Nous avons reçu des témoignages des étudiants qui sont venus à Noisy le Roi-Bailly au mois d'octobre. Voici leurs commentaires:

Nikila Peddireddy

Insights into the lives of the French

    I am a freshmen at Albion College who is a part of a first year Cultural Experience Seminar. I learned many insights about the French culture and many things about French history. In addition, the family was absolutely amazing and I know I am talking for everyone who went on this trip when I say that we would not have wanted it any other way.
    I learned all about Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette. I learned the history behind Versailles and St. Germain. Versailles is where Louis XIV ruled the kingdom from and it is absolutely gorgeous! The chateau and the gardens are incredible and the architecture is beyond words. Equally important St. Germain, the place where Louis XIV was born, is a city that is a mix of the old and the new. One can see Paris from it and it is a place everyone should visit when they go to France.
    Furthermore, I learned that no matter where you go in France there is always something historical that corresponds with it. Coupled with this idea one can see how well the French preserve their architecture and their passion for history. Overall, my experience in France was nothing short of mind blowing and I can not wait to return and see everything I was unable to see.

Noisey Le Roi by Rachael Kuhn

Before I went to Noisey I had so many ideas of how I thought it was going to be and was worried about what was in store for me. All of my preconceived notions about this trip were blown away. Within the first five minutes of being there my worries were put to rest. It was hard to be nervous or uncomfortable when surrounded by so many wonderful people. Being in Noisey was such an eye opening experience for me, and I’m sure I can say the same for the rest of the group.
I have never lived with another family before so I really had no idea what to expect. Living with the Deny family has given me a whole new perspective on French culture. You really get an entirely different view point when it comes to cultural and family issues when you get a chance to really be a part of a family. I loved how welcoming and warm they made me feel, and I was surprised to find that many of my stereotypes were shattered instantly. Their home was open and inviting and after having breakfast laid out for me every morning I was ready to move in.
            I did learn a few valuable things for my return trip to France. It’s true what they say about the French being so careful about making decisions before acting. Now I know why and how that is, returning clothing after the initial purchase is not as easy as a snap of the fingers. It was enjoyable to see all the different ways that their cultural ideals play into everyday life. Being able to see exactly what our class had been discussing in class for so long was what really made me feel closer to their culture. I hope that next time I am in France I will be able to not only have as an amazing experience as my first but also to be able to continue to understand and learn more about French culture.

By Holly Paxton:

            I am a freshmen studying psychology at Albion College. As part of my French culture seminar class we traveled to France and stayed one week in Noisy-le-Roi and Bailly. It was a fantastic learning experience.  It pushed me outside of my comfort zone and allowed me to apply what I know about French culture to the reality of living it. I had so much fun with the family and found it so easy to relate to them. I learned a lot more about the culture, language, and myself.
            This experience gave me the chance to live with a family who welcomed me into their home and into their culture. They went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and to include me in their daily activities. They showed me that even though two cultures may be completely different, they both have advantages and it’s important to embrace both. No culture is “right” and no culture is “wrong.” Each culture is a combination of past generations and the history of the country.  This is what makes the differences between cultures so unique.
            Not only did I learn about French culture, I also learned a lot about the French language. My family helped me learn many new phrases and words. As the week progressed, it became easier and easier to understand. In fact, I remembered things that I had learned in previous French classes but that I didn’t realize I still knew. It was amazing to see how I could retain information I thought I’d lost and to witness how being immersed in the French language could teach me so much. I grew so comfortable with the language that I even found it hard to go back to English.
            Finally, I found strength in myself that I didn’t know I had. I learned that I had the ability to adapt to other cultures and that I was open-minded. I never realized how much I would enjoy living in another culture and how much I wish I could incorporate it into my life more. When I returned to the states, I brought back a lot of new lessons. I have a higher appreciation for food, manners, and family after the trip. I am so thankful that I got this opportunity to experience France in a way that’s deeper than through a college textbook. 

