France: French Immersion Adventure, 2026
June 30, 2026
Hi! It’s Emma and Lia! Today was our first day in Paris! Most of us were on the flight from New York and we all tried to sleep. Finally we got to France, and got to our hotel and got assigned our rooms. There are 3 bunk beds which is pretty cool. Then we went to this really yummy lunch place and the chicken fingers were great. We sat and ate for a bit and then went back to the hostel. Everyone is really nice and we are having so much fun. After everyone rested and got ready, we walked to Montmartre and saw Sacre Coeur. The view was beautiful. We saw all the locks on the fences and there was a musician playing music on the steps. We then went to dinner and are eating at a place called La Cuisine de Relais Gascon. The food is very good and there are many options to choose from. After dinner we are going back to the hostel to go to sleep early as we are all exhausted. Bye! Au revoir miss you guys!
By: Emma and Lia
July 1, 2026
Bonjour! Today we woke up in our hotel in Paris and had breakfast: bread, yogurt, coffee and hot chocolate. We took the bus to the train station, then the train to Grenoble and then on to Mizoen, in the Alps to our “gite” (inn). We explored and took pictures of the mountains (very pretty). Some played hacky sack in the yard and some cards at the tables. For diner, we had lasagna, salad, and celebrated Veronica’s birthday with some cake. After, we did a community contract, going over our itinerary and activities for the rest of the trip.
Today we
SAW: beautiful mountains.
HEARD: lots of French convos.
TASTED: good dinner.
SMELLED: fresh mountain air.
FELT: the rain.
See you in 17 days!
By Eleni and Marley
July 2, 2026
Bonjour famille,
It’s Kelly and Molly, today’s leaders of the day. We had such an exciting day today. We headed to the rafting center on the bus. We paddled through the mountains, surrounded by clear glacier-melted water. We got the opportunity to float on our backs and swim through the rapids. Then, we went to a beautiful waterfall and swam. Then we ate our sandwiches on the bench making new friends and speaking French.
Back at the refuge, we met Marie, Laurent, Chris, and Mina! Off to the working site we went, singing Katy Perry. We learned about our upcoming community service and hiked a bit. Then we got back here with enough time to chillax before eating a delicious dinner. We went on a scavenger hunt around Mizoen and met some friendly locals.
Au revoir,
Kelly and Molly xoxo
July 3, 2026
Hello everyone! Today, we woke up and had a delicious breakfast before driving to our community service site with our wonderful guides Laurent, Marie, and Chris. We introduced them to our favorite pop artists like Katy Perry and Bruno Mars. At the service site, we were split up into three groups: one restarted a small canal and the other two worked on cleaning up the trail for le mur (the wall). This was an amazing opportunity to learn more about the french language and to have a fun time with everyone on the program. During our activities we met so many locals. Many stopped to talk to us on the trail while we were working. At dinner, we invited Sam, the chef at our gite, to play cards with us, and we watched a world cup match!
Love Merianne and Evelyn
July 4, 2026
Salut! It’s Emmy and Laney writing from the gite in the Alps. The view is beautiful! For breakfast we had cereal, bread, jam, hot chocolate, and tea which is a European classic! Afterward we left to do trail restoration service work. Laney and I rode with our guide Laurent and his daughter Violette. After a couple hours of work on the trail, we had a quiche picnic for lunch surrounded by music and friends on the fourth of July. We finished the stone wall and made some snail friends. Throughout the day our other guide Marie taught us vocabulary for local animals, like ser, which means elk, and renard, which means fox. During our free time back at the gite, Marie brought her map and we all labeled and drew symbols from where we were from. And for our dinner we enjoyed a local French dish made from potatoes, cheese and bacon, delicieux! We spoke French for the whole meal. The final task of our day is to prepare for our big hike and 2 day stay at the refuge. Laney and I plan to climb to the peak!
By Emmy & Laney
July 5, 2026
Bonjour! We’re all in high spirits after accomplishing finishing our hike today and making it to our refuge called Mouterres. We began the day at the gîte in Mizoën, eating another delicious breakfast of baguette with du beurre (butter) and de la confiture (jam). After packing our bags full, we got our hiking poles from Laurent and set off on our journey.
First we made our way towards a small refuge with a little café where we stopped for lunch. We all ate our packed lunches while laying in the grass, admiring the la belle vue (the beautiful view) of the Alps. We refilled our waters and got some language lessons from Marie, our beloved French guide who joined us on the trek.
