SMUS FRANCE/ITALY RUGBY TOUR 2024
3/22/2024 0 Comments Team daum blog postSienna: When I first arrived at the billet in Saint Marcellin, I was overwhelmed by their kindness and welcoming attitude. A highlight of my time in St. Marcellin was definitely the game and pizza night with my billet family (including Harper), and another billet family who were hosting Tim and Peter. We ordered eight pizzas and played a plethora of card games and guessing games on YouTube. We may have been falling asleep on the couch as it was straight after our games but it didn’t stop us from participating in the games and conversations. Despite the language barrier, we managed to have a fun and memorable night whilst building a bridge between cultural barriers. In all honesty, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t skeptical when I heard that we would be billeting during the trip. My billet experiences allowed me to be fully immersed in French culture and gave me a new outlook on families around the world. My billets in France were an experience that I will cherish dearly. Harper: In Toulouse it was really cool to practice my French with the first family who didn’t speak English. It was also really fun to be able to go to her club team’s practice and witness French rugby from the inside. Frank: Reflecting on my time in Toulouse, France, I'm captivated by its vibrant culture, rich history, and warm hospitality. From exploring medieval landmarks to indulging in its diverse culinary scene, every moment was filled with discovery and delight. Toulouse has left an indelible mark on me, and I'm grateful for the unforgettable experiences it provided. Declan: I saw a lot of very unique people in the boarding school in Saint-Marcelin and a different set of rules in boarding compared to smus. I enjoyed the experiences that I was offered and the food was pretty good and it was very interesting to see the difference between the cafeteria and boarding rooms compared to the smus ones. Jude: I enjoyed my second billet which was quite the experience. The French people are very humorous, a lot of which I couldn’t understand due to my lack of French (I picked it up quick though). I was located in the rolling hillside of saint-marcellin, in a quaint house with a stable for horses out back. I was taken aback by French duck which was quite tasty. The experience was well worth it Nick: I enjoyed staying with my first billet family, who were very very kind and made a lot of delicious food. They shared their culture with me, and we talked a lot about rugby, and how the father coached someone on the starting French national team. In Lyon, I enjoyed touring the stores and restaurants, and looking at the beautiful architecture. Rohan: My dinner with Patrice and Sophie was my highlight of his billeting experience. They were kind enough to make a three course meal including squash soup, duck confit, and brownie almond cake. This meal also included multitudes of cheeses local to Toulouse. Even though the conversation was 50% lost in translation the food and laughs were understood by both sides. Frank: In toulouse it was really fun to play touch rugby after our sight scene with my first billet and his friend. We had a lot fun, I met new people and make new friends. It was an amazing experience!!! Tim: My highlight was the cheese variety in Saint Marcelline as our host parents loved cheese so it was a great opportunity for Peter and I to sample it. The host parents in Toulouse were keen rugby players which made us want to play rugby with them in our free time. Alex: In Toulouse I had an amazing last night with our billets. They took us to a roof top patio, we enjoyed watching the sunset over the city from up above. Later after dinner we played a new French card game and learned more about the culture Finley: In Toulouse it was nice to be able to have conversations with our host family and learn about Occitanie and French culture. In St Marcelin I enjoyed meeting our billet as he was our age and although we didn’t understand each other very well I learned that the gym and clash Royale was a common language. Written by: Sienna, Nick G., Harper, Frank, Alex, Finley, Declan, Jude, Rohan, Tim
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