Harwood travel recap: France edition
May 8, 2025 | By Marcus Grace The Harwood-U32 travel study group in Paris. Courtesy photo
We are delighted to report on our recent 12-day trip to France. Nine students from Harwood Union High School, along with 17 U-32 High School students, spent their April break exploring French language and culture.
Normandy
The first leg of our trip took us to Caen in Normandy. We had a guided visit, focused on the fragility of peace, of the Memorial de Caen, a museum and war memorial commemorating the Second World War. We also visited the Arromanches D-Day Landing Museum and the D-Day Experience, an immersive museum featuring the Normandy landings.
U-32 student Colby Tuller at the Normandy American Cemetery. Courtesy photo
In Colleville-Sur-Mer, we paid our respects to the American troops who died in Europe during World War II, laid a bouquet of flowers on our school’s behalf, while U-32’s Colby Tuller gave a poignant speech in memory of all fallen soldiers.
Before leaving Normandy, we explored Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited sites in France. This unique, magical island is topped by a gravity-defying medieval abbey, which we had the pleasure of exploring. It began as a Benedictine monastery, then became a fortress and prison during the French Revolution. What an amazing site!
Arromanches, Normandy. Looking out on the D-day beaches. Photo by Alexandria Isham
Paris
After our two nights in Normandy, we made Paris our headquarters. Our hotel was conveniently located in what is known as “Bercy Village” and was just a few metro stations from all the sites we visited. During our four days in Paris, we toured Le Musée d’Orsay, which originally was a railway station, but now houses some of the best and most well-known 19th- and 20th-century works from artists like Renoir, Cezanne, Degas, Monet, and Van Gogh. We also got an inside view of the rebuilt magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral and a glimpse of the Mona Lisa during our guided visit to Le Louvre.
After going up to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, we took a boat ride on the Seine to see the iconic monuments of Paris from the river. We also took time strolling through the Quartier Latin, the Luxembourg Gardens, l'Île de la Cité, Place des Vosges, les Halles, Montmartre and the local farmer’s market of Bastille. We easily averaged over 20,000 steps a day.
Langres
With penpal friends at Diderot high school in Langres. Courtesy photo
The third leg of our trip took us to Langres, in the Haute-Marne region of France. French teachers from Harwood and U-32 have been working with teachers from the Lycee Diderot for many years. Students in our French classes have penpals with students in the Diderot high school. This year, they kindly invited us to visit them!
For three days, our students stayed with French host families, attended school and visited the town and its surroundings. It was an amazing experience for all involved and we are so grateful for the friendship and generosity of our hosts. We even made the local paper!
It was an unforgettable experience for all of us: 9th, 10th and 11th grade U-32 and Harwood students, parents Melissa Tuller and Tracy Phillips, French teachers Marcus and Caroline Grace.
Newspaper story translation
Story in the Journal de la Haute Marne, written by Clement Michelot; published on April 29, 2025. See translation below.
Spirits were high last week at Didero High School after the arrival of American students.
The French students and their teachers had a going-away party for their 26 American penpals and their chaperones, teachers Marcus and Caroline Grace and parents.
With the Arc de Triomphe in the background are HU French Teacher/trip leader Marcus Grace, travel guide Martine Mougne, U-32 French teacher/trip leader Caroline Grace, and U-32 senior Colby Tuller. Courtesy photo
The Diderot High School hosted 26 American students, who came from Vermont, from the 22nd to the 25th of April. A going-away party rich in emotion took place Thursday, the 24th of April. After sending handwritten letters, the penpals could finally put a face to the names. Over four days, the French high schoolers hosted their 26 American friends, who had visited Normandy and Paris before arriving in Langres, thus discovering a part of the French life and culture. At the going-away party, the French students sang La vie en rose and Moonlight in Vermont. Gifts were given to the Americans, who, in turn, offered a photo souvenir to the French teachers, not without emotion.
“Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your world for this moment. You are responsible for this friendship that you have created. Let it grow and make this world a better place,” shared Marcus Grace, French teacher, clearly moved.
It is certain that French and Americans alike have taken away positive memories from this experience.
Marcus Grace is Harwood Union High School’s French teacher.