Sion

Nice to see you again. As I said here is the second and last part about my adventure in Lorraine! If you can’t see France, I’ll bring it to you.

So today, I’ll take you to Sion for the first part, and then we’ll go together to Haroué!

Sion, no, it’s not a city in Switzerland nor a biblical location even if it’s a religious place.
What is this? This is a hill. This hill is located in the south of the department Meurthe et Moselle, around 35 km from Nancy. The hill has her own history, from the Neolithic to modern era via the middle age.

My first task was to climb a few kilometers long sloping road, but thanks to the car it’s quite easy. Then, I stopped to the parking of the village. It is very small, around ten houses but the showstopper is definitely the fantastic Basilica Notre Dame de Sion. A huge Basilica with a massive statue of Marie at the top which is protecting Lorraine. But something else was waiting me, after a little walk around the religious complex I arrived to a little point of view where you can see what is called “Saintois” this part of the Meurthe et Moselle. The panorama is breathtaking, even more when a beautiful blue clear sky allows you to see even further. It is also said that you can see the Alps from the other side of the hill, but I hadn’t the chance to confirm that. To conclude this awesome trip in one of the must to see in this department, I saw one of the best sunset in my life.

 

Nancy

Today, I want to share with you one of my first adventure in France. Please fasten your seat belt and enjoy your first ride across Lorraine!

Our first stop will be in… Nancy!

Let’s take a look to some features about Nancy. This is one of the greatest city in the huge region Lorraine, the city is located in Meurthe et Moselle a department among the four that contains the Lorraine. Nancy has around 100 thousand residents and the urban are more than 430.000. Well known for her famous place Stanislas, her architecture and her history.

Nancy is very rich historically, but even more after the 18^th century thanks Stanislas. The city can be seen as a link between France and Poland. The French king Louis XV has offered to Stanislas Leszczynski, former king of Poland in exile the duchy of Lorraine and Bar. I had the chance to see what was built under the reign of Stanislas, a great part of the town’s legacy come directly from the duke and his architects team. Firstly, I was on the “Place de la République”, nothing awesome, it’s just a great bus station. Then I walked on the Rue Saint Jean, I took a little street and then I was in front of the Saint Sebastian church, a simple church but very beautiful. Inside, massive columns support the roof. I left the Saint Sebastian church which is near a city center, heritage from the 70’s and modernization plans of the city. I made a stop in a little shop called “Lalonde” to taste the typical candy here… the Bergamote! Next monument and another religious one was the Cathedral. Very very impressive, an awesome and massive cathedral in a roman style. This edifice is not far from the must to see in Nancy, the place Stanislas. My first step on the place have sufficed to me to understand why this is one of the most if not the most beautiful place in France and why not Europe. Everything looks so beautiful and so elaborated. I crossed the Arc Héré and came to the “Place de la Carrière” where is located the Government Palace. Last stop in the Basilica Saint-Epvre, more in a gothic style with stained glass, my favorite church here…

Here a couple of pictures to complete my little presentation about Nancy…

Don’t switch the channel, the next stop will be in Sion, Haroué and to finish the Lorraine tour with Epinal!

Cathedral of Nancy

Neptune’s fountain – Place Stanislas

Place de la Carrière and the government palace

 Place Stanislas

The place and Arc Héré

Bachelor's degree

Due to the fact that I am now in the third year of studies, I have to write th bachelor in languages. This work requires a lot of time and effort. In my datebook I have already indicated a number of terms until the end of June. On the one hand it's a bit scary for me that I will be so busy, but on the other hand, it is good to have everything planned. Now all I have to do is to stick to the plan. And work hardly, of course. 

The object of my bachelor is the comparative analysis of Charles Perrault's fairy tales in the translation into Polish. I'm very happy that this subject came to my mind because it connects the different fields of my interests, namely: languages, translation, literature and education of children. Actually, I have the opportunity to examine the fairy tales - the literary works of my childhood in the source language - the French, which has already a great value for me. The fairy tales are a particular kind of literature and have a particular function in the education of children. This theme is also interesting for me, I did the teaching specialization, I am interested in children and their education. 

