My EIL experience in France was an unforgettable and
truly life-changing trip. For my trip, I stayed in Paris
and Nantes. I
saw towering monuments and breathtaking views. Through this experience, I’ve
developed a strong sense of wanderlust: now that I know how much this world has
to offer, I want to explore and see everything there is to see.
A wall showing the entire history of Nantes (Jules Verne is in the bottom right side)
A ride on the bateau-mouche
My homestay was a portion of the trip that holds a special
place in my heart. My host family, the Allains, was so supportive and welcoming
to me. My 18 year old host brother, Gaetan, introduced me to all of his
friends, showed me the city of Nantes, and truly made me feel like a member of
the family. My host father taught me how to cook my first dish ever: a galette,
a type of omelette-like food made with eggs and ham. My host mother helped me
out with French vocabulary whenever I stuttered incoherently. The entire family
gave me a warm welcome and treated me so nicely. One weekend, we went to the
beach in Brittany
and I attended my host cousin’s 21st birthday party.
The beach in Brittany
Some members of my group
A very important part of the trip for me was just absorbing
French culture. From my homestay to my time in Paris, I developed a very distinguished idea
of the Parisian and the French lifestyle. One night after I had hung out with
Gaetan’s friends, I was lying in bed and I had an epiphany: the way that these
people live is so different, but it’s also so similar. Through this experience,
I’ve learned to look at people as individuals rather than members of a group.
A pride parade in Paris
Quality time with my host brother Gaetan
A significant event in the trip occurred while I was at my
host cousin’s 21st birthday party in Brittany. I tripped while I was racing my
host brother Gaetan and I rolled my ankle, tearing a ligament. Throughout this
ordeal, my host family showed such genuine concern and empathy that I truly
felt like a member of the family. My host parents rushed me to the hospital and
I spent the next week in Paris
on crutches, with my group leaders always looking out for me and somehow making
it bearable for me to ride the metro. Before this trip, I would have never
agreed to go on the metro in Paris on crutches,
but now I truly wanted to get as much out of my time in France as I
possibly could. This trip helped me grow as an individual and learn how to step
outside of my comfort zone.
To the Wilson
family, Monsieur West, Mr. Gaither, Senor Paolicchi everyone over at EIL, Mr. Gioa and the
school: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This trip has made more of an
impact on me than any other experience in my 16 years of life. I will cherish
the memories I made and I will use the knowledge I’ve gained from this
experience to grow as a person.
No comments:
Post a Comment