After lunch, there was a challenging section which was très raide (very steep)! But we stopped at a stunning cascade (waterfall), and then hiked a couple hundred more meters up to a road where we took naps, ate snacks, and waited for the group.
The refuge wasn’t far from there, and we walked through gorgeous wildflower fields, snow-capped mountains rising around us, and the idea of the refuge motivating each step. Even though there were mixed emotions about the hike, we could all agree that we were proud of ourselves for accomplishing it. The happy evening came to a close with a delicious dinner and some stargazing.
By: Livee & Riley
July 6, 2026
Hello everyone, it’s Luna and Adam here!
We’re on our second day at the refuge in the Alps and we spent it hiking to the peak of Mas de la Grave. We chose this activity out of three options for the day: service at the refuge, a hike to the nearby glacial lakes, and our hike to the summit. The hike took us 7 and a half hours, beginning with a short drive which saved us about an hour of walking time. We got to see the peak and eat our deli sandwiches on the way. The glacial hike took around 3 hrs and led to two beautiful glacial lakes situated just in front of snow-capped mountains. Those who stayed at the refuge worked on staining and sanding the wood on the exterior of the refuge before going on a short nature + plant identification walk with one of our guides, Marie, learning about new alpine flowers like wild orchidées and joubarbe. When we finished our activities, each group was greeted with fresh crepes slathered with jam and sugar, before a bit of rest time and a dinner of tartiflette and salad and a blueberry tart homemade by Violette, Laurent’s daughter. We rounded out the night with a talent show, filled with everything from chaotic Hamilton, rapping, stand-up comedy, and much RESPECT. The night ended with a campfire circle and a bit of lou-garou (Mafia), and there was much rejoicing.
Au revoir et à bientôt,
Luna + Adam
July 7, 2026
Bonjour! Annabell and Audrey H. here! Today we had an early start at “Le Refuge,” a refuge for hikers high in the Alps — 2200 meters! We had a delicious breakfast of cereal, bread, jam, Nutella, before hitting the trails and starting our descent back towards the Gite Emparis. The hike today was MUCH easier than the trek uphill two days ago. Midway through, we stopped for lunch in a small town called Besse en Oisans, where we enjoyed our sandwiches and then headed to an adorable museum called “Maison des Alpages” where we learned all about local agriculture before stopping for ice cream and a long break in the shade. We hiked through gorgeous rolling hills and passed lots of tiny farms on our final stretch of the journey back to the Gite. We arrived around 3:30 pm, and by 3:31 the line for the shower was 20 people long! After some R+R (rest and relaxation) we enjoyed a homecooked meal of ratatouille before finishing the day off with a delicious “tarte de pomme” — apple tart! All in all, it was an amazing day, and we’re so grateful to be safe and sound back at the gite!
Bisous, Audrey H + Annabell
July 8, 2026
Bonsoir, it’s your favorite French tourists checking in! This morning we were able to enjoy une grosse matinee (sleeping in) after a long few days of hiking. After breakfast we said goodbye to our lovely gite managers, Anne and Sam. We hopped on a bus to Grenoble where we met our tour guide for the day and a group of urban planners and architects called OTOPO, who led us on an educational walking tour through Grenoble. We took a gondola (boule) to the Bastille, a former fort, with a panoramic view of the city. We learned about Grenoble’s geological history, economy, and environmental policy, and toured Cazerne de Bonnes, France’s first designated eco friendly neighborhood which featured strategic infrastructure, nature-accomodating spaces, and beautifully designed communal spaces. For dinner, we headed to La Table Ronde, France’s second oldest continually operating restaurant, which has been open since 1739! We took a nice stroll back to our hotel to get some rest for the night before another traveling day tomorrow.
Bonne nuit et a bientot!
Elle and Veronica
July 9, 2026
Bonjour from the south of France — Provence! Today, we had a bright and early wake up in our hotel in Grenoble and ate a delicious petit dej of crepes, eggs, ham and more. Following that, we hopped on the bus for a few hours, stopping at a rest stop and for lunch until we arrived at St. Remy de Provence. We visited the beautiful Chateau de Beaux de Provence where we explored and learned about medieval ruins, weapons, and customs. We also learned how to do calligraphy! Then we spent some time shopping and getting gelato in the cobblestone streets nearby.
