Europe Day at Smith Middle

Europe Day at Smith Middle

Thursday, February 11

Our Belgian friends will be here soon

Please watch the slideshows  to the right and describe what you see. What do you think will happen when thirty Belgian students visit Smith Middle next April? What will you do? jump in and speak French as best you can? make new friends? hide behind the armoire? 
For those of you hosting a student, what is your biggest fear? what do you want to happen? 
Have you been in contact with your host student? How? What have you learned about him/her? 
Do you see yourself visiting Belgium in 2011? Does having this experience in front of you make you want to speak better French? 

60 comments:

Courtney C 8th said...

I'm excited for the Belgian students to finally come, and getting the opprotunity to speak French and converse with them. One of my worries are that they will try to speak to me, but that I won't understand, so I'm practicing French as much as I can. It should be a fun time! I'm not hosting a student, but I'm definitly looking forward to the chance where I can use what I've learned when they arrive. I hope to make friends with them, and improve their English and my French. Au revoir! :)

Anonymous said...

It will be a fun and exciting new experience when the Belgian students come and visit. I will be nervous about having to speak in French because it will be a challenge. My biggets fear is that I will run out of things to say. I hope to visit Belgium in 2011.

Caroline Stanton

Pete (SMS) said...

I see people having fun and making new friends - while knocking aside the language barrier. I hope I will be able to speak French with the Belgians, although I do have a limited vocabulary. I am trying to get better at speaking French, and since my parents were peace corps volunteers in francophone Africa I speak a little bit of French with them casually in daily conversation. I am also emailing my Pen Pal, Kilian, on almost a daily basis, and he sends me back emails quite often, his in English, mine in French. He is really lucky, it snowed yesterday where he lives! I hope I will be able to go on a Belgian exchange trip, and the thought that I might be able to helps me try hard to learn French.

Anonymous said...

I'm really exited to meet some of the people who are coming in April. I'm sure i will take lots of pictures.
But will try my best to speak to them and interact.
~somer s.

Anonymous said...

The slideshows show hilarious pictures of teachers having a good time. I think that having the Belgians come to Smith will be nice, because I will actually be interacting with actual French people. I will probably find it harder to talk to them than Madame though because they will have more potent French accents and talk faster. Overall I am excited about their visit and will try to make friends with them when they come.
- Rohan R.

Anonymous said...

My parents were thinking about hosting the Belgian teacher when the classes come but then they began to worry if something might go wrong, so we are not really going to host him. But I can't wait to go to France and visit the french students next year.

Anonymous said...

when i look at the slideshow to the right it seems like it will be fun.i also think there will be alot of talkin to belgian kids because u want to try to learn french and speaking to people that speak fast will help us try to catch like words that they say and try to comprehend wthere sentences. myself pesonally i would jump rite in and try to talk to them because it will be fun hanging out and playing basketball with them.

Dawud Salim 8th grade

Anonymous said...

I am so excited to meet the belgian students when they come to our school! When these students come to visit i hopw that i will be bold enough to go and talk to them in french.

-Treasa

Anonymous said...

WHen the Belgian students arrive, I hope to be able to make friends with many of them and learn a lot from talking to them. I hope to seem smart and cool. I'm going to jump in and speak French as best I can (with my handy french-english/english-french dictionary of course). I actually have two pen pals... one in France and one in Belgium. Its been great getting to "meet" them and talk to them and learn about a different culture. They are so sweet. I'm going to be in high school next year so I dont know if I will ever get the chance to go to Belgium with a class. But maybe and hopefully one day I will be able to. :)
~Linda

Anonymous said...

Haviland-
I think that when exchange students come to smith it will be a great experience. My family is hosting someone, and i am so excited. My biggest fear is that if we don't know what to say in the other language, there will be a long akward scilence. I can't wait until 2011. I plan on going to belguim, and meeting my pen pal face to face.

Anonymous said...

