Paris!

Today we said good-bye to our families and we left for our hotel in Paris after dropping off the Illinois kids J We took the metro together and then walked around l’île de la Cité where we visited Notre-Dame de Paris. We found some lunch in the Latin Quarter (the Uniersity District). I gorged myself after attemting to appear like a non-stereotypical American in my host family. After a long walk along the Seine, we visited the Musee d’Orsay and a guide told us about the history of impressionistic paintings and the development of painting throughout history, We returned to the hotel and after freshening up, we went out for dinner at Montmarte where we ate a « raclette » (cheese melted on top of potatoes and cold cuts). Then we climbed a mountain worth of stairs to the highest point in Paris and walked around the Sacré Cœur and the artists’neighborhood (la Place du Tertre). It was a beautiful night in Paris.
Calysta

Back together in Paris

Just a note to tell you that all students are back with me in Paris. Some of them had a real hard time leaving their French families, but everyone is excited to visit Paris. We'll try to give you more details in another blog tonight and/or tomorrow.
Sandrine White

Another glimpse at a family stay

Today, I woke up around nine in the morning, after Celine had gone to school. I ate breakfast with her mom and dad, Lise and Benoit. At ten o'clock, Lise and I went to her yoga class. It was much smaller and much different than my yoga class, but still really fun. It was hard to understand what the teacher was saying, but I understood well enough. After that, Lise and I went to a really cute outside french market, something you could not find in Columbus. We bought food for lunch and for dinner. Since it rained today, we didn't do much. We arrived back at home and Lise went to pick up Celine from school while I did some packing. When Celine came home, she, Lise and I ate lunch. We ate an avacado and tomato salad, green beans and "hamburgers" (without buns). For dessert, we had the macarons that Celine, her friend Alexandra and I had made the night before. Then I did some homework, (yes, I was assigned homework by my teachers), and Celine's best friend Flavie came over! (I love her). We watched Moulin Rouge until supper time. For dinner we had delicious raclette (a cheese) and we melted it onto potatoes. Delicious! Then Flavie, Celine and I hung out for the night!
Lauren Stoll

One more glimpse at a family stay

I'll try to sum it up quickly, because these French keyboards are extremely confusing. If I tried to elaborate on everything, it'd take all day to type! Also, my English has deteriorated considerably, so please bear with me if this isn't as eloquent as it should be.

My family stay has been fantastic, thus far. The only thing I could complain about is that it seems as if I just got comfortable with this situation, and tomorrow is my last day with the Chauprades. My correspondant, Tiffany, is a great match - we're both just geeky enough to enjoy museums and France Miniature (now I've seen every monument in France that matters!), but we also have fun bowling and going "out on the town." It's also interesting to live in a house full of girls. It will be strange to return to a house with five more men in it than here.

Yesterday, I woke up in my own time, because Tiffany has exams all week to prepare for the BAC. I enjoyed my usual breakfast of black coffee and toast with nutella. French food, at its best; truly magnificent. Then, I met Tiffany at school and tried to find someone to tag along with for the day. I ended up presenting in an English class with three others from our tour group, and then found Emma Reber and her correspondant! Yea! I followed her to another English class, in which they were discussing 1984.

After school, Tiffany, Florent (her boyfriend), and I watched a movie at her house. Last night reminded me of home, because everyone had their activities and I watched Mme Chauprade juggle each schedule flawlessly. I accompanied Tiffany and her mother to their dance class after dinner, in which they are dancing to songs from Chicago. It was exhausting to watch. Finally, we got home late, and I nodded off while watching "Nouvelle Star," the French equivalent of "American Idol." I somehow managed to pull myself to bed.

Wow, what an interesting, short, to-the-point blog! Thanks to whoever read all the way through it, ha.
Moira Donovan

Glimpse at a family stay

Today is the second full day of my family stay. The first night with the Pichon's I went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner, and yesterday I have had a wonderful time going to Paris with Apolline (My french host) Briana, Natalie (from the Illinois group) and their French hosts. Today while Apolline was studying for the Bac (a really hard test you take in school) Briana, Elenor (Apolline's little sister), their friend Rachel, and I went to Mass. I had never been to a Catholic mass before and it was different especially when I can't understand everything that the priest is saying. After Mass we had a picnic lunch and then saw the castle of Maison-Laffitte. Maison-Laffitte is the area in which I am living, it is northwest of Paris. After seeing this wonderful little castle we went to see the horseraces and see the horses jump obsticales. Maison-Laffitte is know for their horses, on the road and paths were horses and riders. It was different to see horses on the street where cars usually are going by. We then went to the stables to see more horses. Right now I'm waiting for supper, its 7:30pm by the way, and am planning on spending the evening at home unless Apolline wants to go somewhere. The family stay has been so much fun so far it is so interesting to experience a different side to France. Tomorrow I'm off to school! It should be fun!
Emma Hubacher

Glimpse at a family stay

The first night was scary at first because i did not want to sound weird or be wrong, but once we started talking it was good. Then on saturday i started to get the hang of it. We still talk in a mix of english and french if one of us does not understand. We went shopping in a largeish group me, Deborah, Ludavine, Jamie, and Celine, we shopped the whole day! and then met up with Deborahs parents and went up all the 284 steps of the Arc de Triumph and we saw a band play. Then we found food at a pizzeria and got a lot of pictures in front of the arc de triumph at night.
Carrie Boswell

Goodbye Audrey, Hello families!