French students experienced life in an Australian school last week when a delegation from College Sainte Marie visited Tarneit P-9 College.
Students and teachers from the sister schools, who have been in contact via Skype and email since 2014, finally got the chance to meet face to face when the 26 students from Chartres arrived in Melbourne last week and stayed with host families from the Tarneit school.
Tarneit P-9 principal Rynn Anderson said the Normandy students were treated to Australian-themed art and cooking classes, a traditional Aussie barbecue, an AFL game, a movie night and a visit to Healesville Sanctuary.
The two schools signed a memorandum of understanding, with Tarneit P-9 College students to reciprocate the visit by travelling to France next year.
Sainte Marie English teacher Thierry Jullien said the students had been pleasantly surprised by how respectful and kind Australians were, the laid-back culture they experienced and the level of multiculturalism at the Tarneit school.
He said he was thrilled to meet the people he had been chatting with for so many years, and was considering a return trip next year to sightsee at his leisure.
“It’s just like a dream come true,” he said.
“The project is called ‘Two Countries for One World’, and I think we’re achieving that.”
