Now that the kids are grown, we’ve gone back to school– we’re in Provence for three months improving our French. Every morning starts out peaceful, but around 8:30 we jump on our rented bikes and ride through the village and up a steep hill, arriving at the school breathless. The ecole française for JEM- Jeunesse en Mission is located in an old farm overlooking the Ardeche Valley, between the Rhone and Ardeche rivers, an epoustaflant, or breathtaking sight. We are the oldest students, although one other couple from Australia is in their 50s. Nineteen students and an equal number of staff represent 12 countries and almost as many languages. Most students and some staff live on the base in dorms and chalets, but we live in the village with seven women, sharing a two-story, 4 bedroom apartment where Portuguese is the predominant language, but Swiss, Dutch, French and English are…
