French exchange pupils at Reddam House Ballito enjoy African adventure

If Ballito residents have been catching snippets of French conversation in restaurants, shops and beaches in the last two weeks, it’s because of an influx of exchange pupils in town.

Eighteen pupils and two teachers from a school in France embarked on a partnership with Reddam House Ballito to organise an annual exchange.

The visiting pupils got the opportunity to attend Reddam House for several days, visited game reserves and interacted with the diverse cultures of local families.

Coming from Haute-Savoie, a mountainous area blanketed in snow this time of year, they found the humid weather, fauna and flora, as well as the cuisine quite exotic.

They enjoyed their African adventure so much that one of the visiting pupils, Mélissa André, joked with her teacher on the night before their return trip home: “Madame, I think I might throw my passport in the sea, so I may not make it to the airport tomorrow!”

The South African counterparts also enjoyed hosting their exchange partners.

Lashana Krishnaswamy, who studies French at Reddam House, said: “It was an amazing and memorable experience.”

Dhiya Singh, also a French pupil, said: “It was great to bond with a long-distance friend.”

Kaelo Nchoe agreed and said: “It has been an absolutely amazing experience filled with lots of fun and laughter, as well as lots of self-reflection and learning.”

In 2024 the Reddam House pupils will undertake a reverse exchange with the French school, which will include a tour of Paris and visiting the Chamonix ski region.

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