CAMPUS HORTICOLE ~ JULY 2007
30 June 2007 Great excitement!
The day everyone has been looking forward to has eventually arrived! I flew into Johannesburg from George this morning and am presently in the International Arrivals Hall , where I look forward to meeting everyone from Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. I have been in contact with the flight controller of Emirates and have arranged for a smooth check-in at International Departures. I will try to update this site once we are through customs, but if time does not permit, please rest assured that your children are in safe hands. My cell number in France is 00 33 6 34 57 80 35, but please note that I seem to have a problem communicating with 083 numbers. I will check my emails twice daily and if there is an emergency, please contact my husband Clive on 082 454 9746. All are about to embark on an exciting and life-changing experience - we will take very good care of your precious children --- a bientot!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
1 July 2007 We've arrived!
We've arrived safe and sound after a VERY long journey! Although the flight was comfortable and the food delicious, we're all now officially exhausted having flown George/Cape Town/Durban to Johannesburg to Dubai to Rome and finally on to Nice!Everyone has been wonderful and mixed together so well. Predictably, management from the school, brightly attired in yellow CIA tee-shirts, were waiting at the airport to greet us and helped to load all the cases into the coach. We then had a scenic tour around the yacht-lined harbour in Antibes before arriving at Campus Horticole. After some refreshments and admin, the girls went on a guided tour of the Campus and the professionalism of the school never ceases to amaze me. All are delighted with their large and airy rooms which have beautiful views and I know that it won' t take them long to fall asleep tonight! Everyone is looking forward to an exciting week and to meeting so many new friends. A demain!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
2 July 2007 La vie au Campus!
It's amazing~the power of sleep! We all woke up so refreshed and felt so much better this morning. After breakfast all 250 students on the Campus gathered in the amphitheatre for a formal introductory talk and the various nationalities were welcomed. There is a lovely, relaxed atmosphere amongst the students which is enhanced by the wonderful, sunny weather. There is a team of 20 enthusiastic and responsible animateurs/animatrices who supervise the fun aspects of the programme as well as taking care of your children on the outings. This morning everyone went on an orientation visit to Antibes and all fell in love with this beautiful town. They so enjoyed exploring the quaint streets and the thought of ' the test' back at campus was not an exciting one! Secretly I think that they enjoyed the challenge and the conversation afterwards was interesting! Tomorrow morning they will be placed in groups to suit their individual level of ability and they will find themselves sharing class with students from other countries. We regrouped after the assessment and had a chat about the programme for the week and I reiterated points re the code of conduct and what was expected of them. Already I have received compliments on their manners and behaviour, which is always so heart-warming for me. Campus sports were enjoyed in the late afternoon and in the evening they all got dressed up and enjoyed the equivalent of a 'social'! They were delighted to hear 'recognizable' music and everyone jumped up and danced in big groups! Our girls were highly amused by the different 'styles' of dancing - all part of their 'education'I suppose! Everyone is so happy and in very good hands ~ definitely no need for any concern!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
3 July 2007 Fun in the sun!
After breakfast today all gathered apprehensively and waited to be assigned to various teachers and classrooms. What a buzz at tea-time as they all dashed out busting with news of what had taken place in their lessons, who was in their class, how 'cool' their teacher was etc! No one has asked to change level at this stage, but if any class becomes too hard or too difficult, there would be no problem switching. The food on the campus continues to amaze us all and today's lunch comprised: chicken casserole, couscous, a selection of cold-meats, 3 different salads, rolls, 5 different types of cheese, a selection of 10 different fruits, apple flan, baked custard, ice-cream, yoghurt plus things I have even forgotten! We were supposed to go sailing today, but it was too windy and this activity has been rescheduled. As an alternative, the group went to see "Shrek 3" at the cinema and then we spent 2 hours on the beach --- it was WONDERFUL!! It is 7.30pm and we have just arrived back at the campus, where a sumptuous barbeque awaits us. The animatuers/animatrices are busy decorating a room for tonight's 'disco' and all have been asked to dress in black and white. The supervision on the campus is remarkable and the children have so much fun within strict parameters. The curfew is adhered to every night and two 'night guards' patrol the passages making sure that all is in order. Pity they don't have adult camps – it's such fun!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
