New free magazine about Aix en Provence

I was thrilled to find a new, free magazine in my mailbox this March 6th, 2010 called: ” Aix Pauses“. We’d just discussed the need for a nice magazine about the wondeful city of Aix en provence with a friend a few days before and now it was there, before my eyes.

It’s in French, created by ” deux filles”, as they say, two entrepreneurial women. I haven’t had a chance to contact them since they are nowhere to be found, either in the yellow pages or on the web ( at aixpauses.com, says the magazine). We know what it’s like to start a venture, a few mishaps are not surprising!

The magazine walks us through some of Aix’s monuments, shops and artisans, giving us a bit of interesting history bits.
Did you know where the term ” banlieue ” in French comes from? ” Banlieue” today means “suburb”. Well, the bell on top the clock tower ( ” la tour de l’horloge”) in Aix used to sound for the ” bans “, ie, to announce major city events, and it would be heard as far as one ” lieue” away ( one league). Hence the term ” banlieue” came to represent the surroundings of a city, where the bell could be heard!

Conference on Bilingual Education in the Aix- Marseille (Provence) region

Reprinted:

Bilingual Education in Marseille-Provence
(Education Conference Series, Part I Elementary, Middle High School Education)
Conference/debate Wednesday 3 March 2010
(Places limited, RSVP mandatory)

The Anglo-American Community, strongly anchored in Marseille-Provence, represents an extensive network of active professionals and companies, which includes managers, engineers, teachers and creators of all sorts, with businesses in many different areas of activity. It consists of both permanent and temporary residents, often with families and distinct educational needs. American and British companies are the most significant foreign investors in the region, supporting and creating much employment.

The Anglo-American Community shares with the regional economic development agencies and the international companies located here, a concern about the international educational facilities available in the area at both the primary and secondary levels (grade, middle and high schools– higher education will be the subject of another conference later this year).

MAABN is raising the debate around a number of important questions:
Are the public and private international education facilities that exist equitably and efficiently distributed throughout the territory and, do they satisfy the requirements of Anglo-American families and the businesses they work for?
Are non-French-speaking children catered for?
What are the reactions of foreign companies seeking to invest here?
Where does international education lead?
(other questions could be added or substituted………….)

MAABN is delighted to welcome:
Jean Paul de Gaudemar, Rector of the Aix-Marseille Académie
Gail Ellis, Head of the language teaching centre at the British Council Paris
Robert Maury, Managing Director of Provence Promotion
Adelia Hackenheimer, Director of the International Section of High School Georges Duby in Luynes,
Julia Fady, with the International Section of the Middle School Mignet in Aix-en-Provence.
Laurence Mouquet, Assistant Director of the Middle School Jacques Monod in Pennes Mirabeau which has an International Section (Present also, Director Mr Beltran and English Teacher Mrs Bretelle)
Mrs. Sophie Bellot, Director of Epim
Mr Trevor Alan Tricker, Head of International Studies at IBS, Luynes

The round table discussion will feature Simon Taylor, British Consul, Kathleen Riley, US Consul General and other guests in the audience.

Practical information:

Conference……….In English, with Q&A in English or French
Date & time……….3 March 2010 from18:30 to 21:00 (Punctuality appreciated)

Venue…………….La Bo[a]te, 35 rue de la Paix Marcel Paul, 13001 Marseille (parking, Cours Estienne d’Orves)

Entrance fees…..Members & Sponsors: 5 euros / Non-Members: 10 euros (payment at the door, cash or pre-prepared check to MAABN)

RSVP mandatory..

Interest for this event is high, Reserve Early, places and seating will be limited : contact@maabn.fr, standing room only for late comers

About MAABN: Mediterranean Anglo-American Business Network

MAABN (Mediterranean Anglo-American Business Network) was founded in Marseille by company directors, consultants and economic development agencies and has developed an international platform promoting corporate exchanges and business networking in the Marseille-Provence region.

MAABN has the support of both the US and British Consulates in Marseille and is the Marseille-Provence region’s representative of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry and AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce in France). MAABN organises a monthly English speaking business networking event, the “Language Apero”, as well as numerous conferences throughout the year.

MAABN also supports and promotes a number of its Sponsors’ and Partners’ corporate and cultural events across the region.

— > For more information: www.maabn.fr / contact@maabn.fr

Its Sale time from January 6, 2010 – Les Soldes d’hiver sont là

In France, sale periods ( ” Les Soldes”) in shops are determined by law.. Yes, well theoretically, since as we know, a shop owner will find it difficult to have the governement decide when he or she can cut prices on her merchandise. So they’ve found ways to bypass the official legislation.

The Official Sale Dates – in French: “Les Periodes des Soldes”

So there are two official five week sale periods, one for the winter, one for the summer. In the winter, they are to begin, the second Wednesday of the year, i.e. January 6 th for 2010.
In the summer, they are to begin the last Wednesday in June, i.e, the 30th of June in 2010.