Melissa-
I think that when the Belgian students come to Smith in April, it will be very confusing for them, probably just like it was when 8th graders last year went to the Belgian school. I think I would want to talk to them, but I think it will be very akward if I can't understand what their saying. I would really like to visit in 2011 becuase I like to learn about different cultures and I love to travel. I think it does make me want to speak french better because I would like to be able to speak with them.

Anonymous said...

Andy

My pen pal and I haven't been corresponding much. I don't think either of us really mind about sending letters. Because of this, I perfectly accept the fact that i probably won't go to Belgium in 2011.

Anonymous said...

I'm really excited for the Belgian students to come to Smith. I hope to make some European friends and someday go over to Europe to visit them. We are not hosting any students this April, but i have been corresponding with a penpal through letters. I can't wait until they come!

Sarah M.
7th grade
Smith Middle

Anonymous said...

i think the belgians are going to have a lot of fun this year like always i hope we can make a lot of friends we are going to have a lot of fun

Anonymous said...

I will be hiding behind the amoire the hole time because it's fun to hide behind armoires while thirty Belgian students come to Smith. It lets me sleep more often unstead of taling to thirty Belgian students, it takes a while just to talk to one!

- Roo Gedney

Graham Austin Blog said...

I can't wait to meet foreighn students from Belgium. It will help me sharpen my french skills in real situations. I hope that I will one day be able to go to belgium so that i can learn even more about Belgium, France, and all the other European Union Countries.

Anonymous said...

I think the Belgians would be a great experience and I'll try my best to try and communicate a little with them.

-Daniel L.

Sarah Ball said...

I think that when the Belgian students arrive here at chapel hill, they will be as nervous as i will, but of couse i will trty to communicate with them as well as i can! I can already invision yself flipping through my little french english dictionary as fast as i can! :)
I am not a host student this time, but hopefully i will be in the near future! I look forward to sharing with them our culture in the U.S.A., and learning about theirs in Europe.

Anonymous said...

I see that Belgian students getting along with the American students very well. It l;ooks like the families are very welcoming.
I think they had a great time when they stayed at the American students house. I think this time when trhey visit us again they will have a great time.

Courtney.C 3rd pd

miranda said...

I think it will be a good experience for us to practice our french and learn more about thier culture. I really hope i get the chance to visit belgum, although i am worried that i might not know what anybody is saying and get lost or something! I look forward to being able to have a french conversation one day.

Anonymous said...

crescentia c.
When the Belgians come to America i will probally not speak french at first but after i get used to the idea that they're here. i probally will because i want to interact with them later and start a friendship. espically since i'm going to black mountain with them! im excited.

Anonymous said...

When the Belguims arrive to North Carolina I think it will be so much fun. I think it would be fun to start a friendship and learn more french I cant't wait for them to come!!!

-Shelby

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited for the Belgian students to arrive, here in America. Although I am not hosting anyone, I would still like to tag-along with other students and their Belgian friends, to show them around Chapel Hill and be able to apply the French I've learned, here at school.

~Emma~

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited for when my penpal comes! While talking to them, more french will come out that i never knew i had. I have kept in touch with my penpal and we are excited to meet eachother, and we are saying what we want to do once they arrive.
-Sarah

Anonymous said...

I can't wait until the belgians come. It will be so fun to meet people from another country that speak a different languge. I hope I can speak well enouph to talk to them.
Kevin Mateer

Anonymous said...

in the picrures they look like they are having a lot of fun and comunicating with other people. I think i will be shy at first butthen adapt to it. then i will make friends with some of them and be more out there. my biggest fear is the fear of not communicating well. if we dont communicate well it wont be as fun. Right now i am trying to contact my penpal. I friended him on facebook and sent him a message a few days ago but he hasnt responded yet. i hope to go to france in 2011. it makes me want to speak better french so it will be easier. if its easier then it will probably more fun and more of an expirience.
-Marc Ordronneau

Anonymous said...

im hosting a student and my biggest fear is that she will ask me something in french and i wont know how to respond or there will just be a lot of silence when she is at out house. BUt i am already comuttnicating with her and we semt o be getting along fine but we are running out of things to say!
_lyndsey

Anonymous said...

je suis si excité pour la visite belge!!! Mais, aussi, je suis panique.je regarde l'avant de faire de nouveaux amis.. aussi, parlant français à la belge!! :D

Zoe - 5th period

Sam C said...

