When we arrived in Colwin Bay after a very long travel with the coach , at 6.30 p.m, we have met Susane Marqua our host, for the first time. At the descent of the bus, Susane looked very friendly and happy to see us, We knew just whith the first look that she was a good personn. We went up in her car and we went to her house in the town center of Colwin Bay. Each in turn, we introduced ourself and she did the same. She told us she's a melting pot of a German, Italian, French and English women. We entered in her house, took possesion of our bedroom and installed our stuff on our bunk bed. She made us visit her small house and did recomandations. We ate at 7.30 p.m a plate of bolognese pasta, it was very lovely because she love cooking italians plates. This first dinner was really interesting because we spoke about a lot of things like the british's opinion of the french system, our family, her origins and hobbies. She learned to us English tipicals expresions (the expresions that we don't use in the euro class). She prepared us a hot chocolate for the dessert and we laught about the height of the welsh people. In fact, we were really tired of our long travel in the coach and in the ship so we decided to go sleeping at 10 p.m.

The next day morning, she woke up at 7 a.m with a terrified gadget music hung on the door “BE AWARE!” it was a horrible wake up because we were still tired! We ate a french breakfast with cereales and orange juice, and susane sped up to go to the meeting point at 8 a.m. When we went back to Colwyn Bay, after the Liverpool's visit, susane checked our hands it was really funny and suprising! In the car she proposed us to do a bowling this night, we accepted immediately, we were really excited ! Before the bowling party we ate pizzas prepared by “Susi”(We gave to Susanne this nickname just for fun). During the dinner she explained us his jobs and her lifestyle ; she work as a nurse, a “help person” for disabled person, and also a cooker of the restaurant of her only son.

At the evening, we went to bowling and Maxime won the match easely! That was quite funny because when we went back to home “Susi” decided to get one's own back on Maxime with the bowling game on the Wii! After that we went to sleep because we were so tired, but unfortunetly we were obliged to prepares our suitcases, we did that with many difficulties ;)...But just before to sleep we wrote a few words on a book to thanks Susi!

The next morning when we woke up, Susanne prepared us a typical english breakfast with bacon, cheese, ham...It was lovely! Just after that we finished to prepared our suitcases and we were ready to go in the english class in Colwyn Bay for the last day!

When we arrived to the school we sayed good bye to Susi, we were so happy to have spend those days with her but so sad too to say goodbye... We did a big hug to Susi before to leave her!!

We sincerely thanks Susanne a lot for all what she did for us during this fabulous week and we hope that it was a great moment for her!

Wales News       

An unforgetable week in Wales Families for  French Students !

During their journey in Wales to discover Welsh particular culture and to improve their english, French students from Clos Maire High school in Burgundy were warmly welcomed in their host familly at Colwyn Bay. They shared their lifes the evening after a day of interesting visits. Three of them have accepted to share their experience with Davies family by discribing each evening:

Sofia, Eloïse and Elisa

First Day

Eloïse :«I can remember both anxiety and exitation whereas we were waiting to meet the host familly in the bus after the day in Chester.» Elisa: "After a full day in Chester, with rain and wind, we finally met our families. I was so excited, but at the same time a little bit anxious, because I always had bad families when I went to United Kingdom younger». Sofia «We met our new host family: A woman and a man, around 45 y-o were waiting for us: Me, Elisa and Eloïse; They welcomed us and the man asked if we wanted help with ours suitcases. They came with two cars, one is owned by the woman and the other one was owned by the man. They introduced themself, their names were Karen and Marc. I went to Karen's car (which had only 2 seats) and Elisa and Eloïse went to Marc's car. Eloïse: «Elisa and me sat in Marc's car. He naturally began the conversation by asking us how was our travel, how much time we crossed the channel with the ferry and if we enjoyed Chester. He introduced us the city of Colwyn Bay and described and showed several places like a private school.»Elisa: «We spoke about Colwyn Bay's everyday life, and especially about the director of the private school, who has lots of properties in Colwyn Bay.» Eloïse: «Marc has lived in Colwyn Bay since his childhood. He likes this city but he didn't hide us that it was better before because it became to much touristic. He would like to buy a house in Chester with his wife Karen. Personnally, I think it's a great project for them because we met with my classmates a so pleasant medieval architecture in this city that we could forget a little bit the tiredness we had!»

