Police World Edition 2 2013

Article

Youth Exchange Forges French Friendship

Pearl Devonshire, from Hertfordshire branch, reports on a wonderful experience resulting from a Notice Board posting. Her son Shaun got on with his new French pen-pal so well that she invited him to the UK for a week long visit. T he main reason for responding to Flavien’s pen-pal request was to help improve my son Shaun’s spoken French amazingly also fitted in enough time for two teenage boys to go shopping! On Favien’s last day I arranged for him to visit Hertford police station and meet up

Pearl, Shaun and Flavien in London

and likewise to help Flavien with his written English. From the very first letter the boys were well suited, both serious Arsenal fans and they also share a love of games consoles. Flavien’s father is a policeman in Lille. Veronique, his mother, teaches German and like my husband, Ian, is a local town councillor - so we had plenty of common ground which made it easier to get to know one another. Flavien’s family live in a town in the north of France called Erquinghem-lys, which is around 20 minutes from Lille. Flavien’s parents and I communicated regularly via email and through this arranged for Flavien to come and visit us in Hertfordshire during the summer of 2012. With dates confirmed we excitedly waited for his arrival, and on the 12 August we travelled into London to meet Flavien and his mother Veronique at St Pancras Station. The boys hit it off instantly, as did Veronique and I. Luckily both Flavien and his mum spoke really good English - as my French is terrible. Shaun and Flavien conversed in both French and English on the journey back home to Hertfordshire. Shaun, showed Flavien and his mum around our village, visiting the museum and the famous Great Bed of Ware. Veronique was only in the UK for one day to make sure Flavien was settled and had arranged for a late train back that evening. But before leaving, Flavien and his mum went to visit Greenwich and the Cutty Sark with Shaun and my husband. The weather was amazing and the views breathtaking as all the Olympic venues were still set up and London was still caught in the post Olympic buzz. The next few days were very busy and filled with trips to Hertford town and trips to the cinema with Shaun’s friends - and various other outings we had arranged for him. The week flew by so quickly. We arranged to visit London once more before Flavien went home. Taking in all of the sights from the Millennium bridge, the Tower, ferry trips on the Thames, changing of the guard and

with some other members of the Hertfordshire branch of IPA, Emily Hughes and Phil Rosier. He was able to see police vans, cars and try on various parts of our kit as well as visiting our IPA office in Hoddesdon police station. Flavien fitted in to our family so well and his friendship with Shaun was instant, as well as with our younger son Kyle, who didn’t want him to go home. In October, 2012, Shaun visited Flavien in France. Again the boys had a fun week filled with swimming, football, archery, laser shooting and a visit to a circus in Lille. We still keep in contact via email and Facebook and hope to have Flavien visit us again this summer. I would definitely recommend responding to Youth Exchange and Pen-pal requests to any

of our members with teenagers who wish to improve their languages and visit different countries. Shaun’s French has certainly improved because of his new friendship with Flavien - mine on the other hand is still rubbish! Pearl Devonshire

At the Tower

Interested in having a pen-pal? Visit: www.ipa- uk.org/Notice-Board

Flavien meets an officer from Hertfordshire

Police World Vol 58 No.2 2013

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