Lori

Hello: We are American and moved to France when our daughter was 7 years old. She had had the benefit of attending a private French school in San Diego for two years before our arrival. Though I would not have called her totally fluent when we arrived, she was tested by the public school in Malaucene where she was to attend school. They determined that she should be placed in the normal grade for her age group - not held back due to being a foreign student. This was a huge gain for her. Often, if a student arrives into France and doesn't speak French at all, they are held back a grade level or more. This is often very hard for the arriving student. I'm sure you will get lots of feedback on the site as there are many folks here to share their experiences. For us, it has been the most positive experience of the move. Our daughter has been in the French school system for 4 years now and she is currently the top student in her class. She is in her last year of Primary school and will be entering college, so she is probably close to the same grade level as your 10 year old. There are so many things to consider, as I'm sure you know. How do your children feel about this? Do they have any learning difficulties that you know of? Where are you planning to live - small village, big city, International Private School or public? All these things can have an effect on how things go. Overall, our experience has been fabulous. Not sure if that helps, but you can always let me know if you any specific questions I can answer. Best of luck to you and your family.

Hate em, just hate em

MWJ, no kidding and check your jackets before you put them on too. We have a coat rack beside our front door and are often finding big spiders on them when we go to put them on ... I'm cursed.

We do and I'll give that a try. Will get up early that morning so if the dough fails me, I can quickly put together something else. Thanks

I guess I'll hope and pray I don't get stung. Each Spring and Fall I seem to fall prey to spider bites (usually on the Torso! while sleeping at night) and they are awful. No one else in the house (even hubby in same bed) seems to get bitten, just lucky me. I guess that is one of the reasons I was curious about the scorpions. I seem to have a terrible reaction to the spiders - and - I am assuming they are spiders that are crawling on me in the middle of the night and biting ! Ughh

Thanks Teamedup - now the tricky thing will be to find a cool spot in this warm weather ! The coolest area is outside after midnight when the temps cool down, but I'm sure something will show up to eat it, even if covered. So, I'll have to think of something else. Thanks for the tip.

Val - I noticed that too ! I had bought two from the local SHOPI for 98 cents each and they were SO good, now I see them all for 1.80 each. Go figure - I'm not really sure, but my neighbors, who don't grow melons but grow other fruits say that this has been a tough dry year for them, just like last year and the year before... WE NEED SOME RAIN !! It is so hard to see the rest of France get the previous stuff and we sit and pray. Yes, I know the guests all love it and I can understand that, but in the long run, the area has really suffered and we don't see the end to it yet.

Well, it is the annual school bake sale and my daughter wants me to prepare homeade pizzas instead of a cake. I'm happy to do it, but can I make the dough the night before and let it sit, covered, in the oven (obviously not turned on)? I have prepared dough up to five hours in advance of using it, but never the night before. Anybody out there know if this is okay? Thanks.

What we wouldn't give for some rain ! Here in the Vaucluse, we are already - and have been since April - living under strict water usage laws. Thank goodness the pool was kept full from previous two years, but can't do that forever... Everything is covered in dust as the winds have blown for the last week and that has done a number on my potted plants. Really would do any type rain danse to get some rain.

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but does anyone know anything about scorpions? I never saw one last year - did see some the year before, but this year have seen several (in the house). I seem to remember someone telling me the black ones were harmless - that it was the light tan colored ones that are to be feared. Anyone out there know the truth? Also, do scorpions do anything good so as to justify not killing them? Say, eat other nasty bugs, etc.? I just can't stand the things in my house....

Baz: Agree 100%. We were taking out a 100% loan, therefore med exam was required. I agree too that it can vary from bank to bank, region to region and client to client. It is quite a change from what we are used to. L

Chrissie, that is scary to think that a check with NO signature could be cashed. Did the bank call you to verify you wrote the check? Just curious as I find that amazing.

We took our loan out with Credit Agricole. The rate was good and we too were told the "life/death" insurance policy could be taken out elsewhere, but my husband had to go through a plethora of medical exams to get the insurance. He was 44 at the time. He is the picture of health, but in one of the blood analysation tests, an certain enzyme showed two points above the normal range and this "insurance" became ridiculous. However, I must say that getting it elsewhere would have delayed even further the closing of our loan which was already delayed by 3 months due to the seller not arranging access to the house via his neighbor's chemin. Long story. Long and short of it, it is what we in the U.S. refer to as mortgage life insurance and it is a RIP-OFF, but a requirement here. Good luck..and I would shop around too if you have the time and good health reports to go with it. Best of luck to you, Lori

MPPRH, sent you a PM.

