Hungarian volunteers in France

The last of our Summer volunteers left on Wednesday morning heading home to Hungary. Richard was the first of Hungarian volunteers we have had stay at La Giraudiere.

Richard Masszi Hungarian Volunteer at La Giraudiere 2014

Richard who was taking time out before going to university hopes to study to become a medic or doctor. During his three weeks at La Giraudiere Richard learnt how to put up plaster boards and the supporting railing for dry lining or doublage as it is known in French.

Richard also helped out in the Park and Garden with weeding, trimming and cutting grass. Repairing the bikes also was something Richard enjoyed and he proved to be a very good cyclist taking off to Aubeterre and as far as Angouleme, which by the way is 50 kilometres from LG,

Cooking for the group was another job that Richard took in hand and he produced some nice evening meals and desserts.

Petanque, or boules, is a game that is played twice a week in the village in the evenings and the volunteers from LG are always invited to join in. Richard proved to be a very useful player and tested the French to the line losing on one occasion only 12-13

Richard the petanque player representing La Giraudiere

“So thank you Richard for being our First Hungarian Volunteers and for all you did and maybe see you back at La Giraudiere one day.”

Richard is on La Giraudiere Facebook and Twitter

Hosting Volunteers France

Ever wonder why someone may leave it all behind to pursue a life hosting volunteers in a quiet little part of France?  Just about twelve years ago, Paul  decided to give up the hustle and bustle of his hometown London, England and search for another way of life.  He took over an old stone maison in rural Southwest France called La Giraudière.

The roots of the house date back to the early 1700s but the original main house had long ago disappeared due to a fire or some other force of nature. What may have been the Gate House to the old estate still survived and in 1904 the family Giraud added an extension and this became La Giraudiere as known today.

It is rumored that the last offspring, 2 daughters, of the Giraudiere family had little or no interest in the property and moved off to Paris in the 1960s.  La Giraudiere fell into disrepair and needed some major repairs.  With nary a French word in his vocabulary, Paul set to rehabilitating the old house, taking on various other building projects in the area to bring in some income.

Amiable La Giraudière hosts, Paul and Sidney

An afffable man, he soon got to know the locals, and learning the best way possible, through experience, he became conversant in French.  However, he still proudly holds on to a distinct British accent as he believes everyone should recognize their roots.

He was soon joined by a Labrador pup, Sidney who quickly became his right hand dog.  A man of leisurely pace, La Girardière slowly took shape until 2007 when Paul stumbled upon the idea of opening  up the building to holiday visitors in search of a unique experience in rural south west France.

For a small fee, (that basically covers food expense, French lessons, excursions and transfers) folks come from all over the world to volunteer in the effort to restore La Giraudière. Some like me come to help with the blogging or dealing with the ever arriving inquiries that arrive in the mail box each day.

Visitors come for many different reasons.  Some come to freshen up their French or English skills.  Others want to learn more about French culture while others just want a quiet getaway from the frenzied pace old modern living.  Whatever the reason, Paul greets everyone  with a smile and welcomes them aboard.

It’s clear Paul has come to love his adopted home.  He is never happier than when he usher his visitors to area markets, festivals or tourist spots.  He enjoys watching his guests marvel at the beauty of the local sunflower fields or the majesty of The Atlantic coast.

Well known in the nearby town of Brossac, the local villagers welcome his guests into the local shops, bar, restaurants and invite them to join in the bi-weekly games of petanque.  Perhaps, though, his favorite activity is sitting at La Girardière at sunset watching the beautiful colors streak across the sky or maybe even better, viewing the night sky, white with stars.  Regardless, wherever you catch Paul, you can count on a lively Bienvenue to La Giraudiere

Travel writer Terence Cremin describes his experiences while volunteering at La Giraudière, France

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My Volunteers Journey to La Giraudière France

While spending three weeks volunteering at La Giraudière in Southwest France, I got to wondering how the planets had ined so that a volunteers journey would bring me to this little jewel in Southwest, France. I ‘m not sure when I was struck with the happy disease of wanderlust but perhaps it was during the fourth grade.

The Parthenon

We studied Geography for the first time in my small Catholic school on the south side of Chicago.  The textbook was written as a travelogue and followed ten year old Peter on his family’s trip around the world. I read with awe as he watched the guards change at Buckingham Palace, climbed the steps of the Eifell Tower and ate gelato on The Spanish Steps in Rome. I would have happily traded places with him as I wiggled in my starched blue school uniform while he took pictures of The Pathenon and floated down The Ganges. Or perhaps it was even earlier when I received a picture book as a very young child called The Land of The Midnight Sun.  It was filled with happy Lap Landers with red puffy cheeks ,wearing colorful coats and hats,

