By: Reporter Ksenya Seager

A cultural trip to Paris and Bayonne was taken by 14 NHS French students over spring break.

French teacher Erin Meilhon led a 12-day trip to Paris and Bayonne over spring break this year. Of the 12 days, students stayed with host families from a sister school in the Basque region for five days and explored Paris for the other seven days of the trip.
Staying with host families allowed the students to explore more in-depth cultural experiences, such as seeing how a real French family lives and eating authentic French food. Students also had the opportunity, if they chose, to speak only French with their host families, which many embraced. Some students were given the opportunity to go to Spain for a day trip as well during a Saturday spent with their host families, explained Meilhon with enthusiasm.
While the group traveled in Paris, they visited many iconic locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe, and the Palace of Versailles. Students also visited the Notre Dame cathedral and Love-lock bridge, and took boat tours along the Seine river.
“I love watching students learn how to navigate a city like Paris, and their reaction of pride when they come back to me telling me they just spoke French to someone when they ordered something, or come back after a day when they mostly spoke French. This just validates everything we do and makes what we teach very worthwhile and real,” said Meilhon.
Meilhon has been a teacher at NHS for 10 years and has taken five trips with students and plans to take more. Trips are an option for any student who is currently enrolled in French. Interested students should contact Meilhon for details on a trip to Paris the summer of 2016.