So sorry, that would help huh .. My guests depart Saturday, June 11th, therefore would be looking for a place to arrive to that evening (Sat. June 11th) for six nights. Willing to pay for 7 nights. They would be departing Friday, June 17th. I have other guests arriving on the 11th, so they cannot stay here. Any suggestions would be most helpful. I have looked at several websites and will make inquiries there for them too. Thanks again, Lori

They are two adults - no kids. They are staying with me here in Bedoin (Vaucluse), but will depart Saturday and are open to going anywhere within 2 to 3 hours of Montpellier - that is where they flight home from. They need 6 nights, but are prepared to pay for the week. Anyone have any suggestions. They are looking for good comfortable accommodations - apartment with kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc. in a nice setting. No budget was mentioned.... Any recommendations would be welcomed.

Thanks everyone. Last year she flew from Nice to New York JFK and then on to North Carolina. It was the best routing we could find and it still exists this year. It is also THE most expensive routing. As far as travel agents go, Teamedup, you are so right, some can be far better than the Internet. We have one here in Carpentras that is super ! She always finds deals we never found online. We still have to pay the 90 euros EACH WAY for an unaccompanied minor on an International trip - but that is the only thing that makes me feel she is safe, so that is just the way it goes. You are right, the ticket prices are SO much cheaper before July 1st. And, you are right that the last week ok school (at least in Ecole Primaire) is rather ridiculous - mostly games and fun time. So, perhaps it could save us a bundle to try an earlier flight. Plan to look into that tonight online - then later at the travel agency. Many thanks for the support. Lori

My daughter is going to visit her Grandmother in July (North Carolina). She will be traveling alone. She did this last year with no problems, but I have since read several recent articles noting various problems that have arisen with children traveling alone. One was when a 10 year old boy was arriving to his destination city and the airline staff were instructing him to get on a different airplane to a different final destination point. The boy managed to prove to them that he was not supposed to be going any further than where he was, but the staff was all ready to put him on another plane ! I am trying to book her with the fewest connection points. We live near Avignon, so the closest "real" airport is Marseille or Nice. Avignon only flies into Orly. She would have to get over to CDG for her flight to the States, therefore Avignon is out of the question. We (I would accompany her) could take the TGV up to Paris CDG, but I am trying to find out which would be the most economical and safest for Katerina. Summer flight prices are outrageous - lucky me. Anyone have any experience with this type of thing? Any suggestions to make? Thanks.

Just in case someone wants to read it in English (and hasn't). Here it is. Quite long and, to me, a bit confusing.. http://europa.eu.int/constitution/en/allinone_en.htm

You're very lucky Val2. I'm afraid I live in an area like Teamedup. I pay 60 euros for our collie each year. Worth it though as we love him dearly and want to make sure we do all we can to protect him.

Coco, you should not feel the slightest bit upset. In this day and age, we adults have to take some responsibility for our actions - or lack thereof. You operate a business. If a future guest does not have a written confirmation of a reservation, said guest does not have one. If the guest hasn't paid a deposit or asked if one was required, the guest doesn't have a reservation. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I always confirm my reservation - either by email, snail mail or telephone. I also confirm again a couple of days before my arrival - even if I am staying in a huge hotel in Paris and I HAVE a written confirmation. Don't feel bad. Life is too short. Have a great season..

Love the engraved item idea, especially if it can be used for work. Also like the aiming to the kids idea. Both are very helpful. Not too sure how comfortable I would be with the lunch idea. I don't really know them very well ... just that he is a really great teacher and has had an incredibly positive impact on my daughter. But I will keep it in mind. Thanks again

Thanks Missy You are so right, the school has little or no playground equipment. I like the idea, but still would like to offer something more personal to the teacher himself. Nice idea about the Sunday lunch, only I am American, not British and I'm afraid our reputation (as you probably know) for food is not a particularly good one..

Thanks Battypuss, that thought had crossed my mind. I wasn't too keen on a book or something written as he really doesn't speak English. Somthing else along those lines would be nice. I'm still trying to think of something. He is in his mid 30's, married (to a maternelle teacher), with two young daughters. Still looking for ideas...

As the end of the school year is approaching, I am trying to decide what to give my daughter's teacher. My daughter is not the easiest child in the world and this year's teacher has been the best she has ever had. He is fantastic. Also, this is her last year in Primary school. Any ideas what I could give him as a thank you gift??? I'd like it to be something special - not the usual flowers/stationary, etc. Any ideas would be appreciated.