This year, the French department visited both France and Switzerland, an extension to their usual spring break itinerary. According to organizers and Costa teachers Laurie Resnikoff and Shannon Vaughan, they wanted to provide students with new experiences that could be brought back to the classroom and their everyday lives.
On Apr. 14, the fifteen students took a ten-hour flight, then a six-hour bus ride into Paris for three nights. Then they took a two-hour bus ride to Lyon for two nights, followed by another two-hour bus ride to Lausanne for another two nights.
“I mean, they were never bored,” said French teacher Resnikoff. “We were having them get up super early and dragging them around all day, and everybody always had a great attitude. I just loved it, these kids were fun.”
The group went to Paris and Lyon, then Lausanne, Switzerland. In Paris, students enjoyed a food tour, visited the Louvre, and took a scenic boat ride on the Seine River. Their time in Lyon included a walking tour and a visit to the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste. In Switzerland, they explored the Olympic Museum and indulged at the Cailler Chocolate Factory.
“I had so much fun,” said junior Lily Hoffner. “As tiring as traveling all the time was, I had the best time. I’ll never forget all the experiences I got to have, one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever been on.”
According to Resnikoff, due to impressive and responsible behavior, the supervisors allowed the students to go out exploring, including one time at night with other French teens.
“I really enjoyed our free time because I enjoyed being with my friends and practicing my French,” said Hoffner. “We went to the Café du Flor, which is a famous café. We all enjoyed getting to be independent.”
According to the students, the way the trip was organized allowed for them to truly understand and observe French culture from a different perspective than they usually receive in the classroom, which they found deeply beneficial.
“My favorite part was definitely experiencing the culture and spending time together,” said junior Sam O’Brien. “In America, we have a lot of unhealthy work culture, and they don’t really have that there. French people value being with each other and fostering connections—it was refreshing.”
Trips like this facilitate important social skills, skills for college like time management and responsibility, and help build long-lasting relationships. Resnikoff explained that over the course of the trip she really saw the kids embody this and grow as a group.
“A moment that was really impactful for me was seeing the inclusivity demonstrated by the kids,” said Resnikoff. “I mean, at one point, we let them go to have their free time, and they actually all asked if they could just stay together. It was a really special moment, and I just thought, ‘Yes! I made it!’ You know?”
Leave a Reply