.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlKbfwS_76Y00M3GZoqWXKjxSYLgZps9yT6Wi704HgZgcor8_hKEiBr1-fSoiwf8KQgIyvNkkNPaTwahtqTD9rzZsNH2DdEPXXHCxRoKKhMhf35rXijowVOdw4cWto3ovYsY0XNeIT5hG/s320/SDC11032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486097397018525282" border="0" /></a><br />View of Saumur and the Loire river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGs9birUoDN24ExRgmOdCsVDzMGVxITmjM0TwHdiu7HkUyGVzjAJpXDLC1ZCW_fJg1KnE1MPmSb2HhAtqYMFE8L0vuvsjaNtsjNh7jHhs1nMLQ3e8pY81iwJHHIVOxlfyvCj-s0szmETmI/s1600/SDC11030.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGs9birUoDN24ExRgmOdCsVDzMGVxITmjM0TwHdiu7HkUyGVzjAJpXDLC1ZCW_fJg1KnE1MPmSb2HhAtqYMFE8L0vuvsjaNtsjNh7jHhs1nMLQ3e8pY81iwJHHIVOxlfyvCj-s0szmETmI/s320/SDC11030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486097036613696674" border="0" /></a>The students together!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR4M6yaf_DNZqkOM2cWbMJdxCtSw53YfgR_VDgalkLAyzrLtCNlMONyXV9HaKHt6vwVbo-l3rYln7K-TBDhifoKfYNLbhUkbc-AvRWfrCTPUJV3gCdhypsLzFqb1W7UTbZI1YeIF6ZvIV/s1600/SDC11023.JPG"><br /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482842832471881404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-51504270186776579072010-06-23T23:09:00.006+02:002010-06-23T23:32:17.596+02:00Fête du Vélo and Fête de la Musique!June can be an interesting time to be in France. This past Sunday, many of the students participated in the Fête du Vélo ("the festival of the bike") here in Saumur and in nearby cities. Below you can see a photo that I took of what I saw:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD61__CvQTvLLREZJYO5U0EKc6Os5f7i4qNrIgkP8SUTKeLrD1WX1nvkTsvbDlL3-5xak_8dQGgy95xXuwzOtUGVYngF_UQVXlMXvu55Yt3x-IiJywUiUDnSOI3UiQG8nRsirZAEAvDjCQ/s1600/SDC10917.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD61__CvQTvLLREZJYO5U0EKc6Os5f7i4qNrIgkP8SUTKeLrD1WX1nvkTsvbDlL3-5xak_8dQGgy95xXuwzOtUGVYngF_UQVXlMXvu55Yt3x-IiJywUiUDnSOI3UiQG8nRsirZAEAvDjCQ/s320/SDC10917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486081074283003378" border="0" /></a><br />On Monday, there was the Fête de la Musique (music festival). On this day, (almost) every city is filled with groups playing all types of music on the street (such as rock, fanfare, tap dancing, reggae, jazz, etc.).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU72FqyWaQmV_yUhTgp9F8nFngtRGq1-3-8Nzz2UpJFIOpw6L-5pha2OLJNxsXXqAyFoIxZnSsq4m0Xf-AkRinFJt9hIkDoJCke2XabwPtwpXrmYB3snCEGrBGQNFlk56Cx7UK-HrWd0IU/s1600/SDC10918.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU72FqyWaQmV_yUhTgp9F8nFngtRGq1-3-8Nzz2UpJFIOpw6L-5pha2OLJNxsXXqAyFoIxZnSsq4m0Xf-AkRinFJt9hIkDoJCke2XabwPtwpXrmYB3snCEGrBGQNFlk56Cx7UK-HrWd0IU/s320/SDC10918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486081611868302882" border="0" /></a><br />If only I could find his myspace...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmZ-SLg4PR9E7-h2ZURYzhuB-7ycS1e0JOrB0mul1N28W3drvyngK6UmGfUQ1n_HQCuQih6ulGAdsm6afeGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br /><br />On Wednesday, the teachers got to meet with the host families. We presented the program and the goals of the program and we now feel that they have a better understanding of what is expected of the students and of them.