Sunday, 18 March 2012

Holidays, skiing and more joy in France


A lot has happened since I last wrote. To name a few things; the Ireland match was cancelled last minute so we never got to watch it – what a disappointment.  We had another Welsh primary school visit the college. I introduced everyone at church to my chocolate cake as I made it for church lunch for Gaby’s birthday – it was a hit :) I went ice skating with a load of French 8-year-olds helping at her birthday party.. lol. I had a meeting with the mayor, which I was supposed to go to with the headmistress of school, but something came up last minute, so she couldn’t make it! I went by myself and spoke to him for half an hour in French about what I thought of Boulogne and what kind of things I did in school. I’ve never been so nervous in my life – ask my mum! And this was all before the half term holidays! We had 2 weeks for half term, so I spent one week at home with the fam and my friends that were home and the 2nd week in York. It was over my birthday too, which was really lovely. I basically just had 2 weeks’ worth of birthday celebrations.. good times :) I also managed to fit in lots of crazy church stuff when I was in York too, like the Fusion equipping day in Loughborough and night prayer – staying up til 3am.. it was amazing! I miss doing crazy student things like that.
After the holidays, I came back to Boulogne for one night and then headed off on the school ski trip. We got a coach down to the Alps from almost as North in France as you can possibly get.. it was an 11hour overnight journey – the French are mental. And then we skied the next day when we arrived! Overall it was a really fun trip - I always forget how much I love skiing.. there’s something about snow, mountain air, stunning views, sport and sunshine.. you can’t beat it! I basically had the best of both worlds because I was there with the teachers but didn’t have a lot of responsibility – they kept telling me I was on holiday! Haha it was hilarious. I had a really good laugh with them.. we skied together every day when the kids were in ski school. Of course it wouldn’t be right unless we had wine with dinner and a little aperitif in the room before.. oh and some drinking late into the night whilst the kids were in bed.. standard. We had one fractured wrist, some dodgy knees and a case of pretty bad sunburn over the week – not bad going with 50 kids, could’ve been worse! It was really nice to spend time with some of the pupils I teach outside of the school context too. I got to know quite a few of them pretty well and had a string of 11/12 year old girls tagging along behind me by the end of the week.. they’re so lovely :) I have some great memories of the week and I’m so so glad I got the opportunity to go! I love my school!
I just got back from skiing yesterday morning. So have pretty much just been sleeping and recovering since! Although I did manage to sing at church this morning – doing it as much as I can before I have to leave :( Virginie (the young English teacher) also invited me to her parents for lunch today so I went round after church. We had way too much yummy food and then went for a drive along the coast up to Calais. It was such a beautiful day and I got to see the well known touristy-bits of the Côte d’Opale. It was so lovely.. felt like a proper little family Sunday out! I felt like a kid again. They are amazing people :)
Now I’m knackered! Time for bed... Trying to mentally prepare myself for my final 2 weeks of teaching. Can’t believe I’m going to have to leave this place so soon.. not sure I can bare it! This isn’t going to be easy. Why do goodbyes even have to exist?! They suck. Anyway, I’ll get there.. God is always good :) 

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