Sofia talked to Karen in the car, Karen asked a lot of questions about Sofia's family and her hobbies. Sofia: «So, I returned the questions. Karen and Marc have two children but older enough to live elsewhere. They have a son and a daughter. Their son is currently studying at the university in Manchester, and her daughter works for Energy, the famous company. After that, Karen asked me if I like the cinema, and Karen said that she loved it a lot, and that she watched a lot of movies, and series (and one of it is french). Once arrived, they showed us our bedrooms. We had the choice: they suggested us 3 different bedrooms and she asked us where we prefered to sleep. So we chose, and after settling on, we spoke in the living room with our new families». Eloïse: «We visited their house before having dinner together and got to know better: Karen is an esthetician, she has her own beauty saloon in her house, and Mark is working in the building.» Elisa: «During the dinner, we talked with the couple, of many things, our hobbies, our studies...» Sofia: «They were very funny, Karen loves watching the famous tv reality «big brother» but Marc finds Big brother very stupid, so they were very funny when Karen replied «nooo it's not silly Marc, I love that!». and Marc said «oh come on, what's the goal of that!». Elisa: «"Big Brother", is a serie with celebrities in a house, it's the same as "Secret Story" in France». Sofia: «Karen talked to the other students she hosted. She had australians, Russian, Chinese and also French students. They told us little stories about their hosted's journeys. Karen and Marc have got a cat: Daisy. She is a big, big cat who does nothing all the day but eat. Karen and Marc said everytime «oooh daisy, you're lazy, lazy daisy». Eloïse: «Karen showed us how Daisy enjoyed going to a little box which had an opening to put her paws out and to try catching a toy which was hanging by a string and holding by Karen.» Sofia: «Karen showed us a map of Europe and asked us where Beaune was. So we showed her where it was. After showing ourlselves (in our private shower might I precised), we decided to go talking to them again or staying a little bit more with them to enjoy our trip as much as we could. So we went there, and we watched tv with them, and we laughed a lot. Marc was very nice because he wanted to watch sports channels and when we arrived in the living room he put big brother!!! Karen explained us what was the point of this tv reality and who was each of the candidates. After that we decided to go to sleep. A long time for resting was expected. » Eloïse: «we didn't miss anything and we slept delighted.» Elisa: «That was a great first evening.»

Second day

After a fascinating immersion in the Beatles city, known as Liverpool:

Sofia: «The second evening was cool. Marc went to picked us where the bus was supposed waiting for him. He said he was very busy and he appologized for beeing late. He said that he didn't have the time to eat for lunch because of his work. That's funny, because he is working with a man in Liverpool and we went to Liverpool the same day. Karen was not here this evening because she went to the London Grammar Concert at Manchester with her sister». Elisa: « London Grammar is a young band with a 19 years old singer. Karen's sister was also hosting students (Roxane,Lucie and Clémence) . » Sofia: «We thought she was very lucky to go seeing this band. In the car, Marc asked us what we wanted to eat and we said that Karen prepared Salad and Pizza (when she asked if it was okay to eat that the morning). Marc said that Karen has just prepared the Salad so he needed to make the pizza.» Eloïse: «So before we had dinner with him, he pretended being afraid to cook that made us laugh because he just had to follow Karen's instructions: heat up the pizza and put the salade already made by Karen on the table» . Sofia:«Girls and I went to our bedroom while he was «cooking». We spoke together about our day. Marc called us to eat and we set the table.» Eloïse: «Although Marc was embarrased about his simple dinner, I made clear that it was a great meal» Elisa: «Marc told us little anecdotes about the journeys he made in USA. » Eloïse: «He went to Los Angeles, with his friends and Karen where they enjoyed beaches, and he compared US and Uk accents». Elisa:«He said that life is really cheaper in the United States than in England or in France. He also told us that Karen and him already came in France, especially in Nice, and in a little village near this town. They want to buy a house in France. Sofia: «Marc loves golf and he likes to play golf with his friends He especially likes the landscapes there are each time he goes play golf» Eloïse: «He wanted to know if we like more France than UK and I sincerely answered that I prefered UK, because, to my opinion, I think that the cities have uncommoned architecture which conserved print of history like Chester.» Elisa: « After dinner, we took a shower and we watched "Big Brother" with Marc. He explained us that he didn't understand why Karen watches this serie. He finds it totally silly and he doesn't undersant th goal of that. He thinks that the celebrities that are in this serie just play a role and are very vulgar. » Eloïse: «Unfortunatly, we didn't see «lazy Daisy» this evening» Sofia: «She had to stay outside because she try to jump on the table to take food on it» Elisa: «Marc punished her» Eloïse: «I can add that now she is known as the «naugthy girl», or the «naughty lazy Daisy».

