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Bowling Green High School
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First Free Day (cont.)
Sat, Dec 30 @ 9:55 pm - from Peg McClanahan Most of the groups have returned home from their free day exhausted. Each group chose to spend time at various places throughout the City. It would be impossible to express in writing the experience of spending the day in a foreign city with a group of 13 or 14 students. It was an experience to be remembered and enjoyed for years to come. The day started in the metro station for all of the groups. While we were given all day passes for the metro, many of the passes didn't seem to work so the groups got creative in their method of passing passes back and forth. In some instances, the workers would just come out and open the door and let the group pass together. The metros were clean and easy to navigate....once the process was figured out. For some of our students, it was a whole new experience and caused frustration each time it was used. Musical entertainment is also available on the metros or in the metro stations. As Paris is a huge city, the kids are learning to be careful with their belongings and valuables (One of our adults was pickpocketed!) As each group went their own way, I can't describe a typical day. Each group has funny, interesting, amazing stories to tell. (Most groups went to the Louvre today because it will be closed on Tues, our other free day. But beyond that the groups' choices of activities were very different. And I believe it's possible to say that no one's day went exactly as planned. (For example Group 13 never expected to be riding a carousel in Paris and Group 1 never expected to be entertained at a Toyota dealership located on the Avenue Des Champs Elysees. The Lexus Inter net Cafe, free internet access, musical entertainment and comfortable chairs were very unexpected (They do not sell cars like this in Bowling Green!) Also, Group 1 was able to view the BGHS Band web site and all the pictures that have been transmitted home at a free internet access kiosk in a subway station. That was a really cool surprise! But it's these type of unexpected events that will probably be the most memorable. Several of the students are enjoying using their limited (or more prolific!) French skills. The natives enjoy this and are appreciative. Those travelers who know only a little French are always in demand and those who are fluent are the saviors for the moment. The nearby mall is an experience in itself. While there are nice clothing shops, there is also a grocery store on the 2nd/3rd floor. It is normal and expected to see people pushing shopping carts around the mall because there is a moving walkway ramp that goes up 4 floors. The natives go up with empty carts and come back down with their carts overflowing with groceries and goods. In addition, the grocery store shelves are restocked with workers in roller blades. The pushing and shoving in a natural way of life and we've learned to "smoosh" and say "pardon" to get to our desired destination. All groups ate on their own today at lunch and most enjoyed more traditional French food from local cafes. For dinner all travelers were given meal vouchers worth 75 francs (just under $10). The vouchers were good at mostly American type food places, like Pizza Hut or McDonalds. Have you ever tried to spend $10 for one person at a McDonalds? You get a lot of food, and the McD's employees were encouraging customers to spend it all. Try eating a Value Meal, a McFlurry, 2 muffins and 2 orange pastries. (Fortunately some of the food can be saved for breakfast tomorrow-for those who aren't enjoying the continental breakfast items.) Time for a chaperone meeting to plan for our parade day in Chantilly...
Band Booster Executive Board members
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