Bordeaux - playgroup / mother & toddler groups

[vickidoudelle]

Well lets see if it works (I tried to send you a message, but it didn't work). With the creche places for my two we had to plead and plead, be unbelievably lovely and play on their heart strings a bit ... my husband was very persistent with calling (once a week, same day, similar time) and kept putting forward, very gently, our case ... he was full-time looking for work, I was full-time mummying, but trying to learn French & in good time find work and in the meantime our children were not integrating with the local community, so any half-day or day at creche was all we were looking for. In the end he got us 1.5 days each, so I now have the time to learn French and job search. The French is coming on ok, the job search is not going well ... all in good time, I hope!

My mum (and Grandad) is from Crossmolina and her mum is from Swinford. How about yours?

V

[cristo]

Hi Vicki,

I am new on the forum! I am also looking for english speaking kids and ladies :-))
It seems that I a having the same issue as you about joining the BWC. I have tried 2 times but I did not get any answer. Quite weird as I thought that it was a very active group!
I will keep you informed if I get some news from them...
Laurence

Originally Posted by vickidoudelle

Hello to the 2 new Bordeaux Irish ladies!

I haven't been on this site for a long time. So imagine how happy I was to see you both here. I'm 2nd generation Irish for Co.Mayo - how about the both of you?

I'm living in Leognan, just South of the Rocade. We're 8 months into our Bordeaux life and loving it. Although there's so much to do, see and learn I think it's going to take a long time to settle in properly.

Mother & Toddler Groups - I have found very few (. They do exist, but the couple I have tried have both been empty when I arrived and my children played alone in new surroundings - it felt a little strange!

I've tried to join the Bordeaux's W Club on several occasions, but have had no luck, not even a response. Please let me know if you've managed to get through, as I'm not sure why I haven't heard back from them.

Are you working? Are you children in creche/garderie/school? It would be great to meet up or to chat privately.

All the best, and good luck with making Bordeaux 'home'.
V x

[cristo]

Hello ladies,

I am new on the forum.
We are just arriving from Hong Kong, we are french (hope you don't mind if I'm not irish!), this is the first time for our kids (2y3m and 3y10m) to live in France. We are new in the region and for some reason, I am feeling like an expat even if everything is supposed to be much easier if you live in the country where you are from...The Bordeaux international school does not accept admission in the middle of the year and the Bordeaux women club did not get back to me, so not so lucky with trying to get in touch with the english speaking community... :-(
We have arrived 2 weeks ago and I am hardly looking for english playgroups or english speaking activities for my kids but it seems that it is not too easy. I am now considering the french maternelle but as the kids don't go to school on Wednesdays, I was wondering if I should organize a kiddies playgroup. Did any of you find any nice activities for kids?
All the best to you and good luck to everyone
Laurence

[Bevdeforges]

Just a quick suggestion, ladies. I am told that there is a group in the Bordeaux area called Bordeaux Accueil or something similar to that. It's not a part of the national AVF group, but it has similar programs and activities. If you can find them, you might be able to assemble a group of expats in the area or they might have some sort of Jeunes Mamans group you could join.

As far as the BWC goes, these expat groups can be affected by any number of things. Sometimes, if the person who is in charge of responding to e-mail is sick, or on vacation or just plain busy, she just doesn't get around to answering. Volunteer based groups run into lots of problems like this. If you can find a name and phone for a contact, that might work better (certainly faster).
Cheers,
Bev

[cristo]

hi there

I have sent 2 days ago my application form to Bordeaux accueille as they seem to be quite dynamic with activities. I haven't got any answer yet.
I am not allowed to write down the address of the link on the forum but here is the

the email address: bordeauxaccueille ( at ) sfr.fr

the fee is 35 euros per family

as soon as I get any news from them, I will let you know and try to find out if there are any expats. Yes, you're right Bev, it could be a way to assemble a group of anglophones in the area...

Laurence

[vickidoudelle]

Hi Bev, Hi Laurence.

Bev! You are a walking-talking encylopedia - thanks for all the tips .
Laurence - l'll have a look into the Bordeaux Accueille as well. Let me know if you hear back.
Might be good to talk off the record on private message?

V x

[cristo]

Hi Vicki, Hi Bev

I was just wondering, do you think that the activities or playgroup I might be looking for (english speaking and for 2 years and half and for 4 years old) are probably not available (or not easy to find) on the web? because if not, I will stop wasting my time searching and searching on the internet...
How old are your kids?



Laurence

[cristo]

Sorry ladies, I've sent my reply twice, I thought I was sending you a private message, I've got not idea how to do...

[Bevdeforges]

No problem, Cristo - I zapped the duplicate message for you. (Magic moderator powers...)

Play groups for young children tend to be small and informal arrangements, often through larger expat or newcomer groups. I don't have kids myself, but I used to be in the AAWE in Paris, where the young mums set up lots of play groups and play dates amongst themselves. (Though you can find the AAWE online, there probably isn't much if any mention of the playgroups on the association website.)

The association I'm currently involved with (AVF) has a young mums group (called Jeunes Mamans) but it's just one of about 40 activities and again, not mentioned very prominently online.

Message is another group here in France - based in Paris, but with members located around France. You may want to contact them and even take out a membership, which would put you in touch with other English speaking mothers in your area.
Cheers,
Bev

[cristo]

great! thank you for the advice Bev! I will have a look, Laurence

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

No problem, Cristo - I zapped the duplicate message for you. (Magic moderator powers...)

Play groups for young children tend to be small and informal arrangements, often through larger expat or newcomer groups. I don't have kids myself, but I used to be in the AAWE in Paris, where the young mums set up lots of play groups and play dates amongst themselves. (Though you can find the AAWE online, there probably isn't much if any mention of the playgroups on the association website.)

The association I'm currently involved with (AVF) has a young mums group (called Jeunes Mamans) but it's just one of about 40 activities and again, not mentioned very prominently online.

Message is another group here in France - based in Paris, but with members located around France. You may want to contact them and even take out a membership, which would put you in touch with other English speaking mothers in your area.
Cheers,
Bev