Chateau Beaumont 2009

Well, we thought going in June would mean good weather! The good news is that it improved during the week!

Sunday night/Monday

We left at midnight from school in a beautiful coach and reached Portsmouth, ready to go straight onto the Sea Cat express ferry to Cherbourg.  Three hours later we arrived and headed directly to Arromanches.  Arriving there directly after the weekend of the D-Day Remembrance celebrations gave us a wonderful experience.  Having visited the 360^o cinema, which brought a much greater understanding of what happened on D Day to a group who hadn’t yet had the opportunity to learn about it in history, we headed into the village.  What an atmosphere! The enthusiasts had not yet left with their jeeps and there were people everywhere!

We left and installed ourselves at the Chateau where our group familiarised itself with the surroundings via a French treasure hunt.

Tuesday

We followed the same itinerary as last year – the market to buy lunch, the refuge and the chocolate factory.

The evening saw the blind date game.

Wednesday

A lovely (but wet) morning at Mont St Michel followed by an afternoon at the Goats Cheese Farm.  Our anima trice, Steph, organised our visit beautifully.  As a staff we were really impressed by the visit.  The pupils were delighted to realise that they could understand and the staff were delighted that they were delighted!

In the evening, we had our French Night – thoroughly enjoyed by all.  Some hated the snails and frogs legs, but others enjoyed making sure there were none left.  It just shows it’s all a matter of taste!

Thursday

A visit to a different Chateau this time, in the lovely town of Vitre, followed by activities in the afternoon and a talent show in the evening. We were impressed by some of the singing and stand-up comic routines produced by all 3 schools and very proud of all our performers.

Friday

Sadly we left the chateau behind, and made our way to Caen via Bayeux for a visit to the tapestry.  We had a walk in the Peace Gardens at the Caen Memorial before the long ferry journey home to Portsmouth.

Well done Year 7 on a very good trip.  Everyone was exhausted when we got back, pupils and teachers alike, but it was a very worthwhile week, where we felt everybody made progress in their French understanding and experienced the French culture!

Thank you also to the parents for your thanks, and thank you to our anima trice, Steph, and our driver, John.