TRIP TO WALESBig Pit

" I like Big Pit because the visit made us aware of what the miner's life looked like. Walking in their shoesgave the impression that we were miners too. The reproduction with photographs and old equipment made

the visit seem true.During the descent in the pit, every accessory helped us believe that we were miners. For example the

lamps on the helmets enabled us to see how dark it was inside the Pit, and the weight of the equipment gaveus a little idea of what miners had endured. The trolleys, the rail, the coal... All these things reminded us of

miner's era The guide's explanation were great and interesting, and his anecdotes too. This sort ofinformation was easy to learn without effort, and in this way, everybody could remember something.

"Marine Bisson 1L1

Despite all the health problems I had during the trip, I had a good time in Wales, I swear! Hard tochoose the best, but I must do it so: welcome to the Millenium Stadium. I think it was incredible to

walk between these walls, to be there. Imagine the D. day, when a rugby match or a concert happens.Imagine all the people who came here to support their idols, or just to drink some beers and feel the

game. All the people from the whole world. Even important people like presidents, stars, richpeople… And, I must admit that the Millenium Stadium itself is terrific, impressive. When you’re on

the ground, you can’t be aware of how huge the building is.Well, this is not my only favourite visit. I also really enjoyed Big Pit (except the Big Wind around usall day long). It was interesting to go down the pit and see the working conditions, the darkness, thelack of oxygen … I had the feeling of being in a film, an adventure film. Then our guide was great

and funny.Therefore, thanks for the trip.

Sandra Cauquil 1L1

My trip to Cardiff.

I have always loved school trips but this was particularly great and good fun. I could discover Wales,its population, its landscapes, its language ! Our family was very kind and present. The visits wereinteresting especially Cardiff’s Parliament and Millenium Stadium ( and shops ! ). Stonehenge was alittle less funny particularly with 3°C !The trip was great but the best was, for me, being together. We could learn to know everybody. All theseries ( L, S, ES ) were there so we could speak to people that we never see at school. There was agood atmosphere especially in the bus and on the ferry boat. We can’t forget the song “Do you knowthe Muffin Man ?” Everybody sings it in Malherbe’s corridors !

Pauline GRIMAULT, 1L1

I remember, we were in the living room. Margaux, Fatine and I were flopped onto the couch andwatched a English series which looked like "les feux de l'amour", and the News in Welsh too. In themeantime, Sandra, our hostess had gone to play cards with her friends and her daughter. Sheconsented to let us watch TV in the sitting room on one condition. We had to keep Holly (her dog)locked in the kitchen because she was covered in mud. We noticed she had chewed up the remote too.We looked like couch potatoes on the sofa, with our chocolates, in front of the TV. We made fun of it.After a while we imagined the photos were watching and staring at us. We heard noises came fromupstairs. We jumped but it was just the wall creaking. Suddenly we heard an other noise at the backbut saw nothing. A strange fragrance made me cough. Fatine showed us the little spray which sprayedscent automaticaly and said : - "I knew she wanted to kill us. She's gone, the dog is in the kitchen, weare locked here, and now the poison!" We looked at each other and laughed, and laughed again. Gwladys Turmel 1L1

Monday 9th march, we left from Caen to Cardiff. It was the beginning of a nice trip. We took the

ferry boat in Ouistreham to Portsmouth. The first visit was Stonehenge, it was windy and

freezing but the sun was with us. We arrived at 7 p.m in Cardiff and all of us went to our own

families. At the beginning, my family was nice, there was an Arab student who called Thamer

and who was in Cardiff for three months to learn English. At the end of the trip she was nasty

and she didn’t say « Good Bye » to Mathilde and me, we were disappointed and angry. It’s not

the most important thing because it was a very good trip for me. My favourite visit was Big Pit

because it was very interesting, our miner guide was so sweet, he gave us a mint, he explained

well and spoke clearly and slowly. I think it was a very good trip because everybody was nice to

me and happy . Thanks to the four teachers for their patience

Alexandra Maschio-Esposito 1L1

We went to Wales for a week to Cardiff.

For this trip, we visited lots of sites.

In my opinion, among them, the best were Big Pit and the Welsh Folk Museum.

First, Big Pit is located in Blaenafon; this mine was built in the middle of the nineteenth century.

It was a coal and iron mine.

The visit was very interesting.

In the beginning, the visiting conditions were very realistic; we were full equipped with helmets,

lights and a belt with five kilos of batteries.

The elevator took us down ninety meters deep. It was a guided tour; it took place through

galleries and stables, where ponies were used to pull small trucks.

These horses were lifted out nineteen days a year, during the miners holidays, to prevent them

from going blind. And at last, the visit was impressive, when the miner said “light off” and then, I

felt completely dark meant.

My second choice is the Folk Museum, where we had a lot of fun; in spite of the constant drizzle!

This was an open air museum. We saw a collection of buildings, there were a school, cottages,

farmhouses, workshops and a chapel. We could see the living and working conditions of the past

Welsh.

