Volunteering In France | Interning in France

Volunteering in France takes place at La Giraudière in Brossac. Shirley Lehmann took the opportunity to experience life as a local in the French countryside. During three weeks she worked as an international volunteer. Erasmus volunteers join international volunteers to provide a cultural exchange. People of varying ages, nationalities and life experiences unite. For Shirley, a retired Australian educator, La Giraudière was a perfect fit.

Shirley had a chance to be outdoors weeding, raking, and sweeping. In addition, she took on many household management jobs. Weekly, Shirley improved her French and took turns cooking for the group. She often enjoyed visiting in the area and further afield during her off time. She found  the mix of physical work, chances to explore the village and the group camaraderie was quite pleasant.

Shirley rated the excursions and the French lessons 10 out of 10! She took trips to beautiful Bordeaux and Saintes with the group. She and another volunteer explored Aubeterre. Shirley shopped in different  towns, walked around the Blue Lagoon and ate dinner at local restaurants. These all added to her enjoyment. Individualized French lessons allowed Shirley to proceed at her own pace. She feels the experience of volunteering at La Giraudière met all her expectations.

What would Shirley say to others interested in volunteering? If you are looking to stay in France in a rural environment, work with others and improve your French, La Giraudière is the place to come. She stated, “In a nutshell, it’s what YOU make of all these opportunities.

Like to know more about cultural exchange in France at La Giraudière? Read more about this in a previous blog post.
Or you are interested in volunteering in France at La Giraudière? Then visit our website at Volunteer in France.

Every Monday in Chalais there is a traditional French market which has been ongoing for centuries. The first Monday in May, together with the Erasmus and international volunteers, I set off from La Giraudière in Brossac at 09.00 on the 10 kilometre trip in order to participate in this local ritual of visiting the Monday market.

Upon arrival, to the surprise of our group of merry volunteers, there were market traders selling all that one could ever need. The narrow streets were packed with stalls laid out and displaying their goods and produce. Everything was there including clothes, fresh products, books, trinkets and costume jewelry. The noise was everywhere as people, who use the market as their weekly rendezvous, pass on their nouvelles to each other. Competing with this are the market traders trying to get your attention for their particular merchandise and fresh products.

Looking down from above us is the imposing chateau of Chalais, which has seen more Monday markets than I can imagine. Once we had finished with our market day we decided to start the climb up to the imposing castle high above the ville de Chalais. Alas upon our arrival at the famous Chateau Talleyrand, the sole working drawbridge in Europe was closed for the day.

If you like Chalais’ market then check out a Chalais Market post about it.
Or maybe you are interested in volunteering in France then visit our website at Volunteer in France.

In the mid of May, La Giraudière in Brossac invites two of the French speaking locals, Hélöise and Ludovique from Barbezieux, for dinner thus presenting a opportunity for our volunteers to learning French in France.

Peter, one of our volunteers, an American student from Boston, met them at the cowboy fete in Brossac. They got along well right away, so that the couple took the State Champion with them on a trip to Périgueux. As a rematch for the excursion, La Giraudière invited the french couple to spend an evening with the whole international group including two other French speakers who were part of the volunteering group.

That evening, Peter, who doesn’t really like cooking, had to prepare a dish. But he rode flawlessly and prepared very tasty wraps. In addition, both the guests and Muriel, our French volunteer, had prepared cakes so that it became a real French feast.

On this occasion, the international volunteers could exchange ideas with French people using their newly learned French conversation. Accompanied by a few glasses of French red wine they enjoyed practicing and perfecting their grasp of the French language.

Thanks to this invitation, the Erasmus volunteers were able to recruit some new French speaking help to support the group in the form of Hélöise. Since this dinner, the young female French entrepreneur has come every Friday to help the group translate its guide in return for English lessons.

Like to know more about how to learn french in France at La Giraudière you read more about this at Learn French in France
Or maybe you are interested in volunteering in France at La Giraudiere then to read more visit our website at Volunteer in France.

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