FRANCE!!!

Viva La France! We had an absolutely amazing time in France. Our itinerary was jam packed, so we were able to create many memories. The first days pictures are from; The Paris Opera House, A driving tour of Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral, The Louvre and the Eiffel Tower at night. The next day we split into groups in the morning to enjoy Parisian life. In the afternoon we met back up at Sacre Coeur Basilica and a walking tour of the Montmarte artist’s district. We then headed to the Loire Valley where we explored Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau D’ Amboise (Where Leonardo DaVinci is buried). That night we had a French cooking class. The kids got to cook for and serve their teachers! Then it was on to the ancient abbey of Mt. St. Michel and to the coastal town of St. Malo where we had an uproarious time learning Medieval dancing. The final day was spent on the coast of Normandy. Our study of D-Day came to life as we visited Point du Hoc and got to see the crater holes left by shellings and the bunkers that were still there. We then visited the moving American Military Cemetery and walked on the sands of Omaha Beach.  History was alive as we reflected on the sacrifices made by such young soldiers. It was then back to Paris for a last ride on the Metro, and a delicious dinner before saying our goodbyes to this magical place.

The learning that happened on this trip is indescribable.  Not only did we learn and feel the history of this land, we got to directly participate in navigating in a different country. Ordering  lunch, in French, buying Metro tickets and watching busy Parisians in their daily life are adventures of their own. For many students, discussion was already taking place on where their next trip would be.

A huge thank you to all the chaperones that accompanied us. We loved getting to know you all better and hope that you had as good as a time as we did. You proved to have infinite stamina and patience navigating a week of middle school children through a foreign country. Always remember that a chateau is only as cool as its holes!

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

Last night

Can’t believe we’re on our last night already!! We’ll be seeing you all in just a few short hours.

Reminder: we’ll be coming in on Lufthansa flight 490 from Frankfurt, arriving in Seattle at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Yesterday: Mont St Michel and St Malo.

Today: Normandy.

Terrible Internet connection in Saint Malo. Everyone still alive and happy – photos to come when we can get them up. Happy birthday Wyatt!! Reminder to ask your student about Wyatt’s Flaming French firecracker birthday cake. 🙂

6 a.m. wake up call

The look in their eyes is saying, “If we wanted you guys to wake us up before it’s light out, we could have done that back in Tacoma!”

Les chateaux de la Loire

Today we had a bit of a sleep-in. Why, you ask? Well aside from the fact that we’ve been going, going, going, it was daylight saving time in France!

We left the hotel at 10 a.m. today, roughly two hours later than our average so far, and headed for Chenonceau.

Many people said this was one of their favorite stop of the trip so far. We had a leisurely two hours to explore the chateau and grounds and had a fantastic time of it.

Next we moved on to Amboise, the final resting place of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Tonight we had dinner and a wander in Tours – tomorrow we hit the road for Mont St Michel.

As a reminder, we’re posting these simple updates on the fly – mostly to let you all know that we’re still all happy and healthy and having a blast. More details and photos will be posted once we return.

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Onto the Loire …

After our morning at Versailles yesterday, we continued on to Chartres Cathedral.

From there, we made our way to Tours, arriving just in time for a French cooking lesson.

Adults jumped in at first, but after chopping a few chives and carrots the scene became a bit too reminiscent of, oh, every single night at home. After that, we sat back, kicked our feet up, and let the students prepare the rest for us.

On our way out, we received a wonderful compliment from the proprietor – she said it’s not every day that you find a group so polite, so intelligent, and so enjoyable to work with.

Today we’re venturing out into the Loire Valley to explore the chateaux of Amboise and Chenonceau.

Greetings from Versailles!

As you can see, we’ve been bathing ourselves in opulence today.

Exploration day

Today was our last full day in Paris so we split into groups to fulfill as many wish list sights we could accommodate.

Metro pros!

Group 1 went to the deportation memorial for Holocaust victims, before enjoying “the world’s best ice cream” and a relaxing day wandering by the river and enjoying the Parisian life.

Group 2 started out with a guided walk through the right bank and the world famous hot chocolate at Angelina, before taking in Monet’s water lily paintings, Modiglianis, Renoirs, Picassos, Klimts, and more at the Orangerie. They finished the afternoon with some Parisian-style shopping and people-watching at Les Halles.

Group 3 also enjoyed hot chocolate at Angelina, before departing for the Cinematheque and a temporary Tim Burton installation.

