Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Happy Birthday!
We have had a spectacular day in Rouen following our beautiful concert! A busy day with the city tour through Rouen continued to lunch and independent time to explore, shop and enjoy! We return to the bus where our birthday boy Caneron receive a special sugary gift for his birthday from our guide Sefano!!
Happy Birthday Cameron!! We are so happy to celebrate with you in France!
Bravo!
The Select Ensemble just performed an incredible concert in Rouen, France at Le Cathedral Notre-Dame Rouen!
Sunday/Monday Recap from Maggie
Sunday
The plane ride was hard this time around! Personally, I was only able to sleep about 2 hours at most. However! The hilarious, fun, and very French flight attendants gave us an amazing pastry on the plane and that was a great way to begin our adventure! We stepped off the plane in Paris extremely excited but also exhausted. I realized that I had basically pulled an all nighter in American terms because it was 8:00 am in Paris. We got all of our luggage then loaded on the bus to go straight to the Louvre. We went into the museum under a huge parking building and were assigned a tour guide. She quickly lead us through a couple halls pointing out the most famous works within the museum (the nîke, Venus, Mona Lisa, and a few others). I took pictures of the paintings I was most taken aback by.
This one in particular was so beautiful and unique, and I believe it was by Costa. We went through the Greek/Roman area and then the area that was influenced by this era ( i.e. Michelangelo). We then went through the Renaissance period very quickly and later saw paintings done during Napoleon's time. Let me just say, the Mona Lisa was stunning. It was disappointing that the enormous crowd was just taking pictures of Mona Lisa instead of looking at her. I think a bunch of the people in Select realized this and just tried to enjoy seeing history. Leonardo da Vinci's other paintings were definitely one of my favorite parts of the Louvre. This one specifically (the painting, not Mr. Angel haha!) was just so different and beautiful at the same time.
The Louvre in general was enormous and the pyramids were beautiful. We saw them from the bottom and will thoroughly visit them later this week.
We then waited for the second half of the group to finish their tour through the louvre and we hopped on the bus to take a panoramic tour of the city where we came face to face with the Eiffel Tower. You don't realize how abrupt and enormous it is in the pictures. I think being in the middle of a grassy, friendly park area definitely contributed to its enormity.
We passed by it all these enormous buildings engraved with gold or plated gold, including the Arc de Triumph...wow, that Paris has a particular style; it is outstanding and prominent but also has an air of elegance. Even the modern buildings are designed like the old European buildings around it. It really is as if the walls and ceilings of Versailles had been scattered throughout the city.
We were then dropped off to go to lunch on our own through the huge shopping strip. Oh my goodness, I passed by a macaroon shop with neon and brightly colored macaroons and was dying inside to have one! However, I ate at a small fast food type place where I got a baguette with cheese and tomato and tried a great pastry filled with Nutella. It wasn't a crazy lunch but just something small to wake me up!
The culture in Paris at least is very diverse. You hardly ever see two people who appear the same, which is so fun!
We were about to leave for our two hour drive to Caen when there were suddenly a bunch of people who began to perform on the street. We were pretty sure that it was a scam because it looked like a bunch of pickpocketers were going through the huge crowd while they were clapping and distracted by the performers. Don't worry though, we are all very aware of our surroundings and safe!
The two hour drive to Caen was slow and confusing because the time change screws you up incredibly when you wake up from your nap. However, it was awesome to see the little towns scattered throughout the sides of the tiny mountains.
We walked around the city a little before fully settling into our hotels and saw old castle ruins and the church of Caen. The dinner was incredible! Never have I ever had such amazing Beef Dish, Dad! Let's learn how to make it once I'm home!
As I write this we are in the bus on the way to Normandy. I know this is going to be an incredible experience. Thank you so much to all the parents and families for giving us the opportunity to experience this.
Family, I'm warm, safe, and having so much fun now that I'm clean and showered!
Much love, Maggie Herring!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Sunrise in Normandy to Sunset in Mont Saint Michel
Today was spectacular on many levels. From the power and humility found in the gifts of song at the American Cemetery at the beaches of Normandy to the unique beauty of Mont Saint Michel, our students experienced life in a way that will forever be etched in their memories, memories that they will only continue to be appreciated more and more as they get older. Here are a few photos of our experiences today...
Mont Saint Michel
Today, we visited Mont. St. Michel, which is a monetary/island. To get here, we had to cross a bridge in a shuttle because when the tides rise, you can't get on or off the island! The entire town is made with beautiful stone, so the entire city seems like a mid evil fortress/castle, even though there are streets, houses, and shops. Almost all of the streets are about as wide as three people, but you can find winding staircases only the width of one person! Cars aren't allowed anywhere in the city. Makes science because the streets are so small!
Although the city seems like a maze, you go up a staircase and eventually make your way to the cathedral and monastery, and no matter where you go down you'll eventually make it to the only entrance in the town. While taking an outside tour of the castle-which was under preservation/reconditioning, Select stopped to do an impromptu performance which caused a traffic jam of people along the skinny walkways everyone stopping to videotape us. We were received with great applause!!!
Then, we split into two groups: the explorers and the tourists. The "tourists" got to go inside the cathedral and monastery and walk the winding stone staircases, see the gardens, and stand in the fireplaces that could hold a dozen people. The "explorers" got to walk around the city, try not to get lost on the small stone walkways, and do some shopping.
Now, we're headed back to the Caen and trying not to fall asleep on the bus so we can adjust to the time change. I know we're all glad we got to explore the beautiful Mont St. Michel!
--Emma Ehreth and Frances Sadler
Today's impromptu performances
Today was incredible! We all woke up at 6:15 for an early start headed towards the American National Cemetery to see Omaha Beach and to sing Amazing Grace, America the Beautiful, and the National Anthem (while the flags were being raised). Singing and touring the grounds were certainly a moving experience and all of us are proud to be Americans and here today. Don't worry dad, I got you some sand.
