Student reactions to
2003 Canada Trip
email me: struzerf@
brynmawrschool.org
Eighth Grade Info
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Leah: "One of the best parts of the Canada trip for me was the free time. Part of what made it so enjoyable was not only being with friends, but being somewhere different with those friends and exploring it together. Whether it was walking around trying to find cool stores (some of which we would be returning to again and again and again!), comparing America's and Canada's architectural styles, gleefully discovering that Canadian coins actually sound different from American coins when they jingle around in your pockets, valiantly speaking French even when we were out of hearing distance of our chaperones, trying to remember the correct things to say to a waiter in a restaurant, or really getting tired of the taste of maple, which seemed to be in almost every food, we discovered a lot about both Montréal and Québec.
Having a host family was also an incredible experience. Living with them allowed me to see things in French that previously I had only seen in English, such as TV shows, CDs, Harry Potter books, and their computers (especially the keyboard!). But the most fascinating part for me, even though it seems simple, was hearing Canadians speak French, whether it was pets obeying French commands, teenagers having conversations on the phone, or kids playing basketball and making fun of someone who supposedly had a crush on someone else. Given the choice, I would go to Canada again in a heartbeat." -
Mary Blake: " Le voyage était une bonne opportunité pour parler français et pour apprendre les faits sur la culture canadienne. Etre avec une famille d'acceuil était amusant parce que j'ai vu une famille canadienne et ils m'ont dit quelque chose d'interessant sur Canada. Les musées étaient interessants et les cathedrales étaient belles. Je me suis bien amusée au Canada et j'ai appris beaucoup que je n'aurais pas appris si je n'y étais pas allée."
[The trip was a good opportunity to speak in French and to learn about Canadian culture. Being with a host family was interesting because I saw a Canadian family and they taught me some interesting things about Canada. The museums were interesting and the cathedrals were beautiful. I had fun in Canada and I learned a lot that I wouldn't have learned if I hadn't gone there.] -
Meg: " I really enjoyed going to the Olympic Park, and standing in the huge empty staduim of the Expos. The structure of the building was fantastic, with the retractable roof, and the tall "arm" that reached over the stadium. I just wish we could have been in the stadium when the roof was off! I was really impressed with Notre Dame de Basilica, the detail, the carved altar and organ with over 5,000 pipes really made it seem like I was in Europe. Even more than the Olympic Park and Notre Dame Basilica, my favorite places, by far, were the two waterfalls. I've never been to a waterfall of that size, and the rush of the water, the spray, the roar and walking over the falls by way of bridge was amazing. Being able to look down and see the water, the energy, the force....WOW!"
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Emmy: "I loved the Canada trip! I felt like I really got to know my classmates who I had not been friends with before the trip. Probably my favorite part of the trip was going to the Chute Montmorency and the other waterfall [Canyon Sainte Anne]. I had never seen a big waterfall before and it was amazing to see such a cool thing that was completely natural. My favorite restaurant that we went to was Cabaret de Roy. It was an experience, not just a meal. I thought the whole atmosphere of the restaurant was really neat. I also thought that my French improved during the trip. I became much more comfortable saying the things I did know in French, and I learned some new phrases as well. In my host family, I spoke all French because my family didn't speak English. It was frustrating at the beginning, but as the week went on, I became more accustomed to my family and also was able to carry on an intelligent conversation with them. I thought the amount of free time we were given was substantial. There were lots of opportunities to go shopping and I loved having time to eat lunch wherever we wanted. Overall, I thought the trip to Montréal and Québec was so much fun, and I recommend the trip to anyone who likes traveling, trying new things, and the French language."
- Sarah: "Going to Canada was one of the best experiences in my life. It was an opportunity for me to get to know my classmates better, and to get to know more about another culture and language. I had no idea that French could be such a big part of your life. [Before the trip] I didn't realize the meaning of a native language, and how much one language can differ your lifestyle. As a part of my host family, I got to know lots of everyday words that I had not known before. In fact, having a host family was probably one of the greatest parts of the trip because their lifestyle was so different from mine-- their home, their food, and even their computer. But the greatest part of the trip was the free time, and being able to explore the cities on your own. I loved shopping, developing your french skills, and exploring a new place with my friends. Both Montréal and Québec were beautiful cities. The weather was great, the people were extraordinarily nice, and our French skills are now much better than when we first got there. I could not have asked for anything more."