Life in Le Conquet

Hello all!

The internships in Le Conquet went remarkably well and our students had much cultural exchange with local merchants, boulangers, fish mongers, and farmers. In the mornings we biked through Brittany's countryside along the ocean route and our students arrived at work early in the morning to assist the business owners. It was an excellent opportunity for them to learn specialized vocabulary and see what the daily life of a Breton (the name for the locals here) resembles. One group, the breadmakers, even baked several handmade loafs in a traditional stone oven!! Every single merchant our students worked with was delighted with their presence.

Speaking of making an impression upon the locals, Putney students succeeded in making all of the Parisian waiters respond in French, laugh, and comment on their polite behavior (many would think this is next to impossible)!! As many of our students have remarked, simply speaking French does wonders for their ability to make new friends and show the French how intelligent, respectful and cultured Americans can be.

For cultural excursions, we checked out the art of the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the depths of the Catacombs and the Parisian skyline from the Eiffel Tower. The City of Lights most certainly left an impression on our students because of its rich history, café life and energy.

Although it was hard to leave Paris, everyone was excited about the opportunity to live with a French host family. Students shared their stories of nervousness in Paris, but by the time our train departed from the Gare de l'Est with a destination of Le Colmar, they were eager to meet good friends and improve their French.

We hope all is well at home!

-Noah and Karen