Personal Reflections ...
This section contains reports written by TMTA members about their experiences with the Association, and during Twinning visits.
Reports are published on the website excluding names or any personal information.
Truro to Morlaix Language Immersion Visit 19th - 23rd Oct 2023
As a very new member of TMTA I was a little nervous on Friday morning on arriving in Roscoff particularly after a rough overnight crossing. However, my concerns were soon allayed on meeting my hosts for the weekend. Living just outside the town their home on the banks of a river was extremely comfortable and welcoming – especially the lovely log fire.
After breakfast we set off for the library where the 6 monthly book exchange was to take place. A reporter from Le Telegramme was there and an article duly appeared the next day. Fame at last! We had a lovely walk around the town and across the viaduct. So interesting to be with a resident to give an insight into what is happening – including proposals to open up the river again as far as the viaduct. An afternoon gathering of all the hosts and guests at a café in the town was lovely despite the torrential rain.
Saturday morning included an unmissable visit to the market – quiet due to the weather – but still well worth it. A break in the clouds gave us the opportunity to visit the coast for a very blustery and wet walk. Spectacular seas and interesting to visit a part of the coastline I’d not been to before. Tea and 'Far Breton' (a traditional Brittany Cake) followed with another host family. Sadly, the day didn’t end well thanks to England’s extremely narrow defeat in the rugby. Still, we could have been playing France which might have been a tad awkward!!
My host is an avid collector of classic cars and on Sunday, in glorious weather, following a visit to the market in St. Martin to buy some superb cheeses and strawberries we set off for a trip in a wonderful old VW campervan. We picnicked by a lake and then visited the Chapelle of St. Michel and Huelgoat to see the eccentric rock formations. The day concluded with the ‘Bring and Share’ at the St Martin community centre – an amazing facility for the local community. It was lovely to mingle and chat with other people, my confidence having increased over the weekend.
Time to leave on Monday but yet another treat in store. We set off to have lunch in Roscoff and my host took his pride and joy, a 63 year old Simca Chambord. That certainly turned heads. A lovely lunch at a crêperie together with the daughter and granddaughter of my hosts was the perfect finale. Happily the sea was fairly calm on the return journey and I arrived home at 10.30.
This was an excellent experience. Although my French was once good it has become extremely rusty due to disuse. I have been asked by my family how good my hosts’ English was and I couldn’t possibly say as we spoke exclusively in French for the entire weekend. I can honestly say that my French has improved substantially. Now I just need to keep it up.
Thanks to everybody who helped organise the trip. Looking forward to next year.
After breakfast we set off for the library where the 6 monthly book exchange was to take place. A reporter from Le Telegramme was there and an article duly appeared the next day. Fame at last! We had a lovely walk around the town and across the viaduct. So interesting to be with a resident to give an insight into what is happening – including proposals to open up the river again as far as the viaduct. An afternoon gathering of all the hosts and guests at a café in the town was lovely despite the torrential rain.
Saturday morning included an unmissable visit to the market – quiet due to the weather – but still well worth it. A break in the clouds gave us the opportunity to visit the coast for a very blustery and wet walk. Spectacular seas and interesting to visit a part of the coastline I’d not been to before. Tea and 'Far Breton' (a traditional Brittany Cake) followed with another host family. Sadly, the day didn’t end well thanks to England’s extremely narrow defeat in the rugby. Still, we could have been playing France which might have been a tad awkward!!
My host is an avid collector of classic cars and on Sunday, in glorious weather, following a visit to the market in St. Martin to buy some superb cheeses and strawberries we set off for a trip in a wonderful old VW campervan. We picnicked by a lake and then visited the Chapelle of St. Michel and Huelgoat to see the eccentric rock formations. The day concluded with the ‘Bring and Share’ at the St Martin community centre – an amazing facility for the local community. It was lovely to mingle and chat with other people, my confidence having increased over the weekend.
