This article is ©2004 Kerry Charles and are published here with the authorization of its author.

15 September- 2 October 2003

September 15th, 2003... To most people this date doesn't have much significance. Just a normal Monday like any other day. But for 30 students, parents and teachers from JPC this was a day they had been waiting for, for almost a year (354 days to be exact!!) Months of planning, fundraising and saving had led up to this day and finally it was here. This was the day the Year 10 and 11 French Trip began. We met at school at 6.45am. Well, we were supposed to meet at this time but some people were a bit late starting a trend that would continue for the next 18 days!!! (not naming any names or anything, aye Swartzy??) Eventually the bus managed to drive off after tearful goodbyes and bon voyages. And we started the long trip of about 38 hours in total.

Landing in France was one of the most magical moments of my life- staring out the window at the lights of Paris below, the Seine cutting a thick dark line through the millions of glittering pinpricks of light. As the plane descended we were able to make out roads and cars (the roads were amazingly busy for 5 o'clock in the morning). The plane went silent and as we felt the wheels touch down on Parisian soil a huge cheer went up through the plane. Tears welled in my eyes as it dawned on me that we were finally here, all the hard work saving and fundraising, the months of planning and preparing and the almost full year of waiting had finally paid off, we were in France!!!! Faint strains of Pokarekare Ana drifted through the plane as we all sat there contemplating the fact that this was only the start of an amazing holiday. The magic was soon broken as we rushed to pack up our stuff and escape from the plane that had been our prison for so many hours.

The rest of the day rushed by in a wave of jet lag, tiredness and excitement. Meeting our wonderful tour guide - Kim, having a view of the Eiffel tower from our hotel window, visiting the school and forgetting how to even say hello in French. But the thing I remember most about that day (apart from the queasy I'm sure I'm on a boat kind of feeling) was seeing the Eiffel tower all lit up. I have to admit me and Melissa stared out that window for an honest 15 minutes just marvelling at the sparkling lights in the distance and wondering if it was actually, really, honestly the Tour Eiffel.

The next day our Cosmos tour started and we were whisked off to see towns and villages, cathedrals, castles, shops, cemeteries, beaches, markets. I have to say that those were the most full on 14 days in my life. Up at 6.30 or 7am most mornings getting to our hotel for the night sometimes as late as 8pm. By the time we had had dinner we were lucky to be able to fall into bed before 11 o'clock. And the next morning we would start the whole thing again. Saying that, I enjoyed every second of that tour. From our incredible tour director Kim, and our legendary bus driver Theirry, to every single place we visited. We visited more cathedrals and castles in those 14 days than I've ever been to in my life but each one was just more amazing than the last ( no castle will ever be better than Fontainebleau and no cathedral better than Notre Dame)

One of the highlights for me was Cannes in the French Riviera. We had a whole day there so we were able to relax (only a little cos we still packed heaps into that day) we shopped, swam and sunbathed, ate icecream (or should I say glace) and shopped some more.

Even the bad things about the tour turned out good- the day our bus broke down we visited the coolest little village while it was getting fixed. I have no idea why they don't always go there. For lunch that day we had our first French crepes sitting outside a creperie looking out over this really old castle in the middle of the quaintest village. If our bus hadn't broken down we would never have been there.

Of course, they saved the best till last - Paris. That morning we visited the Eiffel tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Obelisque, the Place de la Bastille, the tunnel where Princess Diana was killed (that wasn't officially on our program but we still drove past it), the Louvre, and hundreds of other famous buildings and monuments. I sat on the bus trying (rather unsuccessfully) to keep my eyes open, we were all so tired after two hard out weeks and the incredible cabaret show the night before that kept us up till 2 in the morning had caught up on us and we were all fighting sleep. But no matter how exhausted we were we still stared out the bus windows at all the hundreds of amazing buildings, monuments, parks and shops. I don't think any of us went though less than half a film in those few hours and some of us went through almost three (I'm not saying that from personal experience or anything!) Mass at Notre Dame that day was really amazing and after that we had the afternoon free to explore Paris. I met up with a friend from England I hadn't seen for 7 years and we visited the Louvre (saw the Mona Lisa!!!) and went for a boat ride down the Seine. That incredible day finished up with our group meeting at the Eiffel tower where we went all the way to the top. The view from the top is sooo amazing - we could see all the places we had visited on our tour that morning. Paris seemed to go on forever. I have to admit I used a whole film just on the view from the top.

By the end of that tour we were so tired but we did manage to find enough energy for an amazing day at Euro Disney. It was a day of adrenalin - brought on by Space Mountain ( a roller coaster in the dark) We went on that five times it was so good. It was also a day that seemed to bring out the little kid in everyone. We got so many photos and hugs with different characters!!!!

I had so many great experiences over there. We managed to fit so many amazing, new, different, life-changing, funny (and for some people embarrassing) moments into such a short time. I'm sure the people involved will never forget waiting for 20 minutes for candyfloss from a vending machine that just kept playing When the saints go marching in over and over!!! And who could forget when a certain someone burnt a hotel towel by hanging it on the light that had a very clear sign nearby saying "do not hang things over the light" !!!!!!

One thing I never got tired of while I was over there was speaking French. It gives you a thrill to be able to walk into a shop and say "bonjour" or say "je voudrais un coca, s'il vous plait" (that's, can I have a coke please, for you non-french speaking people) and actually be understood. Ordering in French and asking things like "can we take photos in here?" (est-ce nous pouvons prendre des photos ici?) was just so cool. Even now almost a month and a half since we got back I still say merci instead of thank you, getting some strange looks sometimes!!!

Since I've gotten back everybody's asked me how it was and the second question they always ask (well most people anyway, some of them their first question is did I find any hot French guys?!!!) is "Was it worth all the money and hard work to get there?" Definatly. It was worth every single cent, all those hours delivering firewood, organising socials, selling raffle tickets and slaving away at a New World checkout. France trip '03 was the best two and a half weeks of my life. I made heaps of new friends, learnt so much and experienced an amazing amount of new things.

I have to say an incredibly huge thank you to Swartzy (aka Mrs Swartz) for all the hours of hard work she put into making it the coolest trip ever. Merci Beaucoup et Je t'aime!!!! I can't wait for the next one. Canada in 2005 isn't it??????