(A version of the following article appeared in a recent edition of Expatriates magazine. Please watch this space for more information about the WICE Open House on Sept. 20.)
Even
with all its advantages, living abroad can sometimes be a challenge. But there
are groups that can make the experience more fulfilling and fruitful – groups such
as WICE.
Formed
in 1978 by a number of ex-pat American women, WICE serves the English-speaking
community in Paris and has become an organization that lives up to its motto:
You’ll Fit Right In.
WICE
offers a wide range of courses and networking events. Members can follow classes
in cooking, wine tasting, creative writing, cultural studies, languages, and the
visual arts. They can also participate in guided walks and visits to museums
and other cultural institutions.
New
courses, starting September 2016, are now available to view at www.wice-paris.org/courses. Interested members can reserve immediately.
WICE member Anna Sipurzynska samples French red wine. |
Former
participants in the various workshops have had many positive comments, noting
that the courses have contributed to both their personal and professional development
in different ways. The Creative Writing workshops, for instance, support those
who have always wished to write stories, while the Wine-Tasting courses enhance
knowledge about Europe’s vast variety of wines.
Members seeking to improve their language skills can join conversation groups where
they practice French or English and learn the intricate rules of grammar; and
budding or experienced artists and photographers get to create work in a city
made for art.
WICE will host an Open House on Tuesday, 20 September 2016,
from 3:00pm - 7:00pm (15h:00 to 19h:00). This will be held at a famed art
gallery in the 11th arrondissement – Dorothy’s Gallery, 27 rue Keller,
75011.
Visitors
will have the opportunity to connect with fellow members and volunteers; to
meet the people who create WICE’s courses; to speak with some of the
instructors; to sign up for workshops; to find out about other events for the autumn program; and, of course, to join WICE.
Registration
for the Open House, and actually turning up on the day, also gives one the opportunity to take part in a draw for an exclusive
visit to Le Cordon Bleu's new cookery school, based on the banks of the Seine.
WICE
is conveniently located in the 15th arrondissement. The office is open Monday - Friday 10:00 -
15:00. Tel: 01 45 66 75 50.