It's hard to believe it's three years since Nayland College's last trip to France. That trip for 3 weeks in 2009 was such a great experience and the feedback was so positive that I was encouraged by some very persistent students to do it again. New Caledonia, individual exchanges and leaving it for a gap year later on were just not options in their minds. So, after two years of planning, preparation and fundraising, here we are again with only 3 weeks to go before we set off for France.


We will be a group of 15 students and two teachers, and will be seeing quite a lot of this country we have been studying for some years and about which we have heard so much. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, pretty Provençal villages, the Mediterranean at Nice, the red carpet at Cannes, Ferraris in Monte Carlo, Anzac commemorations in Le Quesnoy. All are in our itinerary. We will also be staying a week in La Rochelle with host families organised by Eric Payet from the Collège Jean Guiton.
Students have been saving hard over the past two years. Most have been involved in group fundraising activities: cooking sausages at school and outside Mitre 10, washing cars (although on one day it rained so hard that no extra water was needed!) and running a very successful quiz night. We have also managed to obtain some funds from the New Zealand/France Friendship Fund to help us on our way. Students have worked after school at the supermarket, in shops, collecting and chopping firewood and babysitting.

So, finally, here we are, almost ready to leave. On Mondays and Fridays during interval, we are learning a haka and a few waiata to perform to various audiences in France, and we are in the process of having our smart black NZ hoodies made which will distinguish us as Kiwis. Already, we are becoming aware of our role as ambassadors not just for Nayland College but also for Nelson and New Zealand.

Our last major event before leaving was a pot-luck dinner last Friday at the Sutton/Bromell household (thanks to all of you!) where everyone was able to get together on an informal basis. We also watched a DVD about Le Quesnoy and took our first, but probably not our last, group photo to post here! Now the countdown really begins!!