My experience on going to France was absolutely awesome. At first, I was kind of nervous because it was my first time going outside of the country and I did not know really what to expect. When we landed at the Paris airport, I looked out the window of the plane and I saw how massive that airport was. When we landed, we proceeded to go on a twenty-minute drive on the plane to reach our terminal.

When I first entered Paris, I noticed how different everything looked. A lot of the building looked like they were from a different era and had that older look that is very cool. It makes sense because France has a way longer history than the United States so of course the buildings are going to have an older look to them. It was also cool to see some of the protest that the French people were doing and they definitely know how to host a protest because I was getting motivated by their chants and I didn’t even know what they were saying.

Another thing that was different was the whole bathroom situation. While here in the U.S there is a bathroom every 10 feet, in France there is one every 2 miles. So, when I was there, I had to plan out when to go and not to go because I did not know where the next bathroom would appear.

When on the trip the best part I liked was when the group would stop at a small town and I would explore. When I was exploring them, the towns were so quiet and peaceful. I could just sit on the curb and hangout there for hours. Also, the food was just amazing and I don’t really have the word for how the food tasted. Everything there tasted different from their soda to their chicken. My favorite thing I got while over there was coconut flan, which I got from a local bakery in one of the small towns.  At that point in the day it was really nice out at the time which was good because it was kind of cold and cloudy in the days before then. All in all, my experience in France was amazing and it definitely was a once in a lifetime first experience for me.
– Erick, SPC France High School Study Abroad Program, March 2023

Traveling to different countries has been a dream of mine since middle school. I remember
hearing stories from my friend who has traveled the world with her family, and it all sounded so
amazing. I grew up lower middle class, so traveling like that has never been an option for my
family. So when I heard about an opportunity to go to France, I jumped on it. I worked hard to
save, and my wonderful family helped me out a lot. When I first landed, I literally thought I was
in a dream. The trip was amazing. The food was delicious, the shops were so fun, and the hotels
were nice. What spoke to me the most was the history. The ages of everything there was mind
blowing. My two favorite locations were Mont Saint-Michel and the Palace of Versailles. Both of
them were rich with history, and I felt like I was able to feel the spiritual energy of all who came
before me. Walking those halls was something I will never forget. Paris was also mind blowing.
It was the biggest city I had ever been in. The historical architecture was amazing, as well as the
incorporation of art into their life. The murals/graffiti was unlike anything I had ever seen.
Seeing the artwork in the Louvre was unbelievable. I never thought I would see the Mona Lisa,
but suddenly it was in front of me, along with many others. The art looked unreal, it was that
good. Finally, the chapels were incredible. I felt the faith in each and every one of those chapels.
It felt so good to reconnect with my religion and feel the historical faith in the churches. In
conclusion, this trip was something I will never forget. It widened my perspective on life, and
really helped me understand European values. It also helped me get to know traveling a little
better, and how I prefer to travel. If I was able to do it again, I would. I loved everything over
there.– Kenzie, SPC France High School Study Abroad Program, March 2023