Colorful Lap Landers

herding reindeer under The Aurora Borealis.  Under drab Midwestern skies I dreamed of faraway places and knew that I must get there some day. Other than a tornado sweeping me away like Dorothy to Oz, I knew I would have to figure a way to get there on my own. It didn’t take as long as you might imagine, once I started saving my money from my daily paper route.  By the time I was sixteen, I had saved enough money to participate in a month long student tour of Europe sponsored by my high school.  I considered it a survey course of Western Europe; of the variety, snap a picture and look at it when you get home. We have to hurry on to our next country.  Or, if this is Tuesday, this must be Belgium.  It was all wonderful and I still look back at it fondly but it did not slake my travel thirst.  It would be ten years before I returned to Europe, this time to Switzerland to work in a language summer camp.  This

Ballons over Cappadocia, Turkey

also afforded me the opportunity to visit The Netherlands, Luxembourg and England once again.  I would follow up my summer adventure with another Swiss tour the following year adding Ireland to the itinerary.  Then life would interfere.  Career and family would become the priority with some magical visits to places closer to home in The United States.  There is so much to see and do there but often when I would see a jet trail high in the sky, I would long to be aboard a jet plane European bound.  It would be over thirty years before I would have my passport stamped again. Two  years ago, I was given an opportunity to travel to Paris to visit a young friend gratuating from The Sorbonne.  I brushed off my dormant French skills and leapt at the chance.  This time I wandered to points south and north visiting Nice and Normandy.  It opened up my eyes that there was much more to Europe than the

major cities.  A trip to Turkey the following year would intervene but I would hang on to the idea that I wanted to see more of rural France.  However, a major trip abroad was putting a strain on the pocket book.

Sunflowers of La Giraudière

I took on a part time job and started researching volunteer possibilities in France.  This happily brings me to La Giraudière.

Name your poison and there is most likely a volunteer opportunity to meet your needs.  I was attracted to the somewhat communal setting of English and French speakers in rural France.  It’s location in Sud Ouest had great appeal as it was an area I was unfamiliar with and knew it would yield great surprises.  I have not been disappointed in that regard.

My visit to Bordeaux revealed a beautiful ancient city brimming with gorgeous architecture, delicious dining spots and a fascinating history dating back to prehistoric times.

Forays to the Atlantic Coast delighted with beach resorts that rival the Cote D’Azur but with less people.  I have to thank my literary fourth grade friend Peter for opening the doors to such vast fields of exploration.  I don’t know if my travels will bring me back to La Giraudière ; after all Peter made it all around the world. I still have other continents to conquer.

Travel writer Terence Cremin describes his experiences while volunteering at La Giraudière, France

Don’t forget to join us on Twitter and Facebook!

Holiday Volunteering and La Giraudière Volunteers Arrive and Depart

After spending three weeks on a holiday volunteering the La Giraudiere Volunteers arrive and volunteers depart. Even on a quiet weekend, La Giraudière is a busy as a hen house on Easter. There are markets in town and car boots in the village (that’s a flea market to our American friends; so named because people sell items out of their car trunks (boots.)

Sal enjoys a concert with La Giraudiere friends before he departs

One can wander to points north and west, Bordeaux or the west coast, or stick close to home and swim in Etang Valliersfollowed by a terrific meal at Quay Sud.

A good book and a nap is also a welcome distraction; there is no more perfect spot than under a shady tree facing a field of tournesols (sunflowers).  All this and more happens on a typical La Giraudière weekend.

This past weekend saw us wishing a fond farewell to Sal who came to us from Northern Ireland. In the evening we all met for a delicious meal over looking Etang Valliers.  Despite the reality of having to say goodbye to a new friend, the mood at the dinner was kept lighthearted.  Sal is not one to look backwards besides there was still a concert to attend.  The Latin rhythms of the band added to the revelry.  After Sal left in the morning, La Giraudière was hit with a sensational thunderstorm

Volunteers bid adieu to Matthew at Cafe St. Bernard

(or l’orage as the locals call it) that knocked out our internet and threw us back to The Stone Age – or at least to the 1980s.  We all wondered if Sal’s flight to Bordeaux took off or canceled but we couldn’t dwell on it as we had a new arrival to welcome and bid a fond adieu to another.

Richard arrived from Hungary as Matthew was packing his bags for home in The United Kingdom.  After spending a year studying in Toulouse and a month at La Giraudière, Matthew still wanted to extend his stay in France but family beckoned.

Another dinner, this one everyone’s favorite, Cafe St. Bernard in the center of the village of Brossac, again found us toasting a fellow volunteer with a local vintage.  The highlight of the evening however was the trivia contest that followed. Matthew was in his element, able to show off his expansive wealth of General Knowledge. He left home with not only fond memories of a his time in France but with a trivia victory under his belt.

