The Bristol-Bordeaux Exchange

[Kitty]

Is there anyone out there that did the Bristol-Bordeaux exchange?  Plane loads of Bristol school children would go out there for one month and then Bordeaux children came back for a month.  I did it in 1973 and 1974...

[Helen]

Yes I did it!  1977 and 1978.  Then again in 1981 but that time we were 17 and made our own way by train (quite an experience transferring between train stations in Paris, and one that made me grow up fast, but I won't go into that....!)

My son has recently done an exchange - 9 days with the whole of his class to Nantes and only one day completely on his own with the family.  When I look back at my time - 28 days on my own and, so far as I recall, not even a phone call from an English teacher - I wonder how we did it.  But I had a fantastic time, am still in touch with my correspondent and put my continuing ability in French (and even our purchase last week of a house in Normandy) down to that sink or swim experience!

Do you remember DanAir?!  Can you imagine what it would be like to fly a whole plane-ful of excited 13 year olds to France....!

Helen

[Chardie]

Yes I did the exchange same year as you Cathy in 1973/1974! So guess you are the same age as me. I still live in Bristol as well. Mine actually turned into the Bristol- Biarritz exchange as they didn't have anyone left for me in Bordeaux.I had to do a paper round for a year to help pay for the trip. Couldn't stand my exchange partner. We had absolutely nothing in common. She was an only child and I have 3 brothers. Her father was a dentist and mine an artist. The father was a real old lecher - use to parade around in front of me in a very very short dressing gown. and I had to sleep in a granny annexe seperate  from the main house. Obviously I never kept in touch with the girl.  But the experience didn't put me off buying in France (just not next door to that family!).     

Becky

[Linda Thomas]

Hi Cathy

Yes.  I did the Bristol-Bordeaux Exchange twice.  The first time, in 1971.  Both my sister and I exchanged with members of the same family.  Our exchange partners came to stay in our home in Bristol during March/April 1971.  This was our first experience of entertaining people who spoke very little English.  We were quite shocked that a 13-year old and a fifteen year-old both smoked!  I remember my mother checking with our French teacher, only to be told that this was quite normal in France.  We went to France in July/August and had a fantastic time.  Despite being with my sister,  I found that my French improved tremendously during my stay and has undoubtedly contributed to my now near-native fluency.  Sadly, I lost touch with my exchange partner when the parents divorced and my partner moved to Nice.

Around Easter 1971, my sister and I again exchanged.  This time with girls from different families.  I stayed in Libourne, whilst my sister was placed with a family some eighty miles away, near Toulouse!  Seems like the Exchange area was a lot bigger in 1971.  Again, I had a fantastic time.  My hosts spoke no English, so again I spent the whole month speaking only French.  I certainly don't remember any contact from the accompanying teachers during either of my exchange visits.  Also, In those days, few people in France had telephones, so the only contact with home was via letter.

I have met up with my second host family on a number of occasions down the years.  I return to France at least once a year, but only returned to Bordeaux itself about six years ago.  My husband was astounded to find that I could drive into the city, immediately find parking and find my way around without a map!  I can only conclude that the place made a huge impression on a sixteen year-old!  I also think that the format of the exchange in those days, when we were "thrown in at the deep end" for twenty-eight days, has been a major factor in developing my own language skills, together a great love of France.

If anyone else out there would like to share their experiences of the B-B Exchange (or their more recent travels in France), I would love to hear from them.

Regards

Linda

[Kitty]

I've just had a "Bristol-Bordeaux old boy" staying with me.  Georges exchanged with my brother in 1967 and 1969 and we have kept in touch.  I lost touch with my exchange partner.

It is amazing that we went away for one month with no contact at all from parents (other than letters) and lived with strangers.  It couldn't happen today.

When I had to decide where we live in France, I came back to Bordeaux because of the exchange.