VIPs

This morning we headed off in the bus for Hotel de Ville (City Hall) with our billets and 3 teachers from Jean Mariotti. It's all very grand and they take our sister school relationship with Jean Mariotti very seriously. We were greeted by a contingent of beautiful women who looked like they'd stepped straight out of a magazine along with the NZ ambassador, the Noumea deputy mayor, the deputy mayor for sister cities and the vice recteur who is in charge of education in New Caledonia and all for the very important brigade from Taupo Intermediate school. There was a raft of speeches mostly in French but a very nice one from the NZ ambassador in English who told the kids how very lucky they were to have this opportunity and that the future for positive overseas relationships lies in their hands.

We had a breakfast of baguette and croissants (well at least the kids did cos they scoffed the lot) then there were lots of official photos to mark the occasion. The kids' waiata and haka was well received and we've promised the mayor's PA to sing pokarekare ana when their mayor and counsellors visit Taupo in November. She said it made the hairs on her arms stand up.

A quick visit to the city museum followed then we headed off to Daniel Talon primary school. As usual we had a huge welcome with their classes singing songs and we responded with our items. The kids ate in the specially decorated canteen then spent time mingling with the kids outside, experiencing what it's like to be treated like stars; some of them looked like the Pied Piper with a string of little kanak kids trailing after them. They then were divided into groups and went to various activities including football, origami, art and circus tricks. Baz and Colleen were immediate experts at spinning the plate however I couldn't do it at all even with extra help!!

The whole school turned out to wave us off and we returned to Jean Mariotti to wait for the billets and a briefing about tomorrow. They know our visit to Phare Amedee will be one of the highlights of our trip so are pretty excited.

A demain...

PS Cameron says hi to Room 19