Normandie !

Normandie ! Normandy!

Bonjour à tous et à toutes ! Hello everyone!

Friday and Saturday of last week (July 1st and 2nd respectively) we traveled to Normandy for our second excursion. We left Saint Louis at 7 am, and we were all grateful for a four-hour bus ride so that we could all catch a few hours of shut-eye. 

Caen Memorial Museum

Our first stop in Normandy was the Caen Memorial Museum, which provides a detailed history of WWII. 

The museum is not curved in person, that is just the lens distortion for such a wide-angle

The students pose with the IU flag outside of the memorial

Inside the museum, we spent a couple of hours going through each part. The history spanned from the build-up to WWII to the end and the years after, including the cold war.

Grace takes a picture of a display

Avery, Katrina, and Yara look at a map and display

Victor examines a map of the WWII German advancement 

Cassie looks at a map and display

Jean-Luc and Prof Evie examine photos and histories from WWII

Christian looks at a map on display

Dawne-Cheryl looks at a history involving Auschwitz

Emily looks at a display within the museum

Following the walk-through of the museum, we watched a short twenty-minute film detailing much of the events of D-Day. For the students who really like learning about history, this museum was really fascinating. For others, this wasn't as important as our other stops in Normandy. 

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American Cemetery at Normandy

After the museum, we ate a quick picnic lunch and then headed to the American Cemetery in Normandy. We told the students in advance that we needed to be respectful because this was a somber place. They all were incredibly respectful and walked the cemetery grounds overlooking Omaha Beach. We stayed for a couple of hours so that they had the opportunity to take it all in.

The cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach

This memorial is situated at the front of the cemetery and honors the lives lost during D-Day

Victor and Jean-Luc walk among the grave markers

Emily stops to read the inscription on one of the crosses

Camille reads the inscription on the cross that explains that the soldier who rests there was an unidentified

Hannah walks among the crosses

Grace and Mara read the inscription on a cross in preparation for responding to some reflection questions we posed earlier in the week

Not all markers are crosses

Around 5 p.m. we met up with students at the memorial at the front before leaving the cemetery for a visit to Omaha beach.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with the cemetery, hopefully, this short video will give you an idea of the cemetery.

At 5 p.m. the American flag is lowered and "Taps" is played throughout the cemetery. It's a somber and humbling moment.

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Omaha Beach

We left the cemetery and spent all of fifteen minutes on the bus as we headed down the cliffside to Omaha beach. For some students, this was the first time that they had seen the ocean or been to the beach, so it was a really cool moment to see the looks of awe on their faces.

We took a group photo on the beach before allowing students to walk the beach for half an hour or so before we had to head to the youth hostel for dinner

There is a sculpture at the entrance to Omaha Beach that is a memorial to the lives lost there

Victor and Katrina had a bit of a Baywatch moment in trying to enact slow-mo running on the beach

Yara gives me a wave while walking on the beach

Jean-Luc takes a picture (and for once it was with his camera!)

Ruby enjoyed the time on the beach searching for shells

Abby and Monick looked through some of the pools of water for shells and aquatic creatures

Katrina, Avery, Evie, and Evie also searched for some shells and rocks among the pools of water

Luka and Hannah admire the blue water from the shoreline

Summer, Molly, Evie, and Yara take photos and enjoy the sunshine

Annalyse, Monick Abby, and prof Evie walk the beach

Cassie searches for shells on the shore where the tide had recently receded

Brooklyn enjoys the calm of the beach

Christian takes a variety of photos on the beach!

Aminata and Annalyse speak for a moment on the beach

Rachel Claire treads lightly among the water-logged sand on our way back to the bus

Half an hour after our arrival at Omaha Beach, we had to pile back into the bus to head to the youth hostel for dinner and to settle in for the evening, though we did promise the students a visit to the beach after dinner near the youth hostel (less than fifty meters from the hostel). 

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Visiting the Beach Near the Hostel

Following dinner, the students put their suitcases in their respective rooms and quickly changed into swimsuits. Swimming was, of course, optional given that it was in the 60s that evening, but they were insistent about enjoying the beach.

This video should hopefully show the enthusiasm of the students at the beach

Everyone who decided to "swim" took a running start (maybe to generate some warmth before the chill of the water). Emily was leading the pack!

Some students preferred to stick to the relatively dry shore, but Annalyse and Christian still had a great time!

