To see some photos taken by Mr Spencer on the first day, click here
First Day at Sauveterre
Thursday 10th September 2009
The new group from Mowden took off from Newcastle Airport for Heathrow at 9h10 and after meeting up with Mr Bailey, we waited while the Cothill group arrived to check in at Heathrow. We all flew to Toulouse together and arrived to find high temperatures and a bus waiting to take us on to the Château. We all sat down to a delicious supper of roast pork with plums before going to our new rooms. The girls' rooms are all at the far end of the Château main corridor and the Mowden boys are in Les Communs. Late at night, we were joined by Charlie Allison, a new arrival to Mowden and Sauveterre.
Friday, 11th September 2009
We had breakfast and Mr Bailey explained where our things needed to be put from our suitcases. By 9.30 we had all unpacked and went to meet our teachers. It was a beautiful warm and sunny morning. All morning, the teachers quizzed us, gave us work sheets, asked us to do various exercises and listened to us reading and speaking - all in French! They were assessing each person to see which class we might end up in next week. Lunch was poulet - frites, which we enjoyed under the cedars at the front of the Château. We had Martine's famous mousse au chocolat for pudding, which everyone adored. After lessons, we played a wide game, and hid all around the park surrounding the Château. Four people avoided capture, and we all piled into the swimming pool after that for the first time. The water was lovely and refreshing! We had very tasty fish pieces with rice for supper and some cheese. For prep we have all written letters that will be scanned and emailed home to our parents. It has been a long and tiring day but great fun and we are all looking forward to a busy and enjoyable first weekend.
Saturday 12th September 2009
One group went to the market in L'Isle Jourdain this morning; the mission: buy a present for under2euros for Mr Stacchini ... what to buy? Qu'est-ce qu'il aime? Est-il végétérien? Qu'est-ce qu'il n'aime pas? The result: une baguette, du fromage de chèvre (Alastair Masson)une bracelette (Verity Bedford) du vin rosé (Alex Vassallo et Harry Moat)des poissons rouges (vivants bien sûr!) un tatin d'aubergine (MWWS) une sucette et des bonbons (Charlie Allison), du miel, une bouteille de bièreand lots of other interesting looking animals, vegetables and minerals. We wait to see who wins the prize for the best and most unexpected present! This evening, we are looking forward to welcoming to Sauveterre Old Mowdenian Thomas Berney, fresh from the Isle of Man.
MWWS and the Mowden Sauveterriens