With my friends, we were lost in a deserted and ancient village. When we went in a small cottage,

we were surprised to find only one inhabitant, a regular guard waited in a black uniform, smoking

a cigarette to pass the time. Outside, their colleagues handling-walkie talkies It’s felt like we

were in a movie. Unfortunately, the toilets were out of order because of water shortage. As we

can’t hide in the wood in case of natural needs.

Anna Leverrier 1L1

At first I met my family with Cecile. We were surprised because she didn't speak a lot. She had shownus her house and she said that the flush was broken. I tried later to flush the toilet but it didn't work. Itwas the only toilet... Every day we had problems flushing the toilet. To "flush the toilet" is anyway anexpression I learned there. It's really fun to say but actually it is very embarrassing. It's the firstimpression I had arriving in Wales.

I also learnt to speak to a Welsh baby, it's very interesting. We learnt that young children can'tsay "Thank you" so they say "Tah". we have seen a 2 yers old baby, Baran, wo mooved around onlywith his bottom. That's why his parents called him "Bobom"

To finish I'll say that cows are to Caen what sheep are to Cardiff.Angèle, 1ère L2

This voyage was very nice . Monday, We had to take the Coach to go to Ouistreham .At Ouistreham, we took the ferry to Portsmouth. On the boat, I did not feel very well, because there were many waves. In Portsmouth , we took the coach to go to Cardiff. All day long , the sun was shining. At theend of the day, we visited Stonehenge . It was very interesting because we saw the half of the original monument remains , with thestones. In the evening , we waited on a car park(our assembly point) , for our families to come. I was with Rodolphe and Simon . We fell on a mother and her 2 daughters. They had a snake , it was impressive. The food was excellent. Her daughters were pleasant.With my two companions we got on well. On Tuesday morning, we gathered on the car park , to take the Car, to go to visit Big pitmine . We went down to ninety meters deep . On Tuesday afternoon, we visited a Welsh museum, then we had time free in city center . Itstill did not rain . On Wednesday morning, we visited the Welsh parliament. It was very instructive. And , inthe afternoon , we had time free in Cardiff. I was thus able to buy souvenirs .In the evening, we visited the Millenium Stadium , anenormous stadium in Cardiff. It was beautiful . The teachers were pleasant. On Thursday morning we visited , the Welsh Folk museum , amuseum outside. It was wonderful , but it was raining.Every lunchtime, we made a picnic with the food of our families. On Thursday afternoon , wehad still time free in Cardiff.We went into our families, to spend our last night . I was not in a hurry to leave and to backto Caen .On Friday morning, we said goodbye to our families, and we returned to Caen bycoach (with the driver Cedric) and the Boat.The Voyage in Cardiff was interesting, andimpressive. I discovered how the Welsh lived and I met new people on this trip.We can saythat I liked this week which I considered too short... Thomas Laurent 1ere Es 2

It focuses on my host family in Wales. I want to tell you how my host family took careof my friend and me and how she was nice compared to my host family in Spain.

On the one hand, my host family was absolutely present with us. There werethe mother with her two girls: Laura who’s 11 and kitty who’s 4 years old. In eveningwhen we arrived in their home, they asked us about our day and about what wevisited. The mother did good cooking for dinner, breakfast and the picnic too.

On the other hand, she was so kind to us because when I went to Spain, myhost family didn’t speak to my friends and me. So, I was surprised by their attentionto us. Laura also tried to speak French to us. They said all the time “You can do whatyou want…” and before we left them, the mother said that we could come back at herhouse at a later date.In a nutshell, my host family in Wales was great.

It focuses on my host family in Wales. I want to tell you how my host familytook care of my friend and me and how she was nice compared to my host family inSpain.

On the one hand, my host family was absolutely present with us. There werethe mother with her two girls: Laura who’s 11 and kitty who’s 4 years old. In eveningwhen we arrived in their home, they asked us about our day and about what wevisited. The mother did good cooking for dinner, breakfast and the picnic too.

On the other hand, she was so kind to us because when I went to Spain, myhost family didn’t speak to my friends and me. So, I was surprised by their attentionto us. Laura also tried to speak French to us. They said all the time “You can do whatyou want…” and before we left them, the mother said that we could come back at herhouse at a later date.In a nutshell, my host family in Wales was great.Léa Outin 1L1

During this trip, I preferred the visit to Big Pit, when we went down, we

equipped with a helmet with a light. We could put on instead of the

persons who worked in the mine in deplorable conditions, without

lights. I liked it when the guide, we showed us what it was like in pitch.

The guide explained that children worked in it, they pushed small

trucks , canaries being used to control the level of CO2. I also like the

visit to the village of St Fagan which showed us all the charm of the

ancient houses but this visit would have been nicer with sun. The vote in

the Parliament was interesting because we noted that opinions differed

on the question of the wearing a school uniform. Of a general way this

trip was very interesting and I could discover Wales!Lorelei Lemerre 1L1