Major: Course 3 (Materials Science and Engineering), class of 2011

How long I studied French: I started French in 8th grade and have taken French every year since then including 2 classes to date at MIT.

Favorite part of the trip: Centre Pompidou. Modern art is my favorite and Centre Pompidou has great exhibits of art from the 20th century.

Favorite dish: One day Elizabeth and I were exploring the market on the rue Mouffetard and it was pouring so we stopped in a tiny restaurant for lunch.  We assumed that the board outside showed the specials but it was in fact the whole menu- two choices.  I had veal and potatos and it was absolutely delicious.  All of the meals we had were delicious but the whole experience was what made it my favorite.

Biggest surprise: All of the beautiful modern buildings in La Defense.  When I went to Paris before, I saw only the historic neighborhoods.  It was quite a surprise and treat to see modern and environmentally conscious construction.

Favorite new vocabulary word: pote(s)- slang for friends.  We met a guy on the street who taught us lots of slang.

Favorite place to wander: Near the hotel in Le Marais and La Bastille.  The hotel was in a great location. Within blocks of the hotel there were buildings dating back even to the middle ages, winding streets filled with people, restaurants, bars, and boutiques.

Favorite piece of furniture: The red couch designed to look like lips in Le Musée des Arts Decoratifs. It was in an exhibit on the color red.

Entries that Melissa wrote:

Food: Coffee, La Flotille, Moroccan restaurant, Le Tastevin

Quartiers: Bercy, Montparnasse

Museums: Centre Pompidou, Musée des Arts Decoratifs Musée de Cluny, Musée Nissim de Camando

Nightlife: La Bastille and Rue de Lappe

Project: Open Markets