In September of 2023, the first interest meeting was held. Subsequent meetings in November and March followed, and by the last meeting, fourteen students had signed up to attend a trip to Madrid and Paris, supervised by teachers Marine Herodet and Katrina Cohen.
Herodet, a French teacher here at FC, reached out to teachers at other schools, eventually getting in touch with Cohen, a Spanish teacher at Woodson High School. As this was not a school or FCPS sponsored trip, Education First planned the seven-day itinerary for Madrid and Paris, yet Herodet and Cohen gave their students the opportunity to attend.
Since this trip was not school affiliated, the chaperones encountered a few obstacles while coordinating the trip.
“I was not able to email students [using their FCPS accounts]— I had to get their personal emails, I couldn’t post flyers around the school, I couldn’t use class time to talk about the trip, and I couldn’t have meetings on school grounds,” Herodet said.
As a supervisor, it was Herodet’s responsibility to ensure that her students were safe and well-behaved.
“I made sure students uploaded their passport information in a timely manner, packed appropriate clothing, had an international phone plan setup, got the appropriate currency, and had whatever medication they needed, etc. I also created a “code of conduct” that I had every student sign to make sure they acted responsibly while abroad— which they did,” Herodet said.
On March 25, the students left Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, awaiting their arrival in Madrid, Spain. Once they reached their destination, many students were awestruck by the city.
“My most memorable experience during our stay in Madrid would be the day trip we took to Toledo, Spain. I can confidently say that was my favorite activity of the entire trip, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about Toledo. We visited a Damascus Steel store, where they use steel to create swords, knives, wallets, and all kinds of jewelry. Following that we went to the highest point of the city, the ancient part, where a cathedral sat on a hill. The cathedral held a lot of history, as although it was Christian and it’s a church and all, it still held things like the Star of David, and the Crescent and Star which is an Islamic symbol,” said Alex Smythe (11).
Time spent in Madrid was memorable to students of all grades. Many students seemed to love not just the scenery, but the cuisine as well.
“One of the most memorable moments of the trip is when I tried the most delicious potatoes at a restaurant in Madrid. They were so good,” said Samantha Martinez (12).
The cuisine was one of the many factors that contributed to students’ enjoyment.
“In Madrid, my group and I went sightseeing and searched for good places to eat. We spent a lot of time in Plaza Mayor, and we did some shopping. The city was so beautiful, so it was wonderful just to walk around,” said Sasha Wendell (10).
After experiencing the city life of Madrid, the students and their group leaders ventured to Paris, France.
“The thing I probably remember the most in Paris would be the Louvre. Although I’m not a huge fan of art, it was still pretty cool. I also definitely enjoyed the one Saturday we spent in Paris, where we went to a perfume factory, looked at the history of perfume, and had the chance to buy some. After that we had an hour of free time so I walked around this ginormous mall that spanned six city blocks and was full of stores like Dior, Louis Vouittan, Prada, and Gucci. Then we went and played pétanque, which is like French Bocce Ball. We then spent the rest of the day walking around and having some native food,” Smythe said.
The time spent in Paris was unforgettable to many students.
“In Paris, my group and I made sure to find a patisserie and we walked down the streets eating baguettes and croissants. I had so much fun exploring new places with my friends,” Wendell said.
The part of the trip spent in Paris was packed with exciting activities such as stops at Place de la Concorde, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides, and the Trocadero Square to get pictures of the Eiffel Tower.
Many students feel as if their trip to Madrid and Paris was the experience of a lifetime.
“There were many things I enjoyed about the trip. To start off I’d say the people we met, like our tour director George, and some of the tour guides, were great and very knowledgeable people. The food was also great, and I loved being able to experience some other cultures and their cuisines. I think to top it all off I really loved the sights. Those were really the highlights of the trip, and it was surreal to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night while we were on a cruise. Seeing all the new places was very cool, as it gives you an insight into somewhat of an entirely different world,” Smythe said.
