Among many memorable French monuments visited by Clarkston-area students this past October, the Eiffel Tower stands out.
It was tall. It was imposing. It was also blue.
“The Eiffel Tower was lit up in blue because France was serving a six-month presidency of the European Union,” said Sheryl Powell, who led Cedar Crest Academy’s Middle School French Student Trip, Oct. 23-30.
The 13 students making the trip gathered with their families, Dec. 15, to share photos and memories of the trip.
“It was an opportunity of a lifetime,” Powell said. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to help the community understand how important foreign language is to children.”
Students wrote reflections about the trip, and took turns telling stories for their families.
“The Eiffel Tower was very tall,” said student Rachel Deradoorian. “I was disappointed we had to take the elevator ? it was so crowded. I wanted to walk up.”
The students toured Paris on double-decker buses and the metro, ordering meals in French, and visiting sites such as Notre Dame, Louvre, Sacre Couer, Museum of Modern Art, and Champs-Elysees.
“Notre Dame is really big, with lots of stained glass windows and gothic architecture,” said student Julia Dutkiewicz.
“They have been learning characteristics of Gothic architecture since kindergarten,” Powell said.
They climbed all 284 steps to the top of L’Arc de Triumphe, at the west end of Champs-Elysees.
“When we got to the top of the Arc de Triumphe, I shook the bars and said there was an earthquake,” shared student Pat McCarney.
“We didn’t have to worry about boredom,” Powell quipped.
Cedar Crest hosted members of the Guillaume family this past spring. The Guillaumes returned the favor by hosting the group for lunch, games, and dinner.
“They served us several courses ? they were very gracious,” Powell said.
They visited the Chateau de Versailles just south of Paris, where they enjoyed an impromptu game of soccer on palace grounds, and travelled by high-speed train to historic sites in the Loire Valley, southwest of Paris, such as Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau d’Amboise.