France 4-Week

Bienvue! Upon arrival in Paris we travel by private coach to Grenoble and the majestic French Alps. We stay in a small village far from the tourist crowds where down to earth, open-hearted people make for a warm reception! This is an ideal setting for our orientation to the French culture. During these days we focus on cultural exchange and language fluency by working alongside local friends on environmental and historical restoration initiatives. There is also time to play! The towering scenery is breathtaking and adventure awaits us. During our stay in the Alps we challenge ourselves with activities such as  whitewater rafting and a ropes course. We also begin the service component of our trip by participating in projects such as trail maintenance and traditional stone-wall construction. Our group stays together in a gîte (mountain lodge) that provides traditional French meals and hospitality.

We develop our mental and physical strength on a riveting hike in the beautiful French Alps.  Please come prepared to challenge yourself! The group departs early, accompanied by our humorous, skilled, and friendly French guides. We hike up the mountain to the Plateau d’Emparis where our welcoming hosts await us in our refuge at the summit, our rustic lodging for two nights. The first night the group unloads and unwinds after a day of rigorous climbing, while enjoying the view of la Meije, the omnipotent glacier which remains in our view for the duration of the hike. The second day is less physically demanding, but rich in cultural exchange. The group intermingles with our French hosts and learns from the proprietor, and talented chef extraordinaire, how to cook traditional Alpine food such as tartiflette, gratin aux pommes et aux courgettes, crozet, or the mouthwatering dessert tarte aux myrtilles, the French way.

During this day on top of the plateau, the group has time to invest themselves in a local service project, as a way to give thanks to our generous French hosts and to engage in the local culture of this region. Our third day we arise early, take our final pictures in front of la Meije, and follow our guides up to the glacial lake where anyone brave enough can take the swim of a lifetime. The decent from the summit is challenging, beautiful and very rewarding. The sense of pride and accomplishment that we own upon completion is truly valuable. In the Alps our group bonds its first important relationships, we conquer our mental and physical doubts, and we go places where very few people ever have the chance to explore.

After a memorable week in the Alps, we travel to Provence in Southern France and settle into our local guest house. We continue to get to know one another and explore this charming region with scavenger hunts and team-building activities. We take excursions to visit a lavender farm, shop at the market place of Aix-en-Provence, and tour Le Palais des Papes in Avignon. We gain a deeper understanding of the French culture as we prepare for our upcoming homestay.

From Provence, we are off to our homestay town near the Mediterranean! We travel to the beautiful medieval town of Carcassonne to meet and stay with our gracious host families for 12 days. It’s a great opportunity to test your language skills, make friends, and absorb the many cultural differences found in day-to-day living and conversation. Some days are “family days” when we spend time immersed in the life of our host families. One of our family days is Bastille Day, and we are treated to a local view of this popular holiday! For the community service portion, we spend several days alongside local archeologists working on restoration and conservation projects. In addition, we volunteer at a local youth summer camp and participate in a photographic project for the chamber of commerce. We also have time to take excursions to the beach, through the fortress of Carcassonne, and one day is spent on a cave exploration and zip-line tour.

A visit to France would never be complete without time spent in Paris. We spend a few days exploring a city teeming with romance and history. We kick off our visit with a cruise along the Seine River where Paris monuments are lit against the night sky. During the days, there is so much to see and do: le Tour d’Eiffel, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, le Louvre, Musée de Picasso, and Quai d’Orsay... the list goes on and on! We rally enough energy to have a final dinner celebration during which we reminisce how our time with Global Works gave us a unique and fulfilling glimpse of French culture. Our new friends, vastly improved language skills, and fond memories of our days in France remain with us long after we have bid au revoir!