If a shopkeeper wishes to organize “ random sales” ( ” Soldes flottants “), i.e, a two week sale period when he or she desires, she must send in a registered mail request to an administration at least one month before the “random sale ” begins and they must be over at least one month before the official sale period begins. Hmm… I wonder how many shopkeepers use the procedure?

Enter Promotions ( same word in French) and ” Private Sales ” (” Soldes Privées”), an alternative to the official Sale dates

Shop owners have found ways to get around this stringent legislation, by having what they call ” promotions” when they desire throughout the year. Whew!

They are officially recognized by the law since 2008 ( whereas they were punished prior to that) but they must follow the following rules so as not to be deemed Sales in disguise… (Oh! Oh!)

> They must be for a limited time period
> The merchant must be able to provide the products or services at the sale price at all times during the promotion period.

The merchant can bypass this difficulty by indicating: ” Promotion valid while the product is available” but her promotion advertising must cease the second one of the promotion items is out of stock. Scary life, that of a French merchant. You understand the angry looks now?

Hence, promotions often take the form of : ” Buy 2 items, get the 3rd one free” kind of deals. They are also advertised to a client list, via email or mail, therefore avoiding to advertise the deal too loudly to governement employees.

The other loophole merchants have found to lower prices when desired is to hold ” Private Sales“, or ” Soldes Privées“. There again, the principle is that they are available only to past clients. These days all shop keepers have these, generally a week or two before the official sale period.

So get on your favorite store’s client list if you’d like to get a first grab at those sale prices!

– > in French: Precise legislative text on “Les Soldes”, including the numerous regional exceptions…

– > in French: Legislative text on “Les Promotions”.

Beautiful and spectacular Xmas Celebration and Choir Concert in Aix

Today, Sunday December 6th, 2009,
the International Christian Congregation of Provence organized a wonderful Christmas Celebration with its own choir in Aix’s own impressive Saint Sauveur Cathedral.

Between 3:30 and 5 :15 PM the fully packed cathedral audience enjoyed English Christmas carrols, whether British, French ( like the Gloria) or American. The songs were intermixed with short readings by parishioners from the Bible in English.

The audience, where many were French speakers, was asked to participate on several occasions. When singing ” The twelve days of Christmas”, they were invited to stand up when their birthday fell on the first month and the song was on ” The first day of Christmas”, and so on for the twelve months and twelve days. It was fun seeing people pop up and down among the churchgoers!

At the end the cathedral went dark and a beautiful general candle lighting happened, where attendees were all given a candle, which was lit by neighbouring attendees, after the “co leaders” (ministers) started ‘ spreading the light’, which was the message behind the action.

For more information on future events by the ICCP, see their web site here:
International Christian ( Protestants) Congregation of Provence -

Back to School Activities in English in and around Aix

Ma ny of you are thinking about activities, whether sports or artistic, for your children 1 to 17 in the Aix region, and many of you are looking for activites held in English.

Here are a few options that focus on learning the English language, in a fun environment:

- English Bubble: for young to teens:
Some of you may already be acquainted with the English Bubble Association, which was established in 2007 by Caroline Thorpe. From September 09 Caroline has formed a partnership with Debra Watson to start a business. Their business will still be
known as English Bubble.

English Bubble is an English-speaking centre open to all nationalities. They aim to provide a welcoming environment, which gives people a ‘Taste of England’. Their goal is to serve all ages, providing a variety of courses in English tailored to meet all levels of ability and experience, using programmes that stimulate the learner in a fun and interactive way.

Courses starting from September are, English for beginners, (age 1-6), art, drama/theatre, Irish dancing, adult conversation, patchwork and creative sewing, yoga for teenagers as well as a book club and film club. Debra is a special needs teacher who is able to offer appropriate learning support and can provide individual classes. They also hope to offer more courses in the New Year, such as an exercise class for busy mums (with creche facility).

There will also be a café serving English tea and cakes, as well as a gift shop.

If you would like to know more about English Bubble you can contact either Caroline or Debra on 0661438576 or 0622507854 or refer to their website www.englishbubble.fr

- CIPEC, IBS, EPIM:
The international primary and secondary schools south of Aix ( in luynes) all now offer Wednesday classes for outside students.

English language Summer Camps near Aix and Marseille

There are a few English language camps available for kids and youth in the Aix en provence area during the summer.

* ICCP Kids Camp and Youth Camp :
The international christian (protestant) community of Provence organizes an amazing kids camp in July, for kids 7 to 11. This year it was the week July 7 to 11, 2009. It is set at the wonderful home of one of the parishioners in St Marc Jaumegarde, staffed with councelors, a majority from the US , and junior councelors ( from age 11) who are often alumni of the Camp.