Mmmm, chocolat chaud!

Group 4 returned to the Louvre to spend more time exploring the oeuvres, and did some souvenir shopping.

In the afternoon, we reconvened at the base of the Montmartre hill for a history lesson with Theo. We spent the evening exploring the Sacre Coeur and the artists’ quarters of the 18th arrondissement, before a wonderful dinner with music by our very own piano player.

Judging by the happy (but weary!!) smiles at dinner, today was a great day all around. The wonderful thing about a field study to a foreign country is that no matter the activity, every moment can include learning – from ordering at a restaurant to navigating the metro, to calculating exchange rates when shopping for souvenirs.

We’ve loved watching Wyatt T. and Nathan M. deftly lead their groups through the Paris metro, Lars W. take the initiative to ask a French woman (in French! Without a teacher!) for directions at Les Halles, Katelyn C. go “macro crazy” in a park on the Rive Gauche, and so much more.

Perhaps Daniel R. put it best today: “This is the best city I’ve ever been to – I can’t pick a favorite moment so far because everything we do is so amazing.”

Tomorrow we have an early departure to Versailles and the Loire Valley. Saturday and Sunday nights we’ll be at the Kyriad Tours:

Kyriad Tours
65 avenue de Grammont
Tours, 37000
33.2.47.64.71.78

“The fancy toilet”

For weeks I’ve been promising a visit to the “fancy toilets” in the Carousel du Louvre. Today, I was able to deliver.

This boutique bathroom costs 1.50 euro for the “spa japonais” experience – club music, designer toilet paper, and a hand-sanitized toilet seat.

When I asked whether it was everything they’d dreamed of, Nathan M. put it best: “and more.”

Yes it’s true – I’ve dragged your children halfway around the world and forever ruined public bathrooms for them.

You’re welcome.

P.S. Can anyone guess what the colored decorations are behind us?

We’re not bragging …

… we swear!!!

Horsing around

Et pourquoi pas?

Salut, les parents!

We began our morning with a bus tour around the city, led by the fabulous Parisienne Amale.

Just in case there was any question as to what city we’re visiting. 🙂

We spent the afternoon on a whirlwind visit to the Louvre. Here we’re studying a painting of Napoleon’s coronation.

And of course, we are eating quite well! Pictured here is tonight’s starter: a pesto/chicken/emmenthal salad. Mmmmm!!!

On mange!!

Dinner at Chez Clement!

On est arrivée!!

We’re in Paris!! Everyone’s safe and happy and (so far) awake!! We’re about to head out to tour the city and have dinner.

Our guide Theo is great – if you haven’t traveled by tour guide and chartered bus, it’s worth a try. 🙂

We’re at the Hotel Brescia through Saturday morning:

Hotel Brescia
16, rue d’Edimbourg
Paris, France
01.45.22.14.31
http://www.hotel-brescia.com

On our way!!!!

You’ll be glad to hear we made it safely through security and to our gate without TSA incident. Grabbing final snacks and bathroom breaks and getting ready to board!!

Hello parents! Here’s the plan for students who are not travelling to France with us next week.

NO SCHOOL Tuesday, March 20, through Thursday, March 29

OPTIONAL debrief/pajama day Friday, March 30

NO SCHOOL/Spring Break, Saturday, March 31 – Sunday, April 8

The teachers have met with your students and each of them has developed an independent study project to be  at home while the rest of the school is travelling.

Please check in with your student if you have any questions about what each individual project entails.

Mme Olliphant has also graciously offered some additional French classes to those students not going on the trip to France. The classes would be the afternoons (1-3 p.m.) on the Wednesdays and Fridays during the trip. They would take place at the Lower School in the French room, at 1801 53rd St. NE, Tacoma, WA 98422.

The dates would be as follows:

Wednesday, March 21, 1-3 p.m. (or full day, if desired)

Friday, March 23, 1-3 p.m. (or full day, if desired)

Wednesday, March 28, 1-3 p.m. (or full day, if desired)

Please let us know if you are interested and if there are transportation issues, maybe something can be worked out. The students would be welcome to spend the entire day at Seabury, if that would help. They could work in the library or, better yet, observe and help in Lower School French classes. If you are interested, please RSVP directly to Mme. Olliphant, making sure to let her know which classes your student will be attending.

Thank you! Team Middle School