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482842832471881404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-61341762663851179232010-06-19T00:27:00.012+02:002010-06-23T23:05:14.600+02:00Our first excursion! (Blois, Chenonceau, Amboise)After spending just only five days in France, we took our first trip around the area to visit three different chateaux in the Loire Valley. We started our visit out in the city of Blois, a city that is 2 hours away from Saumur. Every student spent most of their time in Blois in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Blois">chateau</a> and told us that we teachers should have gone into the chateau.<br /><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk-MdzJdyJiJMQyu_1fb94d8mb91veVnMz7PwJj2eNGmEYZKDOfp37C-rCT7lpMaqaxQLJBz8vx-cksX1-NlZVQkJ9s0KMk3QNQA9bWHvsYykr2vIyMl9tOVrGnqjtpl6c8QwpGSA8JI_/s1600/SDC10757.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk-MdzJdyJiJMQyu_1fb94d8mb91veVnMz7PwJj2eNGmEYZKDOfp37C-rCT7lpMaqaxQLJBz8vx-cksX1-NlZVQkJ9s0KMk3QNQA9bWHvsYykr2vIyMl9tOVrGnqjtpl6c8QwpGSA8JI_/s320/SDC10757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486077023485414738" border="0" /></a></div> </div><br />True, we probably should have gone into the chateau but if that would have been the case, then I would have any photos like the following photo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnyH7E3M-ZvuLpNpMVAs6tklPVYkR1hsf1lWteoNHqhibXRXv1Gg9ZUcezpcE-nIZelGjLW0UIozuxiHJ3_iH2krR_De9LYJYsBpyGCA73E58a1UoXg9RVUeZDQ3b2NMUfbYpfWcjankt/s1600/SDC10792.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnyH7E3M-ZvuLpNpMVAs6tklPVYkR1hsf1lWteoNHqhibXRXv1Gg9ZUcezpcE-nIZelGjLW0UIozuxiHJ3_iH2krR_De9LYJYsBpyGCA73E58a1UoXg9RVUeZDQ3b2NMUfbYpfWcjankt/s320/SDC10792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486077574476042578" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:2046/ce769e93e0680c3c6d52fe5ceee90f8a/image/afe9efe412e23779.jpg"><br /></a></div> </div>Below you can see a photo of the entire group just before getting back onto the bus to see the next chateau, Chenonceau.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79WxZB4VBFRiAjGc5zHrD9XW5Byd75dA28WxuxsMxlZ5vJePVN_FCM9EFVksD13wTUYKQJSgesMkqESjUGxKOyNuR2svfJMjoHkQqk1dvHKVOw5-_xGPZuX5k8eN9o1Jv0kSBLHvU3Ern/s1600/SDC10830.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79WxZB4VBFRiAjGc5zHrD9XW5Byd75dA28WxuxsMxlZ5vJePVN_FCM9EFVksD13wTUYKQJSgesMkqESjUGxKOyNuR2svfJMjoHkQqk1dvHKVOw5-_xGPZuX5k8eN9o1Jv0kSBLHvU3Ern/s320/SDC10830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486077972707649330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="http://localhost:2046/ce769e93e0680c3c6d52fe5ceee90f8a/image/8c235b9f4e1e152a.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://localhost:2046/ce769e93e0680c3c6d52fe5ceee90f8a/image/8c235b9f4e1e152a.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenonceau">Chenonceau</a> is without any doubt, my favorite chateau in all of France. I have never seen a place as beautiful as this one and I feel that I was lucky to have the chance to see it. I hope that all of you will get to visit it someday. Maybe your student could be your tour guide and/or French interpreter?<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxPJx6vVLaQEunWn5M0Zi_x7ngVQc11RputM2_6j1GqmyazsgebaoQ0h5tD562g41HUX-IqJkk7t8WYC4MLyZI06Upt1QsIDQR4yuvGrS6143eA4y95YFkQRJEcuZz-bTbutam5V9aH9F/s1600/SDC10844.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxPJx6vVLaQEunWn5M0Zi_x7ngVQc11RputM2_6j1GqmyazsgebaoQ0h5tD562g41HUX-IqJkk7t8WYC4MLyZI06Upt1QsIDQR4yuvGrS6143eA4y95YFkQRJEcuZz-bTbutam5V9aH9F/s320/SDC10844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484246033094567330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ0ZCu7hEy7-lusc0LKTSDfsdXlTALBh2UiamUiiALoYnSmk7SjKTPgHw8XoLmxhJuibkzyRW5FxaqRtc19coWj_lRYhfxNiG3Yrh7tOIXMByOKZ4ASbtQjidR5Zhbed3rc1EWZM97q-Q/s1600/SDC10905.