Group helps you settle in Provence

Anglo-American Group of Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône (13)

How long has the group been around?

The Anglo-American Group of Provence (AAGP) will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2011. Founded in 1971 as a non-profit social organisation, the group consists of about 700 English-speaking nationals and their immediate families living in or around the Bouches-du-Rhône area.

Whether in southern France through work, marriage, or simply an appreciation of the Mediterranean way of life, our members have in common the desire to make connections and share experiences with other English-speakers.

What does the group do?

We offer our members numerous opportunities to find friendship and information relevant to life in France.

The group has three broad aims: to help English-speaking newcomers adapt to life in France; to preserve and share our own traditions, language and culture; and to promote friendship and understanding with the French community.

We also do our best to support our members with any difficulties (legal, medical or otherwise) which they may encounter while living in the area.

How often do you meet?

We organise a wide variety of activities appealing to people of all ages and interests, thanks to member input and involvement. Some of these include:

- Annual events, such as holiday celebrations, family picnics, Burns’ Night and Thanksgiving.
- Children’s playgroups and parties.
- Monthly luncheons and dinners organised at restaurants or in members’ homes.
- Cultural outings to the theatre, art exhibits and music festivals.
- Guided excursions to places of interest in our area.
- Regular clubs include hiking, bridge, book discussion, computers, golf, yoga, pétanque, French conversation, gourmet lunches and wine tasting.
- Coffee mornings for French/English conversation open to all twice a week.
- A well-stocked English lending library with books, videos and DVDs open to all.

What other activities do you have planned?

We are in the very beginning stages of planning an event to celebrate our anniversary. More details will be available shortly.

What other benefits does membership bring?

Joining the AAGP gives you access to a group email service, where the messages you post will be sent to the mailboxes of all the members registered for it. If you need specific advice or want to buy or sell something, the list lets you communicate with expats across Provence easily and effectively.

Membership in the AAGP also includes a subscription to our monthly magazine, which has 32 pages of information on the group’s events, local activities, cultural traditions, places to visit, members’ suggestions and classified adverts.

Who should readers contact for more info?

We welcome new members throughout the year. Our website contains a lot of useful information, including our monthly calendar, a description of events, contact information and restaurant reviews. You can learn about joining and download a membership form. See www.aagp-provence.com