Over the School holidays we spent an amazing week on the beautiful island of New Caledonia. The trip was an educational one, offered to the BHCS students from Year 8 to Year 12 who are enrolled in the French Program.

Our days were packed with learning and sightseeing activities. The students participated in morning lessons taught by a native speaker at the hotel and reflections with their own teachers at the end of each day. They were encouraged to use their French to order food at the restaurant, buy souvenirs at the market or just talk to each other and their teachers.

The main activities for each day were focused on visiting the tourist attractions of the capital city of Nouméa, learning about the culture of the native Kanak inhabitants of the island, and being immersed in the French speaking environment.

We have compiled a small diary of our trip, in which the Year 11 students talk about some of their highlights.

Tuesday, Day 1 - Amelie D & Mikaela S

Our first day of the trip required a very early morning, much to the dismay of the teen-aged group. We arrived at Melbourne airport at 7.00am to check in our bags and say our final goodbyes to our family. After a quick prayer and group photo, we all (surprisingly!) made it through customs (with a few random security checks, of course). Our first flight of the trip (and first flight ever for some of our classmates) took us from Melbourne to Sydney, where we ate lunch and compared which state of Australia is better.

The flight from Sydney to Nouméa was more enjoyable, as we had an inflight meal and TV screens to watch all of our favourite French movies, for example, “Sugar and Stars”. After a long day and four hour flight, we were glad to get out of the air and onto the ground. We were greeted by the warm weather of New Caledonia and lovely local people. From the bus to the hotel, and the hotel to our beds, there was great excitement and anticipation for the week ahead!

Wednesday, Day 2 - Amy G

On Wednesday, we went to explore Anse Vata, the area in which we were accommodated, and there were many shops to buy souvenirs and food from. However, the highlight of this day was definitely the Tchou-Tchou train, as we got a guided tour around Nouméa. We learned a bit about the history of the city. We could also see the colonial houses and the beautiful views from high above. We quickly noticed that the locals were very friendly and happy to say "Bonjour" to us as we were driving past in our cute vehicle.

Thursday, Day 3 - Ben M & Phie H

On Thursday, while the previous morning had required VCE students to wake up earlier, we had the blessing of waking up later before having breakfast and a French lesson with a very knowledgeable teacher named Julie. The entirety of the group then met at the hotel lobby and got onto the tour bus. Our trip to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre was given a live commentary by our very enthusiastic guide Evelynne. We then split in two groups, and the VCE group was met at the cultural center by a Kanak guide from one of the surrounding islands of New Caledonia. She liked to quiz us on our French, while she discussed the cultural history of the Kanak people and the centre itself. We then visited the traditional huts of the Kanak people and learned about the gender and community roles involved in their culture. After we returned to the hotel, we took a quick break before walking to a local crêperie for dinner.

Friday, Day 4 - Lucy T, Joel H, Jonathan K & Xander H

On Friday morning, we had to wake up very early, but it was well worth it as we spent the day on Amédée Island. The stunning “ilot” was a small boat trip away and boasted a grand lighthouse that you could climb. Despite a couple of placid sea snakes, we were able to appreciate the beautiful coral reef both swimming, and in a glass bottom boat. We also got to watch a traditional Haitian singing and dancing show, while enjoying a delicious buffet of fresh seafood, vegetables and fruits. It was definitely one of the best days of the trip. (Lucy)

The island was a lot of fun, as we got to go for walks along the beach with the Tricot Rayé, a small and harmless snake species that could be found all over the island. A lot of the group went swimming and snorkeling as well, and a few of us were lucky enough to see some turtles while we were out there. The lighthouse on the island was also a lot of fun, but a long climb up to the top and back. While we had a blast on Amédée, it was nice getting back to the hotel. (Joel)

Saturday, Day 5 - Vincent L & Stan A

On Saturday, after eating breakfast, we started to walk to the WW2 Museum and the Maritime Museum. It was about an hour walk, but the weather was great. Again, we split the group in two, and the VCE students went through the WW2 Museum first. There we learned a lot about New Caledonia's involvement in the Second World War. We were also able to sit in a WW2 Jeep and take photos. After our time in the WW2 Museum, we swapped with the younger year levels and visited the Maritime Museum. There was a lot to see and learn. There were old cannons and big rudders from old ships, as well as old uniforms. After this, we found our lunch, while enjoying a special fête of the Nouméa neighbourhoods. There was music, street food and a presenter, who quickly spotted us and asked us where we were from and whether we were enjoying New Caledonia. After lunch, we went for a hike to Notre Dame du Pacifique, a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After admiring the views from high above, we went back to the hotel. Once we had arrived, we had some free time followed by dinner and then devotions. Later on in the night, we did a map activity, where we learned more about the city of Nouméa. Upon completing this, we were allowed to go to our rooms and get some sleep.

Sunday, Day 6 - Mikaela S & Amelie D

On Sunday, our large group got to go to the market. We loved exploring, buying souvenirs for our families and having conversations in French with the local people. Sarongs were a popular gift chosen for family and friends. After that, we caught a coach up to Le Parc Forester, the local Botanical Gardens. We had the opportunity to explore the park and wander through the grounds. This revealed many different creatures, such as monkeys, peacocks, and a range of birds, including the Cagou - the flightless bird and national emblem of New Caledonia. Then, we returned to the hotel for dinner at Pizza et Pasta. It was lovely to see all of the students get dressed up for a fancy dinner. The market and park were perfect for our second last day in New Caledonia, as we could rest and wander on our own terms after a packed week with lots of socialising.

Monday, Day 7 - Kate W

Monday was our final day in New Caledonia. We started our day off with our last French lesson with our lovely tutor, Julie. Next, we played Pétanque on the beach (essentially French lawn bowls). In the afternoon, we headed over to the aquarium and saw many cool sea creatures. My favourites were the turtles and the sharks.

Tuesday, Day 8 - Joel H

Tuesday was the day we finally had to return home. We got up at 5:00am Nouméa time (4:00am Melbourne) and packed up our rooms. We had breakfast at 6:00am, and then got on a bus for the hour-long trip back to the airport. After slowly getting through customs, we were on the plane on our way back to Sydney. While most people slept, I looked out the window and watched the last bit of sunshine and warmth disappear behind us. Arriving in Sydney, it was raining, reminding us of the amazing weather we had during our week spent overseas. After the transfer to the domestic terminal, we jumped on our plane to Melbourne and, one hour later, we were finally home in the arms of our families.

We hope that all of our students enjoyed the trip to New Caledonia, and we already look forward to our next one. Until then, à la fois prochaine, Nouvelle-Calédonie!

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