Nottingham High School
4th April 2012
Our last full day began as usual with a morning of lessons. After a long lunch break we all decided to go to "Le Musée Fabre", an art museum, which is quite well known not only in France, but in Europe. This was a fantastic use of our spare time, since it allowed us to discover more about the past and about culture. We then had a moment to attend our last minute needs, since this was the last time that we could properly go shopping.
The day was to be concluded by a bowling session at "Bowling de Montpellier", which is located near the "Antigone". We travelled there by tram, which some of us experienced for the first time after arrival in France. We had a chance to see different areas of the city, including a set of buildings, which were part of the biggest construction site in Europe at the time.
The bowling was a very good conclusion to a very good trip. None of the teachers won, making it all the more reason for us to enjoy it!
We returned to the "Place de la Comédie" at approximately 18:30.
After breakfast with our host families, we met up outside the language centre and, after a late arrival from Conor, marched off for our second session with Camille in which we debated the immiscibility of advertising into religious domains. Post language-sesh we returned to the LSF hub to have lunch and receive a briefing on today’s activity: Photomania. Our task was to take several demeaning photos of our group with various miscellanea around town, ranging from the relatively simple photo of the tram to the nigh-on impossible photo of us posing with un canon… unfortunately this turned out to be impossible. But it was an enjoyable experience nonetheless, with my particular highlight being the French police living up to stereotypes and demanding money for a photo with them.
Afterwards we had the particularly bizarre experience of watching an English film dubbed in French, in a French cinema – which charged exuberant amounts for pick-and-mix, verging on daylight robbery. We then returned to our respective families, eagerly awaiting the awkward dinner conversations typical of many French homes.
Alex Fowler and George Millington
We spent the morning getting better acquainted over breakfast with our respective families. We then took public transport in order to arrive at the language centre. We had lessons with Camille until 10.30, where we got a small break to explore the local food shops. We worked from 11 until 12.30 and then ate the pre-prepared lunch. The typically French baguettes were splendid. We spent a while bathing in the glorious rays (especially Connor), before we took a tour of the city; it was very informative. After the overly enthusiastic tour guide left us at 3.30, we roamed Montpellier seeking out the best French cuisine- above all ice-cream. We found a McDonalds and a Hargendaas. We also came upon a shopping centre with deceptive prices. At 6.30 we made our own ways back to our families and yet again it was back to the awkward dinner conversations. It is true to say however, our French did improve. A thoroughly useful day in the country of frogs and snails.
Ollie, Josh
Day 1
We set off from Nottingham High early in the morning at about half 6. Everyone was still practically asleep but secretly excited. The bus journey seemed to go on forever but many people slept for the duration as we were fortunate enough to be travelling on a luxurious mini bus. As we arrived at the airport we were disappointed to leave the glorious weather of England. We didn’t have long till our gate opened; everyone headed straight for McDonalds. When we found out which gate we were at we went straight there and we were encouraged by the number of other students heading to LSF. The flight went quickly until we realised that we were about to leave the group and live like a French student. There were some awkward moments when we met the host families but everyone seemed to get along all right. Some of us were lucky enough to go to the beach and some of us spent the evening at the families’ homes.
After a very cultural morning at the Reina Sofía Museum, we headed off to Sol, arguably Madrid's central hub, where the boys where given free time to do some shopping and get some lunch, providing them with ample opportunity to practise their Spanish in readiness for the oral exams, which are only three weeks away!
The afternoon saw us walking through old Madrid via Calle de las Huertas towards Santa Ana Square. We then strolled through Plaza Mayor and then on towards the Royal Palace, Spain's answer to Buckingham Palace. The weather was sunny and warm, despite gloomy weather forecasts which threatened rain and colder temperatures. That's Spain for you, never one to disappoint!
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