Get involved! Staying in hotels and ticking off the tourist sites in the cities is good, but it does not compare whatsoever to living in a village in the middle of the French countryside, getting to know the locals and sharing the whole experience with a bunch of likeminded people. The highlight of my trip would definitely have to be playing petanque in the afternoons and early evenings with a group of beret-wearing, pipe-smoking, red wine-drinking Frenchmen and Madames. It was as French as you can get, an experience for locals, and during my stay at La Giraudiere I was definitely made to feel like a local. Whether it was harvesting the chestnuts, tasting the first jus de raisin of the season, or just enjoying a meal at the local bar come resto, I felt really involved in village life, and I think it\u2019s great that I was a part of rural living because it isn\u2019t a tourist trip, it\u2019s a true French experience. And if you\u2019re not looking for that, why did you come to France!?<\/p>\n I\u2019d thoroughly recommend volunteering or interning at La Giraudiere. Help out with a bit of work and enjoy getting immersed in French culture – you\u2019ll love it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Sam Grace La Giraudiere volunteer 2012<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sam Grace an Australian who volunteered at La Giraudiere in October 2012 . Sam who had been travelling around Europe during his gap year used the project at La Giraudiere so as to take some time out of his travels. … Continue reading ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lagiraudiere.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Australian_volunteer_Sam.jpg\" "\\"Australian_volunteer_Sam\\"")
<\/a>“This has got to be one of the best French culture immersion programs in France.<\/p>\n