France Summer Seminar 2018

Today we asked the students to participate in the blog so that you hear their perspectives. Here's what some had to say.  Thomas Hamblet:  On Tuesday, my host family took me up in a four-seater plane to get a different type of view of Lyon. We went to the smaller airfield in Lyon, mainly used for people whose hobby is flying and met a pilot who took us up. We then flew around Lyon at a slight distance, enough to keep us out of Lyon airspace. The view from above was amazing, as we could see for miles. From the plane, we could spot Le Crayon and La Gomme, the two skyscrapers in Lyon, as well as the Basilique de Fourvière and the house that we were staying in. It was an amazing experience that I will most likely never again be able to repeat. Jordan Zografos: My trip has been great so far. I feel like my ability to speak French has significantly improved since I am surrounded by French speaking people and forced to use French in many situations throughout the day. My h...

Bonjour! We had a fun morning walking to the Musée des Confluences, Lyon’s newly built natural science and history museum. It’s aptly named “confluences” as the modern glass building sits perched at the meeting point of Lyon’s two rivers, la Saône and le Rhône. Great views can be enjoyed from the roof top terrace. Students at Saint Marc are dismissed early on Wednesday afternoons, so their American correspondents joined them for the remainder of the day.

Bonjour à tous! We began our day with an easy walk through the La Croix-Rousse market. At the top of the hill (833 feet!) high in Lyon, we browsed the beautifully displayed fruits, vegetables, dried sausage, cheeses, and other regional specialties. The Croix-Rousse neighborhood is heavily influenced by the role of the silk-industry in Lyon. Our guided tour explained how its unique housing with vaulted ceilings and exposed wooden rafters was designed to accommodate the tall silk looms used by the canuts (silk workers) of that area. Given the artisan nature of the neighborhood, it seems appropriate to end our tour with a visit to the Fresque des Lyonnais. While there are many murals around Lyon, this one is by far the most visited and admired due to the many famous "Lyonnais" featured peering out from the beautiful seven-story mural, including loom inventor Joseph-Marie Jacquard and superstar chef Paul Bocuse.

We arrived at St. Marc to a warm welcome and some delicious chocolate croissants. Not a bad way to start school. We toured the school for a bit. St. Marc has a beautiful chapel and an "American" food station in the canteen. After an orientation, students went to two classes where some of the BC High students helped French students learn English and others visited a German class and a history class. Orientation with M Cyril Dusautoy Chapel at St. Marc On the way to Vieux Lyon After lunch, we departed to the Basilique de Fourvière. It is high on the hill overlooking all of Lyon, and we got to walk all the way up to the bell towers to ring the bells and then proceeded even further up above the roof line to take in all of the city. It was breathtaking.    Outside Basilique de Fourviere Bell Tower Inside Basilique de Fourviere We then met with a tour guide who brought us down through a fragrant rosary garden below the church and into Vi...

We've made it Logan safe and sound. We had hoped to be boarding by now, but alas our flight is delayed. Still, we are playing cards, watching the Celtics game, and playing on our devices while we still have battery life. Hopefully the next time you hear from us, we'll be in Europe.