Say Bonjour to PVCC’s French Club

Olivia Stevens, staff writer

The hilltop where Piedmont Virginia  Community College sits looks as though it sits upon the French Countryside, which makes it a perfect place for the French Club to meet. The French club  brings together students who are interested in French culture, cuisine, language, art, and fashion. French club gives an unique French experience to the members without them having to travel across the world.

The club meets every other Wednesday; they discuss and learn in-depth about French culture, food, holidays, and politics. The club does not turn away from students who do not speak French or are not in a French class. President Brandi Rey said, “Not all members speak French; each member is on a different level of how well they can speak French.”

In their meetings, they taste different cuisines. During their last meeting, the members tasted assorted cheeses. They also try French bread, quiche, and many other different French dishes. The club will be going to Pause-Café at La Maison Français where students who are studying French can enjoy coffee and treats while only speaking French. In the café, food and drinks are free and the only language allowed is French.

At the end of every semester, the club members go out to celebrate by having dinner together at a French restaurant. They have gone to multiple restaurants in Charlottesville including Petit Pois. The club recently started the tradition of going out and sharing a good meal and conversation with the other members as is it something they truly enjoy doing.

Members enjoy playing French games such as pétanque, which is a game where players toss or roll balls to get as close as possible to a small wooden ball, which is called a cochonnet, while the players are standing inside a circle with both feet on the ground, according to the website  Discover France.

Rey, has been in the French club for four semesters and has been president for three. Her interest in French culture began after she met her wife who is a French native and is also a French professor at the University of Virginia. Brandi said that what she enjoys about French club is “being with like minded people with the same interest I really like the opportunity to explore ideals and things that are going on that are not discussed in class.”