En somme - Summary

Part of my job is to write a summary of the summer in 250 words. I always fail. This year's is 308 words. I am also supposed to choose two to three photos that represent the summer. I have chosen ten. 

Below, please find my summary and my favorite photos from Brest, 2019. 

C'est vrai que chaqu'un de vous me manquent déjà. Vous m'êtes tous spécials. Vous êtes parties de mon cœur.

The first day was the students’ first challenge; flip phones! They caught on quickly. A camaraderie also developed quickly. The first days were spent getting to know one another and the host families, which also happened quickly.

The reception at the city hall was just a few days after we arrived, and five brave students gave short speeches in front of family, teachers and city officials. And we got our picture in the paper!

The weeks were full of studies, sports, theatre, dance and music - and that was all before 3:30 pm. Students spent their free time exploring the city and developing friendships. Then it was back in the bosom of their French families by 6:30.

Our first excursion was to the Île de Batz, just off the northern coast of Brittany. The island was sun-drenched and lush, and we walked the length and breadth of it. (24,000 steps, almost 10 miles.)

In Brest, there were bike rides, trips to the movies (Spiderman and Toy Story 4), and Océanapolis, the aquarium. The French celebrated July 4, just for us! We will never forget the Breton dancing - what fun, but what work!

We had a two-day trip to Normandie; St. Malo, the American Cemetery at Utah Beach and the Memorial at Caen.

We visited the cliffs of Pointe des Espagnols and Pointe de Pen-Hir, the cities of Concarneau and Quimper. And we saw how to make the Breton pastry kouign-aman in Locronon. Oh, là-là!

Paris was a whirlwind two and a half days of; Père Lachaise Cemetery, the King Tut exhibit, lunch in the shadow of Tour Saint Jacques, the Sainte Chappelle, the Consiergérie, an incredible boat tour on the Seine, the Arc de Triomphe, Versailles and climbing the stairs to the second deck of the Eiffel Tower. Whew! (32,000 steps, 13.2 miles - a marathon!)

An incredible summer with incredible people!