Abbey Road Programs - Québec 2008

On the road again...

2008-08-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning (Tuesday), we head out early for the Parc Montebello before continuing on to Montréal. In the city, we've got two full busy days planned, with students choosing their preferences among art museums and galleries, history and archeology museums, a ballade up the Mont Royal, a visit to the Biodome, an outdoor film spectacle at the Théâtre de la verdure, and free time to explore neighborhoods like the Quartier Latin and the Old Port. We've planned for lunches out on the town, cooking groups tomorrow night, pizza Wednesday, and a special last dinner out on Thursday before heading out Friday.

In Montréal, internet access will be limited, so this is my last blog post. If you need to reach me, please call instead of emailing. You all have an email with my cell phone number in case.

Au revoir !

Ile d'Orléans

2008-08-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

We spent Sunday exploring the "cradle of French America," Ile d'Orléans. We started off with a guided tour of the restored 18th-century Manoir Mauvide-Genest, followed by a picnic lunch and tour at the Parc maritime by the Saint-Lawrence. We continued on with a visit to a local fish raiser and cider maker, a pick-your-own raspberry farm, and, to top it all off, a chocolaterie.

The Manoir:

Where we set up our picnic:

Lots of pictures from the favored stop, the u-pick farm:

The fearless leaders get in on the action:

The groups of pickers show off their loot:

Last, but not least: You'd never guess it from this photo, but these guys were having the most fun and were the hardest to drag out of the field!

At the chocolaterie/ice cream shop. Ca a l'air bon !

A la prochaine !

Last Hurrah in Québec City

2008-08-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

Friday:
Friday after classes, students chose between down time and a trip to the gym before getting all dolled up for an evening out of dancing and sightseeing on a ferry boat on the Saint-Lawrence River.

Unfortunately, the batteries died before we could get some more good shots...

Saturday:
After the weekend ritual sleeping in time, the group spent its last afternoon and evening in Québec and the Old City. After dinner, some headed to the theater for a French-language production of the musical, Les Miserables, while others put on a talent show back at the residence.

In town, avec les copines:

The talent show DJ and one of the exacting judges:

Trying, unsuccessfully, to stay serious while rapping about Francesca's forays into the English language:

Singing in Hebrew...

...and performing Catholic school songs, too!

Showing us his moves:

Spectators, looking rather pleased:

Bonne nuit !

Out and About...

2008-08-07T18:54:00.000-07:00

Monday:
Monday after classes brought a visit to the Old City and the Musée de l'Amérique française which we learned should, unfortunately, be more appropriately called the Museum of Bishop Laval. We learned way more about him than we ever thought we'd want to know! The afternoon was redeemed by the excellent "Exposition Passager/Passenger" at the Espace 400e where we learned about Québec's history of welcoming immigrants and about the many peoples who share québécois identity.

Students listening attentively to personal testimonies of new and recent immigrants discussing their experiences living between cultures:

The exposition was interactive, with each of us as a new passager marking the city's history and toting his or her valise :

That evening, students had the choice between free time on campus or a concert-cabaret in town.

Tuesday:
On Tuesday, we finally toured the city's dominant landmark, the Château Frontenac and discovered a new and trendy (branché) neighborhood, the Quartier Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

Coucou, c'est nous !

Wednesday:
This afternoon we dunked under cover from the rain to explore the Musée des Beaux Arts before coming back to campus for a choice among free time, a film, or some pampering at our own salon de beauté. Another group and I opted for a concert featuring two Montréal indy bands, The Witches and Wolf Parade, which did not disappoint.

Taking in the art:

Sigh! Que c'est difficile d'être belle !

Thursday:
This afternoon brought a fascinating guided tour of the Maison Chevalier, a restored 18th-century home with sections renovated and furnished to illustrate living conditions for the working and wealthy classes of Québec's 18th and 19th centuries. After some time enjoying the city, it was back to Laval for dinner out at the nearby mall and the option of a movie, laundry, or internet time.

A demain for news on our last weekend in Québec City!

Bon week-end !

2008-08-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

Friday:
Friday marked the end of the first week of classes. After an afternoon visit to the Centre d’interprétation de la Place Royale, students chose among a soirée-film, free time, or time for emailing.

At the museum, students play at dress-up with historical garb:

Saturday:
With the whole day ahead of us (after the grasse-mat, of course), some students opted to hang out on campus and enjoy Laval’s gym, pool, and tennis courts. Others of us took advantage of a sunny afternoon by picnicing on the Plaines d’Abraham, exploring the battlefield on foot, sketching under a shady tree, and strolling around the Old City. Both groups met up for dinner at the foot of the Montmorency waterfalls and the evening’s grandiose fireworks display in honor of Québec’s 400th anniversary. We ended the evening with pie, sparkling drinks, and a toast in honor of a student's 15th birthday!

