Thursday 30/9

It is after midnight again, proof of another very full day. Tomorrow Disneyland, so opportunities for the staff to update weblog with photos and students' quotes. For now a short summary of the day:
morning: rain, traffic jams in Paris, surreal experience in Paris' business centre La Defense, modernist architecture Arche, where we felt like Mr Bean, having taken the wrong taxi in Les vacances de Mr Bean
afternoon: sun, excellent lunch in Quartier Latin, metro to Louvre where overwhelmed by amount of art; saw Mona Lisa, Venus of Milo and head statue Easter Island
evening: picnic opposite to Moulin Rouge in Montmartre, lots of souvenirs shoppings and absolute highlight: great show by world famous theatre/percussion group Stomp in Casino de Paris; drink in Paris cafe to complete the day
Until tomorrow.

some photos

Before we upload some photos, I'd like to thank you for your encouraging comments: it is a joint experience like this and it feels good you are interested.

Wednesday 29/9

After midnight, but never mind. Just arrived close to Disneyland Paris, Hotel Kyriad. Day started with an example of the organizational skills of the group: all luggage in bus on time + students being helpful to load the coach, all keys delivered at reception, no prompting needed, everybody ready for breakfast on time: this group takes responsibility! There we went to a traditional French market in Matignon: excellent quality food like the best fruits and vegetables (e.g. heaps of fresh green artichokes) or seafood that is still alive, because the French take special pride in fresh. The students were impressed. After that a coastal walk at Port Cast: beautiful Atlantic coastline, fresh seabreeze and magnificent light. On our way to Le Mans we watched Les vacances de Mr Bean, mainly for laughs, but also as a preparation to our Paris visit. In Le Mans warm lunch and shoppings in a hypermarket = 20 times Shoprite + Game combined. And then we took the TGV to Paris, comfortably travelling at 250 kms an hour. In Paris grouping in order not to get lost in the metro, which of course did not happen, but in stead of that another cosmopolitan experience. Final station: Eiffel Tower. We had a picnic right next to the most visited touristic site in the world. Our students enjoyed themselves playing all sorts of games, of which rules were altered constantly. 7.30 p.m. we started ascending (by lift) and as we reached the top it was already getting dark: a fairytale like view of the city of light and fortunately no sudden attacks of vertigo amongst the students. Late arrival at the hotel. First surprise tomorrow: breakfast at 9! Tomorrow we'll post some students' quotes and photos again, sorry for the delay. Let me end with one, Megan's: "I don't want this trip to end, can this trip please go on and on?" Last news: we found ourselves in the newspaper Ouest France on page 5 + photo: BMIS world famous in the West of France!

Tuesday 28/9

Wow, what a fantastic day! Morning and sun shone gloriously. Up to Jugon des Lacs where group split up in 3: some sailors, some canoers and some archery lovers. The atmosphere at the lake was magical. Lunch and there we went to a "lycee" = more or less sixth form, where we were welcomed warmly, not only by staff and students, but also by journalists of 2 newspapers; it is not every day that this region is visited by a school from Africa. Our students had a questionnaire and asked a lot of questions in French to find out more about the French school system, similarities and differences with BMIS. I am so proud of our students who proved to be real inquirers. It was hard to seperate them from their French friends. MFL section will set up a correspondence project with this school. We spent much more time at the school than anticipated, so we had to squeeze in the St Malo aquarium tour: learning more about sharks and piranhas, and last but not least: a dive in a sort of submarine. Everybody was so excited. In beautiful St Malo we all had a delicious French pancake, a "crepe", I pronounced wrongly as crap. Students filled out a survey in French and ordered in French and asked to go to the bathroom in French. Dinner back in the hotel with another primeur: snails! We hadn't told the students, most of whom liked the delicacy. And now -almost midnight, so no photos and student quotes today, sorry for that, but we teachers need some sleep too- we just got back from the bowling centre in Dinan, having had a great time, also playing other games like pool billiard, guitar battle and miniature basketball. This fantastic group of young people is so well capable of having a good time!

