Normandy Exchange - Day 6 (Mont St-Michel)

Today, we were so excited to take a field trip with our <<correspondants>> to the magnificent 

Mont-Saint-Michel!  Please notice the sunny skies (a rarity in Normandy)!!

  

Reflections from our first few days in France:

From Karlee W:    Being in Paris felt like stepping into a time machine; the people around us were modern, but everything -- from the cobblestones to the buildings that Napoleon and the Roi Soleil built -- was from an age long past. It’s probably just because I love history so much, but being able to walk on the same floors and touch the same buildings that people did 1000 years ago was so thrilling

 Paris was so beautiful. All the people were nice, and the Seine and the sparkling Eiffel Tower were so pretty. I loved taking in the opulence of the Louvre, and I marveled at the Mona Lisa and other paintings that we have studied in art history that I was now only a couple feet away from. I like how different Paris is from DC, and even the not so good events were funny and are now jokes that all of us can share.

I like cities far more than small towns, but Bayeux is charming because everything is very old and beautiful. The river that cuts through the town is nice and calming, and there’s a beach that Louise’s family took me to where there is a 300+ year old tower and cockle shells grow out of the ground like plants!   I can't wait to learn more about Bayeux and spend more time with my host family and the other students.

From Ashley V H: The first few days in Bayeux have been amazing and exhilarating. I am so happy to be on this trip and to be in this amazing city!! I am living on a farm with my correspondent, Marjorie, and she has three horses, a cat, and a dog. My family is so nice, and they are so caring and giving, just like my own parents at home. :)

This whole time, I have been speaking ONLY French!! Although sometimes it is hard to keep up with their fast conversations, I am able to contribute and talk to them just the same in French as I could in English! Especially with being in France for so long and hearing so many people speaking the language, I would say that I have improved my speaking in French x100.

From Tim K:  The start to the trip has been wonderful. All the sights in Paris -- from the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame -- were magnificent. Life here in Bayeux is very relaxing and calm. My host parents are also nice as can be and help me with my French speaking. Overall the start of this trip is very different from what I thought it would be, but in a good way! School is also very different and very interesting!

From Ashlyn L.:  Paris was super cool with the adorable hotel and beaucoup de crêpes. While the famous landmarks were gorgeous and impressive, I was so happy to just walk around with my friends, exploring the little shops and cafés. As I expected, the art at Le Louvre was incredible! The sculptures, the paintings, and Mona Lisa, and the architecture of the building itself were quite awe inspiring, and I thought a lot about the artists from hundreds of years ago and their talent.

My host family in Bayeux is so sweet and friendly. Margot is super nice and has hilarious friends. She’s always ready to help simplify what people are saying around me... Margot’s brother, Justin, is pretty quiet, and her chat, Chaussette, her chien, Roméo, her fish, Bubbles, and her cheval, Aiden, are all so adorable. Roméo woke me up this morning and it was the sweetest thing ever.

There have been so many amazing meals and snacks so far with the highlights being a croque monsieur on the first day in Paris, a macaron on the Eiffel Tower, and charcuterie and raclette for yesterday’s lunch. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

Normandy Exchange - Day 5 - LYCEE et D-DAY Beaches

What a fabulous day!  Here we are with our fantastic guide, Mathieu, who led us on a superb afternoon of visits to the D-Day Beaches, the American Cemetery and Pointe du Hoc.

Omaha Beach

La Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument 

Le Lycée Jeanne d'Arc (Bayeux, Normandy)

Normandy Exchange (Day 4) - Reflections on Paris and Bayeux

Yesterday morning, students arrived at school at 8 a.m. to shadow their "correspondants" (exchange partners) until lunch time.  SAINTS attended classes, ate lunch with their hosts and played basketball.  Here are just a few reflections on their weekend:

From Laetitia H: 

Paris is a beautiful city.  This was my first visit, and each step I took was breathtaking (literally and metaphorically, especially when flights were involved).  We visited many sights, including Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Sacré Coeur.

I may be the only one to say this, but one of my favorite parts of visiting Paris was taking the metro.  Not only did I get to sharpen my navigation skills, but I also got to experience the backbone and bloodstream of Paris, making the city, its people and its culture more real and tangible.

Sydney C:

Paris was absolutely beautiful, and I loved walking down the Champs-Elysées and seeing the Arc de Triomphe.  The Louvre was magnificent, and I loved it (even though we almost got stuck inside!).  On the bus to Bayeux, the chauffeur exited the city via the Champs, and it was so sad to the damage that the Gilets Jaunes had done the day before...

More to follow!

Normandy Exchange (Day 3) - Paris to Bayeux

This morning, our Normandy Scholars traveled from Paris to Bayeux where they met their host families.  The adventure begins tomorrow morning when our SAINTS will be heading to school, le Lycée Jeanne d'Arc, to attend classes with their exchange partners.  Stay tuned...

PARIS

Bonjour nos amis!

After an easy flight and a long line for customs, our Normandy Scholars finally arrived in Paris. Friday was extremely busy to say the least!  After lunch, we set out for the CHAMPS ELYSEES where we enjoyed taking in the sights, window shopping, stopping at cafes and eating crepes!  After meeting at the Place de la Concorde, we took the metro home to our hotel, had dinner and headed out again for a late evening visit to the Louvre.  A leisurely stroll along the Seine followed, and we marveled at the beautifully illuminated buildings that bordered the river.  This morning, after visiting the Eiffel Tower, the group successfully navigated the Paris metro system all the way across town to the charming "quartier" of Montmartre. We are resting now and will visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame this evening.  What a magical city!

VIVE LA NORMANDIE!!

Normandy Exchange:  Pre-departure!

The Normandy Exchange Scholars are posing here for a pre-departure picture (not shown:  Lily and Laetitia).  They are excited to meet their French "correspondants" in Bayeux and to practice their French!  Stay tuned for their adventures...

LE MONT ST MICHEL

Another gloriously sunny day here in Normandy...Our Saints enjoyed an excursion with their French friends to the spectacular Mont St Michel!  After climbing to the top of the mount (many, many steep stairs!), students wandered throughout the abbey, its vast chambers and stunning cloister.  Even on this sunny day, we could feel the damp chill of the breeze coming off the Channel.   To warm up, we headed to a restaurant where we had galettes and crepes!  Mmm...c'est bon!