Peter Curry
French insights
October 22nd

I quickly realized how much language influences everything in France. The inability to speak the language, as my case was, prevented me from experiencing this entirely, but I witnessed how important it language is to the French. For instance, Dr. Yewah’s bartering with the corn vender was particularly telling. He informed the group as a whole, that the key to working with North Africans begins with what he calls the rule of three. This basically means that you divide the price they offer by three and work from there. I knew that bartering in France was allowed, but I had no idea that it was to this extent, and trying to traverse this rule without speaking the language would have been impossible. This picture illustrates Dr. Yewah’s pleasure when he successfully navigated this process. I included it as a reminder that this is something that I would have had great difficulty doing and it reminds me of the incredible amount I still have left to learn.       
It quickly became apparent the raw amount of wealth that France once possessed. Regardless of the current pension riots, France has a long and proud history of wealth. It is visible everywhere. In the homes, walls, and palaces the stone itself speaks of immeasurable prosperity. This was most prominent in Versailles where in even the streets themselves the stone architecture spoke volumes about the craftsmanship and time that were requirements in building such prominent buildings. The Palace itself is a true testament to the wealth of the nation, regardless of the depression that resulted from Louis the 14th’s massive expenditures. Even the modern buildings attempt to replicate the same building techniques, in that the French expend a large sum to produce buildings that are similarly grandiose. It’s interesting for me to note that as a child these facts escaped me, though I walked down the same streets and saw the same things. 
I gained incredible insights into the workings of a French family. My family, though a little different, followed many of the French privacy codes. For instance, the blinds and shutters would always be closed, as would most doors including the door leading into the kitchen. In the United States it is typically rare to even have a door separating the kitchen from the rest of the house. However, many aspects of the French home life were different. These probably arose to the pragmatic truth that having six children changes things. I found myself more often than not left to my own devices, something that I thoroughly enjoyed since it allowed me to travel around the town whenever I liked. It granted me independence, something that I greatly appreciated.
I gained an appreciation for the history. The influence of the history on the culture itself was impressive. This was easily seen during the impressionist tour. The difference between the artist recreation at the time and the present was surprising little, which speaks to the French respect for the past. The addition of a few outlying structures and the growth of trees appeared, in many instances, to be the only change. I also noticed this respect in the city itself, not only in maintaining these grand buildings but the fact that they are still used was mind-blowing. The 16th century château turned mental health hospital emphasizes this truth tremendously. I gained an immense appreciation and insight into the history of France, since it is still present today.

           
During Albion’s fall break, the First Year Seminar Class ___ ventured to Bailly and Noisy-le-Roi, France, to experience firsthand the culture and systems that we had learned about during the class. As a student, I took this trip as an educational experience in order to come to a greater understanding of how the French culture functions and its implications on society.
My time in Bailly was one of the best. I was able to stay with a loving family, Danielle and Alan Cordier. I was stretched in my abilities to speak French, which made relating and learning a little difficult. The struggle only enhanced my growth. I had to rely heavily on experience through action, trial and error, and correction by others. In this way, I was truly able to feel myself changing from an American cultural perspective to a French cultural perspective.
One of the most valuable lessons that I learned in France was the dining culture. I most enjoyed the home dinners spent with Danielle and Alan, enjoying exceptional food and delightful conversation. Without the usual rush of a meal that is typical in the United States, I was able to enjoy the pure conversation and company that came with a French meal. I showed me the importance of relationships and interpersonal communications in the French culture. This is definitely something that I will incorporate, not only when I’m sharing a meal with friends but also in my daily interactions with them.

I learned that the past, present and future are all intertwined with each other. Many French citizens rely on the past to connect with the present and be part of the future. All their monuments have a story that defines France. All the citizens incorporate the past into their knowledge because it is part of their background. It is the core of being French. You must have the ability to utilize the past in order to create a future.
            We walked through the town of Nosiy le roi and learned of the town’s history. We walked along streets that were once part of a bigger chatoe. All the houses were part of the building of Versailles castle and now they are homes. An old chaltoe was turned into a hospital for children with disabilities. They were able to preserve this building through the knowledge, but were able to reuse it as something for the community.
Their middle school is named after the gardener who fed King Louise XVI and they dedicate a section of gardening and learning about growig for the children to learn. They also have protected their castles and preserved the memory of the great kings that had led and begun their nation. A great thing I was Versailles and its castles. We walked along the gardens and to the top of the steps. The view was amazing and you can see why they were so proud. Their architect abilities even before now were incredible. They had every detail that made these monuments special. The tour about the bridges is something that we do not have here. These bridges were built with excellent arc texture skills and rich historic stories.
History is in their schools and the way they do business. They like to preserve their past and merge it into the future. This is what stuck out to me during the trip. Everywhere you went had a story that most French citizens knew and could tell you. All the buildings new and old have some relation to one another. This made the trip special because I was able to learn new things each day. I like how the French do not forget the past, but put it with the future.