Everyone is communicating with each other in the slideshows and it looks like they are having a wonderful time with each other. I think the Belgian students will really like being here. I will talk to them a ton and hopefully they will have a good time with us. I have been in touch with my penpal by email. I do want to go to Belgium in 2011 and i plan on learning french in the future.

Anonymous said...

Cant wait for them to get here. it is going to be very fun and educational. My biggest fear will be the communicating part. me and my french exchange pal are comunicating over facebook and gmail. i go to france every year but i9 think thatn it would be very nice to go with friends and visit new people.-justus

Georgia said...

The pictures seem like everyone is nervouse but having good time. I compleatly understand how they would feel that way but i don thtink i'll really get it untill they arive. I'm not hosting this year but I'm definetly planning on hanging out with the belguims with my freinds also. I think there will be a lot of buzz about them at school and i hope they like it here. It is going to be interesting talking to them i really hope i dont compleatly mess up! I think i will make some new friends, imporve my french, and have a great time. Over all it will be a great experience and lots of fun I can't wait! :D

Anonymous said...

I am so excited for the Belgian students to come because it would be great opportunity to speak the French we have learned. i might be one of the kids that will be hiding inside a closet, but if become more comfortable i might begin to speak in French. I can wait until they come and see our school.
Ginna

Anonymous said...

Quand les belges arrives, je pense nous avez avoir beaucoup d'amusant! J'espere je vais etre assez de courageux parler a les belges! Je veux faire nouveaux amies. Je ne suis pas un acceuilluer, mais je pense aller a Black Mountain vais etre super choutte!

Annie Lo
Smith

Rania said...

Quand les belge arrive ici, on va joue beacoup des jeux et en va nouse amusant. J'ai peur que mon pen pal va pas etre sociale. Et elle va pas parler beacouop... moi je parle beacoup et je ne veux pas etre maladroit. Je lui parle beacoup maintenant et je lui parle tout le temps!!! Elle et tres sympa. Je veux bien aller au belgique en 2011. Oui je veux parler francais meux!! :D

Anonymous said...

Je suis plus content! je ne suis pas patient pour l'arrivée de notres amies belges. il y a beaucoup de questions que je veux les demander. je vais aller a black mountain avec ils et je vais dépenser tout le temps avec ils. Nous avons bienvenue les Belges!!
Erika franco

Anonymous said...

J'ai vois, dans les slideshows, beacoup de photos de le belgique-americain exchange. Ces photos represente different cultures. Je veux aller!

-Paul Zuo

Anonymous said...

les belges vont venir en avril. je vais m'amuseur avec les belges.

karl

Anonymous said...

I can't wait! I hope that by then we will be so good at French we will be able to break the communication barrier. It is going to be so fun!

9th Period
Jaryn

Alex McD the Great said...

I can't wait for the belgian people to come, but I will want to be able to speak to them.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to meet the students!! But I'm kind of nerves because I don't know what to say. Also I didn't know they were coming in April either. It's so exciting I can't wait.


Period 9
Shira

Anonymous said...

Alberto Franco- I can't wait for them to arrive , but I want to get better with my French so I can actually talk with them. If my French doesn't get better then i'll hide under a table

Anonymous said...

I can't wait for the belgaums to come to smith! -Garrett

Anonymous said...

Wow, that sounds like so much fun!!! The only problem is I don't think I know enough french to talk very well!!! I don't really know amything about a host student???? I can deffinetly see myself in Belgium in 2011!

- Emily 9th Period

Anonymous said...

i cant wait for the belgians to come, but ill will want to be able to speak french

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited! I've always wanted to go to Franceor Belgiam, but now Beliam is coming to me! I hope that I know enough french by then to speak fluently to them!

