I was impressed at how well a group of over 50 people were able to make their way around France without any major crisis occurring. The atmosphere in every city and town that we traveled to was amazing, and so were the sights. Overall, the trip was an enriching experience for everyone. – Monica Milano

The trip was a wonderful survey of the highlights of France. Looking at the monuments and exploring fascinating museums was an awesome reminder of the rich history of Europe. Along with the excellent shopping and soldes (sales), this trip was a blast! – Jen Yi

The trip was an amazing experience during which I was able to become closer with many people. France is a beautiful country, and I enjoyed seeing France with great people. The American cemetery visit was incredibly emotional and moving. The final trip to the Eiffel Tower was the perfect ending to our trip. – Emily Winchatz

St. Malo, 2nd day, 2nd visit was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Obviously this moment cannot be fully explained or conveyed through words, pictures or videos because it was an event which overloaded all the senses. The only thing you should know is that it was not something to miss; it was beyond words. – Eric Rind

Having never left the United States prior to this trip, I really didn’t know what to expect: the only concepts I had of France came through movies, pictures and other people’s own experiences. Yet, none of these did justice to the experience I had. Never before has any sight or experience taken my breath away as the Eiffel Tower had. Standing from its top made me feel a connection not only with the city below, but with the friends that stood by me and most importantly myself. This trip allowed me to come into my own and gave me a new appreciation about just how exhilarating life can be. – Christine Rash

I took French for the first three years of high school and I was very excited to go to France and practice. I’m very glad I had this experience as it was amazing people-wise as well as scenery-wise. I loved seeing the things I had read about in the French books and speaking French was fun, even though I wasn’t very good at it. Sometimes I made up translations to avoid looking stupid. But overall I had an amazing time and am extremely glad to have these memories. – Alexandra Ruddock

This trip was an incredible experience and I enjoyed all of it. St. Malo was my favorite place, and going at night to the sunset made one of the best pictures I took. This trip was one of the most memorable of my life. – Dominick Valenzano

I can easily say that our trip to France blew away my expectations and turned out to be some of the best 9 days of my life. If I had the chance I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. From the enormous collection of priceless works of art at the Louvre to the amazing views at the top of Mt. St. Michel… and these were only two stops on our journey that helped to epitomize the beauty of France. My personal favorite part was standing on the islands outside St. Malo at low tide and looking back at the city on the most gorgeous day imaginable. The lit-up Eiffel Tower was a good finish for the trip and I recommend that everyone should go who hasn’t. Overall the wonderful experiences I had on this trip that I shared with my friends have made memories that I will always remember. – Dan Shuman

When I first heard about a trip to France visiting Paris and Northwestern France, I was hesitant because I had traveled to these regions before. However, after these 8 days, I discovered that between remembering old sites, visiting new ones, and spending time with friends, the trip was an amazing experience, and I look forward hopefully to joining everyone on next year’s trip. – Tim Ultee

I came into this trip nervous about how everything would go. But as the trip went on, everything got better and better. All the places we visited were amazing. Pointe du Hoc, St. Malo, and the Sacre Coeau were some of my favorites. Also, I got along with everyone which was great. I made some new friends and kept stronger bonds with the old ones. My best memory is eating lunch on the rocks of St. Malo. After which we basically went rock climbing. This along with countless other awesome memories definitely make this the best vacation I’ve ever been on. – Dale Bocra

When I started off this trip, I was mostly worried about all the things that could go wrong. Eventually I calmed myself down and had a great time. Paris isn’t all that different from NYC, except there’s old architecture. Then Rouen was a little smaller, but there was a lot to do. St. Malo is the best part of the whole trip. It’s a little fishing village in Brittany, so a lot of them speak English, which is good. Then it was back to Paris and the best hotel of the entire trip, if only for a little while. Overall it was great. I got to know people better, including some of my teachers. Again, a great trip and I’d gladly go on another one. – Jennifer Kratovil

Traveling to France with this group turned out to be a wonderfully rewarding experience. I was pleasantly surprised with the overall ease of traveling with 50 people, a difficult task to say the least. The trip seemed to me like a small taste of France, where we could encounter French history and culture in a variety of environments. From goat farms to metropolitan Paris to seaside villages, this tour has certainly been unforgettable. – Vanessa Lancellotti

I don’t know quite what I expected of France, but it was less than half of what I got. I worked all last summer in a job I hated to be able to come here. When it was all over and we were on the plane home I sat back and quietly said, “Worth it.” This trip contained at least one of the best days of my life. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend 9 days. – Matt Korostoff

The trip was absolutely amazing and filled with many new experiences. It was a lot of fun to travel with my friends and meet new people. We were able to see so much and each site was more beautiful than the next. It was a great way to visit France for the first time! – Laura Kearns

I was surprised at how well the trip went – both how effective the organization was and how much stuff we got to see and experience. There was definitely a kind of learning curve involved, adjusting to a foreign country and having to spend our time with 50 other people, but by the end of the trip, I have to say it was well worth it. – Shan Jiang