Les sportifs:

The international fireworks competition:

Sunday:

Sunday brought a full day out and a variety of discoveries. First, we head out for Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré where one class of students taught the rest of us about the legend of Sainte Anne and the historical and religious importance of the basilica in Québec. Curious students browsed the souvenir (and fudge) shops while others opted to check out services in French. Then it was a picnic lunch together and on to Baie-Saint-Paul, a quaint town on the river valley known for its artist colonies. We chatted with local (and international) artists at the Baie’s symposium, got a guided tour and learned about sustainable architecture and design in an entirely recycled eco-house in a beautiful natural setting, and sampled ice cream and other treats on the town’s narrow streets before heading back to Québec City. We finished the night off with pizza and student evaluations of the trip so far so that we could tweak things and keep folks happy.

Outside Sainte-Anne's:

At the symposium, we discover that we've got artists among us, as students get in on the act!

Students collaborate with an artist on a photography project:

Even Francesca, our instructor, activities coordinator, and resident art history expert, joins in:

The cute little eco-maison:

Even with the gray skies, it was beautiful. Here, avec les copines:

Stay tuned, more to come!

P.S. Hmm...this novice blogger seems to have inadvertently changed the settings and can no longer find where to edit the font. Please excuse the hodge-podge of fonts and sizes!

Jeudi soir

2008-08-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

Thursday evening after classes and free time students had the option of a concert downtown, trip to the movies (Le Fils de l'épicier), or an evening of dancing with others their age on a boat. The boat ride was the most popular choice and here are some of the kids dancing up a storm:

With the Château Frontenac in the background:

Time for heading back!

A la prochaine !

Défilé de mode

2008-08-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Tuesday evening's residence night brought out the fashionista in all as students put together their own runway show or défilé de mode. Here are some pictures of the students strutting their stuff. Don't be surprised if you see some of these styles from the Québec Summer 2008 collection come to a store near you...

And not to be outdone by the ladies:

Our fearless judges, activities coordinator Francesca and visiting country director Janet:

The fashion critics looking highly satisfied...

En ville

2008-07-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

Street artists abound in the Old City. We were particularly entertained by a young bluegrass band ("Bleu Pelouse," eh oui) deftly playing such instruments as the saw, washboard, and tin can.

A quick photo stop Tuesday on our way from the observatory with its panoramic view of Québec and guided tour to the market where we filled our stomachs before embarking on the evening's phantom tour of the Old City and the infamous crimes and characters that marked its early colonial history.

Some courageous volunteers playing along...

And some, well, getting a little too much into their roles...

More to come tomorrow with hopefully some pictures of tonight's project-runway student fashion show.

Until then, bonne soirée

Arrivés ! The first weekend

2008-07-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

Bonjour tout le monde,

Here's an update on what we've been up to:

Thursday and Friday:
Traveling abroad always brings adventures, and with folks arriving from all over, the students' first test of the immersion experience involved navigating hotels and airports, cabs and directions, purchasing calling cards and drinks, asking for directions and help with lost luggage, and getting to know their new friends through chatting, ice breakers, and games. Once at Laval, we got settled in our dorms, offered all students a calling card to call home, and set out for our first dinner in the campus student-run pub.

Saturday:
More settling in and getting acquainted with each other, the campus, and the city. After informal interviews to help establish the groups for class and then orientation and lunch, we ventured into the Old City for a guided tour of the 400 years of Québec's history at the Musée de la Civilisation, free time to explore the Lower Old City and taste the local fare, and a nighttime sound-and-image projected spectacle by respected artist and director Robert Lepage on the port...until the rain arrived and it was back chez nous.

Sunday:
With the weatherman threatening rain and the kids tired for travel and walking, we opted to keep our trip to Levis for another day. Some students took advantage of this to sleep in (faire la grasse matinée), other brave souls tried yoga in French, and everyone took a walking tour of key campus stops (post office, library, internet area, cafés, gym, shopping center, supermarket, bank...). After some free time with important tasks like window shopping, napping, chatting, and jogging on the agenda, it was pizza and residence night with mocktails, music, games.

A la prochaine !

Almost time...

2008-07-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Bonjour à tous et à toutes -

With the Québec trip almost upon us, I hope you're busy packing and enjoying the pre-departure excitement. By now, I've been in touch with all families of students on the trip, but should you have any final, pressing questions, you know how to reach me or Janet.

I hope that parents will take advantage of this blog to keep up-to-date on our activities and adventures. As soon as we arrive and get internet up and running, I'll be blogging regularly, every two or three days, with news and hopefully some pictures and student musings, too.

A bientôt alors !
- Erin