Day 1

Bonjour! Our first day in France was a sunny one. It was a little tricky getting to the school in the large bus because the streets in Enghien are very narrow. There were some cars illegally parked on the street that the bus needed to turn on...so we had to just get out of the bus and walk a little with our luggage (only a few minutes). When we arrived at the school we were greeted with French coffee and pastries, and we met some of the teachers at the middle school. The French students were all very excited to see us, and I was so proud of my students as many of them began to speak with them. After meeting Mme Moscovitz, the family coordinator, we were able to put our luggage in a classroom and we walked into the town of Enghien to the restaurant for lunch at Le Patio. It was our experience with real French cuisine, and even though some of the group were falling asleep in their chairs, it delicious! The menu was "prix fixe"' so there were four choices for each course (appetizer, main dish, dessert). The menu included goat cheese salad, duck, fish, steak, pizza, amongst other yummy choices. I think thr best dessert was thr crème brulée à la vanille, but they all looked amazing! We tried everything! Bravo mes élèves! Following lunch, we had some time to explore Enghien on foot. We walked by the lake and casino, and we did lots of window shopping. Some of the students made their first purchases- another great chance to speak French. Finally, it was time to go back to the school and meet our families. The French students and their families were all very happy to meet us. I know it was an emotional moment for all to say au revoir to reach other for the weekend, but I know the experiences the students will be able to share with each other Monday will be so worth it! Tomorrow we take a train into Paris to tour the Louvre, take a bus tour of Paris with some time to walk on the Champs-Élysées, and a boat ride on the Seine. I can't wait to hear all about the weekend! Look for more pictures of us tomorrow evening! A bientôt! Mme Rezek