4 July 2007 Shopping in Antibes!
It is always a real pleasure to be greeted by such happy faces in the morning! Everyone is mixing incredibly well and is having a wonderful time. They are thoroughly enjoying their classes and finding them so stimulating. The weather is still lovely and all the summer fashions are a delight to behold! After lunch today we went by coach to Antibes, where they were given three hours to shop! The summer sales are in full swing and they were so excited to dash into all the stores displaying the word 'SOLDES'! At 6.30pm they boarded the coach, laden with brightly coloured packets and there was a constant buzz all the way back to the campus! There is an evening outing to Cannes tonight, but we have opted to swap it for an excursion to Juan les Pins on Friday night. Everyone is looking forward to a relaxing evening and a chance to recharge batteries!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
5 July 2007 The most wonderful day!
'Bon anniversaire' to Anya Nel and to Daniela Galego – both agreed how lucky they were to be able to celebrate their special day in this idyllic part of the world. (Daniela asked me to mention that it is also her parents' wedding anniversary today and to send them special love xxx) After another stimulating morning in class and a wonderful lunch, everyone excitedly boarded an air-conditioned double-decker train to Cannes, which gave us an incredible view of the sparkling blue waters of the Cote d'Azur. We have our own system of counting members of our group, but the animatuers/animatrices are really impressive as they adeptly handle and monitor so many children on outings. First on the agenda was a visit to the old town of 'Le Suquet', which was well worth the climb through narrow, winding streets. With not a cloud in the sky and with the sun shini ng brightly, the view over the Bay of Cannes and the Esteral Mountains was indescribably beautiful. After a 'photo shoot' on the red carpet leading to the Palais des Festivals, everyone had some free time to either shop or go to the beach. Judging by the packets, most opted for the shops! On a serious note, we have had a talk to the girls about budgeting carefully and suggested that it might be time for some 'window' shopping instead! We returned to the campus around 7.00pm and there was great excitement re the 'spectacle' which was to take place at 9.00pm. This 'international' concert was actually the highlight of the day and all the students + the animateurs/animatrices were encouraged to take part. The South Africans, led by Clemantene Milton did a commendable version of the gum-boot dance as they enthusiastically sang 'Shosholoza'! Without doubt, Christopher MacClements was the star of the show as he did an incredible 'Beatbox' number with one of the animateurs – he got a standing ovation and had to promise that he would give a repeat performance at the next concert! The atmosphere was so vibrant and everyone went to their rooms laughing and chatting, having had THE most wonderful day!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
6 July 2007 Lovely relaxing day!
Happy birthday to my long-suffering husband, who once again spent another birthday alone, whilst his wife is on the sunny French Riviera!Everyone so enjoyed the day, being able to relax after class, catch up on some sleep and do some much needed laundry! In the evening we had an outing to Juan les Pins and this was such a success. This famous resort is renowned for its happy holiday atmosphere and the beach is lined with colourful stalls. The coach returned to the campus at 11.00pm and once again their was such a buzz on board!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
