On the morning of 21 May, a few excited Year 10 Sevenoaks pupils left Heathrow Airport, heading to Lyon. On the bus ride to the Les Chartreux school, there was a mixture of eager anticipation and mild apprehension in the air. Given that most of us had never been on an exchange before, we were unsure of what to expect; however, after meeting our exchanges for the first time, we slotted into life with our families seamlessly.
From playing board games and chatting together in the evenings to being served authentic French food, spending time with our host families was a fantastic way to improve our French language skills, immerse ourselves in the local culture and make new friends. We were also lucky enough to spend a long weekend with our generous families, which was a highlight of the trip for many.
Beyond the kindness of our host families, we spent the most of our days with our Sevenoaks classmates, taking part in school-organised activities. We went on two day trips, one to Dijon and the other to Annecy. In both of these towns, we were stunned by the intricate architecture and natural beauty. In Annecy, it was especially memorable spending time on the sunny beach by Lake Annecy, surrounded by the Alps. For the rest of our stay, we spent time in Lyon and enjoyed exploring the local area whilst learning lots about its history (especially the area’s historic role in the silk industry) on several tours. Along with visiting cathedrals with colourful stained-glass windows and breathtaking vasilicas, my favourite visit was one to the Cinema and Miniature Museum (where we saw the actual Batmobile, among many other original sets and props from famous films). We also enjoyed shopping for local delicacies like praline brioche (and some delicious ice cream) and more adventurous activities like rock climbing.
As a whole, the trip was an invaluable experience – with the perfect balance of improving our French, learning about local customs and making unforgettable memories. We also look forward to welcoming our exchanges to Sevenoaks shortly.
I highly recommend the trip to anyone studying languages and guarantee you will not only significantly improve your speaking confidence and fluency but will also find it a fun and insightful experience.
Many thanks to the teachers who supported us on the trip and made our stay so wonderful.
Lily, Year 10
