- A week in France before Easter break for our Italian partners : an opportunity to organize interactions between students in English class ! For a recap in French of their week, read here…
A Warm Welcome to Tarbes
The Italian students landed at Lourdes airport around noon and were warmly welcomed by their French correspondents. Francesco, one of the Italian students, said:
« Tarbes amazed me because it looked clean and pretty, not like Italian cities. The school looks nice too! »
He was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the people, confessing:
« Italians always tell bad things about the French (arrogant…), but in fact, they are nice and better at driving. »
Throughout the week, the Italian group explored the region with city tours to Bayonne, Biarritz, Toulouse, and Lourdes. They also enjoyed a fun laser quest session and various activities with their host families.
Comparing School Systems
We also got to learn a lot about the differences between the Italian and French school systems thanks to Lara, another Italian student.
« In my school, classes have around 20 students, and they stay the same during the 5 years of high school, » she explained. In Italy, the choice of school at 14 determines the subjects you will study for the next five years. For example, Lara studies languages at her « Liceo Linguistico », including Italian, French, English, German, and Latin, along with sciences and humanities.
She pointed out a major difference:
« In France, you get to choose your specialties no matter the school. In Italy, however, your school choice defines your studies. »
While she appreciates staying with the same group of friends throughout high school, she admitted:
« If you realise you don’t like it throughout the 5 years, you can’t really change. »
Angelica, a lively student from Modena, had a strong opinion about the two systems:
« I prefer the French system because the Italian one sucks, » she declared without hesitation, drawing laughter from everyone.
Cultural Discoveries and Gastronomy
Beyond school life, the Italian students also shared their cultural heritage. Gioia, from Bologna, proudly described her city’s long history:
« Bologna is known for its two huge medieval towers, its pasta al ragù, and its very old university — it’s more than 900 years old! »
She also explained an interesting tradition from medieval Bologna:
« The richer you were, the bigger your tower was — the big towers were a symbol of wealth. »
When it came to French gastronomy, our guests were curious and adventurous. Angelica mentioned:
« I enjoyed eating pancakes, salads, cold meats, and meat, » adding that she was already looking forward to returning to France.
A Shared Experience to Remember 
This exchange was not only about comparing school systems or tasting new foods; it was about building friendships and discovering a new perspective on each other’s daily lives. Lara summed it up best when she said:
« Yeah, well, I’m quite acquainted now so… I’m enjoying it. »
We hope this exchange is just the beginning of many more enriching adventures between Théophile Gautier and our Italian friends.
Until next time, arrivederci!