7 July 2007 AquaSplash!
We have just arrived home from the most wonderful day in the sun at AquaSplash! I personally had not been looking forward to this day, imagining that it would be hot, long and essentially boring – but it was the most relaxing, restful and peaceful day to date! We traveled there by coach at 11.00am, having collected a substantial picnic lunch from the kitchen and the first thing we noticed upon arrival was how orderly and spotlessly clean the park was. There were numerous officials wearing red shirts bearing the word 'surveillant' and not one ride or water feature was unsupervised. We were quite an imposing group as we noisily took possession of 41 loungers and commandeered a large shady spot. The chaperones reiterated that everyone was to use plenty of sunscreen, before they excitedly dashed off to experience the rides, which ranged from mild to hectic! The group has gelled together so well and it is heartwarming to watch the dynamics unfold and to hear the chatter and laughter. Our 'animateur' for the day was Remi and we all adore him – he has such natural charm and is yet so respectful and responsible – every mother's dream partner for their daughter! We really had a wonderful day and all feel so blessed.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
8 July 2007 A relaxing Sunday
It's hard to believe that a whole week has passed and we are now officially classified as 'les anciens'! To dispel any confusion, 'Personal Touch' sponsored today's outing and on our itinerary there was a choice between Juan les Pins and Monaco. I read the mood of the group and it was clear that everyone needed a relaxing Sunday morning to sleep in, do some washing and just relax. I therefore offered an afternoon excursion to Juan les Pins, where everyone enjoyed window shopping, people-watching, swimming and sun-bathing on beaches decorated with brightly coloured umbrellas. It was a lovely restful afternoon and at 6.00pm we caught the train back to Antibes. Bus-loads of new-comers have arrived during the day and everyone is looking forward to making even more friends during the course of the week. Everyone came down to dinner all dresssed up for the 'soiree casino' which has been organized for tonight - great excitement!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
9 July 2007 The fun continues!
The classes this morning were smaller than usual, as some students had left and others were still being tested and awaiting a placement. This really worked in favour of our group, as they benefited from even more individual tuition! After lunch all remained on Campus, relaxing, socializing and playing a variety of sports. Much fun was had in the evening during a musical competition called 'La Fureur'. The participants were divided into two teams and they had to identify a song from a few notes. Once the song was identified, the team had to sing it as loudly as possible! The 'furiously loud' singing certainly justified the name of the game! The animateurs/animatrices cannot be praised highly enough – from early morning to well into the evening they are cheerful, exuberant and make sure that each individual student feels valued. They go to bed long after everyone else, gathering to discuss the events of the day as well as to organize the following day's activites. The entire team on the Campus is very professional and serious about what they offer – they reflect my personal sentiments, which expains why I am so very happy to continue my liaison with the Centre International d'Antibes!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
10 July 2007 Sailing on the Med!
Bon anniversaire a Clementene - the third birthday celebrated on the Cote d'Azur! Our group so enjoyed the different dynamic of their lessons this morning, which incorporated new class-mates from 18 different countries throughout the world. After lunch, everyone donned costumes and towels and enthusiastically boarded the bus, very excited at the prospect of sailing on the Med! The weather was perfect and the water was an unbelievable colour - as Mrs Scholtz so aptly noted, this is why it's called the Cote d'Azur! It was such a wonderful, 'once in a lifetime experience' and one that no one will ever forget! Some chose to sunbathe for the remaining hour whilst others went into Antibes. It's lovely to have this flexibility so that all are satisfied! On the way back to campus, everyone sang enthusiastically to Clementene and there was a wonderful spirit on board the bus! After dinner a 'soiree a la plage' was organized at the swimming pool. The dress code was 'beachwear' and a variety of water games were organized, followed by an 'al fresco' disco, with the option of volleyball for those who didn't feel like dancing!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
