Paris Day 2

Dan, Fabien (our tour guide) and I got picked up to meet the students at 8:30am.  I was so curious to hear how the first host family night went for them.  They all arrived with different stories about who their families were and how they were able to communicate with them.  Most of the families don't speak any English - which I think had some of them a little apprehensive.

They all did a great job.  They enjoyed their meals with their new families and then passed out quickly. I think every student was asleep by 10pm!  The families are used to hosting students from all over the world.  I was talking to the woman who organizes the families here and she says that they have groups that come from England, Holland, Australia, Mexico - from all over.  And the families are used to hosting different students.  And some of the families are friends - so for example tonight the parents of Jared and Devin were going to the house with Kristian and Ian to have dinner.  The french families appreciated their gifts that were brought from the US - Alex Hunter said that their family flipped over the Starbucks mugs.  Most of the students had their own rooms - some their own floor with their own bathroom.

And yet again I had another "moment" as a French teacher. Fabien told me that two french moms - at different times came over to him to say how our AHS students level of French speaking was really at a higher level than they usually get.  That the students were not just saying Bonjour, Merci and Au revoir - that they were understanding everything and contributing to the conversations.

So - we left Lisses by the french version of the metro north - the RER and went to the Hotel des Invalides.  It was at first a hospital for war veterans and a place where they would work.  I think Fabien said at one time they have 4000 living there.  Eventually it was turned into a museum and it's here where the tomb of Napoleon is located.  We visited the tomb - and on the way to the war museum there happened to be some sort of military ceremony going on in the courtyard.  We watched that for a while and then proceeded to go through the war museum.  It was WAY TOO cold to watch the whole ceremony.  It was -2 all day and snowing today.    We stopped in a cafe - and the students ate a little of the packed lunches .... I didn't know the families were going to give them packed lunches but they did.  So they all had their little bags with baguette sandwiches, chips and other muchies.

We took the metro over to the Opera area of Paris.  we had about an hour to wonder around - so groups went and got a cafe or hot chocolate.  Then we met up with Fanny - our guide for our tour of the Opera House.  I had never been inside - it was absolutely gorgeous.  Just a very ornate and beautiful space.  Made you want to dress up and go see an opera or ballet.  And the story of Garnier who built the Opera House was fascinating too.  He apparently was the first architect to "sign" a building.  He put his name and the dates of when it was built on the circle in the ceiling in the entry way.

They let us sit inside the opera house part - in the plush red seats covered in gold as Fanny talked to us about the season pass holders and the "loueurs" - the ones who just went for one show.  She also told us about the ceiling of the Opera that was painted by Chagall.  I think it was in the 60s where they wanted to change the image of the opera house and get younger people interested in the opera.  So they added a 2nd ceiling over the original one.  Chagall didn't want to tear down the original one but did agree to add another layer to it.  Of course the French hated it - or some did and some loved it.  But now it's loved by most.

After the tour - we split into smaller groups to visit the famous Galeries Lafayette - where students got some souvenirs, some chocolate - some clothes.  Then it was back on the RER to go home.

It was  long day of walking and touring but again the students were GREAT.  They listen whenever Fabien or Fanny talked to them about the sites - for Fanny a bunch were asking questions of the Opera House.  They don't complain about anything!  Just really a great experience.

We arrived back in Lisses around 7pm - and that was the end of Day 2.  I have posted a link to Day 2 pictures in the next entry for you to enjoy.

A message for Mr and Mrs Selig - Julia said that it didn't matter - but she couldn't get her phone to work.  She was planning on using someone's calling card tonight to let you know - but thought I would let you know too.

In terms of meeting up with the students - it's been fine. They are all on time- always with groups of 4 and two of those have Barnett or myself with them.  The french families drop them off every morning and pick them up every night.

Day 3:  we got to Versailles and Montmartre.