Anonymous said...

I am excited to about the Belgians coming from France! I want to work hard to learn more French, so that i can talk to them and make new friends.

9th Period - Asuka

Anonymous said...

that is fantastic! I can't wait.

Anonymous said...

i cant wait for them to come but i am a little nervous and scared. i would like to be able to speak french better so i can talk to them. i might hide under a table



9th period Ethan

Anonymous said...

Belgium students!It would be cool to here about what it's like there. But I'm still learning French, hopefully they know english! I wonder if any of them enjoy soccer.
-(9th period) Anne:)

Anonymous said...

I'm exited/scared that the Belgian kids are comming! I hope they bring some chocolates for us to eat! I also hope they don't laugh at my begining french! I think I'll watch them from far away... leave the talking to Ms. McMahon
-Brenna (9th period)

Anonymous said...

ahhhh Belgiums!!!uh oh, don't know that much french yet...yup ill be hiding when they come...(dont want to be embarassed)watch me FAIL!!!except they might bring me chocolate...sure, ill come out for that!! -Emma :)(9th period)

Anonymous said...

Oh, I'm so excited that our Belgian friends are coming!

-Jessi, 9th period

Anonymous said...

i cant wait to meet French kids from France that speak French and wear French clothes and are used to French things and i get to speak French to them ans tell them how we do things here at smith and i get to do things with them and i would invite them to my house and show them around and they could speak to me in French and i would tell them how to say things in English that they dont know how to say and it will be soooooooooooo fun!!!!!!!! :)

Anonymous said...

I'm SOO excited that theBelgian friends are coming I can't wait until the day comes!!
-Carol :P
9th period

Anonymous said...

I'm sooo exited that the people from belgium come!!
- Monica :D
9th period

Anonymous said...

I am so excited and can't wait until they come.

- 9th period DeJah

Anonymous said...

it will be sooooooo fun!!!! i cant wait to take them around the school and translate for them and tell them what words are in Englisha and it will be soooooooooooooooo fun!!!!! :)

Caroline Vanderwall

Anonymous said...

i am so exited about belgims though i wish i could spekk french beter so i could talk i like there walfiles i hope we make belgim wafles with them.

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Anonymous said...

Not sure where to post this but I wanted to ask if anyone has heard of National Clicks?

Can someone help me find it?

Overheard some co-workers talking about it all week but didn't have time to ask so I thought I would post it here to see if someone could help me out.

Seems to be getting alot of buzz right now.