Time to leave on Monday but yet another treat in store. We set off to have lunch in Roscoff and my host took his pride and joy, a 63 year old Simca Chambord. That certainly turned heads. A lovely lunch at a crêperie together with the daughter and granddaughter of my hosts was the perfect finale. Happily the sea was fairly calm on the return journey and I arrived home at 10.30.
This was an excellent experience. Although my French was once good it has become extremely rusty due to disuse. I have been asked by my family how good my hosts’ English was and I couldn’t possibly say as we spoke exclusively in French for the entire weekend. I can honestly say that my French has improved substantially. Now I just need to keep it up.
Thanks to everybody who helped organise the trip. Looking forward to next year.
Truro to Morlaix Language Immersion Visit 19th - 23rd Oct 2023
Impressions of a first “immersion”.
We arrived in Roscoff at 8:00 on Friday after a rather rough crossing and drove to Morlaix which is about 25 kilometres away. After some breakfast of crêpes, brioche and bread we went to visit the town. Nearby to where my hosts live, we passed by Les Ursulines, a religious community. We then visited the Chapel at le Carmel which was again a religious community. We passed through the viaduct on the way to the town. This is a very interesting structure dating back to 1863. It was hit by Allied bombing during the Second World War (a local school was also unfortunately hit with much loss of life) but it was quickly rebuilt. In the town we visited the tourist office where we were given various information leaflets. The tourist office itself had a very interesting courtyard dating back many years and some displays about the town. Morlaix dates back to mediaeval times and there are many properties and churches which are very old, in particular La Maison de la Duchesse Anne, built 1530.
In the afternoon we visited Carantec on the North Coast which is a lovely seaside town with nice beaches. We then drove to Ile Callot across a roadway which is only usable at low tide. The island has a very attractive old chapel with links to those lost at sea, that dates back to the 6th century. There is also some farming and oyster production. Returning to Morlaix, we then met up as a group at the Café de la Grande Terrasse for hot drinks. In the evening we were invited to share the evening at the home of another host with their Truro guest. There were some intriguing snacks from Gabon after which we had authentic Breton crêpes.
On Saturday there was rain but we visited the weekly market which was full of interesting groceries and hot food stalls. Looking around the town again we saw La Maison à Pondalez, built in the early 1500’s and an example of how buildings were constructed one floor at a time, and the Quai de Léon where tobacco manufacture started in 1740. This stopped in recent times after 260 years and the building is now used by various shops and restaurants. In the afternoon we made a trip along the east side of the river up to Plougasnou. It was still raining so we stopped for short walks at some very attractive coastal resorts. In the evening there were 9 of us for a ‘raclette’ dinner at my hosts’ home. The England match was on in the background. England were winning their rugby semi-final against South Africa. After dinner everyone watched the end of the match. Sadly England lost their lead in the last two minutes and lost the game by 1 point (as had France) but it was a good experience.
On Sunday we went to Plougonven to see an Enclos. An Enclos is a group of religious buildings grouped together. The buildings are quite spectacular and it is very surprising to find such a place in a quiet country location. From there we went on to the Vaellé des Saints near Carnoët. Here there are lots of huge sculptures made from granite. Currently there are 183 and they are aiming for 200. It is difficult to describe it and it's one of those things that you have to see to appreciate it. We had lunch at a lovely little crêperie in Huelgoat. In the town there are lots of big rocks (‘chaos’) in a lovely forest location. The trembling rock weighs 137 tonnes but allegedly it can be moved by one person. My host claimed that I had managed to do this but I think she was being kind. On the drive back to Morlaix we were able to see at a distance the Chapel of Mont St Michel (not the famous one). Sunday evening was a ‘Bring and Share supper for the whole group. The English ‘immersees’were presented with their diplomas.
Monday morning we did a little shopping. My host helped me with the purchase of some wine at the supermarket. She enlisted a ‘caviste’ who was very kind and helpful. We also bought some crêpes and some brioche. On the way to Roscoff we visited St Pol de Léon and went round the cathedral which is very old and impressive. We then had just enough time for a look around Roscoff before returning to the ferry at 1330 for the trip home.