Next we headed to the beautiful Hotel L’Amandiere in St. Remy. Air conditioning—finally! After settling in, we attended a marvelous cooking class, in which we learned how to make an “apero” — charcuterie board and grenadine soda — ratatouille, roasted chicken, and chocolate covered cherries for dessert. We ate our dinner “en plein air” and then explored the city center. Some of us even got to ride the carousel! Then we headed back to the hotel, got ready for bed, and watched the France vs. Morocco game.
Love, Audrey I and Lia
July 10, 2026
Bonsoir tout le monde! Today was hot with excitement! We enjoyed a delicious breakfast on the terrace in St. Rémy de Provence with delightful croissants, coffee, and conversation! Then, we took a bus to gorgeous Avignon. We explored the amazing art and culture that the theater festival offered (including performances of singing and dancing in the street!) The Palais des Papes was an exciting historical adventure where we were immersed in 1300 European papacy! We walked through halls, explored sculptures, and enjoyed a beautiful view of the city from the top. Following the tour, we found a delicious ice cream store where some people enjoyed a scoop of sorbet or ice cream (raspberry was the best!) We then walked to Avignon’s famous bridge, which is only half-built! (yes, this was on purpose!) By the bridge, everyone in the group grabbed each other’s hand and spun around in a big circle, a traditional Avignon song and dance.
Then, we enjoyed free time where we indulged in various delicious cuisines (such as Provençal baguettes!). After lunch, we returned to the hotel to enjoy free time and take a much-needed dip in the pool. It was so cool and relaxing after a hot day! For dinner, we delighted in sushi and poké bowls, something everyone enjoyed immensely! We wrapped up the night by learning about our homestays and having a group check-in.
Tomorrow we head to Carcassonne! Bisous bisous, Global Works France ♡
By Lucille + Anna Grace
July 11, 2026
Bonjour! It’s Emma, Lila, Veronica, and Marianne writing to you from our service site! Yesterday was super fun. We woke up around 7:30 in our hotel in St Remy de Provence, packed up all our stuff and walked downstairs to have some amazing breakfast. At 9:00 we loaded up the bus and headed to a kayaking parcours in Collias. We partnered up and kayaked down the river – the water was really pretty and there were many fish. Then we stopped by the Pont du Gard, a former Roman aqueduct, at a beach where many families were swimming, to have a picnic lunch. After reaching the end of the parcours, we took a 3 hour bus ride to Carcassonne while listening to a crowd sourced playlist on the way. When we reached Cazilhac, near Carcassonne, we headed to a “pot d’acceuil” (welcome potluck) at the Mairie (city hall) where we got introduced to our homestay families! To break the ice, the families competed in a friendly game of trivia which included questions about both the United States and France history and culture. After that, we headed home with our new familles d’acceuil (host families). Our families are super nice!
Marianne here: Elle and I are staying with a super nice couple named Fabien and Lionel (just like Messi). We had a very long dinner consisting of 3 courses: the main, le fromage (cheese), and the dessert. The cheese was probably the best thing I’ve ever had, and I literally could not stop eating it. It was so, so incredible. We had one goat cheese with fruit, one brie-like cheese, and another from the South of France.
Veronica here… Emma and I are staying with a lovely woman named Maggie and her husband. They are amazing cooks; we cannot wait to celebrate Bastille Day with them. We are loving our new home and can’t wait to get to know our amazing hosts.
Très bien!!!!!
By Emma, Lila, Veronica, and Marianne
July 12, 2026
Bonjour! Marley here. Today everyone started off waking up with our host families and had breakfast. We all met up to get on a bus to Pouzols, where we did service work with a lovely guide named Bernard. He told us about how nearby is a stop on the Camino del Santiago, which is a historic pilgrimage and migration route. We cut down big branches on trees that had fallen due to storms, making it more acessible to remove them. We finished at 12:00pm, got back on the bus and ate picnic lunches that our families packed for us, at a river beach near Pouzols. Next we headed to Planète Bowling in Carcassonne where we bowled with our host families!
Eleni here. After bowling we each went back with our families. Some of us headed to the medieval cité at the centre of Carcassonne. Laney and I opted to take naps and then sit by the pool with our host sister Ines, journaled and read our books. At dinner we had roasted pig, melon, and an assortment of cheese. Before bed our host sister introduced us to a game called Skyjo that only exists in Europe. It involves cards and numbers and is hard to explain but very fun!
