Hi all. I just found this site yesterday and it has been really helpful and interesting to read all of your experiences.
I arrived in Montpellier 10 days ago with my husband and 2 kids (Eleanor 3, and Charlie 12 months). While I speak a moderate level of French (I was doing more lessons at L'Alliance Francaise in Adelaide before we left) I'm a bit frustrated as currently spending all day just with the kids (who wouldn't know if my French is crap or not!) so my conversations are largely limited to brief exchanges with shop keepers or strangers. Hmph.
Does anyone know of a parents group in Montpellier which might welcome a semi-French speaker? I know my kids would love other kids to play with, no matter what the language, and I would like to meet other people as well. Any tips on life in Montpellier?
On re-reading this sounds a bit desperate - sorry for that - but spending all day with 2 enfants tout seul can make one a bit like that!!

:):)Jennyp

Hello Jenny

Welcome to the forum :). We're also from Australia. We arrived here in Annecy in May this year. As it was coming into summer I got lots of conversation practice taking the kids (Lily is 4 and Jasper 18 months) to the park. And I made a nice friend too. Now with winter coming on I have found a espace parents/enfant to go to with Jasper. Lily is at school. I suggest that you check out the MJCs in your town (Maison de jeunesse et culture). There should be at least one, and they often offer different programs - that's where we go to the espace parents/enfants. Also our Mairie produces a little book about schools and that's where I found out about these so maybe ask at your Mairie also.

Sorry this is short - its almost feeding time at the zoo! Please excuse typos

Hi Penny

thanks for that. I actually saw your blog and details after I'd written my bit, and I could certainly relate to many things, having children of similar ages.

I have still been able to go to parks, as it is still quite warm and sunny here, and have had a few chats with other parents, so it's a small start. We made the decision not to put our 3 year old in school, as we are only here for 3 months, but I wonder now if that was a mistake. Oh well. C'est la vie!
I didn't know about the MJCs though, so thanks I will check that out.

Off to have more wine and cheese as the kids are finally asleep! Aaah.:)

Jenny

hi jenny

You are lucky that its still warm enough to spend time at the parks. We are only making quick trips now as its cold. I found the parks a bit intimidating at first as everyone seemed to sit and chat and I felt like my french wasnt up to it. But I started talking to the grandmothers who always seem to be taking care of the kids and some were quite friendly. And gradually I got the confidence to speak to whoever was there.

I probably would have done the same with a 3 year old given that you are only here for a few months. School is quite strict here and depending on your 3 year old it can take a while to settle in I think. Things are different, like you cant see your kid to their class. After the first week we hand them over at the door and they go to class by themselves. It was fine for Lily as she is 4 but I think she'd have found it a big change at 3. What I would suggest is maybe going to parks in the afternoon as many 3 year olds only go to school in the mornings so they may be out playing in the afternoons after they've had a sleep.

good luck :)

Hi

I am near Montpellier.

It is worth checking out :

www.the-languedoc-page.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=194
www.bca-montpellier.com
www.ieam.info
www.piglanguedoc.blogspot.com
www.maisondesenfants.net

Bonne chance

Peter