Until we meet in Alberta.....Au revoir

They came into town with none of the stereotypes we were expecting.  No horses, not cowboy hats, no cowboy boots, no one was chewing tobacco..... and now they are gone.  What they left behind were teary-eyed girls and shattered stereotypes.  They also left behind five days of great memories shared with our students here at Quebec High School.  Memories that I am quite convinced with the help of social media will remain for many years to come.  (Carnival, Ice Castle, Parliament, Old Quebec, Stairs and more stairs, basketball games, Carnival Parade, Wendake First Nation Site, Mont Morency Waterfalls, Ice Canoe races, shopping where 400 years ago settlers once traded furs, stairs, scaling the side of the mountain, Inter-provincial Ninja, Cabane a sucre, stairs, Ice Hotel, did I mention stairs)

To all the Barnwell parents:  Thank you for allowing you sons and daughters the opportunity to come to our little part of Canada.  They were great ambassadors for your school, your town, and of course your family.  I have had some great comments from our host families and I hope that our children will take the lead from your kids when we visit you in Barnwell.  I would also like to thank all Barnwell parents for the support you have given your three chaperones.  I was blessed to be able to spend some time with each of them.  They spoke very highly of their community and I look forward to meeting many of your when I come in April.  I remember in the early stages of this potential exchange when Ms. Mellow wondered if we would accept doing an exchange with a rural town like Barnwell.  Coming from a town of 3000 myself I let her know that small towns usually have the biggest hearts!  Through speaking with your kids and teachers I think this is a true statement about Barnwell.
To the Barnwell students: my hope is that you will have some fond memories of the short time you spent in Quebec City.  (sorry about all the walking.....muscles heal....memories last!)  I also hope that you will take the time to think about all those that have made sacrifices so that this exchange could happen and that you thank and hug your parents for allowing to take part in this great opportunity.
To the Barnwell chaperones: what can I say you guys were great.  I can see why you have great kids.
Thank you for putting up with all my shenanigans.  What trust you must have had in me that you were willing to sit your behinds on a piece of rubber tubing and then following me down a snow mountain at 100 km/hr !  Thank you for making me laugh so that I would forget how tired I was.  How can I sum up our time together....Portofino, Paillard, Cafe St. Malo, Creperie Breton!  No matter how good the food may have been, it paled in comparison to the conversation around the table and the exchanging of stories.  It is good to be in the presence of people that enjoy working with kids.
Your only homework now is to make me look as good on a horse as the guy in the picture above!

We will see Y'all in Barnwell in April....until then au revoir!


Mr. Sweeney.