Love, Marley and Eleni
July 13, 2026
Today was another amazing day in our new favorite country! Everyone woke up early for the bus ride to Collioure, a beautiful small beach town by the Mediterranean Sea. The water was so clear & the town was wonderful! We spent the day jumping off a small dock, meeting some locals, swimming, sunbathing and even shopping. The bus ride back was quite quiet after a long and joyful day. We all headed back to our new homes and at ours – chez la famille Ahcini- we had amazing Moroccan food – pastilla with a mix of seafood, and Moroccan mint tea – and learning some French slang and a dance from our host sister – then visited the medieval cité at the center of Carcassonne.
A plus tard!
Bisous ♥️
Molly et Evelyn
July 14, 2026
Joyeuse fête nationale!
It’s Kelly and Livee here and today, we spent the entire day with our host family. For us that meant sleeping in and spending the day with our host grand-mère et grand-père (grandma and grandpa). We had breakfast (yogurt) and watched the tour de France. Après (after), our host families family came over for lunch and to celebrate. We ate delicious chicken and a potato, green bean, egg, and onion salad. The conversation was in vite (fast) French, but we tried to keep up. We all enjoyed a swim in the pool on this hot summer day before our extended extended family had to leave. The tour de France was wrapping up for the day as we listened to music and preped for dinner. We ate crepes with fromage (cheese), ham, and plenty of sweet toppings. After dinner, it was time to watch the demi-finale (semi-finale) game World Cup game with France vs. Spain. WE ARE très triste (very sad) that France lost!! Then, we ended the night watching the feu d’artifice (fireworks). C’est super!
Au Revoir,
Kelly and Livee
July 15, 2026
Salut from the homestays!
This morning Luna, Adam, and I woke up and had a yummy breakfast of cereal, fresh nectarine, and confiture d’abricot (apricot jam) made by our host dad. While we were eating, a couple of their chickens came and said hi. Afterwards we took a 1 hour bus ride to the “Lac des Montagnes” (Lake of the Mountains) and played mini golf all together before settling down for a relaxing afternoon by the lake. Many people swam in the cool lake water while others read on the sand. As well, there was a small restaurant on the area from which many people bought crepes, pizzas, and glaces (ice creams). The whole group took the bus home and met back up with their host families. We will be sad to leave them! Tonight we are going to watch the Argentine vs Angleterre (Argentina vs England) football match at the home of another host family.
Bonne nuit! See you in 4 days!
By Emmy, Luna, and Adam
July 16, 2026
Hi everyone! It’s Merianne and Elle.
Today, we said our final goodbyes to our homestay families, though we will keep in touch (Lionel et Fabien me manque :’ ). After a very long train ride, we are in the City of Love!!! We had a quick change and visited the Eiffel Tower, where we saw some beautiful panoramas of Paris while munching on some canelés. After dinner at Tribeca on Rue Cler was the Seine boat tour where we saw famous bridges like the Pont Neuf and Pont de Mari, the Hotel de Ville, thé Place de la concorde, and we saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle! A very fun and long day! Can’t wait to see more tomorrow.
Love, Merianne and Elle
July 17, 2026
Bonjour! This is Laney and Annabell writing the blog in a creperie in Paris. We started out the day shopping in the streets of Paris. We found many vintage thrift stores as well as many shoe and purse shops. We made wonderful conversations with the friendly shopkeepers. We all had nice lunches, some enjoyed quiches while others enjoyed poke bowls. Our next stop was the Louvre and the time was spent enjoying paintings such as the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa and posing in front of statues like Theseus and the Minotaur. Afterwards we stopped for a sweet treat at Ladurée which is a famous macaron brand. Then after a breezy walk along the Seine we got to see the historic Notre Dame and took many photos. Some of us went to the famous bookstore Shakespeare & Co. Our final stop of the day was dinner at Maison Bretonne. We had savory and sweet French crepes. We got to practice our French by ordering! Only one more day left in France.
A Bientôt!
By Laney & Annabell
July 18, 2026
Bonjour!
This is V and Riley. We started the day bright and early to have breakfast in the courtyard of our hostel, La MIJE. Then we all hopped on the metro to Versailles! We got a tour of the palace from a lovely guide, Laurrine, who told us all about a day in the life of king Louis XIV. After lunch nearby at La Girandone, we took a bike ride through the gardens, visiting Marie Antoinette’s hamlet. We paused in the grass for a final appreciation activity and closing circle. Then we biked back along the beautiful Grand Canal. We hopped back on the metro to a Moroccan restaurant called La Mosquée, where we enjoyed a dinner of shared tagine and couscous dishes. This is our last night in Paris! A bientot!
By Veronica & Riley
More photos from July 18th coming soon!
