Our second day in England started with a typical English breakfast. On the table, our host mum had prepared scrambled eggs, toast, butter, and a pot of hot tea. It was different from what we usually eat in France, but I really liked it. The warm tea helped us wake up, and the food gave us energy for the day.

After breakfast, we took the coach to a nearby university for our English language class. The campus was large and modern, and we felt a bit like real university students! The teacher welcomed us warmly and explained the activity of the day: we had to learn how to introduce a friend in English.

I worked with Iyad. I had to speak in full sentences, saying things like “His name is Iyad. He is my friend. He lives in France.” At first, I was a bit shy, but step by step, I started to feel more confident. The teacher helped us with pronunciation and gave us useful tips. Speaking English in England felt exciting and real — it was not just a school subject anymore, but something we were using every day.

In the afternoon, we had a completely new experience: a cricket initiation at a local sports club. None of us had ever played cricket before, and we didn’t really know the rules. At first, we thought it was like baseball, but we soon discovered that cricket is a very different game.

The coaches explained how to hold the bat, how to bowl (which means to throw the ball), and how to run between the wickets. It was a bit confusing at the beginning, but also really fun. We laughed a lot — especially when someone missed the ball or ran in the wrong direction. Even if we weren’t perfect, we all tried our best and had a great time.

After sports, we visited Drake Circus Mall, a big and modern shopping center in the heart of Plymouth. It was full of shops, lights, and music. We walked around in small groups and had some free time to explore. I bought a few snacks and found a souvenir — a keyring shaped like Big Ben — to remember this day. The atmosphere in the mall was lively, and it was fun to see the differences between English and French shops.

When we got back to our host family’s house, we were tired but happy. Our host mum asked us about our day, and we told her all about the English class, the cricket game, and our time at the mall. She listened carefully and smiled at our stories.

After dinner, we spent a little time relaxing in our rooms. We talked with each other, looked at the photos we took, and started writing in our travel journals. It had been a long day, full of new experiences, learning, and laughter. We went to bed feeling proud of everything we had done and excited for the next adventure.

Wednesday morning marked the start of our last English class. We began by writing short travel diary entries in English. It was a chance to describe our favorite moments from the trip and practice using new vocabulary. I wrote about our visit to the Eden Project and how it felt to walk through the rainforest biome. Writing the diary made me realize how much we had already experienced in just a few days.

After that, we played English board games in small groups. Some games tested our spelling, others our memory or general knowledge. We laughed a lot, especially when someone gave a very wrong answer or struggled to pronounce a word.

Then came a surprise, our teacher, who we had only seen as a calm and patient instructor, suddenly became a magician! He pulled out a deck of cards and started doing magic tricks. He made cards disappear, found the one we had secretly chosen, and even guessed the words we had written on paper. We were amazed! It was the perfect way to end our English classes — fun, surprising, and unforgettable.

After lunch, we visited two museums in Plymouth. The first was The Box, a modern museum filled with interesting exhibits. We saw ancient maps, artifacts, and ship models from centuries ago. Everything was beautifully presented, and it helped us understand how Plymouth played a big role in British exploration and history.

Next, we went to the Mayflower Museum, which tells the story of the Pilgrims who left England in 1620 to travel to America. We saw life-size scenes, models of the Mayflower ship, and stories about how difficult and dangerous the journey was. It made us think about how brave those people were to leave everything behind in search of a new life.

Later in the afternoon, we went for a long walk along the Plymouth coast. The sky was blue, the sea sparkled under the sunlight, and the air was fresh and salty. We could see a lighthouse in the distance, standing tall and proud on the rocks. The view was breathtaking, and we stopped to take photos and simply enjoy the moment.

While we were walking, we saw a group of local kids playing football. They invited us to join their game, and of course, we said yes! It didn’t matter that we were from different countries — we understood each other through the game. We ran, passed the ball, and celebrated every goal. It was one of the most natural and joyful parts of the day.

On the way back, we stopped at a small pound shop where everything cost just £1 or £2. It was the perfect place to buy souvenirs for our families and friends. I found some fun keyrings, postcards, and British-themed pens. Everyone was excited to get a little gift from England.

That evening, back at our host family’s home, we had a cozy dinner. After the meal, our host mum asked us a sweet question:
“So, what did you like the most so far?”

I thought for a second and then answered,
“The Eden Project… and playing cricket!”

She smiled warmly and told us that she had also visited those places as a child. She began to share stories from her own childhood, and we listened with interest. It felt like we were part of her family for a moment, sharing memories and creating new ones together.

As we went to bed that night, I felt peaceful and grateful. It had been a day full of learning, nature, fun, and connection, a perfect mix of adventure and heart.

Thursday came too soon. It was the last morning of our adventure in England, and everything felt a little quieter than usual. The house, which had become our second home during the week, seemed different now that our bags were packed. I looked around the room one last time — the posters on the wall, the soft blanket on the bed, the books on the shelf trying to remember every detail.

