Goodbye, America! Bonjour, France!

While other SHS students were preparing for April Vacation and a week off from school, 25 students from Scituate were readying their luggage for their much anticipated trip to France. Accompanied by SHS French teacher Jake Kovach, history teacher Kristen Emerson, and 20 additional Cohasset students, these students were excited to immerse themselves in a two-week cultural experience.

Within the first few months of the school year, SHS students held homestays for French exchange students. During this two-week exchange, American students enjoyed showing their French visitors all the perks of living in Massachusetts during the fall season–apple picking,  biking on Martha’s Vineyard, and trips to Plymouth Plantation, the John F. Kennedy Museum, the Freedom Trail, and outlet malls were on the itinerary. French students even experienced Halloween, a holiday not celebrated in France.

SHS senior Liam Peterson described his relationship with his student as very interesting, saying, “We are very similar and got along very well.” Senior Sophia Ferrera described the language barrier as “something we had to work through as the trip progressed.” In order to get the full immersion experience, students were expected to speak English in America. This forced students to step outside of their comfort zone and work out the inevitable kinks in their pronunciation and syntax.

During the six months in between the departure of the French students and the arrival of the American students in France, there was growing anticipation among the participants. Senior Hannah Sullivan stated she was “excited to see Normandy,” and she was most excited to meet her host’s friends.

While in France, Scituate students stayed in Sucy-en-Brie for the two week trip, Scituate’s sister city in France located just outside of Paris. Because of the proximity to France’s capital city, the group visited quite a few times, touring famous sites such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Champs Elysees, and “a bunch of old Gothic churches,” as Sullivan candidly stated. Other memorable activities included seeing the Mona Lisa, touring the Palace of Versailles and Notre Dame Cathedral, taking a boat tour down the River Seine, visiting the beaches of Normandy and the renowned ancient monastery, Mont-Saint-Michel. While they weren’t visiting archaeological wonders or typical tourist sites, students also were able to shop at Montmartre – a hot spot for shopping and artists, as well as the Musee d’Orsay, where they were able to view some of France’s most valued art pieces. Students also climbed the Arc de Triomphe and were able to experience a lighter side of France, choosing between attending amusement parks the Parc Asterix or Eurodisney.

Sullivan described how one of her favorite excursions was the trip to Normandy, where they took part in a four-hour walking tour, calling it “super fun.” Peterson also agreed, saying how the mudflats surrounding the monastery of Mont Saint Michel was “wicked fun,” because of the ideal weather and plethora of quicksand. Ferrera thought Normandy was not only an amazing time, but a good learning experience, saying how they “learned a lot about the French perspective in WWII.” The students also enjoyed the three course meals that consisted of “a lot of bread and cheese” and simply being immersed in the French culture. Although the trip ended after two weeks, the close relationships Scituate students formed with their French peers will last forever.