The Mediterranean Coast splashes the group and runs beneath their feet, keeping them cool in the French heat. Tours of old castles and sightseeing famous monuments kept them company as they explore and interact with the beautiful, historic country of France. From Nebraska to Nîmes, Cannes, Avignon, Nice, and many more alluring cities, the French students travel.
From Lyon to Loire Valley and Paris, the students, again, travel. They attend Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’, along with perfume factory visits, and local restaurant dining in between.
From May 29 to June 7, French students visited the marvelous country of France and applied the French they had studied for years to real-world scenarios. The students experienced slight challenges with the French language while visiting, but found ways around it.
“It was definitely a struggle, communicating with other people. But we tried our best and everyone understood we weren’t fluent in French, so they were patient with us,” senior French student Tyrus Peacock said.
Peacock had numerous interactions with locals in France, and describes them as instrumental in his French language skills development.
“At restaurants we would have to communicate with the waiters to order our food and order our drinks,” Peacock said.
French teacher Ryan Foehlinger knew that his students on the trip would be immersed in the language, which would, in turn, help tremendously with their French. Whether it’s simply asking for directions or reading street signs, Foehlinger explains that going to France helps put all of what you have learned together.
“In school, you learn a lesson, take a test, and then forget. But you realize [after visiting France] that it all comes together,” Foehlinger said.
France is the most visited country in the world and has been the leading country in tourism for many years. Foehlinger isn’t surprised as to why France gets so many visitors.
“[Paris], it’s the capital of art, it’s the capital of fashion, it has a natural beauty as far as landscapes, and architecture,” Foehlinger said, “It’s a beautiful country, there’s a lot of reasons [why] a lot of people love to go to France.”
With attractions like the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, and the Eiffel Tower, who wouldn’t want to visit the “city of love”?
Some students even go as far as to say that the French language has changed their lives, and helped them in many ways, molding them into the person they’ve become. Senior Madie Poloncic, who also attended the France trip, has even committed to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s for secondary French education.
“[French] has really made me who I am today. Since I started these classes, I love it so much. I want to [teach French] for other people,” Poloncic said.
It’s no surprise that one of Poloncic’s favorite activities was the free time they had to explore on their own in each city, allowing her to practice her French with locals, which she will one day teach to others.
For Taylor Swift fans, it certainly was a “long time coming” since she had previously performed in France. The two picturesque cities of Paris and Lyon welcomed her and her record-breaking “Eras Tour” for three nights, and “all the stars aligned” so that the French students happened to be in Lyon for one of those nights, earning them a once-in-a-lifetime memory.
“It’s so cool to see how excited everyone is, even if you aren’t a fan [of Taylor Swift] it just makes you excited. It’s like a sense of community,” Peacock said.
The sense of community that surrounded the French students wasn’t just at the “Eras Tour” but also was evident in every adventure throughout the trip. Even though the trip was ten days long, it’s clear that the memories will last forever.
“France was the best time of my life. I miss it every day,” Poloncic said.