There are certain things I was sure I’d never get to do and going to France was one of them. Even with minor mishaps the entire experience was an amazing one. Each part of France had its highlights, but the time in St. Malo, eating lunch on the rocks next to the ocean, was by far my favorite. This was a wonderful trip and I’m glad I could be a part of it. – Sara Imperiale

This trip was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life. It’s incredible how much we saw and did in only a week. My favorite moments had to be the absolutely amazing views from the cliffs and St. Malo and the Eiffel Tower. I also loved the old architecture of all of the buildings, because it’s something we don’t really have in America. I also loved shopping in France and enjoying an ice cream cone or baguette while just watching the French people. Overall I had a really great time and will remember the trip always. – Nicole Modelewski

This was truly an amazing trip and will always be remembered. The sights were amazing, particularly from the top of the Eiffel Tower and all of the views from St. Malo. These past nine days have been filled with many breathtaking experiences and many laughs along the way. – Michelle Farrell

Having been to Italy last summer, I was very excited to go to a different part of Europe this summer. I was impressed with how well a big group like ours worked together. This trip really gave me a taste of French culture and was such a rewarding experience. The sights we saw were all amazing and standing on top of the Eiffel Tower was absolutely breathtaking. I am fortunate to have been able to go on the trip! – Chelsea Fingerhut

This trip was definitely the best opportunity I’ve taken during high school. Although I’d already been to Paris it’s always great to go back and see things I didn’t even see before. The Eiffel Tower at night was amazing. I really enjoyed the boat ride at night too. St. Malo was beautiful and I’d love to return there also. Thank you for the trip! – Ingrid Mellor

In the past I’ve been pretty lucky. I’ve gotten to travel to a lot of places and see different cultures – but this trip to France was more educational, fun and eventful than all the others combined. It was great to travel with friends and meet some new people as well. This was an awesome way to end my high school career. – Katy Galli

The trip to France was one of, if not the, greatest memories of my life. I’ve studied French for three years in high school now, and have always been captured by French culture. Further, to see the museums and landmarks I awed over all school year in person was indescribable. It was absolutely amazing – greater than any of my expectations. This trip not only showed me French culture, but it has opened/inspired me to learn more about other cultures too. Overall, the trip was unforgettable and I’m thankful for such an amazing opportunity. – Amanda Hirsch

The trip to France was easily one of the most memorable of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed each place we visited. I thought the World War II museum and the beaches of Normandy were the most interesting. I will never forget walking to the island off the coast of St. Malo. It was a great opportunity to meet new people as well. – Mike Fischer

Our trip to France was a very eye-opening experience for me. Having never been a foreigner before, one of the most important lessons for me on this trip was how to deal with the fact that I was unable to communicate and the embarrassment and frustration that came with it. Traveling in Europe, especially France, has definitely opened my eyes to the rest of the world, plus all the historical places we visited helped solidify and reinforce what I’ve already learned. Overall, France was a hugely positive experience. – Kyle Horst

In the few days before our departure, I grew more nervous about how fun the trip would actually be and if it would be worth not attending summer camp. I soon realized that the answer was a definite “yes.” From countless cathedrals to Pointe du Hoc, St. Malo, and the cliffs of Etretat, the trip was awesome. The Eiffel Tower lit up at night proved to be one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Even the bus rides made longer by the absence of my MP3 player were enjoyable because of the people around me. Getting to know people I had only considered acquaintances and building upon old friendships made everything we did enjoyable. By the end of 9 days, the lack of sleep overcame me, but I wouldn’t sacrifice anything we did just to feel rested. Thanks to everyone on the trip and especially the chaperons for making my first trip to Europe unforgettable. – Chris House

Our trip to France was the most amazing experience of my life. It made me grow and showed me heartstopping beauty. I met a lot of new people and could never have hoped for a better trip. I can only hope I never forget it. I adored being surrounded by the majestic sites and feeling overpowered by the history and magic it possesses. – Tami Faddish

Overall, the trip to France was nothing short of an amazing experience. Prior to this visit, I had the pleasure of visiting Paris and although I liked it, I wanted to see more. This trip was the perfect opportunity. I liked how it was not only focused on one city, but instead many places. I was able to make many new friends and share awesome experiences with old ones. This was indeed a worthwhile experience and I am very fortunate to have been a part of it. – Will Duff

France ended up being an amazing experience that blew away my expectations, even if there were a few rough parts. The best part about this trip was being able to connect with old friends and all of the new friends I have because of the experience. All of the sights were eye-opening and breathtaking and I wished at the end that the trip lasted longer. Sweet trip! I would recommend it to anyone. – Justin Capalbo

France was by far the most amazing trip I’ve ever gone on. I loved all the sights, the food (except for a few dinners), speaking French to everyone, and of course, the time I spent with my friends. I’ll never forget this trip, and the only thing I disliked was that it wasn’t long enough. – Jenny Korostoff