Monday 27/9

Another very full and special day. Got up at 7 today, heavy rains. French = delicious breakfast at 8, some money issues sorted and there we went to Arromanches, D-Day museum: interesting to see historic traces from a heroic past. Then another D-Day: 1066, William defeats Harold and introduces "French" in England, in other words: we went to the Bayeux Tapestry, a beautiful medieval 'comic strip'. Picnic somewhere and then the very impressive American war cemetery under the guidance of a skilled story teller with truly interesting information about world war 2. On to Mont Saint Michel, an island off the Brittany coast, 3rd most popular tourist attraction in France. We will be visiting nummer 1 and 2, Eiffel Tower and Eurodisney. We are now in Plancoet where we had dinner + kids to bed. Kids who are behaving exemplarily, at the cemetery, in the hotel, in the bus. Some of their impressions:

"There are so many cows here!" Lois

"I can't believe how big the Eiffel Tower is!", "I tried camemebert for the first time and although I didn't like it, I'm glad I tried it." Amaar

"I'm not sure if I like the type of French weather we are experiencing!" Emmanuel

"Do we HAVE to leave France?" Karthick

"So far this trip is the best. I wish it would last forever!"
"The meaning of 'D-day' is an Allied code name for the day of the operation" Yonas

"My Grandad fought in World War 2. he was one of the men who anded on the beaches of Normandy." Courtney

"Flying 'Business Class' was very comfortable and the food was delicious!" Michael (btw he got BUMPED at LLW!)

"The beach [British D-day landing beach 'Gold'] was amazing despite the clouds and the wind. The smell was refreshing. I loved posing in front of something that survived D-day!" Ruva

"We visited some beautiful French vilages. French people are very friendly. They don't stare at you like they do in Africa!", "The food is delicious even though it's not as spicey as I'm used to!" Vishrut

"Mr Snieder has organised a fantastic trip. we are all having fun." "The studnts are perfectly behaved and we have already recieved comments from other tourists about how wonderful they are. Go BMIS!" Miss Bennett

"Yesterday on the Seine boat trip I made a wish under the "Lovers' Bridge." According to the audio guide we had, this wish should come tue within a year!" Hugo

"I'm having a wonderful time. I'm really enjoying being with my friends. The hotel was very comfortable and the food delicious!" Emma

"I'm enjoying everything about being in France. The atmosphere is great. Some of the places we have visited have been so inspirational!" Megan

Visit the blog again tomorrow for more news, pictures and quotes!

First days

It seems like only yesterday that we were by the bus at BMIS. Of course that's because it was ONLY YESTERDAY! All the more amazing then that we have already, so far, flown to France, driven into Paris Montmartre for 'le petit dejeuner', viewed the Eiffel Tower, taken a boat tour of famous sights from the Seine, driven to Normandy, visited the birth place of the famous camembert cheese (and tasted it by the way), driven to Bayeux through beautiful French countryside, checked in to our first hotel and eaten a delicious three course meal in a traditional French restaurant! Phew - and guess what; all is now very quiet at Hotel Le Bayeux!

We are very pleased to report a problem free trip (all bags arrived and all flights were on time!)

We'll try to upload a few more pictures from the 300+ we've taken so far (not including the children's own efforts!)

Arrived on time

Safe and sound in Paris. All passports through. Everybody happy! Weather cold.

Info Friday 24/9

Dear parents/guardians,

Today we had a last break meeting before the trip with practically all students:
*bring warm clothes and rain proof clothes to French autumn
*thank you for passports; don't forget pocket money tomorrow
*lunch will be provided tomorrow
*tomorrow: be in school on time = 9.00 a.m.
*there will be 2 buses leaving for the airport: 1 with 2 groups of Miss Taylor and Mr Knight, other with 2 groups of Miss Bennett and Mr Snieder
*shirts: were handed out to wear immediately + do wear them tomorrow also!
*in addition to programme: visit Sea Aquarium St Malo

Hope to see you tomorrow in school,

Willem Snieder.

