Jour 4. It’s Market Day!

The weather couldn’t make up it’s mind today; a little sun, a little rain, a stiff breeze.  Field Day was cancelled but that gave us time to explore the open air market in the streets of Senlis and everyone found something special and delicious!  We could have spent all morning calculating Euros and Kilograms.  Back on campus we cheered on our hosts in their end of the year presentations before the international JO with the students from Mexico, Argentina.  This weekend looks equally packed. Stay tuned...

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Jour 3: there's nothing like Paris!

It was the absolute perfect day for a trip to Paris! The bright blue sky and fluffy clouds provided the perfect backdrop for seeing the sights!  Our first stop was Notre Dame, which is still not accessible due to the horrible fire that ravaged the roof last month. Though the mood was somber amongst the other tourists looking from afar, we were all impressed by the size and beauty. From the front, it looks the same, which was a relief to those who had seen it before.  Because we weren’t able to visit Notre Dame as we usually do, we walked just around the corner to the lesser known, but stunning Sainte Chapelle. The students were so impressed by the “vitraux,” or stained glass windows. Their religion teachers would be equally impressed by their ability to recall the Last Supper, Adam and Eve in the Garden, and the image of Christ wearing the Crown of Thorns in the stained glass!

From there we took a walk along the Seine to the Jardins des Tuileries, where the students enjoyed a picnic lunch, followed by some free time in the Louvre. They only had time to see some highlights, but we hope they will most certainly return one day!  Fun fact: if you stare at each work of art in the Louvre for 3 minutes, you will spend 3 years in the museum!

It wouldn’t be a day in Paris without a ride on the metro, and the students took the crowds in stride. Once we exited the metro, it was just a few hundred meters to the Eiffel Tower, which led to some priceless reactions from the students! As you can see from the photos, they soaked in all the sites that we were able to see today. One of our specific tasks today was to recreate the photos below of “petite Sofia”.....suffice it to say, I think we did well!

We also spotted some familiar faces from our apartment window, eating at the creperie :-)

Jour 2: Getting settled in Senlis

Day 2 began a little more leisurely, with many of the students getting to sleep in a bit. When we arrived on campus this morning, they were looking sprightly in comparison to how we left them yesterday, after a full day of travel and getting acclimated! Alexis took advantage of the “machine à café” on campus, one of my very favorite staples at French high school and universities! Meanwhile, Siena used the slower pace to watch a video with her Host sister.

Next it was off to further explore the charming town of Senlis through a team scavenger hunt, or “Rallye des médailles.” A daunting task for any tourist, luckily our students had their French hosts to help them navigate the challenge!

Senlis and it’s surrounding towns are known for their roses and their festivals surrounding this lovely and fragrant “fleur.” Lucky for us, they are all in bloom. Here are a few snapshots to give us all some inspiration for our own homes! :-)

Tomorrow we are off to explore Paris! The Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Tuileries Gardens are on the agenda! We can’t wait to share this special place with them!

Jour 1- Arrivée à Senlis

Jour 1 started auspiciously with an easy- peasy digital check-in and almost no delays in Security.  Bionic man Stephen set off the metal detector then the group scattered to find snacks and Euros before boarding. Bon Appétit everyone..

Dublin was a brief stop before arriving at CDG sous la pluie, under the rain, but what better way to remember Paris. Mme Julien and Sévérine organized vans to transport us to Senlis.  Our host students were still in class so we toured the campus, including this beautiful cloister from the 13th century. Then off to lunch with our correspondants. What a feast.

After lunch off to tour the town.  This fortified city was originally part of Gaul, conquered by Julius César and part of the Gallo-Romain empire before briefly serving as  the seat of the Kings of France.  Check out these beautiful half-timbered houses, the cave or cellar which served as the quarry for the houses built on top of these original columns. A lush and fertile region, the river used to transport goods to surrounding towns.

Our guide was impressed with their ability to identity architectural terms in spite of their fatigue. Dragging but still smiling we returned to campus to meet our host families and head home for the first dîner en famille. They are truly champion travelers.

J-2! // T-2 Days until departure!

We are counting down the days (hours....minutes...) until our departure!  We will see you at the Philly airport (Terminal A-East) on Monday at 2:30pm for our Aer Lingus flight (EI-114).  Happy packing!  Until then, here's a snapshot of what awaits you in Senlis...