Where did we go again? Oh yea, France… As I sit here on the plane going back to the good ol’ US of A, I think of what an awesome experience I had there. The people, food and culture were way cool and interesting… This trip was so much fun and shall remain in my brain as a great memory. – Terry Bretz-Sullivan

I had so much fun! Seeing another country and having my own opinion about it (instead of what I’ve always been taught) is something that I’ve always wanted to do. I’m so glad I had this opportunity. Saint Malo was beautiful and seeing the view of France from the top of the Eiffel Tower was better than I’d ever expected it to be. Thank you so much for taking us! – Liz Braxton

Even though we didn’t get enough time to shop, this trip was and will always be unforgettable. From the Eiffel Tower to St. Malo, everything was just as impressive as the next. The American Cemetery and Omaha had a truly deep effect on me. I appreciate everything the chaperons did for us and I will never forget our times in France. I hope to come back and see even more. – Vanessa Tumminia

Though I got easily exhausted from the various tours, I wouldn’t change anything. I enjoyed the various groups of people in attendance on the trip. Thanks much to the chaperons. – Gifty Anane

This trip to France was unforgettable and has been my favorite experience because of the memories I made and the friends I made. They will stay with me forever because this past week brought about opportunities I never thought I could have. I got the chance to interact with the nicest group of 50 kids and teachers in the school and with them I traveled to France. I’m very lucky to have gotten this chance to visit new places and make friends, and I believe it was a learning experience for all. – Mary Urbanski

I came on this trip with high expectations and I am glad to say that they were all met. This trip was a lot different then the trip last year to London. But both were equally fun. France is a beautiful place and I have to return one day. – Keith Young

The amazing scenery and people made this one of the best trips I have ever taken. Although traveling with 50 people was hard to manage, it allowed me to meet many new people. France is an amazing country, but the new people and experiences made the trip worthwhile. Overall, it was one of the greatest highlights of my high school years. – Sean Phillips

I had a lot of fun on the trip. After London I was expecting a very good time, but a little worried about there being 50 people. I was surprised though because it worked out well. I got to know new people and had a lot of fun. This trip was fun because it was a city experience as well as some beaches. The museums were a lot of fun and I thought the churches and scenery were very beautiful. I was very happy to have gone on the trip and had a great time. – Amanda Burton

Thank you so much! There were so many experiences from this trip that were simply amazing and will be remembered forever. The best way to describe how I feel about our trip is through a brief description of the telephone conversation I had with my mom after the Eiffel Tower last night. I was explaining how everything was going and a little of what was going on, and then she began making fun of me because I was so giddy. Apparently I was talking very quickly, so my mom found it humorous. My feelings of the trip cannot be contained; it was absolutely incredible. One thing that I don’t understand about the trip is how nothing of much importance went wrong. How didn’t any of us get hit by the Metro? How didn’t we fall off the Eiffel Tower? All kidding aside, Mr. Fenster and the chaperons did a tremendous job keeping everything under control and safe. I don’t want to know how stressful it must have been. But through all your hard work, a trip that will be placed into all 45 of our heads forever took place (that was a really bad sentence). Thank you again for everything. – Andrew Schnall

Having the opportunity to travel to France this summer has had a major impact on my life. The history of the country, the culture of the people, and the ups and downs of traveling in a foreign country have been a great learning experience. The various landmarks and historical sites definitely helped me gain an appreciation for the past and have an up-close look at truly magnificent creations. I will never forget the scenery and its beauty, the architecture and its majesty, or the battlefields/war memorials and the history we sometimes fail to appreciate. Thanks to Mr. Fenster and the other chaperons for making this trip such a wonderful experience! – Rachel Tom

The tip to France was one of the best trips I have ever taken. Between the amazing landmarks and awesome people it was impossible not to have fun. I have memories that will last me a lifetime, from the tour of Paris to ending the trip perfectly at the Eiffel Tower. Moreover I have made new friendships that I would probably never have made if not for this trip. Going to France was amazing and I will never forget it. – Sean Neil

Where to start? This has been an amazing trip (see the 70 pages of journal that I wrote while being in France, ha). I had my doubts about traveling in a tour group, but I must say that I enjoyed every second of sightseeing, and I definitely have grown as a person because of the world exposure I garnered on our 9-day excursion. It was definitely a wonderful way to close this chapter in my life. Traveling with this group, including the teachers who have had great impact on my high school experience (Mr. Fenster, Ms. Derwid and Mr. Layton). Some of my best friends and new friends showed me that these are the people and moments that I will never forget. – Katie Lorenz

Wow, what a trip. I have finally gotten to see outside the U.S. and I consider myself lucky (if not privileged) and enlightened to have done so. Seeing sights I never thought I’d see has definitely inspired me to see even more of the world. I think I liked the cathedrals best. The Eiffel Tower is next. The group was filled with such wonderful people, students and chaperons alike. Thank you all for making this journey so wonderful. I learned so much from you all. – Cathie Magee