Claire Munro - NSW to France

Fri 15 May 2009

Claire Munro from Sydney is back in France on her second exchange program with Student Exchange Australia! Claire went on a Summer Explorer program to France over the Summer Holiday period in 2006-7, and now she’s back in France on a year program. She recently wrote to us to let us know how she’s getting on second time around:

“Wow! I don't even know where to start. Feels very weird to be writing in English and to have to backspace the French words that keep finding their way into this email :)

All I can say is that I'm having an absolute ball! My host family is adorable. Every weekend we are busy - so far we've been skiing 5 times - each time in a different place and once in Italy!! It was amazing - there was 1m of snow!!! I can see even the Alps from my bedroom window, which is an added bonus :)

We spent the Easter long weekend in a beautiful region 1 hrs drive south of Lyon, and often go for picnics with friends in Nice on Sunday. I'm forever taking photos...France is just SO beautiful. Other than that, I’ve been enjoying hanging out with friends on the weekend, going to the movies, the beach (so strange at first - it’s all pebbly with no sand, and no waves!), etc.

Once a week my host mum and I go to the local markets together to do the shopping, and she's forever buying new things for me to try :) I have no idea why they love it when I bake for them (personally I cannot compare my choc-chip muffins to French cuisine by any means!). Every morning on my way to catch the bus, I pass a boulangerie-patisserie, which always has its door open! I’m loving the French food, need I say more?

My first day at school was a bit nerve-racking, particularly as my lycée is enormous - 2000 students just for yr 10, 11 and 12! But you soon get used to it. I'm really enjoying the classes much more than I could've imagined, (history and French are my favourite subjects) and I even got some quite good marks, much to my surprise! My timetable is great because I finish at 1pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, which means I can hang out with my friends in the afternoon.

Now we're on holidays again for 2 weeks, which is lovely. Tomorrow, a friend and I are going to Antibes, and I also plan to visit Cannes and St Tropez sometime soon. I've also started oriental dancing lessons once a week, which is heaps of fun. At first it was extremely weird as it's so completely different to the type of dancing I'm used to (my abs hurt so much after my first lesson!), but I love the challenge and now I’m really enjoy it.

The first few months have flown by so fast, and it’s a bit ridiculous...but I'm already dreading leaving! All in all, exchange is without a doubt the best thing ever as a gap year! Vive la France!

Gros bisous
Claire”

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