Travel: French Students Tour Paris

It's one thing to study the culture and language of France from a textbook in a La Grange classroom, but it's something entirely different to experience it in Paris, a group of eighth grade and freshmen students from the La Grange area learned recently.

For a trip led by Park Junior High French teacher Christine Boyd, students in eighth grade at Park and some former students of Boyd, now freshmen at Lyons Township High School, got an opportunity of a lifetime: a seven-day trip to Paris.

In Paris, the students were treated to tours of famous French landmarks, the home of the U.S. Ambassador to France and a hotel that was unlike anything they had experienced before—right down to some strange bathrooms.

"By the end of the trip, it was like we had all been friends forever," said Ann Stapel-Kalat, 14, an eighth grade student at Park. "It was so much fun. It's hard to pick a favorite thing we did."

Students left on March 24 on an eight-hour, turbulent flight for Paris that had their food jumping from their trays. But a rough flight was more than worth it when they landed in Paris, students said.

Experiencing a new country was a bit nerve-racking at first, Allie Pawlak, 14, an eighth grade French student at Park said.

"You get used to it, but at first it can feel like you're doing it wrong," said Pawlak of speaking the language to native speakers.

Her classmate, Stapel-Kalat agreed.

"Some [French people] would hear us ask a question and then just speak back to us in English," Stapel-Kalat laughed. "And it was like, no, we're trying to speak your language and practice!"

Students said practicing with native speakers helped them in their own studies, especially we pronunciation.

"There's nothing quite like experiencing a language in the real world," Boyd said. "You get a much deeper understanding."

LT freshman Giuliana Pudlo, 15, said she agreed.

"You develop a better ear for it," Pudlo said. "You also develop an appreciation for the country."

While her students agreed that any trip to France was like a vacation, they said they packed so much into their weeklong stay, they were busy the whole trip.

"We didn't really do much sleeping," Stapel-Kalat said. "We'd wake up very early so we could get started and we'd get back to the hotel late at night."

Students got an opportunity to take in the country's rich history as well. They toured the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame, the Palace of Versailles, and Montmartre—the highest point in Paris and a neighborhood with a rich artistic tradition. 

The food and fashion were also big draws for the students.

"It's not the kind of place you'd feel comfortable going outside in sweatpants," Stapel-Kalat said.

Pawlak agreed and said even the guys who went on the trip got into the shopping in Paris.

"They bought new shirts and everyone was trying new styles and buying new clothes," Pawlak said. "Fashion was definitely a theme."

Students said they got the chance to try out their French skills the most at dinner when they could order food (a skill they'd practiced in classes). At night they dined on fondue, apple compote (which they thought might be pastry and turned out to be apple sauce), and branching out from traditional French culinary traditions, the students also tried their first Moroccan food.

"Everything we ate was amazing," Stapel-Kalat said. "But after walking around all day, almost anything would taste amazing. It was fun to order new things for everyone to try... we shared a lot."

Like any trip to a new place, it tends to be the little differences in culture and custom that stand out the most.

"At times it was like being in the Twilight Zone," Pudlo said. "It's just these small differences that make things just slightly off what they would be like at home."

Among their observations were that the hotels seemed significantly smaller in size than anything in the states; everyone smokes; French people tend to be quieter and Americans make a lot of noise; and unisex bathrooms can be a surprise when it's not expected.

All three students said they have plans to return some day. All three would like to do a study abroad program in college in Paris.

And, perhaps not surprisingly, all agree that having a small apartment in Paris all to yourself would be just wonderful.

Take a look at some pictures from the trip in our gallery above. Did you go to Paris? Share your photos by clicking the link below the photo viewer.