Every story has a start... This is mine.
Trip Start
Jan 25, 2009
1
Trip End
Jan 10, 2010
Bethune, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
Thursday, May 21, 2009
25th January, 2009: The big day. My flight to France. So at the airport it was me, Mum, Dad, Mama, Pa, Alanah, Sandra, Kerrie and Peter. So sad, but at the same time I was so excited. And I was lucky it wasn't just me on the plane over there. I had everyone going to France and Switzerland from 3 districts in Victoria, and the Tasmania district, too. So all together, on my first flight, there were 18 of us. And we were all so excited so the energy radiating off everyone was amazing. That first flight was so fun. Everyone got to know everyone else really well, and we spent the time playing games against each other on the sets built into the seats in front of us, or playing poker, or taking photos with the flight attendants. We didn't catch a wink of sleep then either. So we arrived in Bangkok at midnight and had 2 hours until our next flight. We met up with the Sydney and Queensland people, but we didn't really mix because, well, I don't know why. We should have, but we didn't. Bangkok was where we said goodbye to the Switzerland people, too. Then we boarded our next plane that would take us to Charles De Gaulle Airport, and to our new lives in France. That flight was LONG. It was an all nighter, but (not so) lucky for me the guy next to me was snoring the whole way there. So I spent the 12 hour flight with maybe 2 hours of sleep. And the flight was packed. Not a spare seat, unlike the first flight where we had almost a row each. But 12 hours in the air later, we arrived at 6.45am in Paris. A little worse for wear after 24 hours flying, and yet we managed to hide the fear and smile for our host families. What a long 24 hours.
27th January, 2009: My first day at school. Thanks to Zoe, the American living in my town (Béthune), it wasn't all that hard. I remember going to the library the first day and meeting Adeline, and Maryll, asking them their names, and them not understanding me. Great start there, Alice. But hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Overall my first day at school was not too bad. I had French too, and the teacher asked me to say a phrase "Je vous suivre". My French was not too good, and I embarrassed myself, but what else is new?
4th February, 2009: Another exchange student came to our class, bringing the total up to 4, including me. Her name is Marina and she is Brazilian. Our class is so multicultural. We have me, an Australian, Marina the Brazilian, Zoe the American and Nist, from Thailand. Marina and I immediately became friends and not only because we arrived within a week of each other. It's one of those friendships where we just "click".
8th February, 2009: I take a day trip into Belgium with my host Dad and brother. We went to Ypres, which is near the border, under the guise of sightseeing, but I know they went to buy cheap beer. It was too bad we went on a Sunday ad everything was closed. We did manage to buy a kilo of Belgian chocolates, though, and they were devoured in 3 or so days.
14-15th February, 2009: My first Rotary weekend in St Omer. It was the time where I met the other 42 exchange students in my district, and boy, are they a good lot. We stayed in a school for the weekend, sleeping in the gym. The afternoon we spent getting to know one another and the "oldies" presented their countries. That night we went out for dinner at about 11ish, and then when we got back, started a dance party in the gym. That was when some people decided to catch some sleep, but me, Hoani (NZ), Kaitlynn and Sam (both USA) decided to stay in the gym and talk. So Hoani and I, both being newbies, got told everything that had happened in the 6 months that the oldies had been there for. And now we are all caught up on the gossip. It was a really good thing, because I made some really good friends. At 7am we decided to go back to where everyone was and pretend to sleep until 8, which was when breakfast was. That Sunday we went to La Coupole, a WWII museum in St Omer and a former Nazi rocket launching base. It was pretty interesting, but mainly we just talked and got to know each other better. Then that afternoon we all said our goodbyes and went back with our host families.
20-22nd February, 2009: The weekend of L'enduro, a big motorbike race on the beach of Le Touquet. My host family has a house in Le Touquet so we went for the three days, and filled the house with family, and friends of the family. The race was good, it completely transformed the beach, but it was also a good time to learn more about my host family and meet new people. It was my first time in Le Touquet, and now it is my favourite beach in Nord-Pas-De-Calais.
25th February, 2009: I saw the movie LOL at the movies. This is only significant because the movie is called LOL and when asked, the French don't actually know what LOL stands for.
9th March, 2009: Changed host families, one and a half months early. I still don't know the reason today, but I think it's because my host family all had exams and didn't need the added pressure of having an exchange student in the house too. It's a shame, but still it's OK because I'm going to Corsica with them in July. BUT my new family, well let's just say we had a major clash of opinions and I only lasted 3 weeks with them before I asked to change again.
