FRENCH POLYNESIA ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
"Where you can take time-out to think about the world, your place in it and how to make a difference"
"Where you can take time-out to think about the world, your place in it and how to make a difference"
Picture/map courtesy of Air Tahiti
At the heart of the South Pacific ocean, away from the hustle of a frantic life, lie the remote and peaceful islands of French Polynesia. As you exit the airplane, you are immediately invaded by the conquering delicate perfume of Tahitian Gardenia (Tiare Tahiti), the warm embrace of a pleasant year-round climate, and the joyous ukulele music and dances of a happy people. From the first encounter you realize that this is a place where you can be amazed, you can be quieted, you can be recharged.
Covering a water surface-area equivalent to Europe, French Polynesia is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 2,000 kilometers. About 67 islands are inhabited, the most famous of which are Tahiti and Moorea in the windward islands, and Bora Bora and Huahine in the leeward islands. The total population of Polynesia is around 280 thousands, 180 thousand of which live in the main island of Tahiti. French is the official language, but several Polynesian native languages are also spoken.
French Polynesia is an overseas country of France, so it enjoys stability and wealth. It has also been able to retain the genuine beauty of an indigenous rich culture, happily blended with western civilization. Christianity is the main religion.
The land is fertile, offering a wide selection of tropical fruits and vegetables growing freely and wildly (bread-fruit, mangoes, pineapple, passion fruit, rambutan, star apples, guava, bananas, fe'i, papaya, coconut, taro and many more). Polynesia's lagoons are among the richest on the planet for fish and coral: snorkeling or scuba-diving here creates unforgettable memories of underwater colors and variety. People live a peaceful lifestyle typical of the islands, and devote much time to fishing, cooking and participation in local cultural activities. These include traditional sports games, local music (ukelele and guitar playing, and toere drumming), singing, and the famous Polynesian dances (ori Tahiti). The full palette of Polynesian richness is shared with our students and guests: they are brought intimately in the middle of this wealth of perfumes, sounds, sights and positive energy. Our students and guests play with the locals, dance with the locals, do sports with the locals, organize activities with the locals. They also swim in the same clear turquoise waters and eat from the same fertile richness of this mystic and welcoming land in the middle of the ocean.
Covering a water surface-area equivalent to Europe, French Polynesia is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 2,000 kilometers. About 67 islands are inhabited, the most famous of which are Tahiti and Moorea in the windward islands, and Bora Bora and Huahine in the leeward islands. The total population of Polynesia is around 280 thousands, 180 thousand of which live in the main island of Tahiti. French is the official language, but several Polynesian native languages are also spoken.
French Polynesia is an overseas country of France, so it enjoys stability and wealth. It has also been able to retain the genuine beauty of an indigenous rich culture, happily blended with western civilization. Christianity is the main religion.
The land is fertile, offering a wide selection of tropical fruits and vegetables growing freely and wildly (bread-fruit, mangoes, pineapple, passion fruit, rambutan, star apples, guava, bananas, fe'i, papaya, coconut, taro and many more). Polynesia's lagoons are among the richest on the planet for fish and coral: snorkeling or scuba-diving here creates unforgettable memories of underwater colors and variety. People live a peaceful lifestyle typical of the islands, and devote much time to fishing, cooking and participation in local cultural activities. These include traditional sports games, local music (ukelele and guitar playing, and toere drumming), singing, and the famous Polynesian dances (ori Tahiti). The full palette of Polynesian richness is shared with our students and guests: they are brought intimately in the middle of this wealth of perfumes, sounds, sights and positive energy. Our students and guests play with the locals, dance with the locals, do sports with the locals, organize activities with the locals. They also swim in the same clear turquoise waters and eat from the same fertile richness of this mystic and welcoming land in the middle of the ocean.
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Experiential Learning and Gap Year Programs
We design experiential learning and enrichment programs that meet the specific goals and needs of individual schools, or as well as individual students. The focus of our programs range from Ecology and French immersion, to hospitality and service-learning. While the possibilities are endless, each activity is geared toward learning and enriching both our local youth and communities, and our visiting guests.
We design experiential learning and enrichment programs that meet the specific goals and needs of individual schools, or as well as individual students. The focus of our programs range from Ecology and French immersion, to hospitality and service-learning. While the possibilities are endless, each activity is geared toward learning and enriching both our local youth and communities, and our visiting guests.
