Hi guys, this is Fia (26’)!

Today was a pretty fun (rainy) day. We had school from 9-12 then we all went to Adriel and Morgan’s hotel for checking/reflection activity before being let go for lunch/free time for the majority of the day. I went with a couple of friends to a really popular lunch/brunch cafe and then went gift shopping for a bit before going to a library and a cafe. Afterwards, me and a few friends walked around before going to our dinner reservation.

All in all, it was a fun day!

Today we went to La Désert de Saint Guilhem and we got to explore some caves. While we learned that it wasn’t a real “desert”, the history stems back to when people of Saint Guilhem used the vegetation to heat their houses!

-Adam '26

Bonjour, je m’appelle Tess (‘26)! I started my day by going to school, where we studied various French grammar points and practiced greetings and goodbyes. Afterward, we went out for lunch, where I sat outside, ate my food, and listened to a local street performer with Fia (‘26), Fatimata (‘26), and Stella (‘25). Following lunch, we all headed to Aigues-Mortes, a historic fortified town in southern France, known for its well-preserved medieval walls. After touring the town, we had some free time to explore with friends. I picked up a small postcard of The Little Prince for my scrapbook! Next, we went to the beach for 45 minutes. We took off our shoes and dipped our feet in the water, and although it was freezing, it felt refreshing. I also had the chance to chat with some of the Spanish students who were on the same bus and made a few new friends. After a long day, I enjoyed a nice meal with my host mom and finished up some homework. Feel free to check out my full day on the @wearecsw account on Instagram!

Hi! My name is Stella (‘25). Today was our first full Saturday! On the weekends, we typically have free time to do whatever we like. I spent my morning at home with my host mom since it was raining. We watched the news and ate crêpes! After lunch, I met up with some classmates to go ice skating. We then explored the nearby mall, which had lots of fun activities such as bowling, laser tag, rock climbing, and an IKEA. I then went back home to eat dinner with my host mom. We always end our meal with cheese and baguette, my favorite way to end the day. I’m so excited for tomorrow! 

Bonjour tout le monde! My name is Sam (‘26) and I am grateful for spending my 17th birthday in France. I started my day at 6:45am when I woke up and got dressed and packed my bag. I grabbed my lunch from the fridge and headed to the boulangerie near my bus stop. Today I got a Feuilleté chèvre épinard (pastry with spinach and feta cheese) and a pain au chocolat as a treat for my breakfast. This is a great opportunity to practice my French! I left and met Dana (‘25) at our bus stop, just in time to hop on. We ride for about 30 minutes, and halfway through, Tess (‘26) gets on as well. Our school is a very short walk from one of the stops, and everyone usually arrives early so we can chat before classes begin. Our group is split up into classes of four, six, and six, each a different level. Classes usually run from 9am-12pm with a 15 minute break halfway through. About once a week class will begin 30 minutes early for a lesson with the leader of ILP, Pascal. Today we described our homes and discussed cultural differences between France and the United States. My teacher, Corrine, helps us hold meaningful conversations with correct pronunciation. One activity challenged Avery (‘25) and I to draw the other person's bedroom with our eyes closed while only receiving directions in French, and only using vocabulary we knew. We, and our other classmates, Dana, and Katherine (‘26) also answered questions about our trip to Sete yesterday and perspired vocabulary and questions for our trip to a museum later. After class is finished, we eat lunch all together outside, packed by our host families, then head to the supermarket (via tram) to get a snack and a drink. We love trying new French foods! For our group activity today we went to Pavilion Populaire to receive a guided tour of a photography museum. It was very interesting and I am always surprised by how much French I actually understand. As a birthday treat we went to a nearby crepe shop and then headed our separate ways for some free time. Some headed home after a long day, while others continued to explore the city, and Rafi and I went to the gym. Not for long thought because we had dinner reservations! We were able to snag a table for 12 at a Mexican restaurant in the winding streets of the oldest parts of Montpellier. The food and service was great and they even surprised me with a small cake and sang happy birthday. They were extremely patient with our speaking abilities, and helped us decode the menu that had a mix of French and Spanish. Thank you to Tess, Stella (‘25), Avery, Frankie (‘26), Fia (‘26), Fatimata (‘26), Dana, Laura (‘25), Rafi, and Adam (‘26), for making my birthday dinner so special. They even complied with my request to perform the Pledge of Allegiance, which can be seen in the photo. At the end of the night they surprised me with a card signed by everyone in the class, as well as our amazing chaperones, Adriel, Morgan, and Pamela. Merci beaucoup! We then left the restaurant and went home either by bus, tram, or foot, and are now with our host families unwinding at the end of an amazing and eventful first week. Stay tuned for our weekend plans, and well wishes to everyone reading. Bonne nuit (or bonne journée)!

Bonjour! This is Daisy, this morning in our class we shared our favorite music genres in French and practiced asking and answering questions in passé composé. In the afternoon, we took a trip to Sète, a commune next to Montpellier. Our guide introduced the history and the culture of Sète to us, and we had a little time wandering around the city and enjoying the beautiful sights and local food. 

Bonjour mes amis! This is Frankie from Montpellier and today we studied some grammar and vocabulary at school, went to the zoo (swipe to see les animaux!!), got some snacks, and then split off with friends to enjoy the afternoon. Quite the successful day en France :)

Bonjour! I’m Aaron (‘26).
We made it to France this morning and we took the train down to Montpelier (on which I got an excellent nap after a long flight). We met our host families at the station. I’m so excited to start classes soon.