Thanks

Emer's reflection following the European Exchange Experience

“Tonight for dinner food is…..” Oh great, I thought. Where’s my dictionary? So, what was it again? Ah yes, a word beginning with “c”. I’m not even going to attempt asking the spelling, so I’ll just browse the “c” section for a meat of some sort. Ok, so it’s not there, I’ll guess. Lamb? No. Beef, YES!!! Ok, but isn’t beef- boeuf? Well at least I have some idea of what I’m eating…some. Oh, the joys of living with a family in a different language. Sure, it’s hard and darn confusing, but isn’t that the point? It’s meant to be a challenge, you know? It’s meant to make you take a step back, and think before you say something, which will most likely be the wrong thing. Sometimes, I wish things would stay like that. Not knowing much of each others language and constantly learning. I got such a thrill from hearing them I never wanted to stop listening and talking. Mistakes? Always, but never a problem. One night, I told the brother I went to bed at 6 (pm) instead of I slept for 6 hours. Oops! It’s inevitable, but they come and go like clouds, and you just laugh and move on. It puts half the fun in conversing. One of the main lessons I learnt on this trip is to take life slowly. We can’t always, speak, or type, or do things as fast as we (Americans) do. You’re learning a new culture, and if you go too fast, you’ll miss the small things that matter along the way, like the first time you think in French. Man, that’s amusing! March 25th, my host family drove me to the train station. Let me tell you, in that car ride, I found a new meaning to “Never say goodbye”. All I could say was “PLEASE visit me in America, you’re always welcome” and “I’ll miss you a lot!!!” of course there was a ton of Franglais in there. Well, it’s the thought that counts! As the train pulled out of the station, me, Helena and like half of the American and Belgian students started crying- like sobbing crying. When that happens, you know that bonds have been made, and connections tied up. These are people- friends that we would never ever forget. We came across the big pond to learn about Europe, oh but we learnt and gained so much more. I for one will never look at the word “Together” or “Ensemble” again the same way, because it means something bigger than the dictionary could ever say. Dictionary definition: into or in one gathering, company, mass, place, or body: to call the people together. My definition: united- when you and another person are doing something ~ you’re united in what you’re doing, with all differences forgotten, because, essentially, you’re the same, and being ~ or doing something ~ brings out that equality. The world is ~ and always will be, it just takes people who know that to show the rest of the world. United in diversity- aren’t we all? Diversity! Bingo!!! That’s what we are. The American and Belgian students, we’re diverse to the limits, and best of friends. An adventure and friendship of a lifetime for me began with conversation. Sunday afternoon, doing homework and a window popped up on the computer screen. “Emer” “Yes?” “It’s Flore, your pen pal” “…OMG, HI!!!!” “I mean, Salut!!!” Flore and I, our friendship began with conversation and I hope it always stays that way. I mean, the European Union was all about removing boundaries and borders, well, we’re about removing language barriers and not letting physical boundaries stop friendships from flourishing. Conversation is one of a couple ways to get rid of language barriers- for once I can be proud of my inability to not stop talking! What bad could happen from talking? Practice makes perfect and I truly believe that the more we practice talking to each other in each other’s language we will come to understand each other. And that- that would just be…a dream come true.

We DID video conference with students at Smith on March 23 10-12pm

Thank you to Federal Express for offering their teleconferencing facility in Brussels so that our traveling students could share their learning with students back at Smith. Go FedEX!!!! This event was an incredible real-time learning experience! Thank you to UNC and the efforts of Bjorn Hennings, manager of the Carolina Center for Educational Excellence. We appreciate all you did to make the connection. Thank you to Rebekah Cole and Monica Liverman for making arrangements for Smith students.

Journey with us.... will try to send pictures along the way

March 17 - Leave for Paris March 18 - Arrive Paris, rest and explore the city! March 19- Explore Paris March 20- Paris: museums, shopping and Eiffel Tower March 21 - Head for Brussels; meet our pen pals in the "Grand Place"; visit the European Parliament together; head to Liege to spend the night in host families March 22 - Spend the day at Saint-Benoit Saint-Servais- attend classes; my students will love English class; tour Liege, socratic seminar on the EU; spend evening with families March 23 - Early train to Brussels for visitation at European Commission - spend day in Brussels; return to host families March 24- Tour Maastricht and WWII cemetery with families Souper-spectacle that night...what fun! March 25 - Bid adieu to our host families and new friends; on to Brussels to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Rome March 26- Going home!

