Team JSF 2010

Group

Thank You

We are truly honored and humbled by the various players who made this experience a reality for each one of us as students, individuals and us together as a group. 
Beginning with our benefactors, though we did not get the chance to meet them during this trip, there were moments where we could feel their presence and felt immensely thankful for having been given this opportunity. Their support and commitment to the January Scholars in France program demonstrates their generosity for which we are sincerely thankful.

Sophie, Vincent, Emilie and Anne, our guides during the trip, were very warm individuals. Sophie was always bubbly and enthusiastic every moment we spent with her; about all she taught, explained—and about life in general! She made us smile a lot. Vincent seemed to be all-knowing! He had answers for every question and he went the extra mile to clarify each point and draw connections between various aspects of his presentations. In the process, we learned a lot! As for Emilie, we were pleasantly surprised by her spirit of enthusiasm when we met for the second time—especially considering how fatigued we were during our first meeting with her! During our first meeting with Emilie, we were severely jet-lagged and when she took us out for lunch, we could barely keep our heads off of the table (we wouldn't be surprised if one of us had snored). Despite the fact that we were just a little better than zombies, she was very understanding and even told Sophie that we looked like a promising group! We were very grateful grateful for that. As for Anne, we met her just once when we visited the "Centre Pompidou," but we all came out of the meeting with a greater interest in and understanding of the arts. To all our guides, we extend a sincere and heart-felt "Thank you!" They all played a vital role in our cultural immersion in Paris.

We cannot forget our very own Professor Sabine Levet. She is the best! She assumed the role of a guardian and instructor but still gave us a lot of freedom. We were able to explore all that we wanted and she was there to encourage us to see even more of the city, day after day, night after night. She took us out to fancy restaurants, helped us plan our evenings out, but at the same time, she kept us grounded and focused on learning as much we could. Mme Levet, we are very grateful to you. You are a very significant part of our experience in Paris.

We would also like to thank Professor Edward Turk, Ms. Kristen Ferry, Mr. Jeffrey Pearlin, and the FL&L Department for arranging and organizing the details of our trip.

Efrain

Efraín Cermeño Blondet

Favorite Food: French Onion Soup

Favorite Dessert: Crêpes

Favorite Museum: Musée Carnavalet

Favorite Color: Jaune

Favorite Quote: "Donc, qu'est-ce que vous aimez le plus dans la vie?" (So, what do you like most about life?)

Most Memorable Experience: La Croisière sur la Seine and buying shoes

 

 

Ashley Brown

Favorite food: Steak tartare

Favorite dessert: Apple fig crumble

Favorite museum: Musée des Arts et Métiers

Most memorable experience: Eating frog legs

 

 

 

Amanda Fried

Amanda Fried

Favorite Food: Either the croissant we ate every morning or the potatoes. Parisians know how to cook potatoes.

Favorite Dessert: Sliced pineapples with cherry gelato

Favorite Museum: Musee des Arts et Metiers

Most Memorable Experience: Either that freaking fantastic bicycle carousel or doing the twist on the croisière sur la Seine in front of the Eiffel tower. It just doesn't get better than that folks.

 

 

Vasudha

Vasudha Gupta

Favorite Food: Chocolate croissant with hot tea

Favorite Dessert: Fruits avec fromage blanc et du miel (fresh fruit, white cheese, and honey)

Favorite Museum: Musée d'Orsay

Favorite Quote: "Je suis excité." (DO NOT say this. It has sexual connotations.)

Favorite New Word: Beau gosse (cutie)

Favorite Urban Design: The bridge Simone de Beauvoir for piétons (pedestrians)

Most Memorable Experience: The serenity of walking through the gardens of Versailles at sunset

 

Samiksha

Samiksha Nayak

Favorite Food: Tartine au tomate, crêpes (sucré et salée)

Favorite Dessert: Île flottante, glace Berthillon,

Favorite Museum: Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin

Most Memorable Experience: Our collective attempt to understand Parisian scarf tying, Amanda’s amazing repertoire of French Disney songs, Vasudha’s conversations with crepe vendors and the ‘amazed’ face, Efrain’s hunt for the perfect Parisian ‘chaussures’, Ashley’s fearlessness with French cuisine, Monica’s “Natalie Portman-ness” that sparked so many conversations and the sad, rainy boot day, Beneah’s street crossing skills, experiencing ‘Dans Le Noir’ with Sophie, watching ‘Gainsbourg’ with Prof. Levet, Vincent’s eye-catching collection of portraits that prompted the Montparnasse street workers to take a closer look, Emilie’s valiant attempts to converse with a group of semi-comotose college students and all in all- being able to experience Paris for the first time with such an amazing group of people. Thank you to all my French teachers and professors from grade school to college who made it possible for me to embark on this journey.

 

 

Monica

Favorite Food: Pain au chocalat avec des amandes (chocolat croissant with almonds)

Favorite Dessert: Crème brûlée, des macarons (macaroons)

Favorite Museum: Musée d'Orsay

Favorite Spectacle: Improv theater in l'Entrepôt (Mº Pernety)

Most Memorable Experience: Enjoying a four euro tea and cheese crêpe in the same café in Montmartre I had visited with my mom four years ago. I think I was even served by the same waiter!

 

 

Beneah

Beneah

Favorite Drink: Leffe Brune

Favorite Non-Alcoholic Drink: Orange Juice

Favorite Food: Pain (Fresh French Bread)

Favorite Saying: Faites Attention! (Pay Attention!)

 

 

GroupGoodbye