Third day

Eloïse:« The last evening, we had  a lot of fun with Karen.» Sofia:«When we arrived at Karen and Marc's home, Karen showed us what great application she found. She told us that she made researches about Beaune and Burgundy with this application and she told us that she loves the landcapes and that it seems amazing». Elisa:"On this last evening with our host families, we didn't see a lot Marc, because he was going to play a game with friends.» Sofia: «He told us that he played billiard every thursday» Elisa: So we spent the evening in the company of Karen, and it was really funny ; » Eloïse: «So Karen invited us to speak together in her beauty saloon». Eloïse:«The atmosphere was relaxing She took us to her beauty room and she put London Grammar, because she wanted to show us what kind of music they do». Elisa: «I didn't know her and it was a great discovery» Sofia: «I really appreciated this from her, the fact that she brought us in her beauty saloon to speak with us, because she didn't have to, but I think Karen is a great woman» Elisa: «She put a really relaxing musics and we talked about films we wanted to see, or films we have already seen. Karen was very kind. She really wanted to know more about us, our lives.». Eloïse:« She said that she would like to watch La vie d'Adèle, that make us have a debate on explicit scenes that might be present in this movie and the difficult condition of the shooting for the actress.» Sofia: «I was very impressed because I didn't know La vie d'Adèle was known even in UK. She said that she was going to watch this movie in the theatre the next week!» Elisa: « We also took pictures of us 4, and it was really funny. »

Sofia: «We went to dinner, and Karen cooked pasta and really delicious breads. During the dinner, she put a music channel, and when we finished we danced aroung the table. It was very funny because she wanted us to have fun. When we take a fruit salad as a dessert, we went to take the whipped cream, and she tried to put it on our faces. Unfortunately for her, she didn't sucess, so she gave us the whipped cream directly on her mouth. Aha » Eloïse: «Like Karen made us discover London grammar we decided to made her discover Stromae, a famous singer in France.» Sofia: «We put Papaoutai and Formidable». Elisa : « She didn't know Stromae, but I think she was happy to discover the kind of music we listen » Eloïse: «Finally, we went in the TV room to watch the redifusion of the grammy award» Elisa: « Karen brought us chocolates. »  Sofia: «The chocolates was very cute because it was hearts chococolates»

Eloïse: «she showed us several things like the strange musical frog which moves and sings when we clap  our hands, but also the portrait of her son made by his exgirlfriend or photos of all the familly.» Elisa: « On TV, there were the Grammy Awards, and we saw Daft Punk won everything. We were very proud because it's a french group. After this evening, we had to make our suitcases and we didn't want to leave because the family was really kind, and Karen said that we could come back when we want, even with our parents. It was a very good journey. Our host family was really, really nice. It's the best family I ever had»

Sofia, Elisa and Eloïse finally remember with regrets the last moment with this nice host family, Karen and Marc Davies

The evening of our arrival, our host family was the first at the point of appointment. There was only Alison ;  Stan, her husband, worked late.  In fact, Alison is a nurse in a covent and Stan is a school janitor. Once home, Alison showed us  our respective bedrooms. There were two bedrooms, and one bathroom. Mahnoosh and Marie-Lila were in the back bedroom ; Sarah and Zélie were in the other one.  After installed we went to eat. Alison did not eat but sat at our table to speak with us. We asked her about their experiences with their hospitality to young foreigners. She told us she always had lovely peoples, French, German and Chinese students, except Russian student who were rude and they behavd  in a disrespectful manner. We were eating pizza and fries when we raised the issue of tobacco. She was embarrassed because some young people asked her to buy their own pack of cigarettes, she did not know what to say. We told him that it was not our case. This misunderstanding allowed us to talk politics. She explained to us young people's lives is very strict in England because of the legislation, then we ended up talking about the misery of the world. She had tears in her eyes...  It was a very emotional moment. When we were clearing the table a little animal crept into our legs ; it was their dog, Tess. This animal means a lot to them. They told us later that it was their passion. After our meeting with tess we presented to Stan who had just returned and we left to sleep. The next morning our breakfast was waiting for us on the table. Toast jam milk and cereals. But we were obliged to hurry because Alison was very punctual. We are therefore parts with our packed lunch and we arrived before everyone else, even before the teachers ; at the meeting point. Evening, alison was still the first. Returning,after our shower, we put at the table, always with Alison, not Stan and we told her our day. Every night at dinner we told him our day. Our last night, Thursday, we had a special meal. And that night there was Stan. That night, after dinner, we stayed with them for the questionnaire we had to complete. Alison even admit that the questionnaires were all the same, so she prepared her answers before the arrival of young. The morning of our departure we were reluctant to leave the suitcases in hand. We were really welcomed as queens. On our beds there were towels for our shower, and in the sockets there were adapters. We even had wifi code. Arrived at the bus before returning each of our side, she took us in his arms. Alison, Stan and Tess will remain in our head.