The overall impression is that immersion in the French language was great but did seem to get more difficult later in the day (although a glass of wine helped). However it was more than a language experience and more about friendship and getting to know each others’ cultures and lives.
Impressions of a first “immersion”.
We arrived in Roscoff at 8:00 on Friday after a rather rough crossing and drove to Morlaix which is about 25 kilometres away. After some breakfast of crêpes, brioche and bread we went to visit the town. Nearby to where my hosts live, we passed by Les Ursulines, a religious community. We then visited the Chapel at le Carmel which was again a religious community. We passed through the viaduct on the way to the town. This is a very interesting structure dating back to 1863. It was hit by Allied bombing during the Second World War (a local school was also unfortunately hit with much loss of life) but it was quickly rebuilt. In the town we visited the tourist office where we were given various information leaflets. The tourist office itself had a very interesting courtyard dating back many years and some displays about the town. Morlaix dates back to mediaeval times and there are many properties and churches which are very old, in particular La Maison de la Duchesse Anne, built 1530.
In the afternoon we visited Carantec on the North Coast which is a lovely seaside town with nice beaches. We then drove to Ile Callot across a roadway which is only usable at low tide. The island has a very attractive old chapel with links to those lost at sea, that dates back to the 6th century. There is also some farming and oyster production. Returning to Morlaix, we then met up as a group at the Café de la Grande Terrasse for hot drinks. In the evening we were invited to share the evening at the home of another host with their Truro guest. There were some intriguing snacks from Gabon after which we had authentic Breton crêpes.
On Saturday there was rain but we visited the weekly market which was full of interesting groceries and hot food stalls. Looking around the town again we saw La Maison à Pondalez, built in the early 1500’s and an example of how buildings were constructed one floor at a time, and the Quai de Léon where tobacco manufacture started in 1740. This stopped in recent times after 260 years and the building is now used by various shops and restaurants. In the afternoon we made a trip along the east side of the river up to Plougasnou. It was still raining so we stopped for short walks at some very attractive coastal resorts. In the evening there were 9 of us for a ‘raclette’ dinner at my hosts’ home. The England match was on in the background. England were winning their rugby semi-final against South Africa. After dinner everyone watched the end of the match. Sadly England lost their lead in the last two minutes and lost the game by 1 point (as had France) but it was a good experience.
On Sunday we went to Plougonven to see an Enclos. An Enclos is a group of religious buildings grouped together. The buildings are quite spectacular and it is very surprising to find such a place in a quiet country location. From there we went on to the Vaellé des Saints near Carnoët. Here there are lots of huge sculptures made from granite. Currently there are 183 and they are aiming for 200. It is difficult to describe it and it's one of those things that you have to see to appreciate it. We had lunch at a lovely little crêperie in Huelgoat. In the town there are lots of big rocks (‘chaos’) in a lovely forest location. The trembling rock weighs 137 tonnes but allegedly it can be moved by one person. My host claimed that I had managed to do this but I think she was being kind. On the drive back to Morlaix we were able to see at a distance the Chapel of Mont St Michel (not the famous one). Sunday evening was a ‘Bring and Share supper for the whole group. The English ‘immersees’were presented with their diplomas.
Monday morning we did a little shopping. My host helped me with the purchase of some wine at the supermarket. She enlisted a ‘caviste’ who was very kind and helpful. We also bought some crêpes and some brioche. On the way to Roscoff we visited St Pol de Léon and went round the cathedral which is very old and impressive. We then had just enough time for a look around Roscoff before returning to the ferry at 1330 for the trip home.
The overall impression is that immersion in the French language was great but did seem to get more difficult later in the day (although a glass of wine helped). However it was more than a language experience and more about friendship and getting to know each others’ cultures and lives.