CHOATE été à Paris Our last bulletin ended on Bastille Day with the group heading off to see the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. With the theme “Paris Welcomes the World”, music from around the world accompanied the spectacular display, including the theme from Steven Spielberg’s E.T. to represent the United States. Asha and Fiona’s host parents brought delicious pumpkin and molten chocolate mini-cakes for us to enjoy, and while I teased the group for seeing much of the event through the screens of their iPhones, I’m sure their pictures posted on Instagram and Facebook got them lots of likes. Our museum visits this week kept us in the 20th century with a study of Matisse and Cubism at the Musée d’Art Moderne, the Rodin Museum in the scorching heat on Thursday, and finally a continued examination of Cubism and an introduction to abstract and contemporary art at the Centre Pompidou on Friday. Many of our students profited from these trips as they complemented their individual projects and allowed them to complete some much-needed research. Poor Monsieur Poupard still found himself completely disheartened at how quickly the time passed at each museum as he suffers from having to give such abbreviated lectures. While he joked that having a “Poupard-Poche” (a pocket-Poupard) would be quite handy, it is, alas, impossible and so he hopes that he has shown the group how to analyze and appreciate works of art for their own, continued enjoyment in the future. For a different kind of appreciation of what Paris can be, we went up to the Parc de la Villette on Saturday morning to meander the gardens, see the Cité de Science et Industrie and the Cité de la Musique. Here students saw a very modern Paris right on the periphery of the city and strolled through the spaces created to integrate the various classes and populations that occupy Paris and its suburbs. Bastille Day Mesmerized 333 christian street, wallingford, ct 06492 www.choate.edu This morning the students presented their final individual projects and can generally all be proud of both their extensive research and thorough preparation for their oral presentations. They have some final logistical exercises to complete tomorrow morning and then have the afternoon off to head off and enjoy one more afternoon in Paris. Maybe one more gelato at Amorino? One more baguette from the Bon Marché? One last stroll along the Seine? Or one last shopping trip to collect gifts to take home to their loving parents? It’s hard to believe that we only have one more day before we all split up to finish up our summers before school starts back up in the fall, but per usual, Paris has not disappointed this year. Many students have reported that they’ve gained independence, a better sense of self, a better appreciation for others and of course, an improved proficiency with their spoken French. See you all state side! Versailles Musée d’Orsay The Gates of Hell, Musée Rodin Contributing to an installation at Cité de la musique Pompidou 333 christian street, wallingford, ct 06492 www.choate.edu .