Appreciating our Franco-American Connections: Pas-de-Calais to Bayeux

Today began with tears as we left our host families from Saint Martin and ended with powerful stories from Mr. Charles Shay, a 98-year-old Native American (from the Penobscot tribe in Maine) WWII veteran currently in Normandy. We saw the 1000-year Bayeux Tapestry, the Artificial Port at Arromanches-les-Bains, the Batteries Allemandes at Longues-sur-Mer, the American Cemetery and the Charles Shay Monument at Omaha Beach. 

J’ai aimé rester avec la famille dans le Nord. J’ai essayé les nouriturres different et j’ai vu les villes Marquise et Calais. Je suis reconnaissante de parler Français avec les etudiants et la famille. -Ani

Reflections on the Rassias Method of Teaching (Mimi)

Eye to eye, I fell like I am transmitting the lesson into another’s mind. The Rassias method of teaching allows for students to fell connection to their teachers through a series of interaction actions. As a teacher, you must leave behind subconsciousness to fully participate. For this reason, the Rassias method makes teachers devotes themselves to their students. As I was running around the classroom, sauntering to each of the students, I felt a great amount of pride when the students go the sentence correct and when they worked hard after getting the sentence wrong. The attention between students and teacher and teacher and students promotes a supportive learning environment. The Rassias method allows students to make mistakes without consequences and with the support of their peers and teachers. I believe using this method is important because it compass a culture that laughs at and avoids making mistakes. Although teaching the Rassias method can be exhausting, I greatly benefited from this learning experience, particularly I learned the importance of creating personal connections with our students when you are within the teacher role. I hope to take these lessons that I learned from teaching with the Rassias method to my 

daily practices with others. 

(Warren) Today was a very tough day because the bus ride was very very long. We stopped by the Bayeux tapestry and saw a very interesting way of preserving stories. We learned about the battle of Hastings and how William became the ruler of England. We then visited the cemetery where tens of thousands of American, Canadian, and English soldiers lay. We learned about the history and met Charles Shay. It was a honor to meet him and converse with him. He shared his stories, and we listened intently. We enjoyed amazing food paired with the deep stories, which struck deep in my heart. 

The Artificial Port built by Winston Churchill--Caissons behind

On the German pill boxes

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The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer

At the Charles Shay Indian Memorial

Ani: Today was an amazing learning experience for me. We got to visit multiple sites in Normandy related to the D-Day battle. We visited the beach where there were leftover ports from which the American soldiers would fire. We also visited some German bunkers that actually never got to be used because they were built too far from the ocean. We got the opportunity to go inside these bunkers and explore the different compartments and the cannon. For me, seeing these fascinating sites in person made the war feel more real, and I really enjoy visual learning too. I was also very grateful to have dinner with the legendary Charles Shay, who told us about his experiences as a medic during the war. Hearing his first person perspective was really mind-blowing for me. Overall, I was very interested and excited to explore Normandy.

Reflections on meeting Charles Shay (Mimi)

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Charles Shay during our day in Normandie. Mr. Shay at down with the students to recount his past as well as answer our questions. For a man of 98 years, Mr. Shay has a strong presence and answers questions with thoughtfulness. I was struck by his humor and pride for his division, the 1st Infantry Division. Mr. Shay detailed his time working as a medic in the war, as a computer specialist for the United Nations, and as a limousine driver. He even recalled the time he drove Steven Spielberg in Austria. Mr. Shay’s stories conveyed resiliency and a love for who he is, particularly a strong desire to be authentic to his identity as indigenous American. After talking to Mr. Shay, I was reaffirmed the importance of looking beyond .the main narrative of any event to listen to the stories of others. 

Yesterday we met Mr. Charles Shay in Normandy. He is 98 years old but still allowed us to converse (barvarder) with him about his time in the military and experiences in his life. Today we arrived in Brittany but spent most of our time in the bus. Although the ride was long, it was fun and memorable because of the stops along the way. The stops included A big rock, bathroom and most importantly Mont San Michel. Mont San Michel was a breathtaking and fun experience where we explored a castle-like landscape accompanied by lots of food stands/venders. After our adventures we arrived in Brittany, where we ate a delicious  dinner and explored the area.

(Natalie) I was pleasantly surprised while talking to Charles Shay because not only was he amazingly attentive to our conversations, but I found extreme interest in his life stories. We talked about his time at the UN and what it was like living in various countries. I relished the time we had to interact with  Mr. Shay and am so grateful for the opportunity.                                                                                                                

One thing that resonated with me was the visits to the D-Day beaches in Normandy. I really enjoyed learning more about World War 2 and getting to see with my own eyes the impact the war has left on our Earth. I also really enjoyed getting to talk to Charles Shay, a veteran from the D-Day battles. Hearing the first point of view from someone really gives me a better idea of what terrible things the soldiers and medics had to live through. - Ani

Omaha Beach