Tours, France

Today we woke up for the last time in the houses of our exchange students. This morning was full of hard goodbyes for everyone but excited thoughts as we boarded the bus to Paris. We dropped our bags off at the hotel and then proceeded to immediately walk to a wonderful cafe for lunch on the steps of a nearby church. After lunch, we took our first subway trip to another church that was absolutely stunning inside. After taking a couple pictures we explored another part of Paris filled with many artists drawing caricatures of the tourists. Afterwards we rode another subway to what Paris is known for: Le Tour Eiffel. It did not disappoint. We walked up the steps from the ground all the way to the second floor stopping for a quick blue raspberry ice refuel at the first floor. We then took an elevator to the very top and got to see all of Paris. We also saw the apartment of the man who created the Eiffel tower’s apartment… getting groceries must have been a journey. Afterwards, we were free to get dinner wherever we wanted… so, we got some very delicious sushi. Believe it or not, most of us were missing food other than French cuisine. Charlotte and I bought some delicious crepes and began our walk back to the hotel which is where I am now writing this. Can’t wait for day 2!

Sorry to be repetitive but today I also went to the zoo. The same zoo as Vanessa. I swear we didn’t plan this but it was a really cool zoo so I’m not surprised so many people went. Anyways I woke up to a knock at my door calling for breakfast at 7:30. I didn’t realize we were getting up early so I regretted staying up late the night before. I promptly went down for breakfast where we had toasted brioche, I put Nutella on mine. I then had time to get dressed and wash my face before heading off to the zoo with Astrid and her mom which was about one hour away. I spent a lot of the ride looking out at the scenery, the countryside is really beautiful especially earlier in the morning. We arrived at the zoo at 9:30 and started looking around. We first went to the tropical bird house which had a mixture of free-flying and caged birds. My favorite was this bird with absurdly large feet but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a good picture. We then looked at a variety of larger bird, mainly birds of prey like eagles and vultures. I made sure to do my salute to the bald eagle. A new surprise favorite bird was the Himalayan griffon vulture. We explored different sections of the zoo seeing big cats and apes which I thought was very cool.  We then saw the pandas, and while I think they are overhyped, they were pretty cute and much more accessible than the ones in DC  where you have to wait an hour to see them. We then took a gondola to the bird show which is where I have to disagree with Vanessa because it was absolutely amazing and the sea lion show did not hold a candle to it. I am biased because I really love birds but it was so cool having all these birds flying over you, some of them with massive 10ft wingspans. The ending really was the showstopper though, where they released seemingly all of the birds in the zoo to fly overhead. There had to be at least 200 birds all flocking and cawing and it literally felt like Jurassic park. The whole thing was outside though so I’m not sure how they didn’t just release at least a dozen exotic bird species into the wild there. They either must have a very good electric fence or very well programmed birds. We continued to see a lot of the zoo afterwards but the place was huge. We stayed there for 9 hours in total and there was still some stuff we didn’t see. I was really exhausted at the end and my feet hurt a bunch but I still had fun. Once we got home I packed a little and then we had croque-monsieur’s for dinner (very French). I then got ready for bed because we have an early start tomorrow. I’m so excited for Paris. 

Today was Sunday and we woke up around 8:00 to leave for the zoo. Before getting into the drive, we stopped at a traditional French bakery to pick up some pastries for breakfast! I snapped a few pictures of the beautiful variety of pastries they had, and I got an authentic pain au chocolat and it was so scrumptious as per usual! We all quickly ate our pastries on the car and continued driving to the zoo. After an hour drive where I napped, we finally arrived at ZooParc de Beauval. We saw a wide variety of animals, but my favorite were the pandas and the safari animals. We picked up a quick lunch at a hot dog stand, obviously not the best food I’ve had here in France but, it is cheap park food after all. But apart of this lunch I had the majestic Lipton Peach Infused Iced Tea, which I discovered is a really popular drink in France, for incredibly good reason. It’s been my favorite thing to drink here. We also watched 2 of their shows, the bird one and the sea lion one and out of those two, the sea lion one was definitely more interesting! But something tragic happened during the sea lion show. We’d all bought vanilla and strawberry swirl ice cream, but I guess I tilted mine or something and the ice cream fell off my cone… Thankfully, it fell onto my hand and phone instead of all over my pants and so I sort of just put the remaining and salvageable parts of the ice cream back onto the cone and continue to eat it. It was needed and really good for the hot weather today, okay? After the sea lion show finished, we headed back home and the day was so tiring Mathilde, Paul (her little brother), and I, all ended up crashing on the car and napped the whole way back. We got home around 5 after an hour drive (nap) and I pretty much just rested and scrolled in the living room with Mathilde and Paul until it was time to prep and eat dinner. We had steak and sausages with a side of tomatoes and cucumbers, very simple and easy to make but it was pretty delicious. Side note, I don’t like I’ll ever get used to being handed a block of meat or a whole sausage to eat. After what I thought was another incredibly late dinner, it was already around 10 and Mathilde, Paul, and I just relaxed in the living room some more until it was time to get ready for bed and sleep! I’m a little sad since I can feel the end of our stay in Tours with our exchange partners ending soon. But still, it was another great day in Tours, France and I can’t wait for tomorrow!

