Before the February half term holiday 35 French students and 3 teachers arrived in college for the first part of the French Exchange 2010. This is the 19th year that an exchange has taken place with the same college, lycée de Lattre de Tassigny in La Roche sur Yon.

All the students and staff were taken home by their English partners and introduced to their families and for the next week they experienced various aspects of English life, visiting the Beatles and Maritime museums in Liverpool, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester and Lancaster castle. They spent the weekend “en famille” and many were able to try such English delicacies as fish and chips, bacon and egg or the Sunday roast as well as going on shopping expeditions, visits to the cinema or ice skating. The French students also spent at day at Carmel where they were able to see for themselves the differences between an English and French college.

At the end of the week all the French students without exception expressed their gratitude to the English host families for their welcome. The experience was an enjoyable and successful one and the return “leg” is later this month when we look forward to renewing our friendships. Watch this space for news of how Carmel students got on in France!