After a successful day on Saturday picking up the students from the airport, train station, or meeting those finding their own way, the group wakened to a selection of patisserie and bread from the local town for breakfast. We then gathered for a brief meeting and handed out the satchels for each individual student and discussed the days events. Following the meeting the students ventured up the road and down to the nearest village of Saint-Pierreville for the Sunday market. There we stopped to buy an assortment of food and sweets along with a quick stop at the local cafes before driving back to the hamlet for lunch.
Once the students had eaten and rested they met with their major groups for brief introductory sessions, which then led into our annual Ardèchoise cheese and saucisson tasting. On one of the terraces overlooking the valley, the students enjoyed a variety of regional Ardèche specialities accompanied by some freshly cut baguettes. After dinner, John gave a quick talk on the Ardèche, giving the students an extensive understanding of where the program lies both historically and geographically.
Today we officially began the program with our first Major-Major day, where the students took part in activities exclusively in their major - either Drawing and Painting, Architecture or Photography. Tonight, Fernando gives a presentation on his long and arduous restoration of the hamlet.
More to come soon!