This was my first study abroad trip with EF and going to France has given me the opportunity to learn about the people I meet, the historical significance of my surroundings, cultural differences, and the foreign language. EF has really shown that their tours prioritize Education First, to start off with we met our wonderful tour guide who welcomed us with open arms. He first introduces his background that led him to be a part of EF and how much he loved it ever since he started giving tours to students. Despite the fact that we were on an ongoing mission to arrive at our destination from a moving vehicle to walking, we never stopped learning and asking questions about the place including the architecture that is around us. I did my own research on the locations we were going to before I went on the trip but there was much information that I discovered from our tour guide that was not on the itinerary. For example, the Centre Pompidou and the artwork on the buildings with the symbolic exterior, while it holds famous collections from the 20th and 21st centuries.  

As a little kid, I have never imagined myself to be far from my parents, especially out of the country, but I did envision myself in a castle and it was a dream come true on this trip! We went into the Palace of Versailles and Château de Clemenceau, not only was I able to see how the royals lived, as well as their historical significance in the First and Second World Wars. In addition, we were introduced to a tour guide for the Palace of Versailles who explained to us about the historical paintings and figures in each room. He made sure we were engaged in the conversation and spent time answering any questions we may have at the end. Although we only spent a day with him, he contributed a lot to tell us about the importance of keeping an open mind and continuing to be curious about everything you come across. 

I believe a trip is not memorable without all the emotions that come with it, whether that be filled with joy, sorrow, or a new word I learned from our tour guide: sublime meaning admiration and awe by what we observe. I was overjoyed on the way to France, also being there to experience and appreciate all the scenery, handmade products, and food that were entirely different from the U.S. which made it interesting and fascinating every time I spotted something unique. In Mémorial de Caen, I felt sorrow after touring the area where the Battle of Normandy occurred and watching a film that invested in all the stages of the battle up to the liberation of Le Havre showcasing the damages it caused to the people and where they grew up being blown into fragments. The word sublime was used when we were trying to find a word that meant astonished or admiration by the view that the person was unable to speak because it deeply moved you.  I can apply these three words to the joy of going on another EF tour, the sorrow of leaving France and our tour guide, and finally the sublime that will forever be memorable to me. – Jessica, SPC France High School Study Abroad Program, March 2023

Going on this SPC study abroad trip was a wonderful experience. The layout of the trip itself never missed a beat. The itinerary was just busy enough to keep everyone happy while also allowing for free time periodically where each of us could do our own thing. My favorite destination on the trip was Mont Saint-Michel (pictured below). On this island we were able to enjoy incredible views of the coast and work our way through the various gift shops and restaurants at our own pace. I definitely bought the most souvenirs at this location. Additionally, the food options were pretty good. Each night we would have dinner with the whole group, and I was frequently introduced to many new French foods. To my surprise, I never encountered a place that only took cash. France was very credit card friendly, and I actually had to go out of my way to spend my leftover euros at the end of the trip. Our tour guide kept the trip exciting, and it was great that experts on certain locations were also brought in to tour us. The hotels weren’t luxury, but they were more than acceptable for the price of the trip, and I never had trouble sleeping. Wake up calls weren’t too early either. I found that I had a perfect amount of time to leisurely make my way to bed and still get enough sleep to be fueled for the next day. Switching hotels almost every day was also not bad. Our rooms were given to us quickly when we arrived at each hotel, and we were given detailed instructions regarding the following morning. I was surprised by the amount of freedom given to us at certain points. There were many instances where there was no supervision, but rather trust that we would all be back at the meeting spot at a certain time. I really appreciated this system because it let us experience the French culture as authentically as possible. Ultimately, what I enjoyed most was the variety of locations and activities I was able to experience on this trip. I was surprised to find out that I actually preferred the cities we visited outside of Paris, and I never would have visited those had I not gone on this SPC sponsored trip.
– Kate, SPC France High School Study Abroad Program, March 2023