Final letter parents before lift off

Lilongwe, 22nd September 2010



Dear parents/guardians,

In a few days we will leave for beautiful France, time for some final information:

*transport: we will leave BMIS (car park next to hall) by school bus Saturday 25th September 10 a.m. sharp and would like you to say goodbye to your children at school; please do not come to the airport in order not to confuse students and arrangements; Saturday 2nd October we will be back in school 4 p.m., please come to school to collect your child; in case of delay we will post that on our weblog; if you wish you could call the airport
*luggage: make sure all appropriate luggage is in your son/daughter’s suitcase; for a clothing list please check weblog; please anticipate on autumn conditions = chilly and wet; although the allowance is 2 pieces of 23 kgs max, we would strongly recommend you to use 1 piece of 20 kgs as a guideline + maybe have a spare bag to transport all the souvenirs your children will buy for you
*information:if you have additional questions, please consult www.bmisgoesfrench2010.blogspot.com first; furthermore: all chaperones will be available 9.00 a.m. onwards this Saturday to answer to your questions; in France we will update the weblog every night, so you will be informed about your son’s/daughter’s activities + photos on a daily basis; mobile phones and e-mailing are not allowed for all sorts of reasons; only in the case of an emergency you can contact me through our Head Teacher Mr. Paul Harrison: 0999785466
*passports: have your child bring in her/his passport Thursday 23rd September: we will triple check all details, visas, TEP’s etc., but it remains the responsibility of the parents to have everything sorted; we will keep the passports in a safe place so we can do a group check-in (no pointed/sharp objects and liquids in the handluggage please) at the airport; the chaperones will take care of the passports during the duration of the trip
* pocket money: please place the pocket money in an envelope (guideline 150 euros) and write on it the amount of pocket money + name student on Saturday: staff will take care of the administration of the pocket money in order to avoid losing and spending too much money
*medicines: please make sure your child knows what medicine to take, when, how and do not forget to pack it; we do have a list of all needed medicines, together with dietary requirements and it is all taken care of
*valuables: are taken at own risk for the simple reason that we won’t have time to spend at police stations finding out abut lost/stolen items
*import tax: anticipate upon paying import tax on newly bought items as soon as we are back in Lilongwe; have your child keep receipts and cut away wrapping paper
*missed classes: will have to be caught up at responsibility students
*latest itinerary:
Sunday: Montmartre, Seine boat trip, Camembert museum, Bayeux tapestry
Monday: D Day landing beaches and war museum Arromanches, , American cemetery Colville, Mont St Michel
Tuesday: sailing/canoeing/archery Jugon les Lacs, school visit Dinan, bowling Dinan
Wednesday: Matignon market, St Malo + culinary surprise, Auchan hypermarket, TGV to Paris, Eiffel Tower to the top
Thursday: Mona Lisa, Centre Pompidou, Père Lachaise, Arche de la Défense, surprise live show
Friday: Eurodisney
*extra 1st break meetings students: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th September

Thank you very much for your cooperation and we hope to see you this Saturday.

Very much looking forward to have a fantastic time in France with a fantastic group of young people,
also on behalf of the rest of the crew: Anne Taylor, Stacey Bennett and Tom Knight,



Willem Snieder, trip coordinator

15 September meeting students

Summary 1st break meeting Wednesday 15th September:
*register: everybody was in, well done!
*Forex: in spite of the copy of the air ticket that was handed out, not all banks issue euros; other options:
try other bank, try Forex bureau; we will be on a tight schedule, exchanging dollars against euros might take too much time, especially for 40 students and 4 teachers
*spelling mistakes on air tickets have been sent to Ethiopian Airlines: no problems + new tickets won't be issued
*new and on top of our initial itinerary: visit Camembert museum + tasting, lift ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower, visit Bayeux Tapestry, secondary school visit Dinan, Matignon market visit
*rooming: students came up with preferences as to with whom to share a room
*in France weblog will be updated every night with all sorts of information about the trip, the activities, the weather, the food etc. etc. + photos of course, so check out the blog every day
*next week there will be letter with all sorts of final, practical information; in the meantime: make sure that all passports are valid, contain a visa whenever necessary and allow to fly back into Malawi (TEP, permanent residence etc.); this is the responsibility of the parents
*next meeting students: Wednesday 22/9 10.05-10.30 in S5
*wow! the trip is quickly approaching! we all look so much forward to going!

