During our time in France it was not just excursions to Paris and to Strasbourg. There were service to be complete, children to teach, to grow to love in our time there. There are more to come. Stay tuned!

Chocolat, Strasbourg & le Struthof

Wednesday the entire group....French and American... set off bright and early for a day's excursion. Spirits were high in spite of the lingering uncertainty of our return to the US as British Airways prepared to go on strike.

Our first stop was to a Chocolaterie where we saw a demonstration of how to create various chocolate shapes and how to decorate them. We tasted. We savored. When a strike is iminent, there is no better way to keep the worries at bay than to eat chocolate.

Next we headed to Strasbourg, the captital of Europe. We took the Strasbourgian bateau mouche and were treated to a beautiful tour of the city as seen from its waterways. We gazed at the Cathedral, took in the astromical clock.

The day finished on a more serious note as we threaded deep valleys and climbed a steep mountain to arrive at le Struthof, the only concentration camp that was located on French soil. We were greeted by the sight of its soaring white monument to those who lost their lives here during the Second World War. The group was somber as we visited the buildings that held the gas chambers and oven. We read the personal stories of those who were sent to this camp never to return. As we left we were conscious of how fortunate we are...and that it is also imperative that sites like this be preserved so the memory of what happened here will not be forgotten, that remembering will instill and strengthen the hope that nothing like this will happen ever again.

Paris!

Bright and early on Wednesday morning the group assembled at the Gare de Mulhouse to take the train to Paris. Our departure was not without its worries as Emma's family mistakenly took her to the Gare de Colmar. Fortunately, all was well as her correspondante successfully (and speedily) got Emma to the correct train station in time...

We arrived at the Gare de l'Est in Paris and took the metro to Pyramides which was a short walk from our hotel in the first arrondissement. We checked in and unpacked and quickly headed off to the Musée Rodin. We then took the metro to the Champs Elysées and explored the shops and took in the sights. Wednesday evening we headed to Montmartre. We took the funiculaire to the top and were treated to a magnificent view of Paris at night.

Thursday we visited the Musée d'Orsay and went to the theater to see La Leçon by Ionesco. Afterward we quickly ate dinner in the Quartier Latin. We then took a boatride (bateau mouche) on the Seine. In spite of the chilly temperatures and a brisk wind most of the students insisted on taking in the sights from the top of the boat in the open air.

Friday we walked through the Palais Royale and visited the Cathedral of Notre Dame. We even witnessed a demonstration (une manifestation) just like a chapter in French in Action! The afternoon we spent visiting the Louvre. Later we headed to La Tour Eiffel where we stood in line for quite some time before taking the ascenseur to the second level. There we were once again treated to magnificent views of the city in all its splendor. Once we were back on the ground several of the students treated themselves to crepes and Philip bought a huge cotton candy (barbe de papa) that several others helped him to enjoy. The group had dinner near the hotel and an early check-in so we could be up early Saturday to take the 8:24 train back (this time) to Colmar to be reunited with our host families. Both Claudie and Debbie congratulated the group on their punctuality, their unflagging good spirits, and their willingness to keep up a brisk pace so that we could experience as much of Paris as possible in the short amount of time we had at our disposal. Chapeau!

mardi le 9 mars...Tuesday

The GS students met up at "la cantine" of the Lycée Kastler to eat lunch and to spend time with their "correspondants." When asked about their service projects, the students responded with enthusiasm.

"I buttoned and zippered up jackets and coats."

"I helped some of the slower children with their math."

"One child told me I was his big friend (sa grande amie) which was better than a girl friend (sa petite amie).

"One child held my hand at recess."

"I didn't think I would learn German in France."

Tomorrow we leave bright and early for Paris. On y va!

Day One

Today the group worked in their service projects at five different sites in Guebwiller and Soultz. All were eager to meet the children with whom they would be working. We were also greeted officially at the town hall of Guebwiller by the town mayer, Denis Rebman, whose sister Anne participated in the George School-Lycée Kastler year-long exchange back in the day. The students were delighted with their interactions with children and teachers alike. They were also quite pleased with their host families and their "correspondants." One student was overheard exclaiming, "Everything tastes better in France!" and "Everything here is so beautiful!" While the weather was chilly with a biting wind, all was warmth in the interactions of the GS students, their pupils, and their host families.

The trip begins!

Here we are on the plane about to take off from Philadelphia and at Heathrow waiting for all of us to clear security. We then boarded our second flight to Basel where we were greeted by our host families. Saturday and Sunday gave us time to get to know our "correspondants" and to catch up on sleep. Tomorrow begin the service projects: meeting at lycée Kastler and then off to the various sites. On y va!

Guebwiller

Guebwiller viewed from the vineyards above. Our departure is fast approaching. Que l'aventure commence!

On y va!