Sunday:

French people arrived between saturday and sunday night. I was a bit " panicked" , so I forgot almost every english word what I´know :D

At the morning we woke up maybe 9 a`clock and ate breakfast and then I showed a funny football video to Laurent.

Midday I called Toni,because Laurent best friend James were there and then we went to the city about 2 P.M with them. In the city we saw also Linda and Camille.

In the evening we went bowling,it was so fun :)!

Monday:

Monday was normal shool day for us. But in the afternoon we went to the city again.

But this time we went to Mc Donalds. In the evening me and Laurent watched the Harry Potter.?

Tuesday:

In the afternoon we went to the spa. There were two different kinds of sauna normal sauna and steam sauna. Steam sauna was for boys and girls,so we broke the rules and went there with swimsuits. I think that almost everybody loved steam sauna. After spa,we went to Sanni`s house.

Wednesday:

Today after school and Savonlinna trip Loïs came to my house, because Sanni had a training. We watched Toy Story, but we all thought that it was boring. Then we ate meatballs, potatoes, vegetables and carrot/orange sallad. Loïs liked meatballs and Laurent told me that in France they don`t mix sallad like we did (carrot/orange sallad). But he also told me that it was goood sallad =D

After food, we went to the "Youth Club" Koskis.

Thursday:

Thursday was cooking day! Afternoon we went back to school to bake PULLAS.

It was so much fun. After baking we went to Mc Donalds.

ps. My group made the best pullas ever :)!

Friday/Saturday:

In the evening everybody went to Sannis house. There is so much fun we ate pizzas and listen to music. And Saturday early morning we went back to school and french people left. It was so sad and I miss everybody so much...

Miss you all ! xoxo

-Camilla-

Sunday:

Our French friends came between Saturday and Sunday, in the middle of the night. I was really exited to meet my penpal Magali. =) At home we went straight to bed.

In the morning we had much time to chat. We went to Lappeenranta to visit a horserace. We also drove through the centrum and went to a big supermarket. In the evening we went bowling with few other Finnish and French and it was really fun ! :) After bowling we went to Linda’s place to watch a movie. There were me and Magali, Anniina H, Lisa, Anniina A, Jade, Camilla, Laurent and of course Camille, Linda’s penpal. =)

Monday:

We had a normal school day and French people followed our lessons. In the afternoon we went to the centrum and Mc Donald's with other French and Finnish students. We just hanged out and walked in the city. We also visited Valtionhotelli, Imatra’s famous hotel. We also went to see the rapids :)

Tuesday:

We had a normal school day but the French students went to Ovako factory. In the evening we went to a spa. There were many different pools and two different saunas, normal and a steam sauna. After the spa we ate very big ice creams ! :) Then we walked to Sanni’s house, which was very near the spa, and there we played cards.

Wednesday:

Today the French people went to Savonlinna and they were back in the evening, so we had a little time of our own after school. :) In the evening almost every Finnish and French people went to Koskis, a youth place in Imatra. We hanged there and also played table football. French students were very good at it ! :D

Thursday:

At Thursday the French people went to the border and we Finns had to study. :D After their trip we went baking at the school ! We baked pulla’s and korvapuusti’s. :D They were really yummy! After baking me, Magali, Lotta, Camille, Anniina H and Lisa went to my place to watch a movie.

Friday:

At Friday we went to Lappeenranta to do shopping and everything. :) We all found some clothes and French people souvenirs for home. After the trip we had time to take a nap because we were veeery tired ! :D In the evening we went to Sanni’s place. We played cards and listened to music and just hanged and chatted. We also made pizza ! =) French people had to leave between Friday and Saturday, in the night. The goodbyes were very sad and emotional.

I miss you all so so much ! :*

Bisous !

Salut everyone! This is our ( Lotta and Annniina) sealing for the week you spent here :) At Sunday we woke up full of enthusiasm. We had a whole week in front of us with our French partners. We were touring around Imatra’s centre with a little group of Finns and French. We showed to French pupils the most important places in Imatra: Mc Donald’s and Vuoksi. :D In the evening we were bowling in Spa. We all were brilliant in it and we got strikes and spares all the time. ;)

At Monday we were studying hard at school. In the evening we all went to Imatra`s centre and sat in Mc Donald’s and played card. :D We also walked around the park.

At Tuesday we were also studying at school. At evening we went to Spa to swim. After all swimming and being in sauna we ate ice-cream which tasted really good and then we walked to Sanni’s house. There we played card and talked a lot.

At Wednesday we went to school the same time as previous days. Then it was time for French students to go to Savonlinna. On the way they stopped by to visit forest museum Lusto. In Savonlinna they visited the Castle called Olavinlinna and we think they had also time to do shopping but we don’t know a lot about that day because we weren’t there. We hope you had a nice day. Later we all went to youth centre and played foosball (which you also liked to play in our school :D ) and hanged around.

At Thursday the French students followed our lessons which we think might have been a bit boring. :D Later we had to study again so we didn't come with you to visit the border. In the evening you baked buns and some of them were really unique but the ones we taste were good. Later we watched movie Zombieland with Emma and Magali. None of us really liked it. :D

At the last day, French and few Finnish students went to Lappeenranta and they had a tour and shopping again. Because it was the last day we all gathered to Sanni`s home and spent the hole night there and we had a lot fun. ;D Then after the midnight you had to leave back to France but luckily we see you in Oktober. We hope that you liked or at least you didn't hate the Finnish food and you had a good time. Can't wait to see you again!

