Our school trip to Strasbourg:

What did I prefer in Strasbourg? Hum … everything was super but I loved the first day when we went to the restaurant «Chez Yvonne ». Why? Because I love discovering new things like food for example.

That was really good because before this meal I had never eaten a « jarret » or the local Alsatian cheese called ‘Munster’. That was a really good discovery for me because usually I don't like meat. I think that was a really good idea to bring our class to this famous restaurant and also to Stasbourg the city of the European Parliament.

The first reason why we went to Strasbourg was to visit the European Parliament which is related to the Comenius project. So after a really decent meal and a long cruise on the Rhine we went to visit the parliament. This is a really beautiful and peaceful place. So at first we went to the chamber to attend a debate between some members. That was interesting to see how it is organized. The debate was about immigration. After we had a meeting with a man who explained to us how different European institutions operate. Then we met Malika Benarab-Attou a French MEP, who belongs to the Green Party. So we spoke with her for one hour about the parliament, the war in Libya and lots of economic problems.

About the European Parliament : It is composed of 736 members, who represent 375 million voters from 27 states, is the second largest electorate in the world, behind that of India, and the largest trans-national electorate. The European Parliament is involved in developing guidelines and regulations.

Morgane JACQUIER 1ES2

Report about school outing to Strasbourg

It was five o’clock in the morning when we left La Ravoire on 4th April. I felt so excited! All the people of the class ES-2 as well as the accompanying adults (Mr.Watts, Mme Pouliquen and Mme Menard, the social worker) travelled for three hours before stopping in a motorway café. We took a breakfast and then, we went back to the bus which drove us to Strasbourg at 11 o’clock. All of us were surprised when we arrived ‘Chez Yvonne’ : a lot of portraits of famous people like M.Sarkozy, Mme de Fontenay or Patrick Bruel were autographed by them. These people apparently ate there.

After eating an original meal, we embarked on the boat which showed us a nice part of the city. It was what I particularly enjoyed because I love sailing even if it’s rare. Moreover, I spent a very pleasant moment with my classmates, in the sun. Then, we walked all the way along the river which is called “l’Ille” to arrive at the European Parliament around 5:30 in the afternoon. I was very impressed!!! I thought it was the most beautiful building I’ve ever seen. After being inspected, we entered the Chamber of the European Parliaments where we attended at proceedings for an hour and a half. I learned every deputy has a limited speaking time to expound his point of view.

I knew the European Parliament shares the legislative power with the European Union Council and that it counts 736 deputies who have to come one week per month in Strasbourg. After hearing three debates, we were taken to a conference room where an assistant of the Parliament explained to us the political institution and the functioning of laws’ propositions. I was interested a lot! Then, the deputy Malika Ben-Arab Atou arrived and I realized that we were privileged to see a so important person because there aren’t a lot of people who have this opportunity. We were able to ask her on all we wanted about the news and the laws’ voting.

The following day, after sleeping a bit at the youth hostel, we went to visit Strasbourg and its cathedral which is at least 400 years old! Then, we were allowed to go for a walk and to eat among friends for 2 hours. After that, we went to discover the Kronenbourg industry but even if it was interesting, this moment wasn’t my favourite.

To conclude, it was an amazing school trip (financed for the most part by the European Parliament) where I learned a lot of new things and I had the privilege to discover a very important institution.

Thanks a lot for all because you gave us nice memories!

Vicky Devigne 1ES2

Two Days in Strasbourg

When we left la Ravoire at 5 a.m on 5th April, we were so excited with the idea to leave on a short trip with our class that we almost forgot our tiredness.

At 11.30 a.m we arrived at the Place de la Cathédrale which was the most beautiful thing I saw in Strasbourg.

We walked for a few minutes to go "Chez Yvonne" for lunch to enjoy a very tasty meal. On a full belly we went on a branch of the Rhine by boat. This was really interesting and I think the best way to visit the town quickly.

Then we had to be in the European parliament. That was rather interesting but a bit boring because too long. After we met Malika with whom we could ask some questions.

What I particularly enjoyed was the free time and the guided visit in the town. Two hours in Strasbourg with our friends was the thing I loved the most.
The traditional houses looked very attractive.

To finish we visited the Kronenbourg factory which was really large where I learned many things about beer and its manufacture and of course what better way to conclude the trip than a beer tasting session!

Victor CAIN 1ES2

Our Two Days in Strasbourg

When we went to Strasbourg, we did lots of visits, as the Cathedral, the European Parliament. I had a fantastic time and the idea of discovering the different links between France and Europe was extraordinary.

I learned lots of things, like a new region, and the history of the city.

The visits were very interesting, I loved the boat trip, and the atmosphere was pleasant. The history of Strasbourg was exciting because we learned lots of things.

Strasbourg dishes are very different from what we are used to, they are special but I enjoyed the new tastes. And the concept of photographs with famous people which lined the staircase to the first floor was original.

When we went to the European Parliament we had to pass through a metal detector then we were redirected to the chamber where all the MEPs were. We attended a debate about immigrants. All the members were separated according to their different political groups with different ideas.

After the debate, we met Malika Benarab-Attou a member of the “green group”. She fights for the ecology to save the planet. We learned lots of things about the European Parliament. For example, sometimes the Parliament meets in Bruxelles where each member also works. One week per month they come to Strasbourg to debate the new laws.

This visit to the European Parliament helped us to see at first hand the real place of Europe in the world.

Ophélie CHABRY 1ES2

Our School Trip to Strasbourg

Strasbourg

The trip to Strasbourg started on Monday 4 April 2011 and finished Tuesday 5 April 2011. It was financed for the most part by the European Parliament (4500 euros or 150 euros per student) and the rest was given by funds from our lycée. The three people who came with us were Mr Watts, Mrs Pouliquen and the high school’s social worker Mrs Menard.

Monday, we left the high school at five o'clock and we arrived towards noon in Strasbourg. We went straight to “Chez Yvonne”, a restaurant near the cathedral. The lunch was very nutritious: potatoes, knuckle of pork... It's a very famous restaurant because many celebrities go to eat there like the Presidents, actors, singers and other people. After this hearty meal, we made a visit of the city in a boat. It was very interesting because there were headphones to listen to the comments on the monuments and the places that we saw. It was only at five o'clock in the afternoon that we went to the European Parliament. After the compulsory body search, we were able to attend the parliamentary meeting. I found this a little bit complicated because the subjects were political, but it was interesting all the same. Malika Benarab-Attou, the member of ‘Europe Ecologie’ group, came to answer our questions and a man made us a presentation about the Parliament. Now, I know, for example, that the Parliament is composed of 736 European Deputies and it exercises legislative functions with the Council of the European Union and the Commission.

The next day, we visited the old town of Strasbourg for two hours with a guide. She showed us the old town, places, houses, schools and at the end, the gigantic cathedral. Then, we were free for two hours to eat and buy some souvenirs. The last visit was the former beer factory of “Kronenbourg”. This visit taught me a lot of things: how to make beer, what it is composed of...

During these two days, I learnt many things. But it was two fantastic days in Strasbourg because the atmosphere was excellent, the visits were interesting and at no time were we bored!

Jade INDERCHIT - 1°ES2