Visits
Since it's formation in 1992 Carnoustie Twinning have been actively involved in exchange visits with our friends in Maule and Aulnay. Initially these were alternating between Maule to Carnoustie in April and Carnoustie to Maule in October. This format continued very successfully for a number of years along with our annual Burns Suppers which again take place in Carnoustie one year, Maule the next. In more recent years there have been some changes with joint visits to Dublin and York. In May 2018 we had our most recent joint visit to Lisbon.
Carnoustie to Maule
Our initial visits were done by coach and these proved very popular and in the early years we used this form of transport to Maule - as the Mauloise did when the came here. This worked very well and also provided the coach for trips when in France. While there our hosts have organised some wonderful trips and we have done every thing from visits to Paris and the Palace of Versailles to Disneyland, Asterix World and tours of the Peugeot Factory at Poissy and the Ariane Rocket factory, all within easy distance of Maule.
More recently the trips have been made by plane which is much more convenient although a few years back a team from Maule cycled from Maule to Carnoustie. Quite a feat.
More recently the trips have been made by plane which is much more convenient although a few years back a team from Maule cycled from Maule to Carnoustie. Quite a feat.
Burns Suppers
These proved to be an instant success and continue to be so. The French are very into Burns and enter into the spirit with great gusto. When in Carnoustie - as show on the left - a party travel from France and take an active part in the proceedings. We have had the whole Burns experience in both Scot and French (and even in the Doric).
When the venue is France we frequently take some of the trappings with us and on one occasion were requested to bring the 'neeps' which we duly did. This worked well although the French customs were a bit taken aback with so many people passing through each with a good Scots neep in a carrier bag. Apparently no one has ever smuggled neeps into France before!
When the venue is France we frequently take some of the trappings with us and on one occasion were requested to bring the 'neeps' which we duly did. This worked well although the French customs were a bit taken aback with so many people passing through each with a good Scots neep in a carrier bag. Apparently no one has ever smuggled neeps into France before!
Schools
There have also been exchanges between schools in France and Carnoustie. We have had French children in Carnoustie schools here during visits and the same during visits to Maule with Carnoustie children. The picture on the left was taken at Crombie Park during one of these visits.
We have also received a number of very successful visits from students at the Buat College in Maule. More details of one of the more can be seen of this here.
The younger people of the Carnoustie area continue to be a valuable and active part of out association.
We have also received a number of very successful visits from students at the Buat College in Maule. More details of one of the more can be seen of this here.
The younger people of the Carnoustie area continue to be a valuable and active part of out association.
Hosting
During visits both here and to Maule all accommodation is provided by local hosts. This has resulted over the years in the formation of many long-standing friendships and subsequently a large number of annual private visits to and from France.
We would like to make it clear that hosting French guests is NOT an essential part of being a member although we can almost guarantee it is great fun. Some people are put off by the language barrier but this is definitely not a problem as French is not a requirement. Communication takes many forms and usually provides a lot of laughter. The hosting received from French families when we visit Maule and Aulnay can only be described as excellent and anyone deciding to travel to Maule during our visits there will not be disappointed.
We would like to make it clear that hosting French guests is NOT an essential part of being a member although we can almost guarantee it is great fun. Some people are put off by the language barrier but this is definitely not a problem as French is not a requirement. Communication takes many forms and usually provides a lot of laughter. The hosting received from French families when we visit Maule and Aulnay can only be described as excellent and anyone deciding to travel to Maule during our visits there will not be disappointed.
