During the first week of the Term 3 school holidays a small group of students from Kings, Queens, Bayfield, and Logan Park went on a trip to French Polynesia.

This amazing opportunity allowed us to improve our French abilities, specifically speaking and listening by just being immersed in the culture and opportunities we were given. We stayed the first 2 nights in Auckland followed by a 4 and half hour flight to Tahiti for the next 5 nights. (2 nights in Papeete and 3 in Moorea). In Papeete we stayed at Hime Lodge but the main part of our trip was spent at Fare Om in Moorea. (Moorea is a smaller island off the main island of Tahiti).

One of my favourite activities we did in Tahiti was snorkeling. The coral reefs around the island were beautiful, with so many colourful tropical fish - it was really unlike anything I have ever seen. I was also lucky enough to spot a group of flying fish on the ferry back to Papeete when everybody else had already gone back inside. One other thing that I loved about Tahiti was the food, specifically the fruit like mango, pineapple and grapefruit. We also got to try traditional Tahitian dishes like poisson cru (raw fish in coconut milk and citrus juice). - Rachael

My favourite activity that we did in Tahiti was the high ropes course. It was so funny seeing people panic as they would go on the zip lines and obstacles! The day we went was one of the more manageable days temperature wise because it was raining for a lot of the day so that helped to cool us down. Also just being in the shade of the trees was quite nice as we had a bit of a break from the sun. I got very sunburnt while we were away. Also at the Fare Om was a cat named Savage. I loved the cat because it was very clingy and would follow me around almost everywhere. It slept in my bed for the last night. Overall the trip was so fun though because it was so warm and beautiful and I felt like I improved my French abilities a lot while I was there. - Eliana

Going to Tahiti was an amazing experience, as it enabled me to be immersed in French language and I think my language skills improved significantly. I also had my eighteenth birthday in Tahiti which was a great experience, as we spent the day snorkeling and ziplining. Despite the coral reef being amazing to look at with amazing wildlife like turtles and stingrays, our snorkeling guide warned us of ‘fire coral’ (which was everywhere), which definitely added to the sense of adventure!! We also visited a French High School where we learned a lot about the French education system and what life is like in Tahiti. It was a very worthwhile trip and I think it has given me a new perspective and appreciation of the French language! - Simon

One of my favourite activities that we did was snorkeling in the sea where we saw turtles, sea cucumbers and a sea snake. The other activity that I enjoyed was learning about the local Tahitian culture and participating in their traditions, from flower arranging to drumming and dancing. It felt like a full immersion in a French world, which helped facilitate learning, listening and speaking. There’s nothing like experiencing the real thing when it comes to other languages and cultures! - Nathan

My highlight of Tahiti was the nice topical weather, it was so different compared to Dunedin and when I stepped off the plane it felt EXACTLY like the butterfly house in the Otago museum, which was uncomfortable for a day but afterwards pretty nice. It was amazing to swim with a turtle when snorkeling, as well as terrifying to swim with stingrays, anemones and sea snakes. The food was also delicious, being mostly lots of fresh fruit and fish. There were coconuts everywhere which was very cool. Most of all, the people we stayed with and were taught by at Fare Om were incredibly lovely and welcoming, making the trip extra special. -Ruby-Louise