When I was a little girl, my parents use to often read me the fairy tales. I loved it and now, after many years, this subject becomes the object of this important work. I could somehow go back to my childhood, I hope that thanks to it, this hard work that awaits me for the next six months, will be more pleasant. I will entry one more time in the world od Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood.

E-books

Today I would like to tell about the change which has taken place in me since last year. 
When I was five I learned to read and I loved the books. Later, I enrolled in a library. I like going there and choosing the books. Sometimes, a book catches my eyes and I discover a wonderful book by accident. I love spending my time lying in my bed with a cup of the and reading a book.
I was thinking that I would't be an e-reader because I don't like so much the new technologies and the new gadgets which appear constantly on the market. I liked the most the paper books. 
The books are also the common gifts and I like when my friends are happy with the new books. But how to give someone an e-book ? It's a little bit strange and it picks up the magic.
I don't like the new books hot off the press. I like old, bended books, with the coffee rings, just the books with a story, I like the rustle of sheets. It's something you won't find in the e-books.
In fact, there are many advantages of the traditional books and l still like it. Nevertheless, I found a pleasure in reading the e-books. I have finally convinced to the practicality of the electronic books. Now, I can have a lot of books in one object which weighs little. It doesn't mean that I left the paper books. I'm still a bookworm but I just have changed a form of a book. 

Conclusion

I want to present you a short video concerning the subject of violence against children.

As you see, the mother doesn't explain anything to her daughter, she just slaps her very much in the face. In my opinion the girl didn't do anything wrong, it wasn't done by expres and it happens to adults too to overthrow the glass. This video shows one aspect of this problem, that the parents instead of explaining, they act under the influence of emotions. And the second dimension is that children repeat the mistakes of their parents.

I tried to show you two points of view but it's not everything. The subject is really complicated and it doesn't allow to conclude so easily. There are a lot of aspects: the moral and legal question of it, corporal punishment also have a real dimension in the field of child psychology and family.

Opinions of the opponents

Today I will turn to the opposing views.

First of all corporal punishment doesn't teach a child something about his bad behavior. The child only learns that the punch causes pain. For a short time it can behave better because he naturally wants to avoid pain. But he doesn't acquire no skills and he doesn't develope the internal control.

It's not fair when a big strong man stopped to control himself and he beats a small and weak person. When we lay a hand on a child, we lose our authority.

Moreover, when we give a spank or a slap, we show this method to a child. Children follow the example of those around them so when the child sees the adult using violence in anger, then he will tend to reproduce the same behavior if one of his friends makes him angry. We can't forget that violence causes violence.

Corporal punishment humiliates, children who are bitten are less of themselves, they feel bad and without values.

In Poland it is forbidden by law. It is also written in The International Convention on Children's Rights.

Corporal punishment

Recently I felt inspired to write few words about corporal punishment of the children which is a taboo not only in our country.

Since May 2010 in Poland, it is forbidden to use corporal punishment, infliction of mental suffering and also other forms of humiliation on a child. This law evokes many controversies because most of parents believes can spank a child. While many of them believe that spanking is not beating.

I will try to present some opinions of supporters and protesters of the corporal punishment.

In this post I will concentate on supporters.

Firstly, many people consider that spanking isn't harmful, they find that it is an indispensable pedagogical tool. Popular opinion says that the spank in the aim "rightful" is not violence and doesn't cause harm to the child, but only makes him more disciplined.

Secondly, when a parent exhausted all ideas to solve a difficult situation (for example when a child doesn't want to get dressed, he is shouting, he is running on the apartment and called he pretends not to hear), the method of a spank is very tempting and often effective.

Thirdly, people brought up in a family with a strong patriarchal model believe that "children must be obedient" and apply the same way the education which they themselves received as a child, it means - by force.

Finally, such as spanking represents nothing pleasant, it allows the child to understand that if he will renew his bad behavior, then the penalty will be the same.