The France Tour isn’t
really an experience that is easy to put into words. It’s a lot harder than
you’d think to pick the correct adjectives to perfectly describe the emotions
associated with all of the fantastic things we were exposed to.
First and foremost I
would like to thank the teachers and supervising adults, without their helpful
and constantly energetic presence the trip could not have taken place. A
special thank you goes to Mr Kasbergen, he truly put everything he had into
planning this outstanding expedition for us, and it was clear how much he cared
about every single student experiencing the best of France, and falling in love
with the country like he had. In combination with Miss Parnell, Mr Rogers, old
scholar Diana Hancock and boarding parent Rowena Conway, they formed a highly
supportive tem.
The first leg of the tour
had us in Paris, within three days we’d already soaked up the atmosphere at the
Artist’s Square in Montmartre, explored the streets of Paris by bike, visited the
architecturally stunning Musée D’Orsay, indulged ourselves in shopping at
Galeries Lafayette, seen three fantastic pieces of artwork at the Louvre – the
Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory Angel and the Mona Lisa -, enjoyed
traditional French cuisine at Chez Papa, and learnt how to be a true Parisian
in one hour at a hilarious show performed by Oliver Giraud. It may sound
overwhelming, but each new experience just left us wanting more.
We were all eager to go
down South to Monaco, and when we arrived it didn’t disappoint. Daytrips to
places such as Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo and Eze left us with images of
unfathomable wealth in the form of expensive cars and yachts, but also
simplicity and beauty tucked away in small towns, bathed in hues of oranges,
yellows and pinks, along the French Riviera. When we weren’t off delighting in
the many arrays of things that the Côte D’Azur has to offer, we were at the
CMEF. The Centre Méditerranéen d’Etudes Françaises, the language school in
Cap-D’Ail that everyone has very fond memories of. Along with immensely large
and exquisite grounds, the place had such a positive and comfortable atmosphere
that we all settled right in. We had the amazing opportunity to meet and spend
time with people from all over the world, as well as getting to participate in
the centre run activities such as Musical Quizzes, a Jean Cocteau painting
class, crêpe and waffle nights, discos and probably the most memorable of all,
the Casino night. Another very beneficial experience from the CMEF was the
chance to take part in language classes in which our teacher spoke to us
entirely in French. Everybody came into the classes with an open mind and left
with a significantly improved grasp on the intricacies of the French language
and culture.
After our eight days at
the CMEF were completed, it was time to go to Avignon. No one was looking
forward to leaving the CMEF, which really says something about how excited we
all were when we first began to explore Avignon. We stayed at a fantastic
location in the old walled city, opposite the former home for the Pope at the
Palais des Papes. We spent some time visiting the site of the Pont D’Avignon, looking
through the Palais, shopping and trying our best to understand a French movie
without subtitles. We were given a lot more freedom to explore the town and
consequently responsibility. Everybody responded well to this and rose up to
the challenge of conducting themselves in a mature and trustworthy fashion. Being
able to select our own restaurant and dine in small groups was a real
highlight!
We were all feeling quite
sad as we were reaching the final part of our trip. We returned to Paris and
prepared for that night’s ascension of the Eiffel Tower. Some people were a
little nervous to begin with, but soon forgot their worries when they saw the
magnificent view from the top. The next day we set off for Disneyland, we tried
our hardest to ignore the wet weather and focus on the spectacular plans for
the day. The daring tested their courage on rides such as Space Mountain and
Indiana Jones, whereas others settled for exploring the vast theme park with
different lands around every corner. That night we had another bike tour
planned, but there was also a surprise in store for us. Instead of another tour
of Paris, we rode our way towards the Seine for a night cruise along the river.
It was a beautiful way to end the trip, passing under countless historic
bridges and enjoying the scenery along the bank. We were lucky enough to pass a
sparkling Eiffel Tower, and then again on the way back to Fat Tire Bike Tours.
We stopped to take various group photos and take advantage of our last night in
France. The history, the cuisine, the language, the culture, none of its
significance was lost on us.
It was amazing to see
people transform over the course of the trip, to become a lot more confident in
themselves and their ability to speak French, and to make new friends or become
closer with people that they might not have otherwise. Whether close or not,
everyone that went on that trip is a part of something very special, and we all
have memories that will not easily be forgotten.
Claire Hannon
Year 10
