French Exchange Day 4

Hi all,

We will get some photos and a video from yesterday up ASAP. I've to collect them from the students but they're away with their French families today! Some of use are going to watch Ireland in the Six Nations tomorrow so plenty of fun to be had (with shouting at the TV)!

Enjoy your weekend. Temperature is -10 today. Virginia is 18 degrees warmer than here! I've never seen as many students hugging radiators!

Take care!

French Exchange Day 3

Hi again,

Another update and hastily edited video (I've very few resources out here). Today we went to a coal mining museum and a contemporary modern art museum. I'll let the lads and photos do the talking!

Protecting all the intelligence we give them at Virginia!

In the carriage.

Sean made friends.

We decided to eat healthy and head to McDonalds!

French Exchange Day 1-2

Hi Folks,

Just finalising a few things to try and get this blog up and running. Going to put a few photos and a video from the chief talker/singer/comedian Sean Brady with his peers acting as co-anchors! We'll try to make this a daily feature.

The bus trip took a little over two hours to get from Lyon to Riom. Singer/Songwriter Sean Brady kept the craic going belting out hits from the likes of The Dubliners, Pogues and many other current chart artists. We finally made it to Riom where everyone was introduced to their families. Some were luckyily staying in town while others were whisked off to the mountains.

The following morning many didn't make it in as the roads were heavily blocked with snow but by 2 o' clock all had safely made it. Virginia students followed their French counterparts into classes and that afternoon, we had a short tour of the town (snowball fights included). We all met back in the school only to parade back up the town with more snowball fights taking place. Here, we got to meet the town councillors who welcomed us to their school and town wishing us an enjoyable stay in the first of hopefully many to come.

Here is a rough and ready video blog from the 'News Update Team'.

Check-in at the airport!

What Riom is supposed to look like:

What is looks like the morning of the 'big schnow'!

Messing in the snow (neige in French because it's all we keep hearing)

More messing in the snow

Start of the tour.

More of the tour

In class getting a guide to the life of the typical Franch student.