On this warm Saturday,

Everyone went there own ways to enjoy the warmth because the weather has been very unpredictable. Most days were either cold and/or rainy so you must carry your umbrella.

Some of my classmates enjoyed the day at Versailles.

While some others went to the Aquarium to pet the koi fish.

Colorful Koi fish.

More Koi fish.

On the other hand I decided to stay inside and get some work done. First thing I did was write all of my post cards and mail them out because they were due today. I also did my laundry, tried to be extra productive.

Mailbox in Paris.
Left side for local out going mail and right side for international outgoing mail.

Beautiful postcards I had bought when I went to visit the Sacre- Coeur for my walking tour. They were 12 for 2 Euros.

Then I went to the Intermarche to get some groceries to make some lunch and to have some things to eat breakfast during the week. I also took some time to familiarize myself with the neighborhood and made m personal itinerary for next week.

Even though I didn’t go out today my classmates sent me pictures and videos of their day and I felt lime I was there with them. I’m having a great time and I cant see what the next week has in store for us.

Today, on this lovely Friday of June 9th, the Thomas Ahrens International Study Program of 2017 has had the  amazing opportunity to travel to the region of Champagne to taste several Champagnes provided by Moet & Chandon located in and Champagne Geoffroy located in Epernay, France. The tours provided gave us students on how the fermentation process is made between old and new generations, the history and creators of the champagnes we drink today, the three grapes used to make the many types of Champagne and their importance to the beverage and the tastes and notes between the champagnes made within the brand.

The champagnes of Moet & Chandon

We also have been able to have a lovely view of all the Epernay from the roof of the Geoffroy winery. Being a student who personally has not had Wine & Beverage Management class yet, Having the firsthand opportunity to see the fermentation stages in Champagne and the importance of region, climate, and the types of vintage makes me very prepared as Hospitality Management major with knowledge, much like my other peers I have been able to experience this day with. Sante!

The view of Ay, France from the roof of the Champagne Geoffry Winery

The Rose and Expression Brut Champagne of Geoffroy Champagne

The turning crates during the fermentation process of Champagnes.

June 8, Thursday
Unlike the norm, today was slightly different because our tour started later than the usual. Our first tour was a visit at Marriott Paris Opera Ambassador Hotel. It is located on 16 Boulevard Haussmann as we learned why. Baron Haussmann had a lot of influence to the changes and the beautification of Paris and as well as the avenue de l’Opera was created by him. We also learned that before the hotel were under construction it was once a total of 600 rooms, but now it has 298. There are 11 meeting rooms and the biggest one is called Le Lindbergh. Ambassador is a hotel that targets both the business groups and leisure travelers evenly. The hotel is a representation of modern and class. One of the most interesting information shared today was that the Marriott Brand hosts a network program from many other hotels worldwide.
Tour number two was about the group whom presented the Sacre Coeur. It is one of the most religious churches in Paris and the second tallest after the Eiffel Tower.The journey was fascinating because it was village completely different to what we’ve seen thus far, in my opinion. There is a huge amount of souvenir shops and small restaurants. I haven’t seen that many stores and restaurants in one place in all the previous tours, and the view at the top was nothing short of spectacular and surreal.

After the Sacre Coeur group presented, everyone decided to continue their journey of exploration and mine was amazing. I was able to grab a bite at a cafe called Le Cemi’s right at Monmarte. It was a steal because there were choices of a 16€ and 19 € prix fixe menu, and not to mention the food was good too. Soon after a delicious meal myself and other colleagues decided to tour the inside of the Sacre Coeur church, but on the way there we stumbled upon mesmerizing and soothing music played by men using the “hang”. While roaming the inside of the Sacre Coeur I was a bit emotional and highly appreciative  of the level of craftsmanship. It was a beauty to watch and also a blessing to physically experience every bit of it.

Today is June 7th, the fifth day in Paris. We took the RER to Chantilly-Gouvieux and walked to Hotel Auberge Du Jeu De Paume. We took a tour of the hotel; we went to visit the classic rooms, deluxe rooms, and presidential rooms. The rooms were surprisingly expensive, ranging from 650 Euros to 6000 Euros per night.  At the end of the tour, the staff provided us with juice, Chantilly and puff pastries. The hotel was built for people who come to Chantilly for the Chateau. The Chateau was full of original painting and other antiques; it was preserved very well. We also visited the Musee Du Cheval and saw some horses and ponies. This year will be the last year of the horse race in Hippodrome de Chantilly since the racecourse in Paris will be reopening. The race will take place during early October, and it will be attracting a lot of people.

