Civic Reception and Ecole Daniel Talon

Monday August 28th

The day dawned a bit grey this morning and there were light showers on and off by the time we left for city hall, or Hotel de Ville as it's known here, at 7.45am.  We were led straight into the Council chamber where the kids got to sit in Councillor seats  and were warmly greeted by one of the deputy mayors. (There are many of them!).  The Mayor herself gave her apologies as she was very much occupied with handling a strike that had appeared outside council chambers this morning! There were buses  all double parked along the street with large banners hanging from the windows. Baz did ask what it was about but answers weren't very forthcoming.  The french are renowned for striking.

 Our  breakfast this morning: reblochon cheese, baguette, jambon(ham), brioche (with chocolate in!), papaya, melon and strawberries. Yummm!

                                        A view of the sea on the way to work this morning.

The kids were full of their weekend when they greeted us!  Charlie had gone hunting and they caught a pig!  He helped drag it all the way back to their ute and was very proud!  It was Myra who had gone horse riding up the river and she survived it well.  Renata had stayed over on an island for Saturday night, supposed to be camping in a tent but he said it was so hot, him and his billet slept under the stars in hammocks! The kids all seemed happy and had had a fab weekend.

                          The Deputy Mayor giving out a bag of goodies for each of us.

A very informative Powerpoint was shown that explained how New Caledonia was governed and that it is a collectivity of France like the islands of Martinique and Reunion  and French Polynesia. After a few speeches the kids were all given bags and then shown to a room upstairs for a 'snack' of delicious pastries and a drink.

We then boarded the bus again for Daniel Talon primary school to the north of the city. It was lightly showering when we arrived so all the kids weren't outside. We waited until they were all brought out and then we joined them in a large covered area. Each of us then had a lei placed around our necks to welcome us and we were shown to our seats.We sat and watched singing items from each class that they had spent quite some time practising. It was great!

 

                                                                       Concert time

Our students receiving a small welcome gift from their senior students.

As usual, our waiata and haka were well-received and our kids were great.  After the concert we divided our kids into 5 groups and they stayed in those groups for the rest of the day doing traditional craft work and playing sport.  The drizzle had stopped by 11am  but it was extremely warm and muggy! We keep having to remind everyone to drink water regularly.

The kids all ate together for lunch in their canteen and the teachers ate upstairs in the computer room!  All the food for us is funded by council and they always provide a lovely meal for us with a real effort put in to the presentation for us.

During the lunch break, our kids mingled with them all and played games with them.  The Daniel Talon kids are fascinated by us, particularly those with blond hair. The only English they really know is basic questions so we get asked many, many times ' what's your name?' and 'how old are you?' I reminded our kids that it is such a special day for them and the only time they ever get to mix with people unlike themselves and from another culture.

                                                                   The soccer pitch!

                                                             Playground with gravel surface

View of the playground from the second storey of classrooms

The Principal's office!

The gate into the school building.

The farewell we get from the kids here makes our kids feel like rock stars!  There is yelling and whistling and calls of 'goodbye, goodbye, goodbye' resonating from the throng of kids gathered at the gate as we leave. 

                                                           Fond farewells!

Once again, a very tired bunch of kids was collected from Jean Mariotti when we got back there late this afternoon.  Tomorrow is expected to be clear of showers and a bit cooler so we may not make the usual 26deg!

Until tomorrow, au revoir!

Colleen