Final Might, 11 Lincoln Excessive College college students traveled with LHS French trainer Bailey Hacker-Powell and science trainer René LaMontagna to France. Initially of their two-week journey, the scholars stayed with households in Indiana's sister metropolis of Vincennes, France, and attended courses at its sister college “Notre Dame de la Windfall” within the southeastern suburb of Paris. Throughout their homestay, college students had been capable of expertise on a regular basis life with their hosts, attend courses and tour the sights of Paris, Hacker-Powell stated.
LHS senior Gage Hagood stated spending time and forming a connection along with his host household was probably the most memorable a part of the journey. He found that he and his host performed the identical video video games and will even alternate Vincennes Fireplace Division T-shirts from sister cities. LHS junior Ellie Blue stated she felt like her host “had much more freedom, in school, at house and on the whole. She walked to high school alone each morning and each evening, she left college when she wanted to, and he or she discovered it very good to have a lot freedom!
As soon as the homestays had been over, the group took a personal tour of western France. For every week they visited the Palace of Versailles, the castles of the Loire Valley, Mont Saint-Michel, St-Malo and Normandy, and the D-Day seashores. Alongside the best way they’d many genuine cultural experiences, similar to a category on French delicacies.
A memorable interplay with a French particular person for LHS senior Elio Smith got here when a person was blowing huge bubbles. “Seeing my pleasure, he taught me methods to blow huge bubbles,” Smith stated.
The scholars walked or rode the subway many of the locations they traveled, which Blue stated was a problem to regulate to as a result of she was so used to a car-centric way of life. LHS senior Michael Watry stated one distinction that stood out to him in his host scholar's life was the truth that he couldn't drive, however reasonably biked or walked in every single place in Paris.
Studying about France and French tradition was stuffed with attention-grabbing surprises for the scholars. Hagood was “stunned” that when it rained, snails got here out as an alternative of worms. Blue stated he was stunned to find out how frequent it’s for folks to talk English in different international locations, which was “very useful.” This was supported by Watry, who stated it was shocking to listen to most individuals in customer support use English throughout transactions. Smith's largest shock got here from public transportation, saying that “motorcyclists don't comply with any legal guidelines on the highway.”
A number of the college students stated they plan to journey overseas once more. Blue stated he desires to proceed finding out French and that “I positively see myself in 10 years dwelling in France.” Smith hopes to be an English trainer in France sooner or later. Watry is making use of to Indiana College's overseas language honors program and plans to use to different examine overseas applications on the college.