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ0ZCu7hEy7-lusc0LKTSDfsdXlTALBh2UiamUiiALoYnSmk7SjKTPgHw8XoLmxhJuibkzyRW5FxaqRtc19coWj_lRYhfxNiG3Yrh7tOIXMByOKZ4ASbtQjidR5Zhbed3rc1EWZM97q-Q/s320/SDC10905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484247581733209570" border="0" /></a><br />We finished our first excursion with a stop at the city of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amboise">Amboise</a>. Students got to visit the chateau and that was followed by a visit of the city. Below, two actresses were generous enough to pose with us in a photo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmKuphhuBdVmE3evZtOUQbsmqbEQvQD5PwbB6TWMJf9YZLQwNwqkVBE3_6XjHIAr8UO1KMKHbsm391GyOgADc-ZiWOio0aDfugNWdO5fvYInIJUkaxm9bfoAw9gaphT_9u5Am5OuVPOvM/s1600/DSC05259.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmKuphhuBdVmE3evZtOUQbsmqbEQvQD5PwbB6TWMJf9YZLQwNwqkVBE3_6XjHIAr8UO1KMKHbsm391GyOgADc-ZiWOio0aDfugNWdO5fvYInIJUkaxm9bfoAw9gaphT_9u5Am5OuVPOvM/s320/DSC05259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484248863268519714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgiMTrLWk42pB5jya4RKuqzZnaEPXCHC9Pcl2JqKpF-a65vxkn6ak2Ftj3Fs25QxTWgCGO3vx0DUPMqFhf83mZ5lp8H500EZQcCS0hZt3Ro-hQKQpc7S1h6L3m60x2FqAIdneKtNTtokj/s1600/DSC05274.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgiMTrLWk42pB5jya4RKuqzZnaEPXCHC9Pcl2JqKpF-a65vxkn6ak2Ftj3Fs25QxTWgCGO3vx0DUPMqFhf83mZ5lp8H500EZQcCS0hZt3Ro-hQKQpc7S1h6L3m60x2FqAIdneKtNTtokj/s320/DSC05274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484251054900835682" border="0" /></a><br />The following photo is right in front of the chateau of Amboise. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxh4BRAiEVy9R_ob1SHmzIOpJEFrf5E9FXxIAsUDeOdVrr0fpdGsYynKlXdcCuubPZUjkkIOxFcmWDc8N-uAy6rvGXr3qo5W6Jmu0fORiP9XGx8VQ6CGga94J4PsuKVTbmIdMkeVwwWc7/s1600/DSC05262.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxh4BRAiEVy9R_ob1SHmzIOpJEFrf5E9FXxIAsUDeOdVrr0fpdGsYynKlXdcCuubPZUjkkIOxFcmWDc8N-uAy6rvGXr3qo5W6Jmu0fORiP9XGx8VQ6CGga94J4PsuKVTbmIdMkeVwwWc7/s320/DSC05262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484250590734713634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75LavmHmczBBTpBmuVp82BBcYkDCNTG306OoKThuaamcXG5hDD2GG-4Qvca1kAwbyUoee11KXqX5Kmj7pZJJssihC3sQKEcdNqSk3DDiiXBPt3Rnp3py40qcmWir57_D4uK-WFOMDJlsb/s1600/DSC05297.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75LavmHmczBBTpBmuVp82BBcYkDCNTG306OoKThuaamcXG5hDD2GG-4Qvca1kAwbyUoee11KXqX5Kmj7pZJJssihC3sQKEcdNqSk3DDiiXBPt3Rnp3py40qcmWir57_D4uK-WFOMDJlsb/s320/DSC05297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484252251993139954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStgND2tZEmNFdeJhkzmyHMWp7wWkomfBTAK-a2pMnB26oFugJERt3v4GZ4ThvBmd5JeNMliOUiZ-XE4LwLnOuY1RW5Geueiu73HZVscTmcREhi5u9b2flDJNfJUH6e5q7FqpjiQZqgUV-/s1600/DSC05296.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStgND2tZEmNFdeJhkzmyHMWp7wWkomfBTAK-a2pMnB26oFugJERt3v4GZ4ThvBmd5JeNMliOUiZ-XE4LwLnOuY1RW5Geueiu73HZVscTmcREhi5u9b2flDJNfJUH6e5q7FqpjiQZqgUV-/s320/DSC05296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484252056546876658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thank you for your trust, they are in good hands!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF1hVX-ewSBI7AwW7SRYMQxhkxDMhMB3jU1jEUDa1Djz2s3HTrrTnDkk2QA4tPA6Z8WEpmil92FLMgoKgphU7E-Ozmo0avdIN-X-D5RM-lofbvXJPG1zWS_SBVvfEahnzfjR5-1x4ycOX/s1600/DSC05284.