Should you go on exchange?

Hi everyone! This year, I participated in a study trip to France in which I stayed at my French correspondent’s house for two weeks to practise my language skills and learn about a different culture. The experience was amazing and I would highly recommend it to ANYONE. Before going, though, I wasn’t sure if I was interested or not and was searching heaps of questions online. Hopefully this can help you decide on whether or not you should go!

Pros

• Your listening and reading comprehension capabilities will skyrocket and you will also have heaps of chances to practise your language skills by speaking to the family.
  Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as your host family will be the most supportive and helpful people with language learning.
• You will build strong relationships across the globe that you can count on in the future.
  You don’t need to become lifelong friends to be able to maintain in contact over the years.
• Your independence and confidence will improve.
  Before leaving for the trip, I was too embarrassed to order food but now I have no problem speaking to anyone I don’t know as I had to do it so frequently in France!
• Your motivation to learn the language will be fresh.
  You will have gathered heaps of resources like songs, websites and YouTube channels, inspiring you to love the language and culture there.

Cons

• Your correspondent’s friends will be unsure of how to act with you.
  It was really awkward with them as they didn’t know how much French I knew and weren’t sure if I could understand them or not. I highly recommend just introducing yourself to their friends and asking them simple questions so they will feel comfortable talking to you.
• The host family you stay with may have different customs to you and will do some things differently.
  Their way of doing things will not necessarily be right or wrong but you will need to adapt a little to what they do and how they do it. For me, this mainly had to do with bedtimes and meals.

I hope this short list helps you with your decision as choosing to go to France opened my eyes to so many things and improved me heaps! Even if you decide not to go, good luck on your language-learning journey!

Paris Travel Diary – Day Four

Our last day in Paris was another amazing experience and by the evening, I had decided that my fate was to live in the City of Light.

In the morning, we took a relaxing cruise on the Seine where we had some stunning views of the very famous Tour Eiffel. Notre Dame was still under renovation but we were able to see some very typical Parisian alleyways and churches from the water nonetheless.

After a packed lunch under the hot sun (and right beneath the huge Tour Eiffel), we decided to head off to our next stop. While a group of the boys rode off on their electric scooters and many of the girls left for (yet another) shopping trip, my friends and I decided that we wanted to immerse ourselves in yet another building of culture; the museum of Centre Pompidou.

On our way, we took a detour to another famous square so by the time we had arrived at Centre Pompidou, we were itching for an icecream. Ordering in French was making us a little nervous but luckily chocolate is the same as English except for the final 'e' (chocolat)! 😉
Before heading into the art gallery, we decided to look inside one of the vintage shops Paris is teeming with. The little store had so many cool pieces of denim - I wish I could have stayed there WAY longer... 

The works in the modern and contemporary art museum of Centre Pompidou were fascinating and we particularly enjoyed an exhibition tracing humankind’s life from prehistory.

By then it was time to meet at the restaurant for our dinner. Crepes awaited us once again and we were given two huge ones each! I adored my egg crepe for the main meal but the chocolate-filled one for dessert was unbelievably good!

In the cooler temperatures of twilight, we left for the Tour Eiffel. It's sparkling lights helped us navigate our way through the Parisian evening and soon, we were in the elevators and on our way up! The view was astounding in the night as the Parisian lights sparkled from all corners of the city. We were able to see the most famous landmarks of the City of Light with fresh eyes .

Paris Travel Diary – Day Three

Day three in Paris was our most jam-packed day by far. In the morning, we spent a few hours at the Musée du Louvre, only just managing to score a selfie with the Mona Lisa before the security guards moved us along. All of the artwork there was amazing but by the end, we felt like our feet were going to fall off! We then headed to the Jardins des Tuileries for lunch.

After our sandwiches, salads and pains au chocolat (taken from the buffet breakfast at our accommodation of course), we headed to the Place de la Concorde, a famous square in Paris.

Frenetic shopping on the Avenue des Champs Elysées ensued with no spending except for a $14 smoothie (nice one, Maddi). After a long day, we met at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe and tried to muster enough energy to climb the famous monument.