This morning, I woke up at 8:00 to pack for our day in Normandy. I had a slice of brioche for breakfast. At 9:40, we departed for Normandy and arrived 1:00 PM. After we arrived at the Memorial de Caen, we grabbed lunch in the memorial’s restaurant. At the memorial, we saw an exhibition dedicated to the history of WW2, another dedicated to D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, and finally, we saw a film of D-Day. I was surprised to learn that as the Allies were preparing to land in France, they bombed the seaside cities and caused 20,000 civilian deaths. After the Memorial de Caen, we headed towards Omaha Beach, where the Americans landed to liberate France. At the beach, the weather was cold, rainy, and miserable (there was a brave soul trying to surf in the ocean). My exchange student, Elise, told me that regions like Normandy rarely rain, so I guess we were out of luck today. Due to the weather, we only stayed at Omaha Beach for a few minutes to see the monuments on the beach. During our time there, we encountered a parade of American military vehicles (and a couple of those little military planes). Maybe they were celebrating D-Day a day late? We later saw them again at the American military cemetery by the beach, which we planned to visit but was unfortunately closed. By 8:00 PM, we had arrived at our hotel near Mont St. Michel. After eating, we waited to take photos of Mont St. Michel and the sunset but were not able to due to the cloudy weather. I look forward to tomorrow at Mont St. Michel.

Today was a very enjoyable and unique day full of activities. Luckily, we got to sleep in and I got up at 8:00, which was a comfortable change of pace. Candice (my exchange student) and I walked from her apartment to Tours à Table, where the class had a cooking class where we prepared our lunch. We worked together in two groups to pipe éclairs, which was somewhat successful, (my group’s éclairs which are pictured were a tad ginormous), and made the chocolate custard filling. Afterwards, we cut pork belly and onions to be caramelized and cracked eggs for omelettes. The chefs in the workshop were extremely helpful and taught us a lot about the intricacies and traditions of the food. I learned that having a consistent level of strength in piping éclairs is extremely necessary and lots of vocabulary in the kitchen. Finally, we ate the omelettes and éclairs we made, in addition to some salad and bread with goat cheese. Everything was great, especially the fresh éclairs and omelettes. Overall this was a lovely experience as French cuisine is so so so delicious and it was amazing to further explore.

Later, we rejoined our exchange students and went to Gadawi Park Aventure where we did acrobranche (treetop ropes course) which was so much fun. They had many courses and various levels of difficulty in the park, but all of them ziplines and were super engaging and fun. I went on three different ones and my favorite was the fifth level (the hardest) course which was the highest and had mostly ziplines that spanned across the whole forest and park. My favorite part of it was one of the last ziplines which was very fast and long across a field. By the end of it I was super tired but overcame my slight worries of the height and difficulty. Overall I had a great time with my friends and getting to experience new things and heights. Later, I went with a group to do some shopping and ended the day with a nice dinner and game with my exchange family. The trip and everyone have been so incredible and I can’t wait to see what more we have in store!