Dawne-Cheryl tests the cold water

Summer, Molly, and Evie (pictured far right, sorry Evie) immediately fill the chill of the water

Avery and Katrina (and Molly and Summer - see above) hit the water with the rest

No one was more enthusiastic than Victor and (below) Jean-Luc

Jean-Luc was a few steps ahead of Victor (see above) as they rushed into the water

Annalyse, Evie, and Shane stick to the shoreline

Hannah tests the water. She decided pretty quickly that it was too cold (see below)

Hannah bundled up using Evie's scarf because it was a bit too chilly

Luka surprised us all by agreeing to accompany some of the students into the water. He was insistent that he would not be entering the water, but the fun that the others were having was quite infectious 

The students in the water posing for a photo 

The students pose for a second photo with students on their backs

At the students' insistence, I joined them in the waves in the same way that they had all entered

Evie insisted on taking a picture of Ruby, Grace, and me since we all matched!

As the evening progressed, the sun slowly merged with the horizon, creating a spectacular backdrop to many of the photos I took.

Christian walks the beach at the shoreline

Aminata spent some time in the water to a depth just past her ankles

Monick and Abby make a heart with the sunset in the background

Katrina, Yara, Summer, Evie, Avery, and Molly pose for a quick photo

Camille and Aminata pose for a photo

Shane poses for a photo in front of the sunset

Mara flashes a smile for a photo

Luka asked prof Evie to take his picture... we were not expecting this but we absolutely loved it! 

Christian had some fun just enjoying the atmosphere on the beach

Annalyse asked me to take a photo of her jumping, which inspired the picture below

Annalyse, Christian, Dawne-Cheryl, and Aminata jump for a photo

The group poses with Evie and Shane in front of the sunset

All the students pose for a photo in front of a heart formation they made (see below)

It was a nice touch adding the IU logo

Here is a video of the students singing the Marseillaise on the retaining wall at the beach. It was a bit rough around the edges!

The trip to the beach was a wild success despite the cold of the water and the chill of the wind. The students had a great time, and at the end, we took a few moments to really admire the sunset before heading back to the youth hostel.

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Le Mont Saint Michel

The next morning (Saturday, July 2nd) the group headed for le Mont Saint Michel, an old Abbey that rests atop a giant rock. It is one of the most touristy sites in France, and while the instructor team was not looking forward to the crowds, the students were excited!

In front of le Mont Saint Michel, and with the IU Flag, the students all said "Joyeux Anniversaire IUHPFL" as this year is the 60th anniversary of the program!

I did not take many photos at Saint Michel as the crowds made it difficult to photograph students. Instead, I took a photo of the structure from a distance where few people were roaming.

Le Mont Saint Michel behind a spiraling circle that someone had made with rocks from the beach

At 1:30, we loaded the students into the bus and headed to Saint-Malo, a city in Bretagne, which was the final stop on our Normandy trek before returning home.

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Saint-Malo

Two hours after departing le Mont Saint Michel, we arrived at Saint-Malo, a city known for its ramparts. We took the students up onto the ramparts and took a group photo before setting them loose on the city to explore (in groups of at least three). There, some students chose to enjoy some relaxing time at a cafe, some shopped at the many stores, and some took some time to just walk around and explore. The instructor team opted to enjoy some time at a cafe near the rendez-vous point.

Group photo at the top of the ramparts overlooking the ocean

Hopefully, this post has given you an insight into the excursion to Normandy. We returned 38 hours after departing absolutely exhausted. Students spent the evening with their host parents and slept in their own beds. Sunday, we met at 10 am to begin festivities for the 4th of July even though we were all still very tired! There will be a post later this week about those activities.

Engagement Communautaire/Visite au Bioparc

 Engagement Communautaire/Visite au Bioparc

Bonjour à tous et à toutes! Hello everyone!

Please excuse the delay in posting this particular update; the end of last week was quite busy as we prepared for our departure to Normandy on Friday. We returned late Saturday evening and then spent today (Sunday, July 3rd) celebrating the 4th of July in advance of tomorrow since we have class. Photos for both events will be forthcoming at the beginning and middle of this week respectively.

Students participated in a community engagement activity, which our awesome on-site coordinator arranged in conjunction with the mayor of Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent. We met up with Mr. Néron at a nearby park/local pathway that many in the community utilize on a daily basis. There, everyone was given gloves and a trash bag and divided into three groups: plastic, metal, and misc. Below are some photos of our awesome students improving the community in which we live!

The students divide into groups based on the type of trash they were looking for

Dawn-Cheryl wasted no time in stepping into the brush and picking up discarded plastic items

Hannah collects a metal can

The students work together to clean up one of the paths in the area

Yara and Molly pick up a Mars bars box that contained a few... friends

There were several snails living in the corner of the box, which they gently removed and returned to the area in which the box was found

Jean-Luc poses for a photo 

The students briefly regroup at the halfway point and take a moment to drink some water and take care of anything else that they needed to do during the short break

Several students ascend the path from the end point near the reservoir.