The views from the Arc were amazing! You could see every corner of Paris! Mont-Martre was a stunning hill in the backdrop and it would have taken a while to pull ourselves away from the amazing view if we hadn’t heard the word ‘dinner’ being uttered.

Dinner at Le Bossu was, of course, delicious and after a busy day, we were ready to finally head home to our hostel.

Paris Travel Diary – Day Two

Our second day in Paris was just as exciting as our first! We spent the morning at the Chateau de Versailles, the main royal residence of France for the period before the French Revolution. Unfortunately, whilst there, I lost my camera! For that reason, I don’t have many good photos from my first two days in France (but never fear, I used my phone on the other days!).

At the Palace of Versailles, we visited the living area and then spent the rest of the morning in the ENORMOUS gardens. Seriously, they were practically a park with all of the fountains and pathways.

In the afternoon, we went for a self-guided tour of the Musée D’Orsay, the museum which turned out to be my favourite Parisian art museum thanks to its large collection of Impressionist artwork.

In the evening, a sumptuous dinner awaited us at Le Gourbi, a Moroccan restaurant in Paris. The food was delicious but it was sooo much! Nevertheless, he scoffed it down after a long day of sight-seeing.

Paris Travel Diary – Day One

Yes, you read the title right, I recently went to Paris! I study French at school and went on exchange to France. We spent a few days in Paris before heading off to our host families and so I wanted to share the things that I did!

We arrived early in the morning on our first day in Paris. Our first stop? The Trocadero! The view towards the Eiffel Tower was amazing although slightly tainted by the construction site in front of it ; ( . After a delicious crepe, we headed off to the Catacombes to see some relics.

The Catacombes were so interesting; I could have stayed inside for ages! The morbid quotes and stacks of skulls provided a window into the past and were definitely food for thought. I would never have expected to enjoy them as much as I did.

In the evening, we took the metro to Montmartre and ate at a typical restaurant of the area. Just as the sun was setting, we went for a beautiful walk on the hill. The view from Sacre-Coeur was astounding! After entering the church and looking around for a while, we decided to go home after a long but very enjoyable first day in Paris.

Phillip Island Travel Diary

Hey there! I recently visited Phillip Island (Australia) with my family for a weekend and I had heaps of fun. I thought that my blog would be a great opportunity to share some of my experiences and to give my recommendations for travelling to Phillip Island. Here it is; my Phillip Island Travel Diary.

Day One: Saturday

Main Activities: exploring Cowes, wildlife sanctuary, the Nobbies lookout, penguin sightseeing

Who knew a reptile could be so cute? This picture is from the Wildlife Sanctuary at Cowes.

Our first day in Phillip Island was filled with plenty of activities. I particularly enjoyed looking out from the Nobbies at sunset as the landscape was very majestic. I do feel that I need to warn people with dietary requirements (particularly vegetarians or vegans) that there was limited choice for lunch, the local stores did not have many meat-free options. I would suggest bringing your own food if you’re picky or if you have specific requirements.

This artwork was created with rubbish found in the ocean! If we all took our litter home instead of leaving it on the beach, our wildlife would have a more pristine environment that more closely resembles the original habitat of penguins.

In the evening, we saw penguins returning to their nests and it was such a special moment. Although I felt sorry for the penguins as their privacy had been entirely exploited, I was somewhat relieved by the fact that profits from the event were used to improve their habitat. Nevertheless, it was really cool to step into the shoes of another animal!

Day Two: Sunday

Main Activities: adventures by the beach, exploring Cowes, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

The beach at Phillip Island is magnificent and the pier is very nice too. After going for a walk in the sand, we continued to stroll by the shops in Cowes before heading to the Grand Prix circuit. It was a lovely day and I, for one, highly enjoyed seeing an important circuit in the Moto GP calendar!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Phillip Island. Cowes is a nice little town on the island that has a great country vibe and there’s lots to see and do! Let me know if you’ve ever been to Phillip Island and, if you have, feel free to share any tips or experiences in the comments below! ‘Til next time! ❤️

Top 5 Student Travel Tips

Hello everyone and welcome back to Chamomile & Colour! I’ve got some very exciting news; I’m leaving for a school study trip soon! I just can’t stop thinking about it so you I’ll be posting lots about it on here! Today I’m sharing my top five travel tips, particularly for students going on exchange. Hope you enjoy!

