1982 BGGS Magazine

FRENCH REPORT Oh Ia Ia! Crepes Suzettes et Jes Frogs Legs! lei en France, nous avons une vacance fanta stique, mais notre francais n'es t pas si bien. Translated, that means we' re having an unreal time, but our French isn't the best. For the benefit of those who've never touched on this fine language· (and perhaps for those who have), I' ll continue in Anglais. With our aims of absor- bing French culture and practising French we (Mrs Thorn- quist , Helen Wordsworth , Becky Fielding, Ann Sharp, Ann Orford and Sue Wilkinson), started here in Paris, and after a couple of days began our southern tour. We've seen numerous cities, chosen for their points of historicql and cultural interest: notably Marseille, Nice, where we sifaked up the sun on the Cote d' Azur, and beautiful Grenoble in the Alps. There, we skipped through the hills, picked buttercups and generally fell in with the Sound of Music atmosphere. The fortnight we've spent crossing the south has been an ex- citing and alive experience in a country full of character and diverse beauty . It was pleasing, however, to reach Paris once more and know that a succession of sweltering journeys in trains with malfunctioning air-conditioning was behind us . The quiet day of July 14th belied the excitement of the evening, when huge - crowds flocked to the Champs Elysees and numerous bridges along the Seine at about lO p.m. to view the Bastille Day parade. Our midnight cruise along the Seine showed us the night spectacle of a truly beautiful city. Language wise we feel we've progressed unbelievably and have .been able_to confidently order meals, buy clothes and shoes, and ask for essentials like the toilet or hotel room keys. French cuisine is delicious, especi a lly when it's sampled in an open air cafe while the world is walking by. Most memorable, perhaps, are the ice creams and the eye catching, mouth watering patisserie - almost as tantalising as the French men! and in summer when it doesn't darken untillO p.m. we've had hours for sightseeing, shopping, observing and absorbing. France, you've won us! We're leaving, but we'd come back any day!

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~ BONJOUAHH . .. 9 MES CHERIES Common t'allez tu? The Australian drawl may have rung thick and fast on the first night of the French camp, but I can assure you that by the end of two days intensive French speaking and eating, we were fully fledged French speakers and gourmets - well, presque. Actually it was rather a matter of speak or starve, for how else was one able to ask for the butter and jam for one's croissant if the teachers were deaf to English? Truthfully, however, I must admit I arrived at Camp Warrawee on Friday night with mixed feelings and the foreboding thought of ' parlaying francais'. After several hours of settling in, I soon immersed myself, as did the other students, in French songs, games, quizes, plays, literature and food; how could, one forget the patisseries, oh Ia Ia?! Everybody had une fantastique time and it was great to unwind from the pressure of school. I hate to think of the level we descended to, mais, rest assured, we Grammar girls held the badge aloft and were able to show the other students how to flip a crepe or two and sing a French song, thanks to Mrs Spykerboer. A special kind of camaraderie developed between us and the teachers that week-end, and the tears on our cheeks as we sang Chant des adieux Faut il nous quitter sans espour Sans espour de retour? were genuine. For many of us it was our last French Camp. I hope more girls will go on the camp when they reach Grades II and 12 and experience the same elation as we did when we involved ourselves for a brief period in another culture. A Ia prochaine, Cindy C. 12L

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