Meanwhile Richard had precious little time to experience being the new kid on the block.  Tina from Austria

New volunteer Richard proves to be quite adept at petanque

was scheduled to arrive the next day.  A secondary student,  Richard was hoping to work on his English and French.  He certainly became proficient in all the forms of hello and goodbye in both languages.   He was also introduced to the French game of petanque in Brossac and despite being a novice, walked away with two victories against more seasoned players.  Tina arrived the next morning with a near flawless American accent.  A native German speaker, she is conversant in English and anxious to learn French.  Despite, living in Belgium for five years, she says, with a giggle, that she didn’t learn any French there. Of course, as an American I’ve heard that all before.

A European says she doesn’t speak the local European language and then perfectly orders a meal while discussing options with the server.What they really mean is they couldn’t pass a second level exam in the subject. 

La Giraudière Volunteers Visit the West Coast of France

After two weeks as a volunteer at La Giraudière, I realized that I had not heard an American accent since my arrival. (That’s not completely true, a volunteer from Austria speaks with a lovely American accent that

Beautiful fields odf tournesols dot the landscape of Western France

she claims she picked up when she lived in Kansas for a year as a child; it has a pleasant Teutonic lilt to it so it doesn’t quite count.) Of course, I didn’t come to France to meet other Americans but still, I’ve never traveled far or near without running into some of my compatriots.  So where were they?  It’s really no great mystery.  Americans tend to visit the capital cities of Europe:London, Paris, Rome and then home.  It’s understandable but by bypassing the West of France, they are denying themselves an incredible travel experience.

On our last weekend as volunteers at La Giraudière, program director Paul lead us on a daylong excursion to the beautiful western coast of France.  The first stop along the way was the bustling town of Pons.  It’s windy, picturesque streets feature a market on Saturdays. On this particular sunny weekend, it was hosting the “La Grande Fete de la St.- Jacques.  An annual affair, the shopkeepers dress as medieval merchants while solders in mail, maidens in headdress and mythological creatures roam the

A colorful poster announces The Fete de St. Jacques in Pons

streets.  As you shop for local soaps and cheeses, you are treated to the sounds of authentic medieval music played by roaming musicians.  Children in period dress, dance to the music as they dodge the shoppers who fill the streets. Falconry and archery demonstrations on the grand lawn in front of the castle fills out the bill.  It was a wonderful stop fro coffee, croissants and ice cream but soon we were off to the seaside village of Talmon sur Gironde.

As you drive into Talmon you are greeted by a sign proclaiming, “Talmon, le plus beau village en France.”  By the time you leave you will be in complete agreement.  You first must leave your car in the car park as autos are not allowed in the village.  The landscape is dominated by the fortress-like church of Sainte- Radegone that guards the harbor on the Estuary of the Gironde.   Beautiful in its simplicity, the church proudly looks upon the sea on one side and the small village on the other.

A street dancer escorts her merry band of musicians through the streets of Pons

The tiny, neatly landscaped streets of the village wander through residences and shops alike.  Tidily maintained gardens amidst sun bleached white walls add the color to this most charming of villages.  The town dates back to the 1200s and the carousel on the outskirts of the village adds to the other era feel of the place.

Although, Talmon lies at the mouth of the Gironde estuary, it’s the call of the sea, further up the coast that draws us to Saint-Palais sur Mer.  It is this resort city, unlike any of the other places visited on this trip to France that makes me realize how much Americans are missing by skipping this area.  Graceful palm trees and sturdy stone mansions line its quay along the sea.  Balmy sea breezes waft through the air as beach goers and senior citizens alike,

The imposing church of St – Radegone towers over le plus beau village dans France, Talmon

stroll along to capture the golden rays pouring down from the blue skies.  Large sailboats on their way out to the ocean can be seen in the distance as children of all ages frolic in the refreshing waters of The Atlantic. It only takes us seconds before we peel down to our bathing suits and we are diving in the surf. The pleasant temperatures of the water are a wonderful surprise, especially for anyone who has spent summer holidays on the  chilly shores of The North Atlantic in America.  I am reminded of Nice without the crowds and with better beaches.  No rocky bottoms here but rather the type of sand that invites you to curl your toes into as you prepare to take your first dive into the water.  An English band with a vocalist reminiscent of Adele rehearses along the

The beautiful seaside town of St.- Palais Sur Mer boasts warm water despite being on the Atlantic

promenade for their evening concert.  We knew we wouldn’t be able to stay long enough to hear their complete sets but it was easy to imagine the whole seafront lit up while merry vacationers danced the night away to their pop sounds.  A delicious lunch of crepes, omelets and strawberry water readied us for our car ride home.  Although we were a bit tired and all had a touch of the sun, the drive home was only 90 minutes long, reminding us just how close we were to this most beautiful of regions.

La Giraudiere sits among the peaceful sunflower and farm fields of The Charente region but it is only a short drive to the gorgeous western coast of France. I didn’t sign up for this but what a marvelous surprise to find such a beautiful piece of the world in my own backyard.

Post Written by Terrence Cremin USA while on his working holiday volunteering in France