The Belgian Exchange

After our successful visit to Nandrin last year, it was our turn to host our Belgian friends this Project Week and repay their warm hospitality. With the Belgians not due to arrive until the Monday evening, the week began with a fun-filled day out to Paulton's park with the main draw being the new adrenaline ride -The Edge! The weather was kind and by late afternoon we returned to school eager to welcome ‘les belges'. They arrived promptly at 6:00 pm and were given a quick tour of the school grounds and boarding house where they would be spending the week. A refreshing swim and meal altogether helped to break the ice and everyone settled down for the night with expectations high for a successful visit.

Over the following days we tried to give the Belgians a flavour of the local area we are fortunate to live in. Visits included a beach day to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door involving some serious walking; a day exploring the New Forest on mountain bikes with a picnic and pub stop at Fritham; a morning in Salisbury doing a quiz trail around the town and souvenir shopping and then an afternoon and evening with FSM host families where the Belgian pupils were given a flavour of our English customs and traditions.

The weather stayed hot and sunny all week except the last day, but we bravely battled around the Moors Valley orienteering course in steady drizzle and cooked up a tasty farewell BBQ on the school terraces as a finale to another successful visit. After a week together, everyone's French improved, new email addresses were swapped, and a few tears were shed as we said ‘Aurevoir' but hopefully not ‘Adieu' to our new friends. Roll on Belgium 2010!