Parlez-vous Français?

Paris, through the lens of Juliette Blasor

If you are the type of parent who likes to be on top of things, arranging a meaningful summer experience for your child, or children, is probably something you tackled months ago. For parents still scouting for options, here's one idea worth considering: Alliance Française de Puerto Rico.

Immersing a young kid in a foreign language offers many benefits, according to the Center for Applied Linguistics. These include better listening skills, more flexible thinking, and enhanced mental development. The program AF has designed is sure to entice any curious young boy and girl, even as it introduces him or her to the fun of speaking a language so similar to Spanish.The program combines theory and practice. Mornings begin with a regular French class and end with fun activities such as cooking, singing, theater, and the arts during which children get to practice their French. Afternoons are more laid back: there's crafts, interpretative movement, reading, and videos. As a special treat, each Friday features an excursion to a museum or a park. The program ends on June 24 with a special presentation by the kids before their parents. For latecomers, a second session is ready to start on June 27.

This is the second year in a row that AF runs this expansive summer program targeted to children between the ages of 6 and 11, and adolescents aged 16 and older, according to Nathalia Menéndez, who handles marketing. Participation in the program is kept small to allow each child to receive personal attention from the instructor, she said. Both groups of children and adolescents are limited to 20 participants. As of Tuesday, the June session still had two openings in the children's group and five openings in the adolescents' group. The July session actually begins on June 27 and runs through July 23rd.

The cost is $585, which comes down to under $150 per week for a six-hour daily program, Monday through Friday, 9.am. to 3 p.m. This includes lunch except for excursion day Friday. Also not included is a daily snack which parents need to provide or kids can purchase at AF from an on-premise food caterer. For parents unable to pick up a child on time, AF is offering up to two hours of child care from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at a cost of $10 for one child, or $5 for two or more children.  

Alliance Française de Puerto Rico

206 Calle Rosario (between De Diego and Parque Street) 

787.722.3174/5434 cours@afpuertorico.org

By Denise Blasor

"The tragic days of our lives, the days of accounting, begin like any other, with routine, with the bagel in the toaster and the coffee on the stove."  

--T. Coraghessan Boyle

The Green Power of the Bicycle Courier

Courtesy of ecomensaria.com

TALK about spunk. San Juan's newest messenger service -- Ecomensajeria -- provides delivery of documents, paperwork and small packets using the green power of a bicycle. And it even runs a blog where you can follow the musings of its trio of couriers as they go about the day making deliveries all over town.

"IT'S important to promote the use of the bicycle as a mode of transportation that is simple, practical and sustainable," says Luis Rafael Robles, who teamed up with equally ecologically-minded Carlos Pérez Díaz and Gabriel de Jesus to start this novel business, the first of its kind in San Juan (Other services rely on motorbikes to make their deliveries.). All three bike aficionados are giving it all they've got to grow the service while also pursuing other careers and interests: Carlos is an English professor, Gabriel is studying photography, and Luis is an unemployed architect who says he would have to die and come back to life before giving up on architecture. For the time being, he is confident a courier service can be financially rewarding despite the competition and noted that the company is in the process of getting fully bonded.

BARELY, a month old, Ecomensajeria is already attracting attention. The service covers Hato Rey, Old San Juan, Condado, Miramar, Rio Piedras, Roosevelt Avenue, Jesus T. Piñeiro Avenue, Bayamón and Guaynabo. Fees are reasonable and, depending on the distance covered, start as low as $10 round trip, or $5 one way.

AS for the blog, it is hip and fun. Here's one entry: "Rainy Thursday, but nothing stops us from pedaling, the month of May is ours....the day ended with 7 deliveries and a rich coffee at La Chiwinda in Río Piedras." One highlight is a long write-up by Robles on the virtues of bicycling. Two facts stand out: a car generates an average of 160 grams of carbon dioxide for each km (0.62 miles) covered and the average yearly cost of keeping a car is $9,312. As he writes, "It is necessary to take the bicycle transportation mode into account and to encourage the necessary infrastructure to protect cyclists."

Ecomensajeria.com   787.562.1711

ecomensajeriapr@gmail.com

China on Fernandez Juncos  

By Denise Blasor

Looking to whip up an authentic Chinese meal? Then head over to Asia Market on Fernandez Juncos where shelves are stocked with sundry Asian products, like noodles galore, spring roll wrappers, sauces, condiments, dry and packaged beans plus assorted ladles and woks. A supplier, since 1992, to Chinese restaurants in and out of San Juan, the store also caters to regular consumers. You may find the large, cavernous store somewhat dingy but you won't even notice once you start poking around. The store, located less than a block from the new Walgreens outlet, is open seven days a week, including Christmas and New Year. Hours: 1p.m. to 1 a.m.

ASIA MARKET #1262 Fernandez Juncos Ave.

787.725-0349

By Juliette Blasor

 

       "Where life leads you, you must go."

                                

                           

-- Oscar Wilde

 

Recycle Reuse

If you love to rummage through people's discarded possessions at garage sales, there's one held every Saturday at #1606 Calle Colón, between San Jorge and Parque streets. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Or stop by the Flea Market on behalf of the Gustavo Ferrer
Foundation at #357 San Jorge St., across from Las Carmelitas Condominium. June 3 and 4, plus next week-end starting Thursday through Saturday. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Photograph by Marvin W. Schwartz

To leaf through Marvin W. Schwartz's book, "Puerto Rico in the 1960's: 20th Century Photography" is to go back in time and recapture the island's past. A nostalgic trip perhaps but one that will also make you aware of how far Puerto Rico has come. Order directly from Blurb.com in softcover version ($48.92) or hardcover ($71.52).

Copyright 2011©Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved