1997 School Magazine

@iris @rammar ~cbool ~rtsbane 1997 ---------•

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~ The French Study Trip 1996/97

O n Boxing Day, 1996, an excited group of twenty-one students from Years 11 and 10, accompanied by French teachers Madame Duff and Madame Lazar and an animated French-speaking four-year-old, gathered at Brisbane Interna- tional Airport to begin the eagerly awaited EGGS French Study

with the warmth of the Canteen, the vending machine and the telephone-box outside. In the first dark hours of the mornings we headed off to English classes, and as our French improved , to other subjects such as Religion, Philosophy, French and Biology. After morning classes, many of us went into town for

Trip. Forty hours later, after an exhausting flight via Hong Kong to Paris, we finally arrived by TGV in Angouleme, in South- West France . Cold, cul- ture-shocked, tired and filled with anxiety and excitement, we were met and whisked away by our host families, having ar- ranged to meet each other at "la Cantine", Lycee Saint Paul in ten days time when school resumed. During the New Year break, some girls were fortunate to go skiing in the Pyrenees, some vis- ited the region ofCharente and its beautiful, historic

crepes and pastries and to converse with the shop owners. As French stu- dents are free to leave the school during the ninety minute lunch break, the cafes and shops are inu n- dated by the local stu- dent population, particu- larly on Wednesdays when classes finish at midday. Despite being so rug- ged up that we felt like "bonhommes de neige", people were able to iden- tify us as foreigners at any distance. One could often see little boys and girls looking at us in- credulously through the

THE TOUR GROUP

Sta11di11g (L-R): F. Lazar, R. Gray, j. Vincent, E. Hanison, K. Davies, L. Phillips-Ryan, V. Stewart, E. Lane, G. Roberts, L. Marshall, Mrs L. Lazar Seated (L-R): JvI. Hickey, A. Nielson, K. Buckle, A. Moles, G. Taylo1; C. Gobe, R. W"u, K. W"ensley, D. Lauritz, Z. Yule Abse11t: Mrs F. Duff, K. Beem

castles and monuments, others explored the town ofAngouleme and its cafes, and we all got to know our host families better. We found it necessary to improve and utilise our classroom French, and tune our ears into the rapid French language for sheer survival. This was the time for learning new expressions and vocabulary, and because we had limited chances to speak English, it proved to be a most beneficial and educational time for all. New Year's Eve was a highlight for most Australians, as we attended parties, ate , danced and practised the "continental French kiss" at midnight. The weekend after New Year was equally exciting as it actually snowed in Angouleme, with France experiencing its coldest winter for eight years! Some girls had enough snow in their backyards to build a snowman and we all enjoyed seeing the town covered in white. Being able to walk through the town centre without constantly slipping on the "verglas" was a challenge in itself. Two days later, most of the snow had disappeared although footpaths remained icy and slippery enough to skate on for about a week. Before long, we found ourselves starting school with our "correspondants". The bare and cold classrooms represented a different approach to schooling, but all Australians were delighted to be back in the company of those who really could "shpeek Eenglish"! Saint Paul is a co-ed private Catholic School for students aged between five and eighteen years of age. Classes begin at eight in the morning, when it is still pitch dark outside in the winter months and often don't finish until 5:30. Therefore , all the Australians soon became well acquainted

classroom and shop windows, as if we had a tail and a pouch like kangaroos . Others would try their English on us, or try to impress us by informing us that the capital of Australia is Sydney. All in all, we found the French, our host families and the teachers and students at the Lycee extremely hospitable and encouraging in our efforts to communicate in French.

Le Chateau la Roche Courbon

The organised excursions around the Charente and Dor- dogne regions were much enjoyed by all . Visiting ancient chateaux, complete with ve1y informative French guides, dining in restaurants, sampling such regional specialities as "la raie" -

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