American Volunteer Discovers Brossac, France

Posted on July 9, 2019 by La Giraudiere

Arrival day at La Giraudière for this American Volunteer in Brossac, France was greatly anticipated. I signed up to volunteer months ago and researched every aspect of this trip to France. Among many visits to France, I’ve checked out most of the major towns and tourist attractions but have never spent much time away from large metropolitan areas. My name is Valerie Jablonski and this year I’m seeking a different kind of adventure. I am a retired teacher from Michigan with a desire to expand my horizons. Volunteering for three weeks to take part in a cultural exchange with others from around the world is a dream come true.

My first view of La Giraudière

After a fast TGV train from Paris to Bordeaux, the TER train to Chalais was a relaxing way to check out the countryside. The contrast of major train stations in Paris and Bordeaux was reflected in the stops in small towns with no actual station building, just a spot to wait for the train. Finally, I stepped off the train and was met by Paul, who’s vision makes this all possible.

A warm welcome and a quick car ride to La Giraudière brought me face to face with the beautiful maison de maitre I had only seen in pictures. Set in an idyllic location on the edge of town, The sense of serenity all around was very calming. Then, a flurry of introductions followed. I met three Erasmus interns from Germany, Portugal and Russia, while a fourth from Spain turned up that evening. Two other volunteers from Australia rounded out the current group.

A tour of the maison and my accommodations followed. I took time to settle into my private room in a 3 bed apartment. Despite the midday heat, it was cool and inviting. I immediately felt at home and elated to experience France from small town life, which already appears quite different than anything I’ve done before.

Conversation flowed in various languages at dinner time. I love languages! Sitting in the open air, eating lemon chicken with pasta prepared by Hugo, the German Erasmus intern, listening and speaking with everyone on every topic, introducing myself and learning about the others leant a magical beginning to my stay.

Valerie

I look forward to interacting with local townspeople, taking nearby day trips and swapping stories with everyone I meet. This is my introducton to blogging, so please come back for more descriptions of the daily activities at La Giraudière through my eyes. I can’t believe I am volunteering in France! This American is beaming with joy!

Like to know more about Americans volunteering in France at La Giraudière? Read more about this in our previous post on the blog.
Or maybe you are interested in volunteering in France at La Giraudière?Then visit our website at Volunteer in France.

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Erasmus volunteer at FC-Sud-Charente

Posted on July 9, 2019 by La Giraudiere

On a sunny Sunday in May, two football fanatics of La Giraudière, went to Chalais to watch a match of the second men’s team of FC-Sud-Charente. Paul Rice, the head of the project and Hugo Müller, a Franco-German Erasmus volunteer. On this occasion, Paul asked the officials if Hugo could join in the weekly training sessions.

Football match at the FC Sud Charente in Chalais

The trainer accepted the Erasmus volunteer from Brossac without hesitation. The training sessions ran from mid-May until the end of the season (early June).

FC Sud-Charente, a merger of the football clubs of Brossac and Chalais, has a first and second team and many youth teams. But during the week the seniors train together.

FC-Sud-Charente logo

Hugo needed a lot of skill to keep up with the boys because it’s been four years since he played in a club or competitive environment. The training sessions were quite intense, but the team did not lack any sense of humour. Most of the players were about 25 years old, so Hugo (19) was more of a younger player.

Paul offered Hugo a lift to Chalais and the players offered him a lift back to Brossac. 

Such local activities are great opportunities for any foreign volunteer to meet new people and improve their French.

Hugo enjoyed it so much that he has already decided and arranged with the responsible persons that he will participate in the training sessions again after the summer break at the beginning of August.

Like to know more about FC-Sud-Charente then visit a previous match report at FC Sud Charente. Or maybe you are interested in volunteering in France then visit our website at Volunteer in France.

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Volunteers Explore Angoulême!

Posted on July 4, 2019 by La Giraudiere

After all the volunteers had completed their long journey to Brossac and had spent the first night in their new home at La Giraudière, the group of international volunteers decided to explore Angoulême the provincial capital of the Charente department.

The Charente River in Angouleme

The idea of taking a day off to visit this beautiful city was suggested by the project manager, Paul Rice and the volunteers just love it.

One of the many street murals of Angoulême
One of the “street murals” of Angoulême

Known as “La cité de la bande dessinée“, it is full of street art, paintings, culture and shops with different regional products made in Charente.

