Day 4

Friday in La Giraudiere included a two hour French lesson from a local English woman who is also a french teacher. The lesson was a wonderful way to all share and learn the language we all had an interest in together. I learned some more useful basic vocab and also asked some questions. The teacher was also kind enough to give me some info on things I could do nearby.

After lunch myself Lisa and Sébastien dediced to go cycling around the town of Brossac and hopefully end up at the lake. This was a great way for me to get to know the town as they showed my around and gave me little tips and shortcuts. We visited the cemetery of the town which was very interesting and you can understand a lot about a culture from the way they bury and honour the dead.

After that we were hot from cycling so we made our way to the lake. I had never swam in a lake before so I could tick that off my bucket list (although I didn't even know I should have had it on the list). It was so extremely refreshing ! I intend to go there a lot more during my stay here. It was calm and clean and beautiful.

After dinner we went to play Pétanque in the town, which was actually so much fun! Much to my surprise I had a really good hand and won our first three games. Woohoo!

We met some of the local french men who also were playing Pétanque and I experience a true helping of "french kisses" one man even went for four! FOUR! The other girls told me it was coming but It happened so quickly I just went with it. (French kisses as in the pecks on the cheeks when French people see each other)

During Pétanque some of the men playing also invited us to share their sparkling cider they opened when they were finished. We met a local young guy who had travelled all over in his early twenties and was telling Michelle the Australian woman about his time in Oz. He was most delighted that he could practice his English with us and told us about a free concert that was going on at the Lake. We were up for it so he showed us how to get there. It was the most surreal experience walking down the french country roads at sunset and hearing this pumping music from nearby mixed with the sounds of crickets.

To say it was a goodnight is not being fair, I have never laughed so much with people I hardly know!

I can tick a few more things off my bucket list now... I saw a firefly, i saw two dead snakes, I played pétanque and I tasted Heineken with peach sirop.

Whoever thought the French countryside is boring (everyone) is sorely mistaken!

À bientôt,
Aisling xx