Sixth Form in Nice, Easter 2011

Tuesday 27 March 2012

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Saturday 2 April 2011

The final chapter

I counted them all out and I counted them all in. It was a wonderful trip in many different ways - being able to see why it's called the Cote d'Azur (sorry, my phone can't do an 'o accent circonflexe), getting to see a little of Monte Carlo etc. Best of all, though, was the unfailing good company of the group. I've taken many a trip over the years but I've never before had the experience of having the whole group line up to shake hands and say "Thank you". There can be no finer tribute to the quality of these young men.
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Boarding at last

Delayed by 45 minutes but our patience is finally rewarded. Au revoir Nice et à la prochaine!
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Friday 1 April 2011

Too early for some, Nice airport

Not much explanation needed - we're all here but the effort of checking in at 8.00 has clearly taken its toll on some of the group.
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Ice cream by night

It's just gone 2200 and the finest ice-cream shop in France is doing a roaring trade. With somewhere around 90 flavours, including Beer, Tomato & Basil and Chewing-gum, the choice is wide enough for even Sherborne boys.
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Glorious sunshine in Nice

Dressed for the weather, two of Sherborne's finest make a start on their tan as they stroll elegantly down the Promenade des Anglais.
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Friday 1 April

Last day in Nice and the boys are well-integrated into the routine of lessons in the morning and cultural activities at other times. Part of the routine for some includes asking me for a biro and paper. So well ingrained is the habit that I've just been into town to lay in extra supplies: note to myself, next year make it really clear that, as we're going to a language school, normal school rules such as bringing somthing to write with and on will continue to apply.

Antibes was an astonishing contrast with Nice, although no more that 15 minute by train separates the two towns. Where Nice is big and, in parts, dripping with wealth and plenty of opportunities to spend it, Antibes was more like a large Provençal village. Clearly there must be modern bits - after all, it's the second town of the département - but all we saw were lovingly-maintained side-streets and shady squares. The visit to the Picasso museum provided plenty of opportunities for reflection and for extending our appreciation of modern art. Though I sense that the general feeling could have been summed up in the words of one of our group "I just don't get it", we all stuck nobly to the task of paying attention to the clearly enthusiastic guide as we went through the various works - and all this on a very warm afternoon with a tropically blue sea just outside the windows. Picasso worked in Antibes for a little over a year 1946-7, so what we saw was only a tiny sample of his life's work. Ask any of the boys about the great man's interest in adding horns, square ears or sea-urchins to his portraits and you are guaranteed to learn more than you might imagine there was to be known.

Today is the last day of classes and then a free afternoon is on the programme. However, with another sunny afternoon in propect and the Mediterranean (still rather chilly at this time of year, reliable sources inform me) close at hand, the hours between lunch - astonishingly copious portions of lasagne yesterday - and the final dinner with the families, the activity of choice need not be hard to guess. In the evening I plan to offer a trip to the cinema. France is very much the home of film and still takes the matter very seriously. Experience shows that when the Shirburnian is offered the choice between the latest art film in French or a dubbed Hollywood blockbuster, there can be only one winner.

There may be one further posting, particularly as I've now managed to train my BlackBerry to send pictures and text, but if not, then I must take this opportunity to thank my colleague, Mr Martin Brooke, for being here and contributing his reassuring presence to the expedition. Above all, though, my thanks go to the boys themselves for their excellent company at all times and for throwing themselves cheerfully into the bain linguistique - many congratulations to one and all.