Reese Teixeira
4/4/26
Today we went to the Marché. When we got there we all split up. I really liked the stalls set up around the center, especially the bakery. I bought some gelato, and sat in the grass of the cathedral with some friends. I also checked out the bookstore, and bought an interesting book. Overall, a very fun time!
Emily Fedorowich
March 5, 2026
After my first day staying at my correspondent’s house I am very tired. We’ve been so busy with school and I haven’t been able to get much sleep. Last night was fun with my correspondent and her family since we had pizza and played a card game. Something I’ve noticed here versus the US is that everything is smaller. The cars, the food, the houses, and just the city in general.
Mariam Reda
March 6, 2026
At the collège, I had Italian class. They spoke in French and in Italian so I didn’t understand much. Emily, Lucy, and Ashton were also in that class with me. A few people talked to me and asked my name in English but not too many. Afterwards I had history in the same room. This class was more intense and the teacher was strict. They were working on geography so I understood the material but not what the teacher was saying. Some people talked to me in this class too. Only Lucy was also in this class with me. Afterwards, everyone who attended the collège went back to the lycée. The walk is long but it is so cool because it helps me become more familiar with the city and it is nice to be walking around instead of in a car. I think it would have been easier if everyone had gone to the same school but it has seemed to work out well. So far I am really liking Orléans.
Joe Main
Parc Floral
Caspian, a few others and I talked and we decided to take a calm path and went pretty much everywhere. Right now, we are writing next to the golden arch at the top of the hill. It is very beautiful and peaceful.
Audrey Hale
Parc Floral
This park is very peaceful and calm. There’s birds tweeting and it’s very peaceful. The weather is really nice, and there’s a nice cooling breeze. I was expecting there to be more flowers, but there’s mostly trees… there’s a lot of English ivy on the trees, and it’s really pretty
Caspian Kinney
Parc Floral
I thought the flower garden would be enclosed and roofed like the one in New York, but this one was not only huge but completely open. I really enjoyed the ponds, they were completely still and sitting around them gives you a serene feeling. I also liked the flowers, there were many I didn’t recognize and they were very vibrant.
Lucy Falk
March 6, 2026
I spent maybe over 100 euros already. Every time I think I’ve used my last 20, I check again and I always seem to have a straggler 5 euros left. So then I buy myself food. Maybe I should stop spending money, like, save it for Paris. But I’m already saving a few bucks by getting lunch for free, just say this in a terrible accent: “Je suis American, bro”.
The look of a terrified French kid watching an American be pushed into the lunch line. They only seem to know how to say “Hello” at times like this. On multiple occasions, they will approach me and say that petrified, “Hello” before running off and laughing “c’est American! C’est American!”. I have no idea how to react. It’s like being in one of those stupid TV shows where the new kid gets shoved into lockers and wedgied. And it’s quite funny to think about right now. “The new American STUNS French nerds by sculpting a dog out of bread, and looking even more like a LOSER”. I would really like to go home after these killingly long days. Honestly this trip is going to be worth it, I think, and it’s pretty here, a lot prettier than Beverly in the winter.
Taylor Napoleone
Parc Floral
Before we went to the park today, I was imagining that it wouldn’t be anything super interesting. Maybe just one circular lake with a ring of grass around it and a couple of walking trails. Either way, I was looking forward to seeing it. When we arrived at the park, it was a lot more beautiful than I expected. I found it enjoyable and peaceful as the park made me feel relaxed after a chaotic day at the college and lycee. The park wasn’t too big, but it had a lot to explore and I’m really glad I got to visit it.
Sajel Streb
March 6, 2026
Highlights of France
One of my favorite parts of the trip so far has been visiting the town square and exploring some of the buildings nearby. We had some free time, which allowed a few friends and me to go to a restaurant and a cafe, and also spend time looking through some local shops. One cultural difference I’ve noticed is the transportation. Usually my correspondent, Leya, and I take a bus, then a tram, and walk a short distance to get to the school. Back in Boston, we tend to drive much more, which I think is partly because everything is more spread out. In France houses, cars, and other places are much closer together and generally smaller, so people don’t need to rely on cars as much to get around.
Seraphina Aliski
Arrival, March 3, 2026
I was very tired during my first day, when we landed it was 7am for them and 1am for us. Tim gave us brioche before we loaded on the bus and drove to chateau de chambord. I sketched my haribo wrapper before falling asleep for 2 hours, I was able to get beautiful postcards for my grandparents before we got back on the bus and headed to Orléans. My correspondent got out late so I got to play fusbol with a couple others while the sun set. Eventually we went inside and tried to decide on a card game but we didn’t have enough time. When I got to my correspondent’s house I put my stuff away, cleaned up and fell asleep immediately, it was a chaotic but great start to my trip.
Estelle Lovell
March 9, 2026
A concept that I have seen and experienced so far is kissing the air when meeting someone. This happened first with Camille which was shocking, but it really surprised me when her mom did it, and her brother after that. I’m not sure I really like this tradition, it’s a bit weird and awkward.
Loben Fouser
March 9, 2026
So far, I really like Par Floral. It was really pretty and had a nice atmosphere. It was also very peaceful, and a good escape from the business of the town. At one point I just lay down on my back in the fresh grass and listened to the sounds. Here it’s already spring. All the birds were out in the park and the trees were in full bloom. There were even flamingos and peacocks! All the gravel paths were nice to walk on, and there were many places to sit and sketch. There was also this cool castle/mansion above a large pond atop a grassy hill. On the hillside, there were patterns made with hedges. Super cool! I sat across the pond and drew it all. Nearby, there was this interesting water hose. It had a water wheel and a little pond. I wondered whether it was a spring or the water was just being pumped up to the top of the waterfall.