Group Pic at Auberge DuJeu De Paume

Chantilly

Bonjour à tous,

We have made it to our first weekday of our memorable three-week Paris experience. It is amazing to see how quickly everyone is adjusting to the customs and traditions of the French lifestyle. From walking through the city and seeing all of the notable landmarks and locations to interacting with local city residents, we are absorbing everything that this great city has to offer. However, the best thing to mention about this experience is that this is only our third day here. Our Parisian journey has only just begun and the events that we experienced today are prime examples of the rest of the unforgettable events that are yet to come.

This morning, we began our first set of walking tours that were conducted by our fellow classmates. The first destination that we visited was Le Musée d’Orsay. The team of Gabrielle, Tiffany, and Ambar did a fantastic job in describing the history and the exhibits of Le Musée d’Orsay. The brochures that the team provided were also very helpful in understanding the history and the exhibits even more. Even though we didn’t have the opportunity to go inside the museum, it was a worthwhile experience to see the amazing architecture of the building and the immaculate sculptures that were next to the building.

The second walking tour that was scheduled for today was at Le Cimetière du Père Lachaise. The team that conducted the tour of Le Cimetière du Père Lachaise consisted of Aya, Victoria, Hope, and me. It was an amazing experience guiding the group through this majestic location filled with immaculate tombstones and a peaceful ambience. Also, describing some of the notable people that are buried in the cemetery to the rest of the group, such as Edith Piaf and Oscar Wilde, was an educational and interesting experience for all of us. This memorable walking tour made us feel like professional tour guides.

To conclude this fantastic day in Paris, some of us decided to traverse the stairs of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral to take a glance of the view from above. After trekking the 400-stair climb, we were rewarded with a beautiful view of the entire city of Paris. From seeing the glistening water of the Seine to the tall Eiffel Tower, we knew that this was an amazing reward for our hard work. Finally, as a second reward for our efforts, we shared a fantastic meal at Le Petit Châtelet. The Suprême de Poulet au Jus that I ordered introduced an incredible savory flavor to my palate. This day was filled with new experiences that I thought was impossible to experience. I hope that tomorrow and the rest of our days here in Paris are filled with memories similar to this one. À bientôt!

The Eiffel Tower at Sunrise

Le Musée d’Orsay

Oscar Wilde’s grave

Notre Dame Cathedral and the Amazing View

The Suprême de Poulet au Jus

Walking to the train station.

Today was our first day taking the metro. The train was definitely cleaner than i expected, and the train schedule was more accurate than any train back home. The seats were very cozy and the speed of the train was extremely fast.

Train Schedule

The Iron Lady

The Iron Lady

We took the 13 train to Invalides, to transfer to the 8 to E’cole Militaire.
We walked a few minutes, passed a very inviting food market, and finally made our way to the Eiffel Tower. Amazed by the view of the actual monument we were rushed majority of the trip from when we spotted the top of The Iron Lady until she was out of sight.

Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde and l’Obélisque de Louxor. This is my group’s location for the walking tour, so i am glad that we were able to get a look at the area, so that we can continue to explore after the class tour.

Escargot

Aya was nice enough to let me try her escargot. This was my first time trying snails and they were very tasty. I repeated over and over again that I was not trying any snails, but the chef added pesto so I gave it a go.

Metro station at Abbesses.

We took a trip to the Sacre Coeur Basilica. the view from the front of the Church to the rest of the town was breathtaking, and they had a telescope that let you get a better view, for two Euros.

Starbucks treats.

Went looking for the Notre-Dame, and found a Starbucks and a shopping area instead. Mistaking the train stop for the actual cathedral lead us to an area which i’m sure many of us will like to return to. Thankfully we know how to commute on the train, and made our way back to the hotel.

Sacre Coeur Basilic

Bienvenue to Paris.

Today, June 2 the students of City Tech arrived to Paris, France. They were all excited and tired.

Everyone saying Hello

The students, Professor Warner and Professor Zinder.

Say cheese!

On the bus to the Hotel.

On our way to the hotel

Nap time

After a long day, eating pasta and a glass of wine.

Dinner time

Till tomorrow,

Michelle

The Thomas Ahrens International Work/ Study Program has taken place for many years and on rare occasions do City Tech students and Evry students get to meet. What a pleasure to meet them!

City Tech Students and Evry Students

We had a lovely breakfast and then all the students mingled. Our students found out interesting places to eat and things to see while in Paris and so did the students from Evry. They were very friendly and willing to help.

All the students mingling.

Professor Damien Duchamp acting as the waiter to teach city tech students how to order food. Food Ordering 101.

What a great second day. First, meeting and speaking to the students from France and then continuing with the French Immersion class. We hope you all learned a lot since it was a every informative day. I look forward to see you all on Saturday.

Au revoir,

Michelle