Wednesday September 4th

Le Bagne - The Prison Colony

It was raining again this morning when we left the apartment but the sun has come out off and on throughout the day.  The sea is rough with quite a breeze.
We had the first period together in a classroom and then went by bus with our billets out to the Penal Colony.  It was a great visit and very informative.

  It is such a shame that Graffitti abounds throughout the country and even on historical sites like this.

James Cook discovered New Caledonia in 1774, but it wasn't until 1853 that it was annexed by France. In 1864 the first convict ships landed after a 6 month journey from France. 22,000 criminals and political prisoners arrived here eventually. The convicts were chosen to go to New Caledonia because of whatever trade skills they had, not because french prisons were overloaded.  These men were brought over specifically to build the new town which became the city of Noumea.

                                                 Inside the bakery listening to our guide.

                      Above and below, one of the four huge ovens that could cook 80 loaves at once.

      This shows the huge long pole used to extract the cooked bread from the massively hot ovens.

                       

 

                                                   Listening to our guide again

                            The only remaining photo of the bakery when it was working.

         The workshops (now used for some University classes), where convicts made furniture and other necessary items.  Where the prison is situated was once an island and the prison was completely self sufficient. There is now a bridge connecting it to the mainland.  The island had its own farm with animals for meat and eggs. There was no power on the island and beneath the ground where we stood outside the workshops was a huge water reservoir.  This water was used to create steam which drove the machinery used.

A replica of the Guillotine.  Many shudders as we heard of the punishments used for prisoners! Only a relatively small number were ever beheaded as they didn't want to eradicate too much of the labour force.

                                                                    The church

  The rear end of the church and you can see the beautiful outlook from the penal colony. It seems so incongruous that the prisoners lived such a bleak, desolate and cruel life, and yet were surrounded by such beauty.

If their sentence was less than 7 years, they were allowed to return to France when they were able to after release, but if the sentence was longer than that, they had to spend the rest of their days in New Caledonia after they were released.

Everyone agrees that this no school on Wednesday afternoon thing is such a good idea!  Bill and I had a meeting with the Principal and Deputy Principal at lunchtime and we will be finishing packing this afternoon all ready for our move to the hotel with the kids early in the morning. They have been instructed to do the same before they go to bed tonight!

Fingers crossed it will be fine tomorrow. We can't get into our hotel room until the afternoon so we will be descending on the shops along Anse Vata beachfront as soon as they open. The kids can't wait!  At 1pm we go over by water taxi to Duck Island for snorkelling until 3pm.

Au revoir until tomorrow!

Tuesday 3rd September

Music and Cagou

Well it began cloudy this morning and then the sun came out and we had a beauty.  The french Navy was in action obviously patrolling this morning. A big frigate marred the landscape as we looked out onto Anse Vata Bay!

We had PE for two periods this morning and we were told that it was going to be rugby!  Bayley was a bit concerned and asked if they should really be trying to teach us rugby!  They had lots of fun though playing games in small groups and doing a range of ball skill activities. Bill was in his element taking groups as well.  They all donned JM sports singlets over their clothes and Hannah's face was classic as her nose turned up and said that it smelt!  She wasn't sure about wearing it at all!

                                                                    Pieter going for it.

                                        "Get out of my way."  Sophie dealing to the boys!

                                                             Mani making a run for it!

They were all a bit tired after all the running in the heat but then had to face a walk up the hill back to school!  It was the 9.30am break when we arrived back and the kids are so dismayed at the fact that everyone just hangs around talking for the 15 mins.  Lunch time is the same. Big grilled roller doors come down when all the kids are out of the classroom, blocking off any access out of the concrete rectangular area

I am sorry we have had tech issues and lost internet last night. We're off to school now so I will finish and post more photos tonight.

Au Revoir!

Monday September 2nd

Honoured Guests

The bus picked us all up with the billets at 8.30 this morning. It was warm again but has drizzled all day with high humidity.
We had a very welcoming reception at Hotel de Ville ( the name of the Council Chambers) and it is obvious every year how supportive they are of our cultural exchange.  Speeches were given from both sides and our kids all stood up with Bill to sing his Ngati Porou iwi waiata, Paku Manawa.  It sounded great and they were very grateful - also of Bill's efforts at speaking french!

                                                Our kids singing Bill's waiata with him.

After watching an interesting Powerpoint on New Caledonia, we were shown through to another room where we performed our waiata and haka and then had very popular pastries and drinks to celebrate.

In one of the hallways is a beautiful Korowai in a glass case that was given to the Council from Taupo when our sister city agreement was first signed.

The ceremony for this was held at the yacht club in Taupo when we officially signed our Memorandum of understanding with Jean Mariotti College also. A haka, or challenge, was issued by Taupo Intermediate School on behalf of the people of Taupo. There were many dignitaries from New Caledonia present as well as the National French Advisor for NZ schools, the french Ambassador to NZ and the head of Education in New Caledonia. The significance of a korowai is the care and protection it offers to the wearer. The cloak signifies an ability for  citizens of both cities to connect with one another highlighting the cultural exchanges and economic  opportunities that exist. Korowai are generally reserved for leaders and as such are treasured.  It is always very cool to see it displayed at Hotel de Ville and know that we were part of imparting this gift to the city of Noumea.

After our food the bus collected us and took us to Porte des Fer College and what a culture shock this was for our kids!  This school is at the absolute opposite end of the socio-economic scale compared to Jean Mariotti.  

Here we are arriving.......

As someone commented, "this really feels like a prison!"

They were lovely kids and warmly welcomed us. Some of them apparently just love learning English and are so good at it. One Indian girl spoke 6 languages! This blew our kids away.  They certainly have to deal with some problem kids there though and police are regularly called to the school.

I do think that we are going to have some more appreciative kids when they return to NZ, not just of their families but for our country and especially our school.

                                                         The outside of the classrooms

                                                             Sharing and conversing

                                                   Lining up for lunch in the canteen

                                               Waiting for the college dancers to perform.

Jasmine had had a good day yesterday for her birthday with her family. We all sang happy birthday to her in french and I'd bought a selection of french lollies to have on our way home from College Portes de Fer. I hope you've coped with the frosts back home! That cold weather is feeling miles Au revoir!away from here.

It hasn't stopped raining yet but I hope it does for tomorrow.  

Au revoir!