Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52Ski Trip to Italy, Easter 2016 THE JOURNEY We met at school at about 1:00pm on Friday 25th March. Once we arrived with our families, the driver took our suitcases and loaded them onto the coach. This would be the last time we would see our parents until we had finished a week of adventure and fun! We travelled through two different countries – France and Switzerland – in the space of about 27 hours sitting in the same position on the coach. First, though, we travelled to Northamptonshire so we could collect our partner school group, Kingsthorpe College. They had students ranging in age from Year 8 to Year 12. During the journey we stopped at about 5 service stations where we could go to the toilet and buy food. After about 4 hours of driving we arrived at the Euro Tunnel. Personally, this was the first time I had been on it. The coach drove onto a train that would take us through the Tunnel. We got out and stood in the train since the drivers said it would become stuffy in the coach. When we arrived in France we were faced with another painful journey, about 17 hours! FINAL DESTINATION As we approached our final destination, Aprica in Italy, it was nice to see the impressive mountains and all of the small towns that lay between them. It made me think of the lives people there lived, because you could see the farms that people ran to make a living in contrast to our way of life in Birmingham. SATURDAY When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) we were sent with our roommates to take our suitcases and unpack. We had to go up 4 sets of stairs but the most annoying thing was then finding out that there was a lift! My roommates were Nick, Troy and Devjot. I kept everything in my suitcase and just took out what I needed for the next day. After unpacking, we met at Reception and headed to the Ski Hire Centre to have our skis, boots and a helmet fitted for us. After our evening meal (including the first of many pasta dishes) we turned in for an early night. SUNDAY Our first skiing day had arrived! My group’s instructor was a man called Francesco. There was another group; their instructor was called Francesca. Josef, who had skied many times before, was in a separate group with other experienced skiers from Kingsthorpe College. Francesco was a nice person and he was eager to teach us so we could become the best skiers possible. Francesco started us off on the nursery slopes. These were 3 different blue slopes. A blue slope isn’t that steep and is usually for beginners; red slopes slant more and make you go faster and then black slopes are the hardest slopes to handle. First, Francesco taught us how to plough; ploughing is a method used to stop and turn. In our second lesson we went on a conveyor belt and skied down by ploughing and turning. I struggled at the start to learn how to plough but I slowly got the hang of it. I was also a bit nervous going down the slope but again I got used to it. During these two lessons I progressed a lot. After the evening meal we had a quiz, with Mr Campbell as the quizmaster; there were 6 different rounds. Mr Jones said that the winners would receive a ‘substantial prize’ but that ended up being a chocolate bar for each person! My team did quite well in the first couple of rounds but we ended up coming joint second. We had lights out after this and I had a decent sleep. MONDAY When we heard the knock on our door to wake up, Troy opened the door. He and Devjot always had a lie in and I must admit they are very, very lazy; by the time Nick and I had got ready they would just about be getting out of bed! Each morning, we had a buffet breakfast consisting of cereal, juice, bread, fruit, cheese, meats, yoghurt etc. For our morning skiing lesson, we continued on the nursery slopes. I slowly started to develop my turning and our group was learning very fast. After each morning lesson, we headed back to the hotel for lunch. The food was very nice; as a starter we always had pasta but that’s Italy for you! In the afternoon skiing session Francesco showed us how to use the drag lift. A drag lift is a pole that extends; it also has a little seat which you rest between your legs and hold onto. Then you let go when you get to the top. This slope went higher up and we continued to ski down it until we were comfortable with it. For the evening event we headed to a swimming pool. Some of us didn’t go swimming but played cards instead and watched the others swim. TUESDAY We started off our skiing lesson by skiing down the highest nursery slope but then progressed onto the chair lift up a higher slope. This was really fun because we went slightly faster and that made it even more enjoyable. However, the afternoon was even better still. For the first time on the trip we went on a gondola lift. While we were going up the mountain it was great to see all the mountains and to look down upon the peaceful town of Aprica. The best part about it was when we got off 12 Easter 2016 SATURDAY we were sent with our roommates to take our When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) we were sent with our roommates to take our When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) we were sent with our roommates to take our we were sent with our roommates to take our When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) we were sent with our roommates to take our struggled at the start to learn how to plough but I slowly got the hang of it. I was also a bit nervous going down the slope but again I got used to it. going down the slope but again I got used to it. Ski Trip to Italy, In our second lesson we went on a conveyor belt and skied down by ploughing and turning. I struggled at the start to learn how to plough but I slowly got the hang of it. 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I When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) we were sent with our roommates to take our we were sent with our roommates to take our When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) When we arrived at our hotel (the Hotel Posta) Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, Ski Trip to Italy, slowly got the hang of it. I was also a bit nervous slowly got the hang of it. I was also a bit nervous struggled at the start to learn how to plough but I slowly got the hang of it. I was also a bit nervous belt and skied down by ploughing and turning. 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For the evening event we headed to a swimming pool. Some of us didn’t go swimming but played cards instead and watched the others swim. TUESDAY We started off our skiing lesson by skiing down the highest nursery slope but then progressed onto the chair lift up a higher slope. This was really fun because we went slightly faster and that made it even more enjoyable. However, the afternoon was even better still. For the first time on the trip we went on a gondola lift. While we were going up the mountain it was great to see all the 12