La journée d’ouverture
July 21 2008 marked the opening day of Lac du Bois Bemidji. This year, we welcomed villagers from all corners of the United States and other countries like England, Canada and Taiwan.
As soon as the villagers arrived at Lac du Bois, they checked in with their passeports at la douane, got their noms français and finished the registration formalities by depositing their money à la banque, as well as meeting our nurses at the Club Med (health center). Following this, the villagers proceeded to their cabins where a counselor checked their baggages for contraband, then they selected their bunk and settled in. After dinner, villagers gathered in front of Paris, the main building, from where they started the mini-orientation, a tour of different places in the village during which they learned such things as le service et menage (table setting and cleaning), the magasins, the rules for la plage (the beach) and the essential French phrases used daily at Lac du Bois.
They also got a chance to meet with Gilbert Ekotto, our new Dean.
At the end of the first day, villagers gathered around the feu de camp where they learned their first song en Francais and it was time to say Bonsoir les Loups and go to bed.