The experience of living with a family in Bailly for a week is, without a doubt, the highlight of my life at this point. I have never been outside of the country or seen such a beautiful city. Everyone was so welcoming and warm, I truly felt at home. It made me more aware of my surroundings and the way I perceive people around me. Traveling with a group of classmates to a foreign country is a life-changing experience that I would never trade for anything. It taught me so much about myself as well as what I want to do with my life.

I was a young college freshman, barely speaking French, directly immersed into a family that barely spoke English. Communication was certainly a very interesting aspect to the trip but it was also a bonding experience between my host family and myself. By the third day we were able to have bilingual conversations and actually accomplish things with ease. I was even able to teach my host brother a very American dance to "Cotton Eyed Joe"! The time with my family was unforgettable and I am very excited to go back and visit them someday.

Aside from the family I lived with, the towns of Noisy le Roi and Bailly were more welcoming than I could have ever hoped for. Between the various parties and tours, I feel like I learned so much! The touring of the schools was a great way to see a comparison to the American schooling system. It was very helpful in seeing the differences between the two cultures in a setting of which I am quite familiar with. Our guides were both extremely intelligent on the subject and personable.

The trip to France has deeply changed the way I see the world as well as the people around me. I can now understand and appreciate the different backgrounds that we all emerge from. It has challenged me to open myself up in new ways and I am extremely grateful for that opportunity. It has solidified my decision to travel more when I am older and Bailly will be my first stop!

Le Voyage à Noisy-le-Roi et Bailly Rachel Bowman
            Le voyage à Noisy-le-Roi et Bailly était incroyable. Je suis très heureuse que j’aie l’opportunité avoir une expérience unique. J’ai appris beaucoup des choses sur la culture et les gens en général parce que la générosité des personnes de Noisy-le-Roi et Bailly.
C’était très sympa rester en une ville et n’est pas resté en une grande ville, comme Paris. D’être dans des petites villes (en comparaison à Paris) a aidé moi appendre la culture française. A cause des étudiants et professeurs sont restés avec les familles accueils nous avons pu appendre continuellement sur tous les aspects de la culture française. Je n’ai pas appris seulement sur l’histoire et les coutumes plus accessible et publique de la France, mais aussi les coutumes qui sont plus difficiles pour appendre sans ont l’expérience.
Je voudrais remercier ma famille accueil et les gens de Noisy-le-Roi et Bailly pour ont me donné une expérience incroyable. Je suis une étudiante qui avoir l’intérêt dans les études français et j’ai l’intérêt en appendre la langue français. Cette expérience a été me préparer pour ma étudie accueil.

Pour plusieurs étudiants à l’université, d’avoir l’opportunité de voyager à l’étranger et rester avec une famille d’accueil n’est pas toujours possible. Grâce à le programme de jumelage entre Albion et Noisy-le-Roi/Bailly en France, il était possible pour moi de faire exactement ca. Il ya était beaucoup des choses  qui étaient absolument magnifique pendant ma voyage en France, mais le meilleure expérience pour moi était ma famille d’accueil.
Il était très difficile, mais en même temps qui en vaut la peine d’être complément immergé dans une autre culture où je n’étais pas sure des coutumes, et ou la langue est complément diffèrent.  Pour moi, un étudiant de français, il était vraiment utile pour moi de rester dans une famille d’accueil qui parlaient seulement en français pour améliorer mes abélites de parler en français. J’avais aussi l’opportunité de voir comment une vraie famille française se comporter chaque jour.
Avec la famille d’accueil, j’ai été en mesure de voir des choses de la vie quotidienne dans une ville près de Paris. La famille était vraiment accueillante, et avec lui il était possible pour moi de voir pas juste des choses touristique, mais aussi des choses que juste des résidents de la France peuvent voir. Il est impossible pour moi de dire juste comment reconnaissant je suis d’avoir eu l’opportunité de rester avec cet famille, d’avoir vue la belle pays que s’appelle la France, et d’être la parti de la programme de jumelage, et cet communauté qui inclut des villages dans deux pays lointains
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Geneviève Kukurugya-Rabaut