Volunteers Barbecue in France

Posted on May 1, 2018 by La Giraudiere

Volunteers organise Community BBQ

The Volunteers at La Giraudiere started the end of their first week by having a French lesson on Friday morning with the delightful Lynn who divided us into two classes of beginners and more advanced. She inspired the group consisting of Americans, English and Scots to practise their French after her departure.

BBQ in France

The afternoon was spent preparing for the much anticipated barbecue to which Paul had invited friends and neighbours. The kitchen was a hive of activity where a variety of salads were prepared, baguettes cut up and sangria made up from Paul’s secret recipe. Finally the hour approached and the guests began to arrive. A surprising number were British but owned houses in the vicinity and had lived here for several years or spent their time between Britain and this beautiful region of South West France.

Others had lived all their lives in the area and came with their children, the youngest being a baby of four months. There was a group from the gendarmerie and a Parisian who is building a house nearby. One of Paul’s former apprentices, Julien, arrived with his wife and inlaws togetrher with the delightfull Louis a 18 month old boy who kissed everyone in sight.

volunteers-bbq

John, from Scotland, was in charge of the barbecue supported by Angel from USA and David, from UK, was the barman offering everyone a welcoming appetif of sangria. The village butcher supplied the meat , the burgers being truly delicious and the sausages equally flavoursome. The locals brought with them some delicious desserts including Monique’s apple tart and some brownies to die for! As the evening wore on, conversations took place in English and French and a small group resorted to speaking Spanish with Angel, a volunteer of Puerto Rican origin.

The weather remained dry all evening but was disappointingly cold and gradually people drifted inside to the warmth or crowded round the heat of the barbecue.

 

“Maybe you would like to come and volunteer at La Giraudiere and write this blog or maybe some articles check out volunteers in France articles“

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LG Volunteers & Football Club Sud Charente

Posted on April 26, 2018 by La Giraudiere

Volunteers support Football Club Sud Charente

Match report for Football Club Sud Charente – v – Jarnac 15.04.2018

Last Sunday the 15th of April I witnessed a battle upon the fields of Chalais which was overseen by the imposing Château de Tallyerand. Jarnac had come from the north and arrived fully equipped and with a team overflowing with substitutes and assistants. Football Club Sud Charente, previously known as Brossac / Chalais, were a depleted team of warriors suffering heavily from injuries in previous battles. At 3.00 that day the whistle for battle to commenced was blown and FCSC, dressed in their rose and black kit, came out with all guns blazing, motivated by their mentor and trainer Patou Dumontet, they waged attack after attack upon the unsuspecting Jarnac reds. 48 mins elapsed before the pause in battle was announced and it was FCSC that rightfully gained the first spoils of battle from a superb goal from Camille Ribéreau, supported by laurent, who both constantly were harrassing and penetrating the defensive armour of Jarnac.

The second period of battle was started and now it was the turn of Jarnac in their devil red who mounted attack after attack upon the Rose and black of FCSC but the back four of  Jordane, Pierrick and the two Thomas’s stood well and took all that Jarnac could muster both physically and verbally presenting little or nothing for the goalkeeper to handel.

The midfield engines of Julien Ducheix and Benjamin Dougal supported by Nicolas Poirier were constantly turning and instrumental in grinding down the motivation of devils from Jarnac. But it was the second goal from Camille which brought Jarnac to their knees and from this point on it was now evident that FCSC would take all the spoils of battle from this encounter and as sure as the Chateaux Tallyrand will stand for centuries to come the third and final nail in the coffin for Jarnac was driven firml home by no other than Camille Ribéreau the man of the moment and the match.

If you are volunteering in France this summer then at La Giraudiere you will have the opportunity to see and support the local football club so maybe you could write the next match report for those following our blog.

Football club sud charente

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Volunteers 2018 Season begins at La Giraudiere

Posted on April 25, 2018 by La Giraudiere

Volunteers in France for 2018 Spring Season

La Giraudiere has begun its 2018 Spring Volunteer Season. Over The past several days La Giraudiere has welcomed seven volunteers from England, the USA, and Scotland. Yesterday a returning volunteer, David, prepared a lovely dinner for eveyone. Afterwards, as the sun was setting, sevral volunteers took off on bikes and enjoyed a ride around the winding roads while enjoying the beautiful countryside views of southwest France. Meanwhile, the other half of the volunteers walked through the nearby fields in search of a lake, where they sat and observed the surrounding commmunity to La Giraudiere. Our newest volunteer from the United States, Lily, was welcomed here to her new home of seven weeks just yesterday, and believes La Giraudiere to be a very comfortable and engaging enviornment for her.

volunteers walking by the field, watching the sunset

As everyone settles in, they look for what activities they feel they fit into. Some have been working around the garden, while weeding and mowing the lawn the volunteers practiced their French and took advantage of the warm sunny weather yesterday. Once it got a bit colder and dark outide, everyone gathered in one of the day rooms and relaxed with their mugs of tea that Emily, a volunteer from England, thoughtfully prepared. The volunteers shared their history with French lessons and told some funny stories about language barriers. It was a relaxed evening for everyone, and shortly after finishing their drinks the volunteers headed to their sleeping quarters. It has been a wonderful start to a new season, and the volunteers are all looking forward to the next few weeks of adventures.

Interested in volunteering in France ?

Written by: Lily Elizabeth Dunlap

 

 

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Agustí a quitté La Giraudière

Posted on December 1, 2017 by La Giraudiere

Après 2 mois en tant que volontaire SVE, il est temps de dire au revoir à Agustí, un jeune de Valence, en Espagne, qui quitte La Giraudière après avoir vécu sa première expérience Erasmus.

agus_volunteer_valencia

Pendant son séjour à Brossac, Agustí a eu le temps de faire divers travaux, liés au projet YERRF et à l’entretien et l’amélioration de la maison. En relation avec le projet, il a appris à tenir les comptes de l’association, a mis à jour le blog et les réseaux sociaux et a contribué à la recherche d’informations pour pouvoir offrir de meilleurs services. En dehors de cela, il a fait plusieurs travaux de jardinage et travaille dans la maison.

Aussi, il a apprécié l’expérience de vivre 2 mois en France, connaissant sa culture, sa langue et sa gastronomie. Cette expérience lui a permis de compléter ses études en degré de tourisme, et sera très utile une fois qu’il entrera sur le marché du travail.

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Canadiense volontaire a quitté La Giraudière

Posted on November 1, 2017 by La Giraudiere

Cette semaine, un autre bénévole a quitté La Giraudière après deux mois ici. Elle s’appelle Mo et elle est une femme du Canada. Elle a décidé de venir ici et de passer des vacances différentes où elle pourrait aimer aider l’association et le projet YERRF. En même temps, elle a appris plus sur la France, sa culture, sa nourriture, ses lieux et sa langue.

Canadiese_volunteer

Mo a fait beaucoup d’emplois différents à La Giraudière. Ses tâches principales étaient de prendre soin de la communication avec les volontaires qui doivent venir ici, vérifier leurs applications et conseiller sur le projet. Mais elle a aussi aidé dans la cuisine, préparant des plats dignes des restaurants, elle a eu le temps de faire du tourisme, visitant chaque week-end un endroit différent.

En résumé, elle a profité de son séjour à Brossac pour partager ses connaissances avec les autres et apprendre des autres.

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