Harry Stewart: France

EIL: French Language and Cooking

For five weeks this Summer, I was fortunate enough to visit France to learn more about the French language, as well as native French cuisine. My trip was divided into multiple sections, beginning with a five day orientation in Paris, in which we explored all the tourist sites, and got reacquainted with the language. For the next eight days, we lived in Montignac, a small village in southwestern France, further studying the language and visiting many different tourist locations in the area. The trip continued to the two week homestay with a native French family in southeastern France. The final major portion of the trip took place in Lyon, during which time we studied cooking at the Paul Bocuse Institute. Finally, I spent one final day in Paris, cramming in as much shopping as possible. 

Orientation in Paris

After a long flight from New York, we began the day by touring a number of side-streets, mouths watering at every bakery, fromagerie, or café. The days in Paris turned into a blur of fantastic food, beautiful sights, and sore feet. Although I'd forgotten the majority of my French over the summer, I was quick to remember lots of useful phrases and words. We got to do a number of fantastic activities in Paris, including a tour of four different choclatiers, scavenger hunts, or just sitting and enjoying a picnic in the park. 

Just an average Parisian bakery

Language Study in Montignac

The View of Montignac

After our stay in Paris, we moved on to Montignac, a tiny village in southwestern France. It was beyond picturesque. At practically any spot in the area, there would be a beautiful panorama just waiting to be photographed. With our group, there were two wonderful teachers, Carole and Naima, who led French classes every morning to prepare us for the homestay. Then, every afternoon, our group would have a different activity in the area. We took a tour of French castles along the Verzere river, via canoe. We hiked up to the Lasceaux caves, which contain some of the oldest known cave drawings. We visited a goat and sheep farm, where we learned about the process of making goat cheese and got to sample different varieties. After saying goodbye to Carole and Naima, we departed for the homestay portion of the trip.

Homestay in Lapalud

By far the most anxiety-inducing part of the exchange, everyone was nervous about the homestay. Not only did we have to split up from our group, but the idea of spending two weeks with a totally new family can be terrifying. However, my family turned out to be incredibly accommodating. Every morning I would wake up and remember how incredible it was to spend two weeks with a French family. The entire experience was truly amazing, and it's hard to believe how much my French skills improved. 

Cooking in Lyon

The final portion of the trip was a one-week cooking course at the Institut Paul Bocuse, an amazing culinary school in Lyon. When we weren't receiving instruction from world-class chefs, we toured Lyon, sampling cheeses in an outdoor market, exploring houses that were hundreds of years old, and visiting historic sites. By far the most delicious portion of the trip, Lyon holds its place in my heart as one of my favorite cities. 

In Front of the Paul Bocuse Institute

Returning to Paris for one last day, we all spent the day enjoying our final moments together. Looking back, this trip has been an indescribable experience, during which I not only vastly improved my French skills, but I also met a group of incredibly close friends.