Meeting my Fate and Justine ....by Angela

There were just seventeen days left until I would meet my fate. At least that was how I interpreted it. People have praised me, saying that I would be fine there, and that all of my years spent studying French would now finally pay off. And I guess that my three years of middle school French would make me a lot better off than those who had not even studied a year. Perhaps the most nerve-racking part of all was thinking about how I could completely forget all the French I’d learned while I was in Belgium. It would definitely be very different from speaking French in class—I wouldn’t be as comfortable speaking French to complete strangers (and trying not to make any mistakes at all with my limited vocabulary) as speaking French to my friends or my teachers (and knowing that they would understand if I did make a mistake). And then again, I wasn’t the most optimistic person in my class. But I can try to be optimistic about my fate. After all, it would be a great experience—and I could improve my speaking skills as well. And the best part of all would be becoming great friends with Justine Marchal, whose family will be my host family for a week. I have also learned plenty in preparation for our seminars about the European Union, and in preparation for everything else that we will be doing there. I might even be able to say that I have learned more in these two or three months than I have ever in my life. There has also been plenty of excitement in my life during these few months. Anxiety as well, of course. Who couldn’t be both excited and anxious about going to Belgium and living in a host family? And this my excitement and anxiety may well be beyond those of others—this is my first time traveling to Europe, my first time living in a host family, my first time traveling to a country where the official language isn’t English or Chinese. And this excitement and anxiety increases as I count down the days left until I am riding the train from Paris to Brussels. It will continue to increase as we near the train station at Brussels, as I glance around for the face of Justine Marchal and her family, which I have seen only in pictures, as I spot them and try to find a comprehensible sentence or two that I could say to them... And trust me—it’s not like I haven’t had nightmares about this. This is also the first time that I have stopped to ponder about how I will truly miss them when I am forced to board the plane back to Chapel Hill, back to North Carolina, and back to the United States. But that does not mean that all hope is lost for Justine and I to stay friends, even though it will be much more difficult to do so from such far away places. But we will keep in touch. We will try to meet each other—face to face—every year, if possible. We will remain friends, bonded together by a type of friendship that can only truly arise from being unable to see each other whenever we want to. And as for the long-term goals—they are countless. I will have something extra to include in my college resume. I will be able to consider a future abroad, to see if it really fits into my future. I will have a chance to find out if French is really for me. If I had asked one of my Belgian friends what “E.U.” stood for, they would have probably immediately answered, “les États-Unis.” Of course, these three words are French. Translated into English, they mean “the United States,” or rather “the States United.” But here in America, if I had asked perhaps twenty people in Chapel Hill, or rather, anywhere in the United States, what “E.U.” stood for, none of them would have answered “les États-Unis.” And that is because here in the United States of America, “E.U.” is an abbreviation for the European Union. And of those twenty Americans, perhaps only one or two of them would have known that. And it is our duty—that is, the duty of the UNION*—to increase that number by as much as possible. And to help us accomplish this goal, we have all attended the “Euro Club,” which meets every Tuesday after school and every Thursday during lunch, and we have all prepared an “EU journal” with notes from those club meetings. So what exactly is the European Union? It is a family of twenty-seven democratic countries in Europe. They have shared values of democracy, freedom, and social justice. Their mission is to provide peace, prosperity, and stability for its peoples; overcome the divisions on the continent, ensure that its people can live in safety; promote balanced economic and social development; meet the challenges of globalization and preserve the diversity of the peoples of Europe; and uphold the values that Europeans share. But that is simply a basic outline of the goals of the European Union. It does so much more, and deserves so much more credit for doing what it does. The European Union has funded our trip to France and Belgium. And now it is your job to learn more about the EU and to help others learn more about it. Spread the word! *The UNION is made up of the students who will be traveling to Paris, France, and Brussels and Liège, Belgium in March 2007.

Emer's dream

Smith Middle School. It was the 3rd school I’d seen that day and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. The teachers there seemed so friendly, but what really intrigued me was the French Department. Apparently, they were making a trip to Belgium. My friends Olivia had previously told me that her school in England were going to Belgium, but I had never imagined a school in America would go. The name America had gotten as the land of oppertunities was suddenly maing so much more sense! It was from that moment on, I had told myself, if they go to Belgium, and I am taking French, I will be on that trip. Since I found out there was a trip happening it had more meaning to me. It had the meaning of a goal to achieve- a dream.

Another cool design for our T-shirts

Another cool design for our T-shirts
Created by Angela

I know more about the EU than you....Nathalie

I’m so excited! Can you guess why? I didn’t think so. I’m excited because I know more about the EU than you. I have studied really hard, and I have learned that there are many differences between the EU and America. Just to clarify, the EU is the European Union. You will be surprised on how many differences there are between the EU and America. Lucky for you, I will not name them all. But I am going to tell you about some of the main differences. One of the big differences is space. In America people like their personal space and our houses are huge! Well, that’s different in Europe. People live small and close to each other. Their houses are sometimes even connected. In America with our big lawns and big houses, we also have a lot of junk in our houses. Most of it is unnecessary too. In the EU people have what they need. Every day they go to the market to get food. They sometimes skip the bread in the market and go to a bakery to get food. Here in America we go to the grocery store once a week and buy a week’s supply of food. That is also because we have to drive everywhere to get what we want. In Europe they walk or bike to the store and back. That makes it easier for them to go every day. I hope that you have learned from what I have just told you. And if you don’t believe me, just go to one of the countries of the European Union, and you’ll see that everything I’ve said is true. Oh…time really flies by when you’re writing. The bell is about to ring; I have to go! Bye, bye. Nathalie