Experience with the host family

      During our stay in Wales in Colwyn Bay, we had been welcomed by Lennie and Susan Bray. They have 2 daughters: Sarah and another one who isn’t living in the house anymore. We found that the house is typically English. Here is it:

We mainly discussed with the parents because as Sarah is handicapped she didn’t get involved in the conversations.

     First, the night of our arrival, we talked about basic topics like our names, are ages, where we were coming from. But we had been a little bit surprised because when we said that we live in Beaune they have a…weird and spontaneous reaction! They said: << So you’ve got the sea! >> Maybe was it a problem of pronunciation? We have decided to show them a map with our Smartphone to make them understand.
    The other evening with the host family, we talked about our day of course, about our family, the differences between the French School and English School, their life… We learned that Lennie is an old teacher for students who are struggling and Susan an old saleswoman in a clothes shop. We asked them concerning their passions.
Susan likes cooking, shopping and taking drama lesson. Lennie enjoy walking on mountains and playing golf. They are both members of social club which go in them every week. When we asked questions about Wales and Clowyn Bay, we observed that they really care about the history and the town. They are really involved in Colwyn Bay’s life.
The family is informed of the problems, debates about the town. For example, they explained us that the pier has to be repaired because of its age and was ruined several times because of fires. This project would cost 5 million pounds, so the repairs form a real debate. They also know lots of things concerning Wales. Indeed, they explained to us the origin of the different emblems of the country. The host family also has some knowledge of the Welsh language. They gave us examples and learned us that there were some words which don’t exist in Welsh. Consequently, they use, for example, the sound of something to define it. Some words can be funny! Furthermore, we noticed that the host family doesn’t know some English words like << habits >> or << temps >>. We found that curious. Therefore, they couldn’t really tell us their habits.
    

   Unfortunately, the host family was a little bit distant from us. Indeed, for dinner, we were at the one end of the table and they were at the other one. As a result, it didn’t help to start a conversation. Yet, the English of the family was easy understandable. It permitted to improve our oral skills and it was really interesting.
  

                                                                 Emeline PRETET
                                                                 Aurore CHABOT

REMY Pauline

DEFFORGE Alicia

DUPUIS Inès

OUR EXPERIENCE WITH OUR HOST FAMILY

DAY 1 : The Discovery

We arrived in the family, a little bit later than the others... In fact, our host mother was at work, and she couldn‘t take us at the bus at 6.30 p.m. The local correspondant, Ivan SEGOVIA-LEBUY, brought us to his home for an hour and a half and we waited for our mother until 8.00 p.m.

            When we arrived at our host home, Jacquelyn BERRY introduced herself and her family. We chose a 3-beds-room, because, in fact, we had the choice between two bedrooms at the 2^nd floor. We settled in our room, then we went downstairs for the dinner - lasagnas, beans, gaelic bread and a strawberry cream -. We ate with her and her son, Samuel, a 15-year-old boy. We spoke about our typical Burgundish food and she thanked us because we brought a present made of ginger bread, black currant mustard and Anis of Flavigny. She explained us her job, and she asked us about our parents' jobs and our hobbies. It was interesting because Jacquelyn asked us many questions so the dinner was animate. After a good meal, we went to sleep in our comfortable beds!

DAY 2 : Food, food and food

In the morning, we get dressed, and for the breakfast, we ate toasts with raspberry jam, chocolate spread, butter, cereals, orange juice and milk. Contrary to the evenings, Jacquelyn didn't eat with us for the breakfast. Every morning, Jacquelyn gave us a bag with our "pack lunch". It was composed of 4 sandwiches, crisps, a chocolate bar, an apple and a bottle of water. The meals were always very nourrishing.

Then she drove us to the meet point where the bus was waiting for us.We came back home at 7.00 p.m. During the dinner, we talked a lot with her but Samuel wasn‘t here. We asked her some questions for the papers we had to fill but she didn't know the history of Wales very well so she searched on the Internet and she called a Welsh friend to invite him the day after.

DAY 3 : All good things come to an end

On Thursday evening, after a cold but amazing day at Snowdonia, Vernon, a Welsh friend, was at home. He gave us a file with informations about the Welsh pronunciation - so useful for us! -. Heretofore, the trip was perfect. But at this moment, we realized that is was already the end. Time goes by, and the week was too short. Friday morning, we had to make our goodbyes. We were quite sad but we said one day we will come back, for sure!

___________

To conclude, this trip to Wales was really interesting. It was the first time that we went in host families (Inès and Alicia), and the third time for Pauline. We discovered and learned many things, even if time passed too quickly! Also, we keep in touch with Jacquelyn, on Facebook.