Summer and Yara speak with the Mayor Mr. Néron who stuck with us the whole way, handing out more gloves and trash bags and picking up the more hazardous glass material we encountered

Shane was happy to get his hands dirty in helping Hannah collect various pieces of litter

At the end of the two-hour clean-up, students had nearly filled twenty-two bags of assorted trash and litter. The mayor was very pleased with the outcome and we all returned to Saint Louis feeling content with our ability to help this community!

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An optional activity that students could do was to visit the nearby Bioparc. While "bioparc" might be a fancier word for a zoo, it feels quite different from typical zoos you might encounter in the US. For one, it houses the largest aviary in Europe with over 1000 different birds. Interestingly, with the exception of the more dangerous animals, many sections of the park are open for animals to move freely (monkeys, birds, etc). Of course, the more predatory animals are kept in their own enclosures, which are, perhaps, larger than many exhibits in US zoos. We met up at the Bioparc at 2:00 pm on a Saturday. Our on-site coordinator and Shane (our logistics coordinator) spent a fair amount of time organizing carpools; Thank you Marie-Odile and Shane!

Students pose just inside the entrance of the zoo before separating into groups of three or more to explore!

For the first hour or so, the weather was not super cooperative, but thankfully it was just a light mist for the majority of that time. The instructor team took the opportunity to explore the park, while also enjoying some time socializing with the various student groups we bumped into.

Annalyse takes a moment to watch the giraffes just inside the entrance 

At the first exhibit, Ruby takes a picture of one of the animals, an Okapi (see below)

An Okapi, a kind of forest Giraffe

A Muntjac Deer in a nearby exhibit

A duck prunes its feathers

A Heron perches at the apex of a roof on a nearby building

Throughout the park, there are a variety of wooden sculptures of animals that people can pose with. Below are two with which Shane and Evie wanted a photo.

Having recently learned about troglodytes, the students were interested to find that there are a variety of caves throughout the park, connecting various parts and giving a brief history as well. 

We found Camille, Hannah, and Cassie in one such cave

Throughout the caves, there is quite a bit of information on the various fossil forms you can find in the area. Of course, this particular display was of a megalodon skull, the largest shark (and fish) to ever exist, and Grace was both intrigued and amazed!

Monick, Abby, and Brooklyn stop to take a look at the vultures and other birds of prey

A carrion bird about to take flight (with Evie in the background)

Many students were especially apprehensive in the aviary where more than a thousand birds cohabitate together. In several areas, the birds will allow you within a foot or two of them. It's a really unique experience for those that enjoy bird watching to be able to see them up close. Please enjoy these photos from the aviary!

A blue parrot sits perched on a wooden rail

A Humboldt penguin enjoys the water

Two Humboldt penguins stand on a rock overlooking their water habitat

A Roseate Spoonbill takes flight

A Red Parrot looks at us skeptically

Most students stopped about halfway through the visit to the Bioparc for a quick bite to eat at one of the cafés. There, we caught up with some of the groups and chatted for a little bit while eating a late lunch.

Camille and Cassie eat a sandwich at the cafe next to a netted exhibit with other birds

Several groups eat together while Luka goes through everyone's names. For those that he could not remember, he came up with some creative alternatives... some of which have stuck!

Annalyse takes a moment to review some of the photos she has taken... she has an excellent eye!

Abby poses for a picture 

She was the impromptu explorer and guide of her group!

Following lunch, the groups went their separate ways to see a few of the more predatory animals (bears, lions, cheetahs, etc). 

A black bear sleeps on a log within its enclosure

Between the Guinea pig enclosure and the bear enclosure, a group of students runs into the instructors

A cheetah waits patiently for a zoo employee to finish explaining to a crowd about their enclosure and natural habitat... s/he knew that food was coming!

Happy with the food given after the explanation, one of the cheetahs retreats to eat its dinner

Many students were surprised by the general size and breadth of several of the exhibits. The lions' enclosure included several large cliff structures with varied plant growth and terrain color and texture.

A lion and one of his mates view the crowd from one of their cliffs

It's been a great few weeks so far, and the students are all making excellent progress! Please check back this week for an update with photos from our Normandy trip as well as from our celebration this weekend of the 4th of July. I'll leave you with this last group photo of all the students who came to the Bioparc and the instructors, which we took right before heading home: