En cours à Duruy et dernière promenade parisienne en groupe

This morning we attended class at the lycée.  I went to English, Spanish, and Math. The large classes at Victor Duruy caused class to feel less intimate but enjoyable nonetheless. The English teacher was very strict and had a strong but odd British accent.  Spanish a little more laid back and activity focused.  They also did some history on the Islamic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula.  It was nice to have a history class to give context to the language. It was interesting to watch the kids debate over topics involving race and ethnicity. Math class was too large to manage and it seemed like a challenging learning environment.  Experience Duruy and Saint Martin made me realize how lucky we are to be able to learn in such an engaging and personalized setting.  ---Lucas A.

Place du Tertre, Montmartre 

After spending time with our correspondants at school, we took the speedy metro to Montmartre.  At the base of the hill we rode a cute little trolley.  When we stepped off, the beautiful view of Paris amazed us.  One could see every ancient apartment and many famous landmarks.  There were painters selling breathtaking pieces of their art.  Some of us enjoyed de la glace, and later we sat on the steps of Sacré Coeur and absorbed the smell of the French air.  Overall Montmartre provided a great view of Paris, and I will not forget the taste of that ice cream! --Maddy

As someone who has never experienced Europe in the past, having my first experience in France, especially two locations so radically different, was truly eye-opening.  Experiencing firsthand the differences between the urban and rural settings allowed me to better understand the lives of the people and the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives.  This, as well as being able to see life through the eyes of an average French teenager, made my first time truly memorable and educational.  I would have to say my favorite places were probably Les Jardins du Luxembourg and Montmartre, as le Jardins du Luxembourg was a very relaxed and calm place whereas Montmartre was more lively and activity oriented. –Lucas

On Friday afternoon, we had the pleasure of meeting Lauren Libaw in Paris.  Lauren is not only an accomplished opera star but also a Poly alum!!  We met her in a lovely park near her home (the Parc Monceau) and enjoy a chant and walk around.  It was so amazing to see how a Poly student could end up living and working in Paris! -- Willa

 Poly alum Lauren Libaw meets with the group in the Parc Monceau

 

des flâneurs

Final stop in the Saint Germain des Près

Salut! Last night, I enjoyed a little adventure with my French correspondante, Justine. Shortly after arriving at the school, we headed to the subway. After arriving and shopping for a bit, we began a beautiful walk along the Seine river. We enjoyed numerous Parisian landscapes as we also watched the sun set. We finally arrived at our destination: a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tour! We stayed and watched it light up! We finally headed home, where I tried escargots for the first time! A very fun day! -Willa

Correspondant Coordination!