My Semester Abroad

Local college students — from the Puget Sound area or studying at a Puget Sound university — are traveling the world as part of their studies; several are sending dispatches about discovering their corner of the globe. They welcome your comments and questions.

Editor's note: Thanks to all the students who shared their experiences on traveling and learning. "Semester Abroad" is being discontinued.

All blogs and discussions:

June 19, 2006

Par avion at Versailles

Posted by Laura Geggel at 10:48 AM

At Chateau de Versailles, I'm sitting next to Italians eating their baguettes. The former royal headquarters are immense and they're playing opera music over the loudspeakers to add to the regal atmosphere.

Adorable little French kids are sneaking looks at me and Yasemin. We're reading in the grass near one of the rectangular pools in the Versailles Gardens. They heard us speaking English and dash up every now and then and say something to us in French. Then their parents try to instruct them in English.

Parent: "Jean-Paul, say, 'How are you?'"

Jean-Paul: (Giggles and runs away)

A toddler just waddled up to me and said...something. I folded a little paper airplane and a game of catch evolved. His father played the role of translator between us, but all the little guy would say is, "Avion avion!" ("Airplane, airplane!") Bon garcon!

Jennifer Henrichsen
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