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Students' trip to France was 'priceless'
(by Sue Hoffman - August 19, 2009)
Students' trip to France was 'priceless'
By SUE HOFFMAN
For Grace Falasco, a 13-day trip to France this summer was her first trip abroad. For Megan Schneir, who previously had visited England, Germany, Italy and Austria, the French trip was just as new, exciting and meaningful.
Grace and Megan, both seniors studying Advanced Placement French at Solon High School, were among 20 students who toured the country with French teacher Davara Potel this summer.
After experiencing bustling Paris, with its museums, public squares and other landmarks, the group toured the exquisite chateaux, cathedrals and castles in the Loire Valley. Then they moved on to Avignon Provence, the French Riviera, and beaches and canyons on the western coast of Corsica.
"It was the ultimate experience to test what I've learned," said Grace, who came home with warm feelings about the people of France and fun stories about getting the mimes to "break character" by offering them a coin.
"I had never been to the ocean before," Grace said. When the group arrived at the sea in Cassis for beach, boats and picnic, she said she was nearly overwhelmed by the beauty. Along with the sea, she said the trip offered a variety of sights, from urban to rural. "You got a taste of everything -- I loved that."
"I love experiencing different cultures," Megan said, "and seeing how other people do things differently." Of special interest to her were French customs of leisurely dining and closing of shops at lunchtime. "If I would go back, there's nothing I would have changed. It was a life experience that was so complete."
Among the highlights of the trip, senior and AP French student Allison Jaffe mentioned the visit to Europe's grandest Gothic cathedral at Chartres in the Loire Valley early in the trip. "The stained glass in the cathedral was amazing. That was the day it struck me that we were in France." Another favorite destination was the island of Corsica, a six-hour ferry trip from the French Riviera, and "seeing the sunset and the mountains all around you. I had never seen anything so beautiful."
"I liked all the chateaux and all the older buildings" along with the south of France, said junior Lauren Fried, a French 4 student. One of the castles was the Chateau de Chenonceau, which was first constructed in the 1500s.
"The entire tour of the chateau was in French," said Mrs. Potel, who had led student trips to France in 2005 and 2007. "The guide commented she had never had a group that was so unified and attentive. Because of the interest and French skills shown by the students, she added lots of extra stories. The same thing happened in Lyon."
Students went on a sightseeing tour of Lyon's "vielle ville," or old town, which had been part of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago and regained prominence during the Renaissance. Among the town's treasures are its 14th century astronomical clock and mosaics in the basilica.
"The clock was one of my favorite things," Megan said. "It's so old and it's still working."
Allison, who marveled at the mosaics, also enjoyed a different view each day, when she and some of her co-travelers trained for cross country. They ran with chaperone Laura (Pratt) Taucher, a Solon High School alumna and marathon runner now teaching French and Spanish at Northwest High School in Canal Fulton.
"It was a perfect dovetail of talents," Mrs. Potel said. Her husband, Daniel, served as another chaperone for the group. He was born and raised in France and the Potels spent the first 10 years of their marriage in the country.
Tour director Nicolas Canfin, who provided guide services for EF Educational Tours in Boston, served as the fourth chaperone.
"The tour was so close to perfect, it was phenomenal," Mrs. Potel said. "I was moved by the overall thoughtfulness and acts of kindness by everyone."
Students said they learned something about themselves and the French people. Most had heard of stereotypes of the French disliking Americans. The travelers found that such stereotypes were false.
"I know that people going into French 4 were worried" about their language skills, Grace said, but the group could see "how approachable the locals are. They'd try to speak English to you first."
Mrs. Potel said that students learned two types of culture: the sights and the customs of the people. "They also received a lot of language practice and a sense of accomplishment. They had done a lot of maturing and became travel savvy, learning about hotel etiquette and safety lessons.
"Our students are now global travelers. These things will serve them well in the future."
Students said they saved and worked to help pay for the trip.
"It was definitely worth it," Megan said. "It was priceless."
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