The reservation had been made months in advance. Emails had been sent, information had been returned, questions had been answered and now…here I was…Lyon Part-Dieu Railway Station awaiting my train to Roanne. Sunday 3.00pm.
It seemed that all the world was here, moving in a multitude of directions, oblivious to the SENIOR FRENCH LANGUAGE STUDENT and the cumbersome suitcase, staring at the information board and checking the time of the train. They had confidence. I did not.
It would take an hour, to arrive at ECOLE DES TROIS PONTS, travelling through rolling countryside, escaping the noise and the volumes of travellers then arriving at Roanne…at 4.15pm. I had been informed it was impossible to arrive before 4.00pm on this first Sunday…the first day at my new home. I was doing what I was told.
Exiting the Roanne station I became immediately aware of two other “lost” faces…did I speak in English or in my bad French? They were already getting into a taxi – the only one in sight. Instructions received from The School stated a shared taxi would be waiting. I nervously approached. Stated only the name of the school and the taxi driver reached for my case and gestured towards the car. I got in nodding to the other two, FRENCH STUDENTS who smiled back. Polite conversation was made but it took less than ten minutes to reach the destination.
Upon arrival I was warmly greeted by an enthusiastic woman, who ticked my name off a list and SPOKE ONLY IN FRENCH. When it was clear I was uncertain and confused the vitess of the language slowed. The two other INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS whom I had shared a taxi with thankfully seemed as lost as I was. The smiling employee disappeared with one of the other students, then quickly reappeared, grabbed my suitcase and showed me to a small bedroom over-looking a lush, unorganized, garden. I was told to come to the reception at 7.00pm, this was communicated in French and English. Now I was free to unpack and settle in.
Grateful and extremely relieved to have found what was to be my home for a week, I started to unpack and relax, took a shower, changed clothes, tried (unsuccessfully) to connect with the internet, wondered if I had done the right thing, or whether this was a step too far. Maybe it would have been better to book two weeks on a beach than two weeks STUDYING THE FRENCH LANGUAGE. Nervously I pealed back the curtains to look out. No noise. No one in the garden.
7.00pm arrived. Ten eclectic MATURE STUDENTS, more women than men, mostly between the ages of 50 – 70, waiting in the dining room area. No conversation, except between the teacher and two others, who I quickly learned had been at EOLE DES TROIS PONTS before. This explained why they were so much more relaxed than the rest of us. At 7.00pm we started the brief tour, were shown the classrooms, lounge area, dining room, fridge and given basic information about the meal times and internet passwords. A lot to take in, but all this information available in a binder in the bedroom.
We were then invited for a glass of wine and introduced ourselves in turn. “Je m’appelle, je viens de…je suis ici pour…C’est ma première fois”. I was surprised how many students were returning. They all seemed to be far more fluent in the FRENCH LANGUAGE than I was.
At 7.30pm we took our places at the long dining table and the chef served us the first of four courses. The food was divine, but the evening so very stressful. Numerous conversations were taking place, and I felt completely lost, every time I thought I was understanding, it soon became apparent I was not. A couple of students sat, as I did, eyes down, smiling at others but hoping desperately not to be called upon to TALK FRENCH. I identified the body language so well. I heard one student attempt to speak to another in English, but the teacher quickly stressed that to gain the full advantage of the TOTAL FRENCH IMMERSION concept, speaking in our native tongue was forbidden. The food was delicious, and in another time, I am sure I would have enjoyed it far more, but I was still feeling so out of my depth. The copious amounts of wine helped, but the stress remained.
We concluded dinner at 9.00pm, then were informed that breakfast would be available from 8.00am until 9.00am, after which each of us was to take a five minute oral “test” in order to assess our SPOKEN FRENCH and so that we could be assigned to an appropriate level class. Good nights were exchanged, and I returned to my room. Head spinning. Heart pounding. I had enjoyed the evening. My colleagues seemed lovely, and I did feel many felt as lost as me, which was reassuring, but I was very grateful to be alone, trying not to think of the challenges the next day held.
Jayne Seagrave is a BC Best selling Author. The ninth edition of her book Camping British Columbia, the Rockies and the Yukon was published in 2023. Over 60,000 of her camping books have been sold. She also writes fiction, non-fiction, freelance articles and occasionally teaches writing and publishing courses. She has attended Ecole Des Trois Ponts on four occasions. See: www.jayneseagrave.com
