At the beginning of the September Holidays, 25 Ivanhoe Girls’ students departed from Melbourne, bound for the beautiful and cultural country of France.

When we touched down in Paris, the sightseeing began immediately. We got to see the Eiffel Tower lit up with sparkling lights, and what the city looked like from the Seine on a night cruise. The following day was full of the old, famous monuments all around the city, like the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Sacré Coeur. 

Although we were only in Paris for two nights, everyone made the most of the beautiful capital city, exploring quaint little boulangeries and massive shopping centres, as well as the old architecture that surrounded us.

We set off on our weeklong journey from the top of France all the way down to the south. Each day was packed with new sights and learning opportunities about the long lasting and complex culture and history of the marvellous country. The everyday use of the language, in shops and talking to locals, boosted our skills tremendously, and the practical use was much more beneficial than learning in the classroom environment.

We visited many magnificent palaces and châteaux on our trip and got to learn about the rich French history connected to each place. One of the châteaux that we visited and one that was a favourite for a few of us was the Château de Chenonceau, which was the home of King Henry II’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers.

As the week flew by, the steadily approaching homestay in Montpellier was on everyone’s minds. It was safe to say that everyone was nervous about the prospect of living with strangers for a week. However, when we finally met our host families, they welcomed us instantly, and everyone settled in quickly.

Throughout the week, we quickly began to feel connected to French culture, surrounded by the language, food, and daily life of Montpellier.

Each morning, we attended a French language school, teaching us new words and phrases and helping us refresh our knowledge of the grammar concepts.

The language school had students from all over the world, including Switzerland, Mexico, and New Zealand, all there to learn French. 

After finishing school at midday, we spent our afternoons exploring the beautiful town of Montpellier and the surrounding areas. On our first day, we were guided on a tour (fully spoken in French), wandering through the little laneways and marvelling at the intricate architecture. 

The following day, we took a bus to Pont du Gard, the tallest aqueduct in France. On Wednesday, our school joined two other foreign school groups to visit the ancient city of Nîmes, the origin of denim. Finally, we visited Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert on our last day in Montpellier. This village, a personal favourite, was surrounded by beautiful mountains, and held a historic abbey and many other ancient buildings. 

After our final day at the language school, it was time to say goodbye to Montpellier and head to Nice, where we would be departing for home. Despite how exhausted and homesick everyone felt, the farewell from our host families was a sad one. As we boarded the bus to Nice, we all felt a mix of excitement and disappointment. Leaving Montpellier marked the start of the final part of our trip, and although we missed our beds waiting in Australia, it was bittersweet to think our time in France was almost over.

Finally, we reached Nice, greeted by the bright sun and the clear water on its rocky beach. Soon, before we knew it, it was our final night in France, and despite the long flight ahead, very few of us could sleep. 

As we boarded the plane once again, the feeling wasn’t eager anticipation or nerves. We were finally returning home, something that we had all been waiting for. Despite that, the friendships made and the beautiful places we visited will never be forgotten.

Amy Coia
Year 10