I started my day at 6:45, which was a little later than normal sonce we watched a movie a little late last night. I got ready before I had my breakfast of tea and italian cookies/biscuits followed by yogurt and apricot juice. Matilde (my exchange partner) got to sleep in because yesterday was their last day of school, so her mom, her brother, and I left at 7:30 to drive to the bus station, where I met the rest of my class. On the bus, I took a very nice nap and had fun talking to Ananya, Sadhana, Skyler, Jacob, and Spencer! Chenonceau, the castle we visited today, was by far my favorite! When we first arrived, we were greeted by a large pathway lined by trees leading to the castle. We got to walk around inside and in the gardens for two hours, which was really nice because chenonceau has such an interesting backstory and both the interior and exterior had intricate designs. We also got good ice cream at the cafe near the castle, then walked around some more and found a really cute dog that looked like a really fluffy bear. Then, we ate our lunches by the Cher river, the same river Chenonceau is on. We had planned on canoeing today, but because of wind and rain, we biked along the river and past the castle. I honestly liked biking a lot better, the hills were not difficult at all and, despite some issues finding directions, we made it to the bus! When we got back to Tours, me, Matilde, Ananya, Sixtine, Lucas, Jacob, Spencer, Sandro, and some of their friends went on a walk around the city, where we found a nice café to sit down at. We sat and talked while enjoying some hot chocolate and finger food, which was so much fun! Since the bus was a bit late, Matilde and I hung out with Sixtine and Ananya at their house before taking the bus home! We got back at 7:00, and, before dinner, we listened to some Italian music, had snacks, and started a movie called “Agents Presque Secrets”. For dinner, Matilde’s mom made schnitzel, which I was very excited about when she told me yesterday, since my mom and grandma make schnitzel often. Everything tasted so good and reminded me of home! She also asked me earlier if I prefer chocolate or fruit cakes, and I did not realize why until she brought out a chocolate cake that she got me from a bakery. Afterwards, we watched more of the movie before going to bed. I have thoroughly enjoyed this visit so much and my host family has been so thoughtful and welcoming, I cannot wait for tomorrow and more fun days like today!

This morning, I woke up at 6:45am and got ready for the day. Before leaving the house, I grabbed a croissant and said goodbye to Tévy’s pets (Sierra and Hopi). Then, Tévy’s mom drove us to the tram, which we took to the school to meet the principal, who wanted to welcome us! While meeting the principal, the school provided breakfast treats and I ate a pain au chocolat. After we ate, the principal gave us a tour of the school along with some of its history. We then walked in the misty rain to the Musée du Compagnonnage. When exploring the museum, we were given a packet of activities and questions to fill out, which helped us understand the origins of the museum. Our second stop of the day was exploring a market with different types of meats, produce, and of course… cheese. While walking around, I got a bit hungry and ended up buying a tomato and cheese quiche, and it was so tasty! We then killed some time by walking around the town learning more history while waiting for our exchange students to meet us for lunch. Today, for lunch, we got to pick a restaurant to go to with our partners. The group I was in decided to get crêpes! I ordered a cheese, chicken, and onion crêpe with an Orangina to drink (a classic French soda), which was delicious! I also had a dessert crêpe with chocolate and powdered sugar, which tasted even better! After eating lunch, my friends and I hurried over to our second museum of the day to meet up with the rest of the group. This museum was called the Musée des Beaux-Arts. We then started our tour with a guide (who was very expressive and had an awesome beard) who talked about the historical facts of the art pieces. I found this very interesting because I enjoyed getting to fully understand and appreciate the artist’s perspective and work. After we finished up with the museum, I took the tram home and quickly got dressed for the pool party. The party ended up being super fun with music, food, and games! I also had a chance to meet all the exchange partners of other people, and I really enjoyed getting to know them. At 9:00pm, I went home and was welcomed by Tévy’s puppy, who was very excited to see us. I then had some homemade tiramisu (the best thing I’ve had in France so far!), got ready for bed, and went to sleep!

Today, I woke up early at 6:45 and got ready for the day. For breakfast, I had a baguette filled with small morsels of chocolate as well as a latte. Our first stop was the Château de Langeais, a medieval castle from the Middle Ages. When we arrived, the château wasn’t open yet, so we went on a walk around the town. It was quite charming, filled with weathered cobblestone cottages, boxes of vibrant flowers, and cute bakeries. As the château opened, we watched the lowering of the drawbridge. Once we went inside the walls, we visited a small garden on a hill, then walked around the château’s park, exploring remnants of walls and learning about the history. Then, it was time to see the actual château. It was smaller than I expected, but still very interesting, and the furniture and decorations all had intricate stories behind them. Even the symbols on the floor tiles and the paintings on the walls had meanings! I really appreciated all the little details present in everything. Inside the château, we watched a show with wax figures that explained the marriage of Charles XI and Anne of Brittany, an important historical event that united France and Brittany into one nation. After visiting the château, we had a picnic on the benches around the village, and I ate a ham and cheese sandwich, saucisson, chips, and cucumbers. We had a bit of free time after lunch, so I walked around the village with Vanessa and Sunny and took some cute pictures. 

