Hello, my name is Barbora Stará and today I will introduce my stay in France, which was made possible thanks to the Erasmus+ programme. When I went through the selection process, my trip was planned and the school, Lycée Maupertuis, and my host family in France were chosen. My stay lasted three months. I stayed in a dormitory in Saint-Malo, which was directly connected to my high school, for a week and stayed with my host family at the weekend.
My host family lived in a town called Cancale, just outside of Saint-Malo. The family took me in as if I had always been a part of it. I sampled Breton specialties and seafood since we were living by the ocean. During weekends and holidays, I explored the surrounding towns with my family. I even took a day trip to Le Mans, which is a beautiful historic city. Here I visited the museum of the 24h race that is held there every year (2nd picture).
At school everyone was very nice to me and willing to help me with everything, but I integrated more towards the end of my stay when I was better able to speak and communicate spontaneously. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were available in the school canteen. The level of teaching here was not as high as the one we have at our high school, yet I learned new things in subjects that we don't usually have in high schools.
The Erasmus+ programme has 100% helped me to improve my French and I would recommend this life experience to everyone.
We asked...
01
Why would you recommend your classmates to participate in the Erasmus+ programme and what advice would you have for them?
It is definitely the most effective way to learn a foreign language. I couldn't have made that much progress in the same amount of time with regular Czech lessons. I was able to become completely independent, and most importantly, to navigate a foreign country and cities on my own, which was the first lesson I got when I went to Saint-Malo. I would recommend future Erasmus+ participants to consult someone who has already left about the trip. This advice is really beneficial.
02
What were the biggest challenges you overcame during your stay?
My main challenge was to get to Saint-Malo. After arriving at Charles De Gaulle airport, I had two and three-quarters hours to cross Paris to Montparnasse station. I expected to have plenty of time, but the opposite was true. First I took the RUR to the city centre and then took two metro connections to the station. Unfortunately, I had to leave the last line early due to a malfunction and wait for the next connection. Eventually, with an eight-kilogram backpack on my back and a 23-kilogram suitcase, I made it all the way to my train 10 minutes before departure. After that, I had only one transfer to make in Rennes from the TGV to the passenger train. In the evening I arrived at my final destination, Saint-Malo.
03
How did this experience affect you in terms of personal development?
I am better able to evaluate situations and rely on myself. I can navigate in a strange environment and I am not afraid to ask people around me for help or advice. I have realised that I love travelling, exploring new places and learning new languages. I have gained a perspective on the world for which I am grateful.