Students from Wyke visited Malmedy in the French speaking part of Belgium, as part of an exchange programme which has been running for 15 years.

On the outbound journey, the students were lucky to be able to take advantage of a trip to Bruges, where they made good use of the chocolate shops, stocking up on Easter eggs. Once they had arrived in Malmedy, the students stayed with host families.

The highlight of the exchange was a four-day carnival, which re-enacts a traditional story based on a local Abbot who wouldn't allow his monks to go out of the Priory and enjoy themselves in the town, so they dressed in white to disguise themselves. This has now become a huge community event, with 'monks' dressed in white brandishing confetti- filled pigs bladders which are burst over on-lookers heads! The Wyke contingent were overwhelmed!

Whilst there, the group also went bowling and had the chance to go to the original spa in the town of Spa. Language skills on both sides improved and friendships were forged.

During the return part of the exchange, the Belgian students visited York, The Deep and Laserquest where they were victorious, winning 3 out of 3 games against the Wyke students. AS students who went are already asking about doing it all again next year!