DeNae Thomas
While Malibu students enjoyed Spring Break, Heidelbergers experienced a weeklong field trip in France full of action and over far too quickly.
Although most of us dreaded the bus ride that was to bring us to France, and envisioned a stuffy and crammed ride, it ended up being un-eventful.
“Despite the fact that we could not feel our legs and had to sleep sitting up, the bus ride gave me plenty of time to get to know my Moore Haus family even better,” Kristy Paredes said. Time actually went fast when you had a Discman to listen to, a good book to read, or an entertaining friend to chat with.
At our first stop, Loire Valley, we visited several cathedrals, including Reims and Chartres. We also visited the castles Chenonceaux and Amboise.
“The grandeur was impressive. However, after spending a year in Europe, it begins to feel as if once you have seen one castle or church, you’ve seen them all,” Christina LaHaye said.
Paris was the most highly anticipated part of the trip. Paris, also called the “City of Lights,” was as beautiful as it is said to be.
“As we were driving into the city, I felt like a little girl with all my dreams coming true as I watched the lights begin to brighten up the city,” junior Jennifer Hahn said.
Despite the beauty and culture of the city, we found that Parisians really do hate Americans. In defense of the negative attitude of Paris natives, sophomore Mark Barneche said: “If I were a Parisian I would personally get fed up with having to answer annoying tourists’ questions every five minutes.”
We had two nights and three days in Paris, so many students rushed to fit everything in. Popular destinations included the enormous Louvre museum, the Musee D’Orsay with its large collection of impressionism paintings, the Notre Dame cathedral and shopping on the Champs-Elysée.
Fourteen students who had already been to the city spent a day in Disneyland Paris. Nate Rulis, who has been to Paris three times, skipped revisiting all of the museums and went to Euro-Disney with the group. “I loved it,” Rulis said. “It was better than the Disneyland in the states. Less People. Same rides.”
Jason Palmer, who is The Mad Hatter at the California Disneyland resort, also went to Euro-Disney. “Obviously I am a little biased, but I really enjoyed Disneyland Paris because they took the best stuff in California and brought it to Europe,” Palmer said.
Paris nightlife was definitely a favorite aspect of the trip. T.G.I. Fridays and the Hard Rock Café were popular dinner destinations. Food was necessary for energy before going out dancing. We must defend our lack culture immersion, so we didn’t eat French food.
“We rarely get the opportunity to eat American food, so when we have the chance, we go for it. In some small way, it is like a taste of home,” Joshua Schieber said.
In Paris, several couples began to form. Something about the romantic atmosphere of Paris brought forth a budding of young love, despite the protests of the majority of single Heidelbergers.
“I have nothing against couples, but the Paris field trip became a perpetual date for each budding relationship in the house, essentially broadcast on a movie screen for all 52 of us to see,” sophomore RA Andrew Brumme said.
From the bus ride, rude Parisians and many castles, to Disneyland, good food and young love, everything throughout the trip worked together positively. Although there were educational activities involved, most Heidelbergers would not complain about spending their would-be Spring Break in France.
March 14, 2002