Thanksgiving

 by Pierre Grange (level B2)

 

Do you know what Americans celebrate each 4th Thursday in November? Thanksgiving! 

But do you know the origin of Thanksgiving? And why eat a turkey? 

We have to go back to the 17th century, in 1620, with the "Pilgrim Fathers" who fled the regime of the Church of England and landed in America on their famous ship, The Mayflower.

But life was tough for the newcomers: famine, disease...

Fortunately, the local American Natives welcomed and taught them how to hunt, fish and cultivate the land. 

A year later, to thank these American Natives, the Pilgrim Fathers decreed three days of thanksgiving. 

This is in reference to the holiday celebrated in Europe to thank God for the happiness of the past year. 

The Pilgrim Fathers also invited the local American Natives who contributed to the feast and served them turkey.

 

The tradition has lasted until it was made official under the name "Thanksgiving Day" in 1789 by George Washington…

 

…then established by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 on the last Thursday of November.

 

By the way, do you know that nearly 50 million turkeys are eaten each year on Thanksgiving?

 

And history says that it was John F. Kennedy who decided in 1963 to save a turkey, out of compassion.

  

 He said: "We will let this one grow up".

 It is now two turkeys that are saved by the president each year.

And this Monday, Joe BIDEN saved two large white turkeys for the last time as president.

 

But all the other turkeys will be eaten, particularly with a pumpkin pie. 

Maybe you will respect the tradition? So...Bon appétit!

A memorable train journey

by Edwige Brun (level B1)

In English class, we studied an article from the Guardian about trains in Turkey. And then, we had to tell the story of a memorable train journey. I chose a train trip to China. 

In December 2009, 15 years ago, I took a 2-week organized trip to China We took a night train from Guillin to Pingxiang (600 kilometers) south of China. I was traveling with my friend, his son with his girl-friend. We entered a large modern station and waited in a huge waiting room. 

With the group, we boarded the train and settled into our cabins. They were soft berths because in China there are also hard berths which are less comfortable and cheaper. There was even the television.

There were 4 bunks and I chose one upstairs. Then we had dinner at the restaurant car. I don't remember the food except for a large grapefruit that I didn't know.

The guide told us again and again “be careful, there may be thieves” So, my companion hid his wallet under his mattress.

We slept well and in the early morning I looked out the window and discovered that we were crossing the countryside and that the farmers were still working with oxen. 

When he woke up, my friend talked a lot with his son. Then, we left the train to join the bus. And then he realized that he had forgotten his wallet on the train. 

He explained it to the guide. We were worried because it was still a long journey to Beijing.

But the guide told us that the wallet would be at the hotel when we arrived.

And indeed, five days later we found the wallet with all the money and papers.

 

A trip to Algeria

 by Elisabeth Piazza and Joëlle Troussier (level B1)

In October 2024, we went to Algeria for 11 days.

We visited Algiers and different districts, the center, the port, the Casbah. This "white" city with its beautiful buildings also contains a very beautiful park The Jardin d'Essai ... and interesting museums.

The bay of Algiers

Jardin d'Essai

La Grande Poste

We also discovered the Roman ruins of Cherchell and Tipaza.

Tipaza

Then we flew to Béni Abbès where Father Foucauld built his hermitage.

We discovered a small part of the north of the Sahara passing through Timimoun, El Golea and Ghardaïa, the most important city in the M'Zab country. 

Ghardaïa

Ghardaïa

We were able to explore several oases and palm groves, walk in the dunes (you can even do Telemark and sledding there!), share tea, see superb sunsets...

Along the way, we admired the Ksours which are ancient abandoned fortified Berber villages.

We enjoyed a very warm welcome in the oases, having lunch with the locals...

We were part of a friendly group which allowed us to accept the police presence and the unexpected in order to adapt to local life.

Nice trip!

Visit to the hydroelectric power station Grand'Maison

 by Michèle Garlaschelli, Marie Pierre Jardillier, Robert Jacquemoud.

A handful of curious students who also have English lessons with our teacher Melanie Brumberg, decided to extend their scientific knowledge of the production of electricity, (a green and clean energy).

What would we do today without electricity?

Actually, very few things.

We live in a region where this industry was born. It was invented in Grenoble in 1869 by the French engineer Aristide Bergès.

We are lucky to have the most powerful hydroelectric development in Europe near Grenoble. It is located in the Eau d’Olle valley in the cities of Vaujany and Allemond.

Nothing could be easier than spending the day in this magnificent mountain district “Les Grandes Rousses”.

There we visited the EDF Hydrélec Museum which adjoins the Grand’Maison hydroelectric power station. There, the different stages, show the development of electricity from its discovery by Volta to the present day.

After a lunch at the “V” restaurant in Vaujany ski resort, we visited the Grand’Maison hydroelectric power station.

 Figure 1 Verney reservoir 

GRAND’MAISON

On 12 October, we went to Grand'Maison, the most powerful hydroelectric power station in Europe. We met Robert who organized the museum visit, the lunch and the power station visit with his son.

It was great! 

Two dams for a Pumped Energy Transfer Station (PETS)

The water in the upper Grand'Maison reservoir is turbined by the downstream power station to produce electricity and then stored in the lower Verney basin.

It is pumped back up at times when the demand for energy is lower

The Grand'Maison dam is located at 1700m.

The Verney is located at 770m.

Both are 'gravity' dams made of earth and rocks.

                                   Grand'Maison                                

Grand'Maison dam is 550m long, 140m high, it can store 140 million m3 of water. The power station is located 900m below, it is made of 2 plants with 12 generating units: external plant with 4 pelton turbine underground plant, 70m below, with 8 « reversible » units (turbine and pump).

 The Verney dam is 430m long, 42m high, its reservoir has 14 million m3.

In just 3 minutes, Grand'Maison can produce a power of 1,800 MW, the equivalent of two nuclear units.

Figure 2  High voltage substation (400kV)

Figure 3    Reversible engine room (turbine or pump)

Figure 5     Ball valves / underground power station

 EDF HYDRELEC MUSEUM 

In the Morning we visited the EDF Hydrélec Museum. Very interesting with many interactive animations, educational modules, and multimedia devices.

All is very accessible and there are visits organized with schools to show the children how electricity is produced.

They were many pictures and history about the beginning of industrialization since the 19th century.

The museum presents a collection of 450 instruments used since the 19th century.

They were also small machines we could test which showed how to produce electricity with solar energy for example.

There was also a model of a hydroelectric power station showing the way of the water between the two dams, Verney and Grand’ Maison, and how electricity is produced and transported to be used in each house!

In the basement, there is a room where old hydroelectric turbines of all types are presented.

A video shows the speed and strength of the water in the river when the dam opens the floodgates and release water.

The river presents an apparent calm and suddenly, in less than 5 minutes the level reaches 2 meters high.

so it’s very dangerous to bathe or stay on the edge of the river because we never know when the floodgate will open.

 

RESTAURANT LE “V” VAUJANY 

We leave The EDF Hydrélec Muséum with regret, there are still so many things to discover. It’s time for lunch. We have to go up to the village of Vaujany located about 7 km away (1250 m above the sea level). We are expected at the “V” restaurant (“V“for Vaujany).

We are happy to discover a village that is a little sleepy. The excitement of the summer period is over and the winter one has not yet begun. From the terrace of the restaurant the view of the valleys below, of the Eau d’Olle and Romanche is magnificent.

It’s time to sit down to eat, the day is not over yet! We are greeted by a  lovely staff. Over a gastronomic meal the exchanges are going well. The atmosphere is friendly and warm.

The last sip of coffee swallowed, we must remember to go back down to the valley on the banks of the Eau d’Olle in order to continue the technical visit of the Grand’Maison Hydroelectric power station. And now it’s time for active pedagogy with our guide!