CHS Students Visit France By Kacie Boeglin

Our first night in Paris was amazing. We left the hotel and walked alongside the Eiffel tower. Our eyes discovered the beautiful Seine River and the mystifying atmosphere. People were singing, playing guitars, rollerblading, skateboarding and having a great time with their friends.

Bonjour mes amis. During April 6th-20th, a handful of Oakers had the chance to explore the two largest cities in France, Marseilles and Paris.  Each student stayed with a host family until April 17th (in Marseilles) before staying at the Ibis Hotel in Paris.

To truly understand the experience, you would need to talk to the individual Oakers since everyone had a different experience with their host families. While we were in Marseilles, we attended school with our correspondent and essentially acted as their shadow. In school we were expected to follow along to the best of our ability. It was understood that, yes we were all French students, but there were kids from every grade on this trip. This meant that not everyone could understand everything, but we were all eager to learn. Out of school, our correspondents would help us explore and discover the beautiful wonders of Marseilles.

Surprisingly, driving in France is a privilege and not a right. It takes a lot of time and money to be able to drive.  So this fact, combined with very narrow streets, causes a lot of pedestrian travel. We walked everywhere. There were times when one would catch an Oaker on a tram, trolley or train, but mostly we all got around by walking.

Marseilles is in the South of France and is the heart of the Vieux-Port (Old Port). Almost everywhere we went water was visible. Marseilles is the second largest city, with Paris being the first. In Marseilles, correspondents would link up so groups of French and English students could meet. This was a great part of our adventure. By having groups like this, the Americans felt more at ease because we could bounce what we already knew off each other in order to have conversations in French, before we had to ask for our correspondents help. Additionally, French students were very eager to spend time with us. To them, we were the ones with accents and we were the ones that were not comprehensible. Rhode Islanders speak very fast and our words can slur together. In Marseilles they also speak very fast and some of their words slur together. This comparison was noticed by some of the more bilingual students, from both France and America. It made for a good laugh and a better bonding experience.

Living in Marseille and spending time with a host family was very compelling. Even though each Oaker’s experiences varied, we all did amazing things. For example, going to a rock concert, eating new and amazing foods, going shopping (European style), experiencing a club/pub, family gatherings, visiting beaches and the ports, learning Marseilles history, and just simply walking around the city. Fun fact is that Mariselles is the soap capital of the world.

When we left America, we got on the bus to head for the airport and it started to snow. Heavy snow! Everything turned into a winter wonderland.  In April?! In Marseilles the weather was nice. At times it was a little rainy, but it was always at least 68 degrees or higher. Real Life Feel: Marseilles felt like Boston- if the city had more European architecture and palm trees.

Time for Paris. On April 17th we all woke up to say our sad goodbyes to our host families. This was the morning we were to board the 300 mph bullet train to Paris. Here’s a funny tale I don’t think any of the Oakers abroad could forget. Once finding the time for our train and which opening to go to in order to board the train, we went to the wrong loading zone. We walked from one side of the train to the other before figuring out at the last minute that it was the wrong train. We then had to run all the way back down and over to a different train.  We were just lucky it wasn’t that far away.

If you ever thought having a down day in Paris is possible, you are absolutely mistaken. Our train arrived in Paris and then we were off. Arriving in Paris really made it feel as though we were in a different country. Paris is the home of haute couture, so it is easy to differentiate between Parisians and tourists. Paris is also where many of the famous French monuments are located, like the Sacré-Cœur, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte Chapelle, Le Panthéon, and of course La Tour Eiffel. Seeing all these monuments really solidified the idea of being in France. When we arrived at our hotel we had exactly one hour to put our bags away and freshen up for our lavish French dinner. You would think that is enough time but it really isn’t.

Our first night in Paris was amazing. We left the hotel and walked alongside the Eiffel tower. Our eyes discovered the beautiful Seine River and the mystifying atmosphere. People were singing, playing guitars, rollerblading, skateboarding and having a great time with their friends. Some Oakers rode the double decker carousel outside La Tour Eiffel. Fun Fact #2: The Eiffel Tower is the biggest radio tower in the world. It was supposed to be torn down after the World Fair but the French found a use for it.

Although we were only in Paris for three days, it felt like a good three weeks. The city is amazing, but you always have to keep an eye out for pickpockets. This is to be expected in a gigantic city and tourist attraction. We did so many things it is hard to remember what came first. Our days were long but non stop adventurous. From waking up and eating pain au chocolat for breakfast, to exploring LÓpera and rendezvousing in the Musée du Parfum, we made some great memories. We raced up the stairs to the Sacré-Cœur, haggled with street vendors, discovered a newly found love for books, and even met the gargoyles of Notre Dame.

Every student on the trip was assigned something that he or she had to be an expert on. Essentially we were our own tour guides. This way it  ensured that every student going on the trip was engaged. Students presented in both cities and every student was a true expert on their choice.

Once we were all back into one group, there was actually more pressure and excitement to speak French than when we were with our host families. Many of us were excited to see what others had learned. Around our dinner tables and during breakfast at the hotel, nous essayerons de parler en francais as best as possible. As one solid unit, the Oakers in France became extremely close.  This trip brought many of us out of a shell we didn’t know we were in.