Le dernier jour

So, I'm trying to organise photos at the moment, and once i have, I'll put some up for all to see!

Sunday, my last day, very sad! Woke up early to write thankyou cards, organise presents for my host family and finish packing everything into my bag. Then breakfast - as a treat we had chocolate croissants - Yummy! Mid-morning we headed off to Nimes, to the Pont du Gare, which is a roman Aqueduct, pretty cool! Here, we did a few walks to look outs, then walked along the river for ages to find a little beach, where we had a picnic. That was relaxing, and then we headed back to the car before heading home in the afternoon. Once home, well, read the blog from then. After that blog, i gave up waiting for Emma, and went for a walk - buying my last croissant (chocolate/almond) and trying to imprint the city in my memory.

Back home, showered and had a bit of dinner before finishing packing my bag. Then it was time to say goodbye to Laurent, Cecile and Lise, who weren't coming to the airport. It was sad, but there weren't any tears - I know, I am an ice queen! Then dragging my bag down all those stairs for the last time... When i got to the airport, Mia and Monique were already there with their families, then Kasey arrived and then Emma (it wasn't her fault she was late). The airport was practically empty, and luckily a really nice guy did our check in and luggage. On the scales, the bags all weighed about 2 kg less than they had at home, which was great, so no problems there. Then some photos and procrastinating about actually leaving, before the time came for goodbyes and going through security check. Again, no tears from me (its not my fault - I was sad, I just didn't feel like crying) and I think Mia's eyes also remained dry. Of course, I was the first one to go through security check, leading the way. At this stage, Emma was bawling and required a hug - she almost made me cry. Luckily the security people were nice, although the girs still had to take their boots off.

Then we were onto the plane - attempting to shove our bags under our seats as the overhead lockers were aready full thanks to the many business people around us who probably only had carry on stuff, commuting to Paris for the week after spending weekend with family. (Apparently this is quite common) Not long and we were up the air - crying had stopped and conversation began, we talked across the aisle (possibly kind of loudly because we got some glares from people around us) about how we really didn't want to leave!

Touch down in Paris, and as we knew we were pushed for time, we tried to get off the plane and through the rabbit warren quickly. Found our way out, through the baggage check (again shoes off for the girls in boots - Mia gave sleazy inappropriate guy biggest glare ever - go Mia!!) and followed signs to the correct gate - where we found Jacques - I think that was a relief! As plane was still boarding with big line, Monique and I hurried off the spend our last euros (on things edible of course!) before jumping in line and getting on the plane. Us girls were seated in the middle section between the aisles, in the last 2 rows of the plane. In an attempt to have Jacques sit with us (he was ages up the plane) i suggested we ask the poor guy sitting in the seat next to us if he would like moving. Mia had literally said only the words 'We have a friend...' and the guy was out of his seat, getting his things and following her down the plane to swap places with Jacques. It was quite funny - I think he was dreading the flight surrounded by us!

That flight began with dinner, Mia and I getting our before everyone elses of course - we are so lucky - and it was actually quite nice - vegetable risotto! After dinner, we generally dosed, as it was quite late - and the movies weren't on demand, which is kind of annoying! 12 hours seemed to pass quite quickly, a midnight snakc (icecream!) breakfast and then we were touching down in Singapore. The gate for our connecting flight was less than 20 metres away from the gate we walked out, so we took over a group of chairs, dumped our many bags and took it in turn minding bags/going for walks - we had about 2 hours. After freshening up, Emma and I went for a walk - we went into the Cactus garden - it was soooooooo humid! Unbelievably hot and sticky and we were only out there for about 2 minutes, glad that the airport is airconditioned! I also really like Singapore airport, it is nice and open and airy (well kind of) and easy to navigate (the complete opposite of Paris which has so many levels and tunnels and passages etc etc).

The flight to Melbourne we were sitting 3 and then 2 across, and I was on the end, next to a little kid - but she was ok - too old for crying thank goodness, althugh she did seem to enjoy kicking my legs or leaning on them. Alas. Poor Jacques was all alone about 20 rows ahead of us, but we dropped by occasionally to say hi and supply him with chocolate/lollies. For most of this flight we watched movies, or dozed, or chatted. We had dinner again just after take off - for Mia and I it was some weird pasta bake thing with vegies - also quite nice, and breakfast just before we landed.

Back in Melbourne - our first thought, that everything from the airport looked so dry after the green-ness of France. Passport control - so different to that in France - the guys were all chatty and wanted to know where you had been and what it was like - the guy that Emma and I had had been to Montpellier - but in the 80s "but you weren't born then, were you?" - he was funny! Along to pick up our baggage - this took a while to some through, but did eventually and then through customs. The customs guy wanted to look at my boots which was kind of annoying (everyone else was waiting and impatient) but told me i'd done a good job cleaning them. yay! Then through the doors and there were our parents, siblings, friends etc. After hellos whilst blocking the way, we spent a fair bit of time talking to everyones parents and sisters, before one by one we left, and finally we got to our car and began the drive home.

The thing that struck me the most since I've been home is that it feels like i have been away for no time at all - its almost as thought the last 6 weeks never happened. Weird huh? Photos and maybe some other random stuff about France coming later, but thats all for now. Next thought is that Montpellier is calling me back already - so maybe 2008 we'll be heading back! Who wants to come??

Before I finish this last official France blog - I would like to vote myself in for the best exchange blog award - Emma and Monique can fight it out for 2nd and 3rd, but I'm sorry to say that Sarah and Anna lost dismally!! Sorry guys!