desperately looking for english adventure

[twinmummy]

Hello,

I am 31, mother of two boys aged 3, we live near Paris and are looking for english speaking friends, to know more about the english culture and to practice english (my twins are bilingual).
We would be so grateful for any tip or information you could give to us. We would enjoy any english exposure, either a playgroup, or a homestay family.
My mother is english, but has no more relatives in england since she was a single child, and has no more family in the uk.
The most convenient for us is Ashford in kent (with the eurostar), or the area of luton.
I am very hopeful, thank you,

twin mummy

Twinmummy, after 6 1/2 yeras of Luton,( only just escaping in september) I have to say don't go there. It's an unpleasant town with nasty aggressive people who are bringing their children up as mini gangsters imo. Hitchin about 20 mins drive from Luton is nicer, as are most of the hertfordshire towns nearby (Luton borders Herts). I don't know anything about Ashford but I can only assume it as to be a thousand times better than Luton.Obviously there are areas/people in Luton who will be the exception to the rule but they are far and few between. Good luck and sorry this is not very positive.

Twinmummy, there are some mothers here who live within easy travelling distance of Ashford (SE London in my case) - and who also visit France frequently. We could not put you up, I'm afraid, but if you were planning to visit Ashford, we could show you the sights of Kent. We have a ds of three and both speak French. Ds can manage "bonjour" and we are working on the rest. If you would like to get in touch, please e-mail me via [email protected] and maybe we could arrange a group get-together. I'm not the only one here interested in all matters Francophone/phile!
I don't know Ashford well but I would have thought it has to be better than Luton. Ashford is also close to very nice towns such as Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells, lovely countryside, and pretty seaside towns like Broadstairs and Whitstable. The countryside in Kent is also very beautiful in parts.

twinmummy, we'd gladly do a house-swap with you! We live in a traditional 2up-2down stone terrace in Preston, Lancashire. We are very close to the Lake District, also Blackpool, Southport, Liverpool and Manchester! You will find, as in France I'm sure, that cultures are slightly different down South compared to up North. Here we have such delicacies as black pudding, Lancashire hotpot, Yorkshire pud, tripe, Chorley cake, rag pudding, parched peas, to name but a few! As a people we also tend to be a bit more forthcoming and blunt, but in a good-natured way, dry and gossipy.

I would also love to teach English as a foreign language, so if we should manage to get to France this year or next, maybe we could pop in and I could give your sons a few lessons? In return you could improve our French!

Good luck with your quest!

Hi SueW! I too wanted to do a TEFL course but then I fell pregnant too! The courses now are too full-time for it to be practical for me. But I still harbour hopes for travel and have had lots of supportive comments made by fellow Mumsnetters (see Trouble with Motherhood and and Unconvential Background) so don't give up on your dreams! I have also heard that it is only the agencies abroad who insist on this qualification, if you have experience of teaching and a knowledge of the country's language, you can get a teaching job privately which will pay more than the agencies do. What do you do at the minute, if you don't mind my asking?

lou33...how lucky of you to escape luton....sadly some of us are not so fortunate..i agree some parts of luton arent the best but their not all like that.and im not briging my dd as a minigangster.i have lived here all my life and although id dearly love to move (not too far)away cant possibly do this at the moment but please dont tar all lutonians with the same brush there are still alot of decent people in luton.
twin mummy ...id love to offer for you to come and stay with us or house swap but due to living in a flat it wouldnt be possible but if you ever find your coming to luton id love to meet you.

Karenanne I did say they are exceptions to the rule, but in 6 years i only found one. Sorry if you are offended but I am only speaking as I found.

Twinmummy, I have a friend who just moved with her husband to Paris and is currently unemployed because her French isn't good enough (but rapidly getting better!).

She's a brownie leader so good with young school age kids although doesn't have any of her own yet (she's only in her early 20s).

Sounds like you might be able to help her with insights into Paris and she might be able to help you and the twins with their english.

If you are interested in hooking up with her, ask the mumsnet people to send me your details and I will pass them on.

otherwise, have you contacted the British school in Paris? They might have a toddler group.