Our volunteers enjoyed a day visiting the monuments of the city, walking through the pedestrian street, checking out the street art and also having a nice picnic next to the river.

Erasmus volunteers from: Greece, Portugal and Spain visit Angouleme
Erasmus Volunteers from: Greece, Portugal and Spain

Discover the “must do” in Angoulême according to our volunteers:
– Visit the street murals (free maps available in the tourism office!)
– Picnic next to the Charente river
– Visit the Cathedral and it’s museum
– Visit the museum of “bande dessinée”
– Attend the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée
– Do a boat trip on Charente river



If you are interested in joining the international group of volunteers at La Giraudière, you can read more about the Erasmus project at Erasmus Project in France or you can visit the International volunteer’s website at Volunteering in France.


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International Volunteers arrive at Brossac City

Posted on July 1, 2019 by La Giraudiere

On May, Brossac village decided to hold a fête weekend full of western adventures.

This included country and western dancing, stagecoach rides, horseshoe making, mechanical bull, numerous stalls selling American themed products including cowboy hats, Texas steaks and other cuisine was prepared and of course just to add a French touch to the day a “boules” competition was held.

International volunteers in Brossac City fête
Brossac en Fête

Both international support volunteers and Erasmus Volunteers from La Giraudière who had travelled from all parts of the globe were amazed to find a western event in the small village of Brossac in the south-west countryside of France.

Volunteers in France take part in Brossac fete in the south west of France
Brossac en Fête

You can read more about Brossac upon it’s Facebook Page

If you are interested in joining the international group of volunteers at La Giraudiere in Brossac then you can read more about the project at Erasmus Project in France

or you can visit the volunteers website at Volunteering in France

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Volunteers & Spring arrives in France

Posted on April 8, 2019 by La Giraudiere

Volunteers and Spring arrives in France

Spring arrives at La Giraudiere, the wysteria is in bloom, the grass is growing, the cookoo have had their say and the birds are roosting. The village prepares for the spring fete for the weekend of the 4th, 5th and 6th of May and at La Giraudiere we prepare for hosting volunteers and interns.

Despite early concerns what with the troubles in Paris and Brexit it looks like it is going to be another Bumper year at La Giraudiere. It is on the 1st of May that LG opens it’s doors and  welcomes its first arrivals on this day also is the “fete du travail” et “Fête du Muguet”.

Spring volunteers arrive
Spring arrives in France

Fete du Travail

The French holiday “Fete du Travail” is unique due to a combination of global and historical French traditions.

Fete du Travail is a time for the French people to spend time with their friends and family members while enjoying a day off from work. Why ” Fete du muguet ” on May 1st?  Well offering les muguet, or lily of the valley in English, on the first of May is in fact an almost natural gesture as warmer weather returns.

The Celts celebrated the return of summer on May 1 and considered lily of the valley, present at this time of the year, as a lucky flower.

Volunteers in France
La Giraudiere prepares for its volunteers


Fete du Muguet

In the Renaissance, May 1st was the feast of love during which a wreath of flowers was made to offer to the loved one. The Muguet, blooming in May, often adorned these wreaths. At the same time, King Charles IX received, on May 1, a muguet as a lucky charm, he then decided to offer Muguet every first May to the ladies of the court.

The tradition of offering Mugueton May 1 persists until today and everyone can sell Muguet on the street, there are no formalities or taxes that day.

So as France and the French welcome the warm breezes of summer La Giraudiere welcomes its international bouquet of guests coming from all points of the globe.

This year La Giraudière encompass another Erasmus project this time funded by the European Solidarity Corps. The project “Recognizing Young Entrepreneurs and teaching Entrepreneurship” attracted hundreds of applicants from which five were selected one from each of the following countries Spain, Germany, Greece, Russia and Portugal. You can read more about the project on our website at http://www.lagiraudiere.com/

Apart from those participating in the  Erasmus project we continue to welcome our international volunteers coming from as far as New Zealand. For May alone our volunteers are American, British, French, Canadian and Australian together with our Erasmus volunteers we have a mix of 10 nationalities presenting a true culture exchange in France.

Much is planned for this year and next weeks blog post will give you fuller information on the other projects and the programs for 2019. So please keep returning and see you then.

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