After the cemetery, we headed to lunch and then to Mont St. Michel where we saw some incredible scenery. After climbing up an innumerable amount of stairs, we got to sing. In a small grassy terrace area beneath the abby/cathedral we sang "Tshotsholoza", "I'm Gonna Sing 'Til the Spirit Moves in my Heart", "My Gift", and "Total Praise". It seemed like everyone in the whole city got quiet. When we sang, there was no other sound. It was awesome to see everyone pull out their phones and watch.
We were then given the option of touring the cathedral and Abby or walking around and shopping. I decided to go with to the cathedral and I'm so glad I did. While inside, Mr. Hillard decided to have us sing "My Gift" again and the reverberations from the room only added to the song.
We are now on the bus headed back to Caen for dinner and the much coveted sleep we all need. I think everyone in select is having a great time and, while I miss home, this is an incredible experience and I can't wait to see what else there is planned!
Love to everyone back home!
Katie
Pigeons
Hiya fam, assuming you all have successfully navigated the internet machine to reach our blog. When Hillard asked us to share our experiences, I could think of so many things to write about, like seeing the Eiffel Tower, ordering a meal in French for the first time, watching miles of French countryside go by from the bus, and even taking a selfie with the Mona Lisa. But one tiny moment stuck out to me the most: the French pigeons. Allow me to explain.
I can't remember when this happened yesterday afternoon, but we were on the bus and riding through Paris. What I do remember about the situation was that I, like everyone on the bus, was really tired and sore and really needed a shower. I was wearing the same clothes that I had left the house in on Sunday morning, and I seemed to have complained so much that I forgot that I was spending my first day in a European country. Then I saw it: a pigeon strutting around on the sidewalk. And it was so French. It could be from nowhere except Paris. Everything about it was haughty and proper and proud and FRENCH. I expected it to start saying "oui, oui" and start twirling its mustache. I pointed it out to several people, and I'm pretty sure they thought I was nuts, and you might be feeling this same way. Regardless, this little French pigeon reminded me that I was actually in Paris, and regardless of how little sleep I got on the plane or how long I had been wearing the same clothes, I was unbelievably lucky to be here.
I hope everyone is well and happy at home. I love you!
Love, Liddy
First Lunch
Hey Mom, Dad, Austin, and Claire! Hope y'all are well and enjoying the upcoming New Year. The memory that came to my mind when Hillard asked us to write something was our first lunch by ourselves Monday in Paris. I chose a deli and ate with Patrick and Bristow. We walk up to order and the man proceeds to ask us what we want. He said this in English too... clearly seeing we looked American and after experiencing the French from some of our classmates before we couldn't blame him. After he says this, Patrick proceeds to respond, but something was wrong. He responded, "Hola." No doubt because of the amazing Spanish education he's received at Hammond We really have all learned so much, and are able to experience things with this school that would be impossible anywhere else. He did save himself quickly saying "No, no, no, Bonjour." The man, Bristow, and I laughed for many minutes that drew the attention of the whole restaurant. There have been many moments like this for me and everyone of us. It's been an amazing time so far, and we're all willing to fight through the cold and our exhaustion for hopefully a couple more amazing and life changing days.
Love you all,
Brad
Monday, December 29, 2014
Our past 26 hours
It's hard to think that we began our tour about 26 hours ago as we effortlessly boarded our first plane in Charlotte. We seamlessly landed in Atlanta with a little time to sit and relax before we spent our next 8 hours on Air France bound for Paris. There was so much excitement and energy I think very few of us slept a wink on our transatlantic flight! A smooth touchdown in Paris was followed by a beautiful sunshine welcoming us to a cold brisk Monday morning. With bags in hand (and under some eyes) we were greeted by our tour manager Stefano who had to ask, "are we moving to Paris?" After loading the amount of luggage we traipsed across the sea! After this trip... Who knows, maybe we will!
Luck was definitely on our side, for we didn't have much traffic from the airport to the Louvre. Which if you know anything about Paris... This was a miracle for us. Although exhaustion began to weight on our team, not an eye closed as we circle the Arch du Triomph and strolled down the Champs-Elyse to arrive at the Musee du Louvre. A very quick visit (2 hours) marveled our singers! Very impressive input and integration by our art history students! Tres bien!!!!
Leaving the Louvre we return to The Champs but take a quick trip by the Eiffel Tower for a spectacular view. Our weather is parfait!!!! We all enjoy lunch on our own with some time to explore! I hear tails of escargot, croissants, hot dogs (unlike anything we have), macaroons and much much more. Sean Hutchison has a new understanding of Hawaiian pizza!
We now head off two Caen with a two hour(ish) bus ride across the French countryside. Inevitably, fatigue wins out and the bus is dead silent. This was a prime opportunity to take a few "candid bus shots"! They are going to kill me! Oh well C'est la vie!
We arrive in Caen and drop our bags at the hotel and take a night time stroll. How many of you can say you stood on the walls of a mid evil fortress and sang a South African tribal call to the towns people of Caen?!? We have! along with several others.... Our choir is amazing, given the fact they have been up nonstop forever and still sound this wonderful! We love it!
Our evening wraps up with a wonderful dinner in our hotel and a rehearsal for our special program tomorrow at the American Cemetery Museum. This will truly be a highlight of our trip... But honestly every moment has already been amazing. Our students are amazing and in such great spirits.
As for now... All are checked in to their rooms and all is quiet and calm. I predict sound sleep for these traveling band of Hammond Skyhawks! As for me... I will post pictures to this post in the morning after I too have had some sleep... And my first Café!
Bon nuit!!!
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