FRENCH EXCHANGE TO BROCHON October 2007

This year’s eventful start to the Exchange led some to worry it may be a sign of things to come. However, despite the four-hour delay at a French service station waiting for the driver to find his keys, everyone’s spirits managed to stay high.

Even the gendarmes couldn’t find them!

(The keys were found a few weeks later, on the grass near where the coach had been parked, by an English lorry driver who repatriated them to Eddie Brown Tours)

This left the forty of us (and hopefully the teachers) thinking that this year’s trip would be undoubtedly enjoyable. The only factor that was possibly set to dampen spirits was the looming Rugby World Cup final, England vs. South Africa. This was not necessarily due to the prospect of losing as, lets face it, England were never expected to win, but more to do with the taunting from the French that would ensue, having beaten them a week earlier. However, luckily for us there were no rugby fanatics among our French correspondents at Brochon so all was fine. In fact it was the volleyball match that was taken more seriously - that too turned out to be an English victory.

The senior winners!

Every exchange is filled with cultural visits and trips during the day, boring they may sound but they usually turn out to be rather fun. As always there was a visit to the Citadelle at Besançon where you can walk along the ramparts, visit the museum or tour the zoo, where most of the animals tend to be of the monkey variety. (Apart from the tigers, lions, fishes, insects, etc etc! CAH) The only issue concerning this trip is the actual walk up to the Citadelle, as it is very steep. Mr Hodsdon usually advises us to wear ‘comfortable’ and ‘sturdy’ shoes. However, the keenest rower among us proved him wrong and put us all to shame by running all the way to the top in heels; a feat no one, to my knowledge, has achieved before.

The rower in question – with friend!

Just to keep us happy the afternoon was dedicated to a couple of hours shopping or (as the Brochon lot did) spending the time sampling food from patisseries and chocolateries in each town we visited.

This year’s least favourite experience was most probably the cheese factory. Interesting as it was, those with a dislike for cheese (seemingly many on the exchange) found themselves overwhelmed by the smell and therefore unable to appear enthused. What would any trip to France be without experiencing their oh-so-famous fromage?

On top of this, the week consisted of visits to chateaux, vineyards, caves, a cassisium and, of course, half a day in the Toison d’Or to indulge in a bit of retail therapy.

The Cassisium seems more popular than the cheese factory!

It is safe to say that the ten days we spent in France offered every person on the trip a wide variety of experiences, but for most others I have spoken to the most valuable was having to live with a French family for the duration of this period. Each of the families was different, therefore none of us left having experienced the same thing, making it extremely worthwhile. Although the prospect of staying with an unknown family can be daunting at first, after a couple of days the 11 of us at Brochon were having a fabulous time. Each of us definitely came away having improved our French, having a new appreciation for the French culture and possibly having gained a few pounds courtesy of the French food.

Alex Ashworth

As this is the last Exchange Alex will do, I would like to add a word of thanks to both Alex, and her sister Kate, for their support for the Exchanges over the years. Between them they have participated in just about every trip they could. Kate’s first Exchange was when she was in J5 in 2000. (CAH)