(source: http://freemeteo.com/ )

This afternoon we have been in a typical finish city called Lappeeranta which is located near Imatra at about 30 kms. The bus has brought us at the top of Lappenranta where teachers have gived us forms to fill: it was a game that consisted in finding answers about plenty of places in the city. Groups were formed and the race could begin! ^^With the help of this game we have visited this very nice city.

Lappeenranta is filled of typical finish houses and also with large malls where girls could shop as they want!! There were a lot of solds so parent’s money must have vanished pretty quickly…! hahaha ;)

Thx again to all the teachers

Philip.

(source: http://freemeteo.com/ )

2011_04_13_Julie 040 by Finlande1ere

(Photos: Julie, Violaine)

Today we came to the border .  There were two officiers who explained us the organization of the surveillance. The border is really closed to the human traffic contrary to the border between France and Switzerland. There is many guard towers and otherwise there is machines which detected every human movement.

That was a very interesting day and really amazing because we were just next to Russia.

Chani, Mona and Mathilde.

I like Finland… In fact, I really enjoy this country… It’s true, it’s totally another world. We do unusual activities. We have been to the sauna for the first time for most of us, and to go with our partners is really great because we can talk and discover another way of life! And I like the lessons, the atmosphere but especially people! They’re so happy to host us and they are so excited to come in France: it makes us want to make plans. Besides, there isn’t any more barriers left between us, Frenchs… Of course we things in common with special people, our friends, but we can spend time all together and speak with a lot of people. Moreover, as our pen friends want to do things with their friends, we hang out with people we’re not used to.  For instance, Selja, my pen pal is really friend with Fanny and Linda’s, and at school , I’m not with them, but, here it is so nice because I can discover them, I can speak with them… We’re laughing a lot, in English of course, and I hope it would continue when we come back in France!

Clara (and Camille HB)

(source: http://freemeteo.com/ )

After going around town in Savonlinna, desperately looking for a souvenir shop (which we in fact were unable to ever find), we walked to the local castle.

legend: The Olavinlinna castle.

Located on an island between two lakes, that castle was originally a Sweden fortress to defend against Russian attacks. But the castle was built in the Russian territory, maybe by inadvertence of Sweden. 

Since its construction, it has faced many years of war, and has been used by both Russian and Swedish armies. Inside, the architecture is a bit strange, as concrete is mixed with 12^th century stone.

It yet remains quite a classic castle, with its chapel, its king hall and its defending towers.

Candice, Loïs & Charlie.

(photos: Camille HB., Candice, Emma, Julie)

 Pour ceux qui seraient intéressés le site Internet: http://snor.joensuu.fi/olavinlinna/index_english.htm 

The Internet website: http://www.savonlinna.travel/en/home/

(Photos: Camille HB, Emma)

The official website: http://www.lusto.fi/?locale=en

On Wednesday, we went to the forest museum in Lusto. In this museum, we saw many things made out of wood, like a giant horse, a tree house, chairs, etc… We saw how the forest firms cut trees to sell them. There were some engines to do that, like tractors, chainsaws which from all ages. We also got to discover the wildlife of Finland, and the equipment of finish walkers.

It was really fascinating and interesting to see all the things that we can do with wood. And the artwork was beautiful.

Juliette, Magali and Camille M.

(photos: Melissa)

2011_04_13_Julie 008 by Finlande1ere

Did you see  ?

(source: http://freemeteo.com/ )

On Tuesday 12th, after visiting the steel company, we assisted to a concert  In this concert, several choirs sang different songs. Songs in Finnish, songs in English (“stand by me”;”over the rainbow”).

There were 3 choirs, “St-Petersburg choir”,”The Strawberries”,”Mansikkala choir”, and also a group of little children dancing to traditional Finnish song.

2011_04_12_CamilleHB 012 by Finlande1ere

2011_04_13_Julie 006 by Finlande1ere

2011_04_13_Julie 007 by Finlande1ere

At the end, the St-Petersburg choir and the Mansikkala choir all came together to sing. It was the two rivals, Finnish and Russians, singing together.  

At the end, they gave the headmaster, the choir leader and many others presents for their hard work. All in all,  it was really pleasant.

Laurent, James et  Coline

NDL: après moult discussions, Coline avait raison il faut bien dire "To attend" not "to assist": et voilà une fois de plus la preuve de la supériorité féminine... NF

Note de Coline: merci John!

(Photos: Camille C, Jade)

(photos de Camille C. et de Jade)

8h45, départ vers une destination peu ordinaire : Ovako. C’était assez impressionnant! Il s’agit d’une usine de sidérurgie !

Après une petite présentation du site, nous avons tous revêtu une jolie blouse bleue, un casque et de superbes lunettes : de vrais travailleurs ! Trois dames du personnel nous ont donc accompagnés et nous avons découvert un nouvel univers…

A présent, dès que nous achèterons une C5 ou une 407, nous penserons à cette entreprise, qui aide à la construction !

Bref, tout va bien et c’est vraiment génial, nous sommes tous heureux de nos correspondants, il fait un grand soleil, on prolongerait bien ce séjour sympathique !

Clara

(photos: Jade et Mélissa)

Plus d'infos sur le site d'Ovako: http://www.ovako.com/

(photos: Melissa)