Number One. Back up your data!
Pick-pocketing and other forms of theft can happen, particularly on vacation. Be prepared by saving all of your important documents from your phone, computer, camera, etc. on a USB. Don’t forget to bring some photocopies of valuables like your passport and boarding passes too.

Number Two: Pack snacks!
I don’t know about you, but I HATE plane food. The smell (and thought) of it makes me want to retch! If that sounds like you, I cannot more highly recommend gum, mints and general snacks like chocolate or chips to help fill that void in your stomach during a long flight. I’ll probably be uploading a post about my favourite plane snacks soon… : )

Number Three. Save on adaptors with a powerboard.
This is such a good tip if you’re in a group as it’s likely that you’ll all be charging your phones or other devices in the evening after a long day of sight-seeing. With a large powerboard, you’ll all be able to plug in at the same time AND you’ll only need a single adaptor. That’s a win-win situation in my eyes!

Number Four. Place heavy items on the bottom of your suitcase.
I just recently discovered this tip and I think it’s so useful! If you pack heavy things near the wheels of your suitcase, it’ll be much easier to carry your case around and, as a bonus, you can feel serene knowing that no items have been squashed underneath your hiking shoes or your hair straightener!

Number Five. Reuse containers!
If you have lots of small mint containers or plastic gum jars, reuse them for small items like coins or cotton swabs. This save lots of space and means you don’t have to go out and buy small containers, pouches or bags if you already own some.

Interested to learn more about traveling as a student? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back, I’ll be posting lots about my upcoming study trip. Feel free to follow my blog using email or WordPress to stay tuned!

The Bullet Journal Holiday Essential Packing List

When going on vacation, the bullet journal is definitely a necessity for me. Not only do I love to plan my trip in its hardcover pages but I love documenting my experience in a trusty travel log. Sometimes, it can be hard not to leave anything behind when packing bullet journal supplies so here’s a little list of my essential items.

• The journal (duh!)
• Brush pen (mini) set
  About six key colours should be enough but you can also pack according to your theme or travel log palette.
• Eraser
• Ruler
• Pencil & Sharpener
  If you can’t bring a sharpener on the plane, make sure your pencil is very sharp!
• Washi Tape
  Two rolls are usually enough for me. It’s great for including images or brochures for your travel log.
• Pen
  I’ve only ever used black in my journal. Do you do the same?
• Black Fineliner
  I personally don’t use coloured fineliners but they can give a pop of colour to your drawings so feel free to add some in.

Have I forgotten anything? Comment below if you think I’m missing an essential bullet journal supply. If you like bullet journal content definitely leave a like on this post because I’d love to keep writing about this topic.

See you around!

How to pack: The Bullet Journal Way

Greetings! I recently went on a trip to Tasmania and decided to create my packing list in my bullet journal. I wanted to share it with you today to show how simple a page like this can be. I’ve always loved to be creative in my bujo and include heaps of different colours and textures but this time, I decided to stick to a more simple layout. I love the packing lists that other bullet journallers have made and there’s a great image here for you to take inspiration from.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bulletjournal/comments/81zi8x/travel_bullet_journal_packing_list/ ^ This clean and minimal spread was created by ohheyclaudia and would be really quick to create. If you’re not great at drawing airplanes (like me) just pop a sticker on your page instead!

And here’s my own packing list. It’s much more colourful and less-planned but I hope you like it nevertheless! ❤

A handy aspect is the open circle for each point. As soon as you’ve packed the item, you can colour in the circle to know that you’ve got it in the bag 😉.

P.S.: My theme for this month is citrus fruits – that’s why there are lemons and limes all over my page. I’d love to hear from you about your favourite monthly theme ideas! Comment below if you’d like me to try one of your favourites!