Our School Trip to Strasbourg

First Day: The European Parliament

Two weeks ago, with the class of 1ère ES 2 of Le Lycée du Granier we went to Strasbourg. Mr Watts, our English teacher and Mrs Pouliquen, an economics teacher and the social worker were our three accompanying teachers for the length of the stay. We left the school very early and we took the direction of Geneva. We traveled by bus across Switzerland and we crossed the border again.

When we arrived in Strasbourg at 11 o'clock am we went straight to a traditional and famous restaurant called « Chez Yvonne » where we ate a Munster pasty, a knuckle of pork served with potatoes and an ice cream for dessert.

In the afternoon, we were invited to take a cruise on the Ill River which flows through the city.

Afterwards it was time to move towards the European Parliament to attend a session during which Euro-MPs debated the issues first of immigration and then technologies for civilian and military use. To close our visit in the parliament we met our MEP Malika Benarab-Attou who answered questions about the functioning of European institutions.

We were then taken to the youth hostel where we had dinner and we spent the night.

Second day: What about Strasbourg?

The next day began with the visit of the old town. A nice guide was in charge of our group and she showed us from the outside the cathedral Our Lady of Strasbourg, the Statue of Gutemberg where she reminded us that he lived here because there were a lot of goldsmiths. She explained the history of the town very well. How it became once French, then German after the outbreak of the Second World War. The special features of the dialect which has been built around the two languages. After we walked in an area called « La Petite France » which was the old district of the tanners and pariahs. Nowadays, the price for one square meter is very expensive. We came again in the Cathedral Square. This time we went into the imposing building. Inside the astronomic clock gives the position of the planets of the solar system. After two hours of free time during which we took lunch, we went back to the bus and we left the center to go to the town of Kronembourg to visit the very famous Kronembourg brewery museum. In conclusion this short stay in Strasbourg with the class was wonderful. Everything was interesting both the first and the second day.

We had a very good time and I was (probably like everybody) so sad when we had to come back home at the end. I've just one criticism to make, the trip was too short!

Guillaume FRANCOIS 1ère ES 2

Strasbourg

We went to Strasbourg for two days thanks to the high school. This plan was financed by the European Union, so that we didn’t pay anything! We left La Ravoire at 5 o’clock and we arrived in Strasbourg at 11 o’clock. So the journey was very long. But when we arrived, a very tasty meal was waiting for us! Indeed, we ate in the restaurant ‘Chez Yvonne’, which is the one where famous people eat when they come to Strasbourg.

After, we made a cruise with a lot of explanations about the city.

At the end of the afternoon, we went to the European Parliament. We had to pass through a metal detector to go into the parliament. We started by attending a debate between the few deputies who were there. I noticed that many deputies say what they want, and they don’t listen to the other deputies’ answer. I was really impressed by the number of translators! Then, we had a presentation of the European Union. After that we exchanged with the deputy who invited us, Malika Benarab-Attou. She is a French politician from The Greens. It was very interesting!

We slept in a youth hostel.

The next day, we visited Strasbourg with a guide during the morning. The afternoon, we went to a brewery. This visit was the activity I particularly enjoyed, and concluded our stay. In conclusion, this trip was very cultivating.

Mathilde de GOER de HERVE 1ES 2

Our School Trip to Strasbourg

This trip to Strasbourg was very enriching. Indeed during this journey we visited a lot of places like the European Parliament, Strasbourg …

Let us begin with the Parliament in which we were able to attend a debate between Members of Parliament. It was a very interesting moment in spite of being tired from the journey and the difficulty to understand the debate.

In the European parliament we were able to spend a moment with Malika Benarab Attou during which the deputy answered the questions that we asked on the role of the parliament and on Europe. Another person gave us as a conference on the European parliament and the role which it plays at the European level. It was a very enriching experience.

Before this visit to the Parliament we enjoyed a boat trip and we visited Strasbourg. We sailed down the Rhine and a recorded commentary explained the story of Strasbourg, European city.

In the evening we went to a Youth Hostel, it was a charming place in which there were not only French people but foreigners and it helped us to better understand the culture of other countries and helped us to keep in mind the subject of our COMENIUS project; Europe.

The next day, we visited the old Strasbourg, but this time it was with a guide. Even there she told us about the history of Strasbourg, with regard to the war and to its status as French but also German city. We appreciated a lot these moments which helped us to understand better places where we were.

Then we finished our stay with the visit to the Kronenbourg brewery. This brewery is one of the biggest producers of beer. We learnt during this visit how beer is made and it was interesting.

Marlène GRIMAUD

Cathy DIAS PEREIRA 1ES2

Two Days in Strasbourg

On April 4^th, we went to Strasbourg! This trip was financed by Europe, this is why we went to the European Parliament. It was a wonderful trip thanks to the Comenius project. Those two days were very well organized; indeed we were busy all the time. First, we went to a restaurant called « Chez Yvonne », where we learned that our French president has already eaten! Then, we went on a boat trip lasting 2 hours. After, we went to the European Parliament.

The European Parliament has 736 members from 27 states. But in the meeting, only 40 MEPs were present. When we went in this building, we were very surprised by the security! To enter this building, we had to take off our jackets to be checked out. In it, we had to be quiet because many people work there.

What I particularly enjoyed was our meeting with Malika Benarab-Attou, a French MEP. She is the person we talked with on Skype when we were still in France! She was very friendly. Moreover, she is from la Savoie! When she arrived, she explained to us the role of the European Parliament and answered our questions about the news and she gave us her point of view about what is going on in Libya.

After that, we went to a youth hostel where there were many students of different nationalities. We had a good evening and night!

On 5 April, we visited Strasbourg with a guide and to conclude, we went to a famous Kronembourg factory. It's a brand of beer and there, a guide talked to us about the history and the ingredients of this particular beer. It was a short visit but we were happy to be able to taste it.

These two days were a great experience. Everything was perfect. I really want to thank the teachers for those great memories! :)

Pauline MIKULSKI 1ES2

Our Two Days in Strasbourg

We went to Strasbourg from 4 to 5 April 2011 thanks to the Comenius project. We were invited by Malika Benarab Attou, a Member of the European Parliament who belongs to the Green Party. The trip was financed by the European Parliament and partly also by the school bursar, so no money was demanded from students.

We left the school at 5.00 am and arrived at 11:30 in front of the cathedral in Strasbourg in order to eat ‘Chez Yvonne’ where we ate a typical Strasbourg meal. Then in the early afternoon, we took a boat on the Rhine where we listened to explanations about the city. I liked taking the boat because the explanations were very pleasant and there was the sun which shone a lot.

Then at five o’clock, we were received by the European Parliament where we listened for an hour to a debate between MEPs...

Around six in the evening we met Malika Benarab Attou and we asked lots of questions about the parliament and it role. There are 736 members in the European parliament. Its seat is in Strasbourg but there are plenary sessions in Brussels and also offices and other plenary meetings.

After all these questions, we saw a slide show to explain how the parliament operates.

At the end of the day, we went to sleep in a “youth hostel”.

The next day we woke up around 7am. The morning, we visited the city of Strasbourg with a guide where we learned that before Strasbourg was part of Germany and currently belongs to France.

Then, we visited the Kronenbourg brewery, a beer factory. Now we know how beer is made. The day ended with the return by bus to Chambery. For me, the most interesting thing was visiting the town of Strasbourg because the guide was very pleasant and it’s a beautiful city. I had a very good trip!

Salomé SIMON-CHAUTEMPS 1ES2