Activities run from Arts and Crafts to sports to participating in singing and music, always with a cooperative, respectuful mindset, rather than a competitive one. This year’s theme was ‘ The Aixplorers’, in a play on the Adventurers of the Lost Ark movie.

The Youth Camp, for age 12 to 17, takes place near Grenoble, in August.

* Private International Schools Summer Camps:

CIPEC, EPIM, and IBS, all in Luynes (as well as in Marseille for EPIM) organize summer camps with lots of fun activities for children and teenagers.

– > CIPEC: Domaine de Fontvieille – Luynes 13080 AIX EN PROVENCE – FRANCE Tél: +33 (0)4 42 60 84 25 – Fax: + 33 (0)4 42 60 84 26 Email: info@c-i-p-e-c.com

– > EPIM: International Private School of Provence
Marseille school phone : 04 91 530 000 – Aix-en-Provence school phone : 04 42 600 300

– > IBS: Summer camp info page: http://www.ibsofprovence.com/spip.php?article16
Domaine des Pins – 500 Petite Route de Bouc-Bel-Air
Aix-en-Provence 13080 LUYNES – France
Tél : (33)(0)4 42 24 03 40 Fax : (33)(0)4 42 24 09 81

Great Horse Riding and Swimming camp near Aix

To follow up on my post on places for children and adolescents to take riding lessons, one of the places mentioned is offered what I find a great summer camp offering for 2009.

The Domaine de La Garde, near Eguilles, is under renovation during the summer. The team there will however be holding all day, week long summer camps at the Haras de la Buissone, in Meyreuil, South East of Aix en provence, starting the week of July 6th.

Hours will be 9 am to 6 PM, with riding in the morning, access to a nice swimming pool all afternoon, and some riding or care of horses after 4 PM. Lunch can be provided or kids can bring their own.
A child can come for one day, 3 or 5 days. The 3 day fee is 135 euros, the 5 day fee is 210 euros.

Severine is the young woman who manages the riding school. She can be reached at: 06 18 78 32 02.

Horse riding for Children and teens in Aix en provence

Here’s my limited experience with horseback riding establishments near Aix en provence, notably North of Aix:

• Les Pinchinats:
  in les Platanes, 10 minutes from Aix. 1811 Route Pinchinats 13100 Aix En Provence
  Téléphone : 04 42 23 26 97
• For a laid back, slightly unkept riding experience, but a lot of cautions is taken with the children, at least the beginners. For the more advanced, caution is still the rule but the teacher-owner has a taste for shouting and bad words… As we say : ‘ Au Pinchinats ça sent le caca – mais on aime ça!’. I’ll let you translate…
  – > So a good place to start I’d say.

• Domaine de la Garde – Eguilles
  I haven’t found a specific address for them. They’re not far from the Set Club, but on Route de Berre, on the left after the big Bovero store. Turn let onto a tree lined dirt road. Its at the end.
• The Domaine de la Garde has just changed management in 2009, for the best. Its also planned to be completely renovated during the summer of 2009. The young woman who manages it now is great, cautious, attentionate. They’re not equipped yet with any leaflets and to reach them the best thing is to call Severine’s cell phone, which I can provide if you comment on this post.
  – > My favorite so far. Its a club good for all levels, with a true interest in teaching, unlike the one below, where horses are given more consideration than students…

• Les Ecuries de venelles: In a very different style, set more north of Les Pinchinats, between Venelles and St Cannat, are les Ecuries de Venelles. Once you’ve managed the terrible, pothole-filled dirt road that constitutes the last 1.5 kilometers to reach it, the setting is gorgeous. Its a wide open space with horses quietly eating or running in the grass fields. The stables are spotless. But the feel is not as warm as Les Pinchinats. Its more competitive in a way and more pricy than les Pinchinats.
  – > I’ve heard a few stories of children falling unnecessarily, because of the carelessness and irresponsable attitude of some of the teachers there. My own child fell quite hard when a teacher had her galop outside, on a horse ( she’s been on poneys before), and asked her to jump over a branch and then magically stop her horse, I stopped going there.

UK National Cyclist Organization offers Tour maps of Provence

I discovered the CTC, the UK National Cyclist Organization’s web site recently and am impressed!
The site is chock full of information and includes cycling routes (complete with Google maps) for the UK, but also for quite a few countries and regions, including France and Provence.

One must be a member to access the detailed cycling tour information, logically. The normal membership is 36 pounds a year. The ‘ unwaged ‘, or, as we say in the US, the unemployed fee is 22 pounds a year.
I also like to ability for cyclists to post comments for any given tour.

— > CTC web site

– > CTC designated cycling tours by country

English Day at IBS – Saturday April 4th 2009

The IBS school in Luynes ( Aix en provence), along with other partners, is organizing its English day this year again on April 4th. Its a chance for children interested in the English language to bathe in it for a day, and get to meet many of those involved in the English culture in the area.

affiche-englishday09