11 July 2007 Parfumerie et Confiserie!
Our final birthday on the Cote d'Azur and 'bon anniversaire' to Tasmin Marlin! After a delicious lunch of fresh salmon (my personal favourite!), we boarded our coach and made our way inland to Grasse. Even the boys thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the 'parfumerie' and many purchases were made, using our 10% discount vouchers! We then made our way to the world renowned Florian 'confiserie', in les Gorges du Loup, where they make sweets, chocolates and jams! It was an immediate favourite as everyone was welcomed by free samples to taste! Our coach driver was superb and she drove so calmly through some pretty hair-raising bends! Tonight there is the option of a short outing to Juan les Pins, but many have opted to stay on campus to relax and recharge their batteries in preparation for the last few fun-filled days. How time has flown and what a wonderful experience this has been!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
12 July 2007 Excursion to Monaco
Although not confirmed in the original itinerary and costing, everyone understandably wanted to include a trip to Monaco. So, at great personal cost, I organized a coach for today and off we went with our beloved animateur, Remi! It was so gratifying for me to see the obvious joy this outing brought and I would rate it as one of the very best to date. The views on our approach to Monaco were magnificent and our coach driver stopped wherever possible to allow the group to take pictures. We slowly started to recognize the trappings of serious wealth, as we spotted a predominance of Ferraris, Maseratis, Rolls Royces, Lamborghinis, Porsches and so many others I don't even know how to spell! Everyone vowed that they would be driving one of these within the next 10 years! I have often visited Monaco and can say in all honestly that I have never seen it as beautiful as today. The weather was magnificent and with not a cloud in the sky and the sun shining brightly, the colours were picture-perfect. Try to imagine the azure blue waters contrasting with the vibrant green lawns, the various shades of terracotta, the pink palace and the white yachts --- much like heaven, I would imagine! We started our tour with a visit to the Cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace are laid to rest and then we went to the Palace, where all were excited to see that the royals were in residence. After some souvenir shopping, we wandered through the lush exotic gardens, where we marveled at the unbelievable views. It was such a relaxing afternoon and at 5.30pm our coach driver unhurriedly drove us home along the coastal route. What a treat it was to pass through beautiful towns like Beaulieu sur Mer, Villefranche and Nice. When we arrived back at the Campus, there was a spontaneous round of applause for Remi and our coach driver – it was certainly a day no one will ever forget. In the evening the animateurs/animatrices put on an educational 'spectacle', illustrating the history of France leading up to the Storming of the Bastille on July 14th. Other 'local artists' had their chance to perform and once again Chris Macclements got a standing ovation for his outstanding performance! Everyone then socialized until 11.00pm after which they made their way to bed, tired but immensely happy and fulfilled.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
13 July 2007 Certificates and Marineland
Who would believe that children could be genuinely sad that school had come to an end! Everyone has thoroughly enjoyed their innovative lessons, their dynamic teachers and their new classmates. Your children have benefited from 27 hours of French tuition and once again I have been complimented on the commendable behaviour and positive response from the South African students – merci beaucoup! At lunchtime, they all proudly displayed their certificates, which indicated the number of hours attended, the level attained and a comment from the teacher – it's certainly worthy of a frame! At 1.30pm we boarded our coach for a visit to Marineland and the spectacle with the orca whales & their dedicated trainers was world class and the atmosphere in the stadium was riveting. We decided to have a relaxing evening tonight and everyone has been advised to start gathering things together in preparation for our departure on Sunday. Tomorrow, the 14th July is 'la fete nationale' in France and we need to be well rested before our long and fun-filled day in Nice!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
14 July 2007 Homeward bound!
We spent a wonderful day in Nice today, exploring the 'vieille ville', strolling along the Promenade des Anglais, swimming in the azur waters, tanning on the pebble beaches and shopping up a storm in a variety of 'name brand' stores. The majority of students opted to spend their final evening in Juan les Pins where there was an indescribably beautiful fireworks display to mark the French national holiday. It is now 23h55 as I write my final diary entry and I am left with an enormous sense of peace and satisfaction. To hear 36 children saying "Jenny this is the best tour of my life and it's just as you described it in your presentation" is so heartwarming. The behaviour of each and every one of our group has been commendable and I would like to pay tribute to the two chaperones from Pretoria Girls' High School and Maris Stella. Marianne Scholtz and Janine Serrurier have been superb companions and went far beyond the call of duty, acting with compassion and wisdom at all times. I thank them sincerely for their able assistance in managing 36 students for over two weeks. We have seen your children develop before our eyes and we know with certainty that they have had a life-changing experience and that all will return enormously enriched from this tour. We leave the Campus at 11h45 tomorrow (Sunday 15 July) and fly out of Nice on EK 96 at 15h20. We arrive in Dubai at 01h15 and have three hours in transit before departing on EK 761 at 04h10. We arrive in Johannesburg at 10h30 on Monday 16 July and those connecting to Durban will depart on BA 6209 at 14h15, arriving at 15h25. We are all well prepared for the long flight and everyone is so exhausted that I have no doubt the time will pass quickly! As parents, you have afforded your children the most wonderful experience and I know that they will be eternally grateful to you.
Written by: Jenny Peddle