A plate of fruit

It's raining today, and we didn't go on our planned market trip. So to cheer us all up, I've posted here a picture of some fruit we bought a couple of weeks ago. There are green and black figs (the green ones were my favourites), green and black grapes (the black ones, the muscatels, were the favourites here) and little orange mirabelle plums.

We are enjoying life here in the village. After weeks of diligent 'bonjour'-ing I am starting to have conversations with people, although my French still leaves a lot to be desired. I think I will seek out a French language class - someone told me yesterday that they have them in the next village.

Emi has been getting frustrated with the language. School is rather boring when you don't understand what's going on, although playtimes seem to be good fun, with lots of miming and running games. We've asked a friend, who speaks both English and French fluently, to give E some French classes. I also had a meeting yesterday with a specialist teacher who visited the school - his job is to test foreign students in their own language to determine their knowledge level and to advise on how they should be taught alongside their French companions. (He told me she is 'well-educated' - thanks Murrays Bay!)He was great, really nice, and had lots of suggestions. He also met with E's teacher and gave her lots of suggestions as well, and E reported that class was much more interesting in the afternoon. It must be hard for the teachers, if they haven't been trained in how to teach students who don't speak much French. I can't speak highly enough of the school here in Aniane - they are really trying to do their best for E.

Al's been getting frustrated with all the paperwork that we have to do to get our cartes de sejour. I don't think it is worth worrying about. It's just part of life here in France, everyone knows that, and they accept it. I think you just have to relax and let things happen as they will in that respect. It's always hard for him to relax, but if he learns to do it here in France, it will be a very good thing!