Last summer I wrote in describing my experience studying with my daughter at Parlons en Provence. After much uncertainty about travel plans for the summer, ah, ambivalence--I am returning to Provence in a couple of weeks to renew my studies of French at another Provencal school called Millefeuille-Provence. Lovely website with cigalles singing.

One benefit to this one is that it has a pool! Additionally, I can get picked up at the Avignon TGV, so I won't need to rent a car until the end of the week, when I go off for a few days to visit Eygalieres once again. There is something so intoxicating--once you get there--of breathing in a foreign land's smells and hearing another language spoken. I think that such travel allows one to gain some healthy distance and perspective on one's immediate world, and, of course, at the same time, affords a wonderful indulgence of the senses!

I will write eventually to report on my next tutelage experience, in case anyone has a similar compulsion to learn French on French soil!

A bientot!

letour

Letour I was sure it was you when I saw the title of your posting!
That is great that you can go back to Provence, and if you want to practise your French a little more, come and see me in Dijon on your way back to Paris.(why not stop for a half day?)

I really understand what you mean by "There is something so intoxicating--once you get there--of breathing in a foreign land's smells and hearing another language spoken." I feel the same when I go to Great Britain (not very often unfortunately)

Bonne chance avec les cours!
coco

I am eagerly waiting to read about your experiences in the new school. Could you share the web site?

Bonjour, coco! Salut!
That's a lovely invitation! Unfortunately, I think that I have my itinerary all mapped out...Indeed,I was very proud of myself for buying train tickets directly through SNCF after the helpful postings were made. Thanks again to those folks, too! I will have to find my way to Dijon another time for sure.

georgiegirl:Here's the website below. I hope it's the chirping version! Turn up the sound!
I actually haven't found any reviews of the program, but it is widely listed. Parlons en Provence, by comparison, offered a shorter class day, I think. My experience there was that just speaking French nearly exclusively for a week, really helped with my confidence, not to mention practice and comfort in speaking.

I'll keep you posted!

letour

http://www.millefeuille-provence.com/

cocofromdijon: I did a summer course at the Universite de Dijon years and years ago. I lived in a boarding house and have kept in touch with the family ever since. My daughter even visited them while she was at the Universite de Montpellier for her junior year of college!

Dijon is a fabulous small city and obviously I have some nice memories of the place.

Several years ago I visited the family at their summer home in the Auvergne during a trip. Some of those friendships last a lifetime!

Oh, yes, I forgot: Mme Kornman still corrects me when I mess up the subjunctive. LOL.

It looks great Letour, I'm waiting for your report as well

Faux you should come back to Dijon to see how it changed within a couple of years. Most of the buildings in the historic center have been renovated, and from the 1st of July we have a brand new place de la Libération (what a party! the inauguration + football match on a big screen in front of St Michel church)
Subjunctive is very hard even for some French people!;-)
coco

letour,

If you pass through Maussane on your way to Eygalières, let me know ... stop by for a drink and we can even speak in
French if you like !

Patricia
[email protected]

I was last in Dijon about 6 years ago during a home exchange in Nancy. I always stop by to see my "family" if I am anywhere near the area, but, unfortunately, I have no present plans to visit France. I have a trip to Chle's fiords planned for November and the Transiberian Express from Vladivostok to Moscow planned for August 2007. The second trip is very expensive and the budget can only handle so much at once.

If I get back to Dijon, I will let you know. We have some gourmet food shops near me where I can even get pain d'epices! Pain d'epices, for those of you who do not know is a Dijon specialty. It is sort of like fruit cake, but much lighter, and without the yukky candied fruit.

Hi, Patricia!
I will write you for sure. Would love to see you in Maussane...one of my favorite places!
letour

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...en_name=letour

Here's the thread to my reporting on my time at the MILLEFEUILLE PROVENCE school.
letour