The second stop of the day was a goat farm, which was in a beautiful meadow. We arrived a bit early again, so we relaxed in the bus for a while before heading inside. We toured the stable where the goats ate and slept, and I got to pet a baby goat, which was pretty cute! Then, we saw the milking room, where we saw all the contraptions set up for milking the goats. The milk went straight to the cheese factory, where the milk was combined with enzymes and whey and then left to sit in molds to make cones of cheese. The cones were then rolled in salt and cinders to form a flavored crust, and the cheese was aged until ready to eat. At the end of our visit, we had a tasting, where I got to try new goat cheese, slightly aged goat cheese, and old goat cheese. I liked the oldest one the most, because it had the best texture and the salty flavor wasn’t too overpowering. I also tried a rose and honey jam, which was so fragrant and delicious that I had to buy a jar to take home to my family. On our way back to the bus, I saw two adorable cats, a ginger one and a brown one. The brown one was especially friendly, letting me pet it and bumping me gently with its head.

Once I returned to the train station at Tours around 5:30, my partner Capucine had a school event, so I hung out with Sunny and her partner Hanaé for a bit. We went shopping, and I made a big purchase – a white Longchamp bag. I also bought a couple snacks from Monoprix to share with my family. When Capucine returned, I went home with her, took a shower, and relaxed for a bit. Then, I ate dinner, which was galettes – salty crêpes filled with ham, eggs, and cheese. For dessert, I had some vanilla rice pudding, which was quite delicious. After dinner, I relaxed in my bed, then went to sleep. It was a long, tiring, but extremely fun day, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week has in store!

started the day around 6:20 AM and got ready. After breakfast, I said good morning to Axelle’s dog, Nyx. She’s such a sweet dog, I think I’ll miss her the most when I leave France! Our first stop of the day was the Château de Chambord. The architecture was stunning and so detailed, and the gardens were just as beautiful. After exploring the château, we had a picnic lunch. The food was delicious, and the weather couldn’t have been better. Later in the afternoon, we visited Saint Michel, where we got to make our own butter and flour. Churning butter and grinding wheat was fun, and it was really cool to see where basic ingredients like those come from, especially since they’re used in things like cookies and cake! After that, I went shopping with Axelle, Ananya, Sophie, Skyler, Jacob, Spencer, and their partners. I found a really pretty jewelry store that I’ll definitely be going back to. To end the day, I had dinner with my exchange family outside, enjoying the warm and pleasant evening. After that, I went to bed, ready to go to sleep to end an eventful day.

This morning, I woke up bright and early at 11 am, when Hanaé knocked on my door. After I got dressed, her mother sent us to go on a hike to buy some pastries and two baguettes (quite literally a hike, I had to go down and then back up a mountain). On the way there, we passed by a church, where people were singing and praying. When we arrived at the small patisserie on the corner, I observed a small argument when my exchange student asked for a chocolatine, which was immediately rebutted by the shop owner saying “it’s a pain au chocolat!” After a treacherous hike back up the mountain, hanaé and I helped her mother in the garden, and repeatedly filled up water for her mother to water the plants. We went to go check on the growing strawberries and the smallest raspberries, and of course, took lots of breaks to pet her fluffy cat, Katniss. Soon after was lunch, where her father started barbecuing sausages while her mother brought in vegetables fresh from the garden while us kids set the tables. The well balanced meal was follow up with lots of cheese, which was interesting to say the least, and I tried to follow the dinner conversation to the best of my ability (which mostly consisted of my exchange student and her sister calling each other “cra cra” – dirty). The meal was wrapped up with her mother’s homemade raspberry and rhubarb tart, which was perfectly tart with a sweet crust. After lunch and a little bit of SAT practice, we went out in tours with Vanessa, Claire, and their partners. We went to a cafe and feasted on some macarons and taking lots of pictures there. Later, we went home and had a small snack before getting ready to go to bed for the night.