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF1hVX-ewSBI7AwW7SRYMQxhkxDMhMB3jU1jEUDa1Djz2s3HTrrTnDkk2QA4tPA6Z8WEpmil92FLMgoKgphU7E-Ozmo0avdIN-X-D5RM-lofbvXJPG1zWS_SBVvfEahnzfjR5-1x4ycOX/s320/DSC05284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484251513657983650" border="0" /></a><br />I very much enjoyed this excursion and so did the students. I now can't wait for the next trip to Normandie!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgiMTrLWk42pB5jya4RKuqzZnaEPXCHC9Pcl2JqKpF-a65vxkn6ak2Ftj3Fs25QxTWgCGO3vx0DUPMqFhf83mZ5lp8H500EZQcCS0hZt3Ro-hQKQpc7S1h6L3m60x2FqAIdneKtNTtokj/s1600/DSC05274.JPG"><br /></a><br /></div></div><br /><br /></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482842832471881404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-23925129457845199272010-06-15T17:46:00.000+02:002010-06-15T17:46:47.633+02:00Tour of Saumur<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TBegZcaXZTI/AAAAAAAABis/76Tj-BPP7pk/s1600/SDC10720.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TBegZcaXZTI/AAAAAAAABis/76Tj-BPP7pk/s320/SDC10720.JPG" /></a> </div><br />Today, we took a tour of our host city as a group and helped them locate important places such as La Poste (the post office). In the photo, you can see the that overlooks the Loire river, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Saumur">Chateau de Saumur</a>. If you would like to see more photos of our tour, please visit the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/BriMurray/TourOfSaumurWithTheStudents#">picasa site</a>.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-12298024894200167922010-06-15T01:04:00.000+02:002010-06-15T01:04:29.813+02:00Safe in Saumur<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TBa1fOoHVaI/AAAAAAAABik/yDI7p0Ldx2c/s1600/SDC10655.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/TBa1fOoHVaI/AAAAAAAABik/yDI7p0Ldx2c/s320/SDC10655.JPG" /></a> </div><br />The students made it safely to Saumur today after having spent a lot of time on the plane and in the bus. The are now discovering life with the host families and resting up so that they can visit the city tomorrow. <br /><br />At the following link, you will find a my Picasa account where I will be uploading the photos that I take. They are not always the best photos and they obviously can't replace the real experience but I hope that you will like them. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/brimurray">http://picasaweb.google.com/brimurray</a><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642220218507109461.post-68931331164242948542010-05-04T22:34:00.000+02:002010-05-04T23:00:09.852+02:00Bienvenue!Welcome to the IU Honor's Program blog for Saumur 2010! Please subscribe to this blog to stay informed about our adventures this summer in Saumur, France. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/S-CKlUmmOEI/AAAAAAAABiE/qNSIMgEubpA/s1600/SDC10451.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/S-CKlUmmOEI/AAAAAAAABiE/qNSIMgEubpA/s320/SDC10451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467522321418172482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/S-CJHRjq5mI/AAAAAAAABh8/Aqc6BV7HMqg/s1600/SDC10452.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G6sN9jCBFsU/S-CJHRjq5mI/AAAAAAAABh8/Aqc6BV7HMqg/s320/SDC10452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467520705692886626" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04369921279300462461noreply@blogger.com0