Monthly Archives: April 2015

Alliance française, the Barbados Museum & the 100th Anniversary of WW1

In commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of WW1 this year, an interactive digital exhibition has been created by the Institut français, the AEFE and the Mission du Centenaire. The transmedia exhibition offers a new kind of experience, combining print and digital supports and requiring the use of smart mobile technology. On exhibit are posters equipped with QR codes. The viewer must download an app that is then used to scan the QR codes to access information provided across several multimedia platforms (videos, audio, texts, photos, 3D objects, etc.). The information has been translated into several languages, including English and French. The use of smart technology is likely to make the WW1 exhibition more accessible and interesting to today’s tech-savvy generation.

An eye-opening exhibition with an unusual slant

The exhibition relates the many stories of some of those affected by the Great War. It focuses not only on soldiers on the front line but also on civilians far away from the battlefields.

Mr Kevin Farmer delivering the welcoming speech

It presents the numerous layers of the war: the front lines, experiences and perceptions of those affected directly and indirectly by events between 1914 and 1918.

Guests listening to speeches

The exhibition is on a worldwide tour and can now be viewed in Barbados thanks to a partnership between the Alliance française de Bridgetown and the Barbados Museum.

Mrs Denise Haynes, President of Alliance française de Bridgetown

To launch its opening at the Museum, the Alliance hosted a cocktail reception for specially invited guests.

Lt Col Thierry Delbarre, CDR Thierry Legay and Capt. Don Chee-A-Tow

Among those in attendance were Captain Don Chee-A-Tow, Honorary Consul of France; Mr Mikael Barfod, Head of the EU delegation; Ms Victoria Glynis Dean, British High Commissioner; Ms Wang Ke, Chinese Ambassador to Barbados; Lieutenant Colonel Thierry Delbarre, Non-resident French Defence Attaché; Commander Thierry Legay of the French Maritime Intelligence and Coordination Cell; and Ms Denise Haynes, President of Alliance française de Bridgetown.

Two guests learning about WW1

Attendees enjoyed French hors d’oeuvres, cheeses and wine while viewing the exhibition. A welcoming speech was given by Mr Kevin Farmer, the Deputy Director of the Museum. Speeches were also made by Ms Haynes and Captain Chee-A-Tow.

Guests at the cocktail reception held to launch the exhibition

The Museum has enriched the exhibition even further by adding its own artefacts and documents. It will run until mid-July.

Photography by Stephen R. Smith of Pro Photo Studio-Photo Dynamics Inc.

Rédaction et traduction du blog réalisées par AAA Translation Services. Pour la version française voir ici.

Celebrating French culture and language in Barbados

In Barbados, there exists a chapter of Alliance Française, a non-profit organisation that promotes French language and culture. Like other chapters around the world, the Alliance française de Bridgetown organised the Semaine de la Francophonie, a week of activities celebrating French language and culture, in the month of March.

Three schools – Alexandra, Codrington and Queen’s College – and the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus (UWI) participated in these events. Alexandra and Queen’s College are secondary schools while Codrington offers both primary and secondary education. As part of activities, Codrington’s secondary school students gave Powerpoint presentations on Francophonie and francophone countries to the primary students. On March 20, International Francophonie Day, Alexandra students participated in a quiz and gave presentations featuring 10 new words accepted into the French language.

Queen’s College and UWI students participated in a francophone forum organised by the University. Native French speakers from Canada, Belgium, Martinique and the Democratic Republic of Congo shared their culture during a Q&A session. A French movie, ‘Chante ton bac d’abord’ (with English subtitles), a French karaoke singing session and an exhibition on Martinique were also held at the University.

 Another event organised to mark the Semaine de la Francophonie was Le Dîner français, which was held at the restaurant, Chez Max. Gastronomic specialities were prepared in honour of the occasion and greatly appreciated by lovers of French cuisine.

We fall squarely into that category and were in for treat. The food was quite simply delicious! Beginning with a Kingfish tartare canapé served on a bed of lettuce and accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine.

Our first course was mussels served in a white wine sauce. We love seafood and thoroughly enjoyed the creamy texture of this dish. Next was a palate cleanser – a refreshing rainbow sorbet drizzled with blue curacao liqueur.

For the second course, we selected Coq au vin (a chicken stew featuring red wine), mashed potatoes and vegetables of the day.

Again, our palates were gratified – the chicken was tender, subtly well-seasoned and delicious, dripping off the bone. We chose a Grenache blanc viognier white wine for this course as well as the others.

Next came the cheese selection consisting of Port salut and goat’s cheese and served with a sliver of toast and grapes.

Finally for dessert, we opted for the decadent three-colour chocolate mousse and again we were well pleased. The texture and flavour were simply divine!

For us, Le Dîner français was the highlight of the Semaine de la Francophonie.

Photography by Stephen R. Smith of Pro Photo Studio-Photo Dynamics Inc.

Rédaction et traduction du blog réalisées par AAA Translation Services. Pour la version française voir ici.