Category: leisure

Attending Microsoft E2 Educator Exchange in Paris Part 1 – The Aussie Team

On By Margaret SimkinIn Collaborating, Connecting, education, learning, leisure, Microsoft, peer learning, travelsLeave a comment

The first week of April 2019 was spent in Paris attending the amazing Microsoft E2 Educator Exchange. I was honoured to be one of 5 Australian teachers selected, and the only one from Victoria.

Most of the team met for the first time at Dubai airport, and by Monday afternoon we were all together at the Marriott Hotel, our home for the week and the conference venue.

This is our Team, Laura, Me, Jodi, Mark, Steve and our Mentor and host Travis.
This is our Team, Laura, Me, Jodi, Mark, Steve and our Mentor and host Travis.

The plane landed a little later than scheduled and we were met at the airport door by a driver holding a sign bearing our names. None of us thought to photograph this once in a lifetime event!

After a shower and a rest, and working on instructions NOT to sleep (yes Travis!) we headed out for a quick tour around the area and then tea.

Mark and me with the wonderful waiter.
Our waiter! Lovely choice of Smith brand red wine – Thanks Travis.

The first full day that we were there was for acclimatising – so we got outside and wandered the streets. Unfortunately for Laura, Mark and I, our first choice for exploring, the catacombs, was closed on Mondays. We found our way to the Pantheon, taking taking photos along the way. Signs of the revolution were everywhere!

On our way to dinner, we stopped to take a photo outside Notre Dame.

Notre Dame in the background with Steve, Travis, Laura, me and Mark. Jodi had been evacuated due to an unattended bag and we were on our way to find her.
Aussie Team outside Notre Dame.

We then took breath while three of us rode a carousel!

This is a still, you can download the “movie” below!
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In the evening we had a team meal at Georges, in an interesting building called the Georges Pompidou Centre. Here we had a rooftop table with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

Jodi, Steve, Laura, Travis, Mark and me at Georges. The back of the menu had images of a range of people called George!
Beautiful view, excellent meal, great company.

Having conquered the application process, developed the required materials for the exchange, and found our way via various routes to the beautiful city of Paris, were were ready to commence the exchange.

Brompton Cemetery

On By Margaret SimkinIn leisure, Reflection, travelsLeave a comment

A large green space of calm reflection lies just up the road from our accommodation. It holds the evidence of many lives. It is open from early in the morning until 8pm, and people walk there, rest there and visit some of the more recent graves. Crows, pigeons and squirrels share the space with humans. It is heartening to see the volunteers working to maintain this large and old site. An unexpected refuge from the heat and the urban flurry.

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London Musings

On By Margaret SimkinIn learning, leisure, Reflection, travelsLeave a comment

First full day of our trip to the UK and Ireland. Much is different since 1976!! Most noticeably for us is that London’s not the cold, dull place it was then. The fact that this is not a winter visit is obviously part of the reason. Trees have leaves on them, and it is the middle of a heat wave. Sights like these were impossible in January:

The buildings have also been cleaned. St. Paul’s gleams, the riverside buildings are spruced up. The buses, while still red and double decker, are clean and rather “green” although the tube is a little tired.

Staying in a hotel brings a stark contrast to home: heating is available, but air conditioning only in the communal areas. No fridge in the room!

Trains are “cooled” by opening windows. Underground is stifling. Most shops seem to just open their doors.

Today’s visits included Lambeth, The Imperial War Museum, and the Thames.