Life as a Student in Paris

Hello! I was the Global Explorer Scholarship winner for the France Teen Summer Language Camp and life as a student in Paris was everything I dreamed of yet nothing like I could've anticipated. My day typically consisted of taking language class in the morning, thinking about how to order gelato in French in the afternoon, and sleeping very well at night. The ability to experience the culture of France was thrilling, educational, beautiful, and even a bit overwhelming at moments. Classes took place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on weekdays. The group next would hop on the metro, follow through with the excursion on the itinerary, have a couple of hours to explore during free time, and then we went home to have dinner with our host family. In class, we were separated into groups of beginning, intermediate, and advanced language proficiency. However, we all remained in the same classroom so there didn't feel like a divide between levels, and we were able to interact with each other consistently. There are also some students from WEP (World Education Program) who are a part of our group. We went through lessons by using workbooks, speaking out loud, and conversing with each other. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner was provided by our host family and if you wanted anything else you could get them at the supermarket on the way home or out on excursions. My host mother and our group's director were absolutely wonderful. We were given free time to explore our host city, mine was Bondoufle, which was about an hour away from Paris on the metro. It is a very fast-paced, adventure packed program. Everyday was very exciting. From the Louvre to the Champs Elyseés to the Arc de Triomphe, I could look forward to taking the metro to a new adventure every day. I also must say that my entire experience with the Greenheart Travel group of teens was one huge favorite moment. From the moment the group met, we clicked and by approximately day three it was like we had known each other for years. It was truly special and made my Paris language camp experience even greater. It was awesome to learn about Belgium and Ecuador from girls who live there, and to meet other kids from all over the States. This trip has fostered in me an electric curiosity and the traveling bug has most definitely bit me. I can’t thank Greenheart Travel enough for making this trip even a possibility for me.