18-23rd March, 2009: JRJ Toulouse. It was a big conference in the south of France for all the exchange students in the country. Because my district is in the very north of France, bordering Belgium, my district decided to team up with the other district based in Lille and the 2 Paris districts in doing a mini bus trip around France and making a 3 day weekend into a weeklong tour. The first day we picked up all the exchange students and went to Versailles, a few other chateau's and saw a water and light show at Futuroscope, in Pointiers. The 2nd day we spent at Futuroscope, a virtual theme park, which was so fun, and then travelled down to our next hotel. Friday was spent traversing France to get to Toulouse, where we arrived and had our welcome dinner. That welcome dinner was amazing. When you put 450 exchange students together, the energy in that room is incredible. The Aussies all started and "Aussie, Aussie. Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" chant, the Americans hoisted Casey (a guy who has a strinking resemblance to Obama) and chanted "Yes we can!" The Mexicans chanted and other things involving Sombreros and the Brazilians started one massive conga-line. We didn't get much sleep that night, or the whole week really. We had the whole hotel to us exchange students and we ended up partying in the halls. Saturday was spent at a conference (but thanks to our bus driver, our district arrived 2 hours late) and then we all got split up into different groups to see other things the town of Toulouse had to offer. I went to "Le cite de l'espace" and learnt all about space travel. Ha, not really the learning part. I wasn't really paying attention. That night was a formal dinner and all the different districts performed a short act for everyone else. We also went crazy and patriotic singing our national anthems, and tasting Fois Gras. Sunday was a long day, as we spent it driving to the Pyranees mountains, which we slept in a backpackers hostel there for the night. The good thing about that hostel was that they had a bar complete with Guitar Hero, and ping-pong, and table soccer. So we were entertained until midnight, which was when the bar closed and we had to go back to our rooms. Well, not necessarily ours. Some of us merged into a 2 sleeper room and spent the night chatting, while others went to the rooms underground and partied, and others still had deep and meaningful discussions. I was in the 2 person room, and yeah, with 15 or so people it got a little squishy. So we piled out into a hall and some people taught us to Salsa. Well hello fun. We went to sleep around 3 that night and had to be up, breakfasted and on the bus by 8.30 the next morning for a long, last day. And a long, last day it was. After dropping the Paris people off, we all finally arrived in Lille at 9pm. With only a stop for lunch and one sightseeing stop - to see a bridge - we had been sitting on that bus for what seemed like forever. But that was Toulouse for you. It has become one of my favourite weeks in France, if not THE favourite week in France, so far. I have made so many more friends, and have so many more badges and pins on my vest now that it's crazy. Toulouse will be one of those weeks I will never forget.
31st March, 2009: My first concert in France. Me and 18 other exchange students all went to the Jason Mraz concert in Lille, and we had such a good time. Marina and I even skipped the afternoon off school (we got caught later) to get to Lille early and have a bit of fun beforehand. The concert was amazing. Us exchange students were the only ones dancing though, but it was ok with us, we didn't really care. It was such a fun concert, and the time spent together was great, too.
10-13th April, 2009: Easter at Le Touquet. Not very traditional. Saturday and Sunday night were spent going clubbing with other exchange students (my first time) and the days were spent out on the beach, or with other teens, be it friends of my host sister, or other exchange students. But it is up there for one of my top Easters, ever.
14th April, 2009: Change host families. After 5 horrendous weeks, I changed and all my happiness was restored. My new family is amazing, and I am treated like a real family member, not some stranger, intruding. The house is so cool too. It was built in 1577 and is the oldest house in my town. Pretty cool huh?
25th April, 2009: ANZAC Day. After getting about 2 hours of sleep at my councellors house, Kate and Hoani (New Zealanders) as well as me, staggered up at 3am to get to Villers Bretteneux in the Somme by 4.30am. Despite the early morning, and almost freezing to death, the ceremony was amazing. Being surrounded by that many Aussies really made me miss home - and our accent. It was really moving to be at the site of battle, on exchange, and made me proud to be Australian. Afterwards we had breakfast with the soldiers and family, and took part in a parade. We then went to about 5 other war memorials, and by 5pm I was buggered. ANZAC day in France was yet another experience I won't forget.
9-10th May, 2009: A bunch of us exchange students went clubbing in Noeux-Les-Mines. It was really fun, and the club we went to was a lot bigger than the one in Le Touquet. We all got ready together, and walked the hour and a half to the club together, and danced together, and had fun together. I think it's virtually proven that exchange students have the most fun anywhere.
11th May, 2009: Soccer in Lens. Lens vs Reims. My first match, and it was a really good one. Not in terms of the content of the game, but the supporters all went wild, and the crowd chanting together was so cool. I found out later that Lensois are renowned for being very loud, and rowdy at games. Yay for the team I chose to support. Haha. But yeah, for a first match, it was a good one.
16th May, 2009: District conference in Lille. Almost like another weekend, but only for one day. Pretty funny seeing as we went for the whole day, but were only needed over the course of maybe an hour. But it was really good catching up with everyone at once again. When we weren't needed we spent the time walking around Lille, in our Rotary blazers, dancing in the Grand Place and the fountain, or getting free hugs, or taking photos with men all dressed up because they were getting married soon. It was also organised that night that a bunch of us were going to go salsa-ing, but I couldn't because I had another party to go to. Boy, doesn't it suck to be overbooked? But that Saturday was a really good Saturday. Anytime with the other people in my district is always a lot of fun.
And that there has been a very short look into what I've been doing in France for these 4 odd months. Very short. But I hope you have had a little insight into my life here in France so far, and from now on I will keep you informed on everything that happens, when it happens. No more catch up emails or blogs. So watch this space.
I hope you have had as much fun reading about hwat I've been doing as I have had when I've been doing it.
Alice.
Comments
Well done!
Well done Precious, keep it going, love reading your adventures