We went downstairs for our final breakfast with our host family. Our host mum had made a warm meal for us again: toast with butter and jam, fresh fruit, and hot tea. We sat around the table talking softly, knowing it was our last meal together. It felt like leaving family behind. Before we left, we took a group photo in front of the house. We smiled, but in our eyes, there was a bit of sadness. We gave her a big thank-you, and she gave us a tight hug.

As the coach started its engine, we waved goodbye through the window. She waved back from the doorway until the bus turned the corner. That moment stayed with me. I realized how much these few days had meant.

During the long journey back, I sat by the window with my headphones on, listening to music and watching the English countryside one last time. The green hills, small stone houses, and endless fields seemed peaceful and familiar now. It wasn’t just a landscape anymore, it was part of my experience.

We crossed the Eurotunnel again, and just like at the beginning, I found it magical to travel under the sea. But this time, I felt different, more confident, more open, and a bit older somehow. When we arrived back in France in the evening, I was physically tired, but emotionally full. My suitcase was heavy with souvenirs, but my heart was even fuller with laughter, stories, and unforgettable memories.

The house we stayed in was small, quiet, and full of character. It had a little garden with flowers blooming near the window. Inside, the living room had a soft carpet, big bookshelves filled with English novels, and a warm feeling that made it easy to relax. Our bedroom was cozy, with colorful travel posters on the walls that made us dream about other places in the world.

But the most special part of the house was the person in it, our host mum. From the first moment, she welcomed us like we were part of her own family. She spoke to us slowly, kindly, and always with a smile, helping us improve our English without pressure. Every evening, she asked how our day was and listened with interest. She made the house feel safe and full of kindness.

One evening, after dinner, I had the courage to ask her a few questions in English.

I said, “What do you do for work?”
She answered, “I’m a nurse at the local hospital. I take care of patients every day.” I was surprised, I hadn’t expected it, and I admired her even more.

Then I asked, “Have you ever visited France?”
She smiled and replied, “Yes, I’ve been to Paris once. I loved the croissants — I could eat one every morning!” We all laughed. It was a nice moment of connection.

Finally, I asked, “What’s your favorite British food?”
She laughed and said, “Definitely a Sunday roast — roast beef, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy. It’s the best!” I had heard about Sunday roasts before, but now it had a real meaning for me.

Throughout the week, she didn’t just cook and clean, she gave us her time, her attention, and her warmth. I will always be grateful to her. She made our trip more human, more real, and more special.

As I sit down to write this final part of my travel diary, I realize just how lucky I was to be part of this experience. In just a few days, I discovered a new country, improved my English, learned about history and nature, and met people I will never forget.

This trip taught me much more than school lessons. It taught me how to be independent, how to adapt to new environments, and how to appreciate different cultures. It showed me that learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms, it happens when you explore, talk, listen, and open your heart to others.

I now understand that travelling is not only about seeing places. It’s about creating connections — with people, with stories, with emotions. The laughter we shared playing cricket, the silence while walking through the Eden Project, the joy of winning a quiz, the feeling of being welcomed by strangers, all of that will stay with me.

I left England with more than souvenirs. I left with confidence, memories, and a little piece of British culture in my heart.

Thank you, England, for your rainy skies, your green hills, your warm tea, and your big smiles. I hope one day, I’ll come back.

As I come to the end of this travel diary, I realize that this trip to England was much more than just a school outing, it was a personal journey, a week of discovery, growth, and unforgettable moments.

Over just a few days, I explored new places, tasted new food, spoke a different language every day, and saw life from another point of view. I learned not only about British culture, but also about human connection. From the warm smile of our host mum to the kindness of strangers, I discovered how easy it is to feel at home, even in a place you’ve never been before.

This experience helped me become more independent. For the first time, I was living away from my parents, speaking with new people, managing my own things, and following a full schedule. It wasn’t always easy, but every challenge made me stronger. I realized that the world is much bigger than I imagined and I felt proud to be part of it, even for a short time.

I also saw how learning can happen outside the classroom. Whether we were solving riddles in English class, listening to the story of the Mayflower, or walking through a tropical biome at the Eden Project, I was learning all the time, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. The lessons felt real, alive, and exciting. It reminded me that education isn’t only in books — it’s everywhere, in people, in places, and in experiences.

Some of the best memories came from simple things: laughing with my friends during a football match with local kids, buying a small souvenir in a pound shop, or sharing stories around the dinner table with our host family. Those little moments made a big difference. They are the pieces that now form a beautiful mosaic in my mind full of color, warmth, and joy.

What touched me most was how close we became to people we had never met before. Our host mum, with her gentle way of speaking and her generous heart, made us feel like we belonged. She wasn’t just someone offering a room, she gave us her attention, her stories, and her care. That kind of kindness stays with you.

Now that I’m back in France, I feel different. I feel more confident when I speak English. I feel more curious about the world. And I feel more open to meeting new people, exploring new cultures, and saying "yes" to new adventures.

If I had to describe this trip in just a few words, I would say:
“It changed the way I see the world — and the way I see myself.”

Travelling, I’ve learned, isn’t just about going somewhere new. It’s about coming back with a new heart, a new mind, and a new story to tell.