A trip to France enlightens students

It’s said Americans “live to work” and Europeans “work to live,” but many Thurston Middle School French students and their families worked hard at living well over Spring Break in the South of France.

On the trip, organized by French teacher Randi Beckley, they also had an opportunity to tour Menton, Laguna Beach’s new sister city, while on a trip to Monaco; the Menton visit wasn’t on the original itinerary, but happened fortuitously.

Many of the Thurston girls who went on the trip found Menton to be very similar to Laguna, with boutique shops and an area like Main Beach, but the boys interviewed said they didn’t see the resemblance. All agreed, however, the waters of the Mediterranean were much clearer and bluer than at home, and the French people seemed more environmentally conscious.

Students were given travel notebooks to write in on bus rides and during quiet time, and learned new expressions each day.

They either loved or hated the French and regional cuisine, which included ratatouille and calissons, candy from Provence that is similar to marzipan.

Beckley had a strict no American food rule, but several students tried to sneak into a Subway restaurant. Their ruse didn’t work; Beckley caught them.

Many of the girls loved shopping in France and seeing the different clothes available.

The students also were struck by how many people smoke in Europe.

Beckley said the culture shock was less in the South of France than it would be in Paris, as the climate and occupations are similar to those in Southern California.

This allowed the students to focus less on their own fears and more on absorbing the language and the ambience.

Many students commented on the region’s architecture and how they were able to tell in what era a building was constructed based on its appearance.

They were most impressed by two sites in Avignon: the Palais des Papes, where seven popes lived in the 14th century, to be followed by antipopes following the Papal Schism; and a bridge over the volatile Rhône River, the Pont d’Avignon, which collapsed several times during floods and was finally abandoned in the 17th century.

The group also visited sites such as a perfume factory and an aquarium in Monaco, which many students said paled in comparison to the famous Long Beach Aquarium.

When Beckley first began teaching French two years ago, she had 38 students; next year, she expects to teach about 90.

She attributes the increase, at least in part, to her cultural trips.

“I think that they learned to appreciate both the similarities and the differences,” Beckley said. “The real benefit is the comparative aspect.”

Beckley will take a group to Paris next year; for more information on the trip, e-mail [email protected].

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at [email protected].