8 September meeting

Summary 1st break meeting Wednesday 8th September:
*register (6 students did not show up, of whom 4 had forgotten; please remind your son/daughter of Wednesday meeting, 1st break, S5)
*thank you for paying all instalments
*visas: please contact German Embassy asap, before it might be too late; if you are on time, a visa will be issued without any problem after having filled out correctly the application form + valid passport + passport photo
*students chose between archery, sailing and canoeing as a sports activity; please take appropriate clothing that may become wet
*malaria: do as much as you can to prevent getting ill (sleep under net, use repellent etc.), which not only would affect the patient, but also the rest of the group/trip
*forex letter: last Friday I sent them out, but apparently not every trip goer had got them; at 2nd break I had new ones copied; you’ll need them as a support letter for the bank if you buy euros; using a bank card in France is another option, but you must make sure that the card works abroad; there are millions of ATMs in France
*next meeting: Wednesday 15th September, 10.05 in Room S5, when we will decide about rooming
WRITE DOWN IN YOUR STUDENT PLANNER, STUDENTS, IF YOU TEND TO FORGET

Support letter Forex

Lilongwe, 2nd September 2010


Re: French study trip BISHOP MACKENZIE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Dear Madam/Sir,

I hereby let you know that BMIS teachers are organizing an educational school journey 25th September – 2nd October 2010. There are 40 students involved and 4 teachers/chaperones. Trip coordinator is Mr Willem Snieder, Head of Foreign Languages (w.snieder@bmismw.com, tel. 01756364) Subjects that will be studied are French, geography and history.

May I ask you to provide the necessary support as it comes to obtaining Forex for the students who need it?

Thank you very much in advance.

Yours sincerely,



Peter Todd

Director BMIS.

1st September letter

Lilongwe, 1st September 2010



Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are busy finalizing our trip preparations, as we are approaching our spectacular stay in beautiful France. I hereby send you a few updates to keep you well informed:

*A big thank you to your children who participated very enthusiastically in last week’s training afternoon.
*A big thank you to yourselves for having paid the last instalment and if you have not done so, please do it today or tomorrow in order not to delay payments to air carrier, travel agent etc. Thank you in advance.
*For those parents whose children still need a visa. After having done all the preparatory work at the German Embassy I would like to request you to go and pick up the visas yourself at the embassy in order to avoid misunderstandings. In some cases there is information missing at the application forms that needs to be added by you at the spot in order to obtain the visa. It is the responsibility of the parents to get the visas on time. The German Embassy’s opening times are:
Mondays- Fridays 8-11 a.m.
Tel. 01772555
The German Embassy knows about our trip, is very service minded, the visas will be issued and they are for free
*Please remind your son or daughter to come to classroom S5 every Wednesday 1st break.
*Mr Knight is arranging for the very special trip t-shirts, beautifully designed by one of the participants in the trip, Heather Holtz.
*We welcome Mrs Taylor and Ms Bennett who are our 2 new chaperones; Mrs Welch will not go on the trip.

Please read our weblog every now and then to read about the latest news:

WWW.BMISGOESFRENCH2010.BLOGSPOT.COM

I do my best to update the weblog every week, answering your or your children’s questions. In school I am of course available, please contact me through the secondary secretary Miss Mjuweni.

Kind regards,

Willem A. Snieder,
Trip coordinator

support letter for forex

Dear parents,
One parent kindly reminded me of the need to show a support letter while obtaining euros for your son/daughter. I will give out the signed letters tomorrow at Register.
Kind regards,
Willem Snieder.