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!