Équipe Brest 2016

Friday (June 18) was a truly amazing day for all of us. Nicole arranged an excursion to Pointe de Pen-Hir and to the city of Concarneau. As culture teacher, I did some research and presented it to the students on Thursday. We were all intrigued. But actually being there was beyond anything Wikipedia or the touristic websites could explain.

Pointe de Pen-Hir is a rocky point on the other side of the Brest rade (to call it a harbor is to do it an injustice), which forms a large part of the Mer d’Iroise. It is all an accumulation of bodies of water that become the Atlantic Ocean. Pointe de Pen-Hir faces that ocean, and she has made her mark. The summit stands some 225 ft. above the crashing waves. We explored the higher rocks, but didn’t venture down the sheer rock faces. The French come here for escalade, which is a combination of rappelling and rock climbing.

That is not to say that the kids did not want to go to extremes. But both Nicole and Amanda acted as good shepherds, keeping the kids out of harm’s way. It was breezy and warm when we arrived. Then it turned cold. Then it rained. Then the sun came out and the wind slackened. It is said that in Bretagne, one can experience all four seasons in a day. I think we experienced them in 90 minutes.

Then it was a 75 minute bus ride to Concarneau. Most all of us napped. We arrived at this city of 20,000 and ate our picnic lunches at the seaside. We then walked to the ville close, which is the Mediaeval city center that is surrounded by water. The remains of the fortress are there, and you can walk the parapets of the walled city. Many of us visited the Museum of Fishing, which was fascinating. We even got to tour a deep sea, industrial fishing trawler that was active until the 1990s. We were impressed.

There was shopping and ice cream, and shopping. Some of us stopped for a coffee. (Okay, probably just the teachers, but many of the students passed by us.) It was an absolutely delightful afternoon.

Today was no exception to what has impressed us teachers the most. This group of 27 kids has become incredibly close. They support and care about one another. They have formed sub groups of friends, but they are not rigid cliques. We watch them drift from group to group, constantly changing who hangs out with whom. If we told them they had to do this, it would never happen. But it a natural ebb and flow. Everyone cares about everyone and is interested in everyone else’s welfare. It’s exceptional.

(Everyone should be in the group picture. If your student does not appear in another, it does not mean they fell off of Pointe de Pen-Hir. It means that they all look alike in the rain.)

Who is that siren?

We spent more time in Concarneau than is depicted here. It just wasn't as photogenic. And for some reason, the Concarneau photos appear first, although we went there second.

"Her they come, walking down the street. They get the
funniest looks from everyone they meet..."
If you understand this reference, you are my age or
you watched too much TVLand.