Thinking About Her Sister's Trip 3 Years ago..Abby's Reflections

Four years ago my sister was given the experience of a lifetime, and ever since then I’ve wanted that experience too. Ms.McMahon has finally given me that opportunity. Before I could wrap my head around it, I would be on a plane heading to my dream destination, France. Though I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, I’ve never been more nervous and afraid at the same time. Nervous about the plane ride, and afraid of forgetting simple things that I’m going to need to know like “where is the bathroom?” and “what time is it?” I have taken three years to learn this language, all for this experience and if I get all the way to France and forget everything I’ve worked so hard to know it won’t be a pretty sight. I’ve maintained a solid “A” all year long in French, but writing French and speaking French are two completely different things. I am a better writer than a speaker, especially in front of people who grew up speaking French as their first language. I’m sure that this trip is going to be amazing, and an experience of a lifetime but I just can’t be excited when all I can think about is how I’m going to attempt to have a conversation with someone and just draw blanks. When my sister went to France she had the most amazing time, and when she came back she couldn’t stop talking about how she wanted to go back. I wish I could have that, I wish I could be excited and not scared, but I can’t. Seeing my sister in videos of her in France, talking so easily and seeing how she couldn’t stop smiling and laughing, it all just made me want it more. I know that this was going to be an amazing experience after I adjusted to the language and the culture, but until then I stick to being scared out of my mind.

.......from Jenny's heart

I’m either more worried than I should be, or less worried than what’s expected of me in situations like these. No, I’m not talking about a hostage situation or an emergency situation. This situation is traveling to Belgium in only near two weeks, and being thrust into a whole new culture that speaks a complete different language than from what I’m used to in the United States. Just thinking about it gets me a little nervous, a little worried, mostly excited, and just a tiny bit scared. I know that it’s going to be a wonderful experience, touring Paris and speaking French to native speakers. I’m also so excited that I’ll get to see my pen pal, Adrienne, and stay at her family’s home in Liège, Belgium. I always look forward to the emails I send back and forth with my Belgian pen pal, Adrienne. We’ve been communicating together since the beginning of seventh grade in 2005, and I’ve learned a lot about the modern culture and daily routines of kids who are my age who attend school and do activities just like me. Adrienne has always expressed a great hope of seeing the United States in her own eyes sometime, and she states that she would love to see the country she’s heard so much about. I only wish that after I’ve seen her country, I am able to take her to see mine! There are so many differences between the Belgians and the Americans, besides the obvious. I’d like to see how the school system and curriculum in Belgium differs from our North Carolina Standard Course of Study, what games the Belgians do for fun, and what extracurricular activities are offered. When I first signed up to take French as a language in sixth grade, I never dreamed that it would lead to this opportunity to learn more about another culture and broaden my global understanding. But yet, here I am, panicking over how many pairs of socks I’ll need in Belgium and wondering if I’ll make a taboo mistake when I’m talking in French. Another aspect of the trip I’m excited about is going to the headquarters of the EU (the European Union) and learning much more about the EU from European residents under the law of the EU. I’ve learned so, so much since I started my quest for knowledge a few months ago, and I only want to keep expanding this knowledge and put it to good use for the future. Who knows the day when the EU will surpass the United States in power? From the view today, it’s very likely that that will happen. Until March 17th, then!

It's all about being "united in diversity"... Mme McMahon

On the surface it looks like just another funding opportunity for yet another school program. Let it sink in however, $67,000 and it has deep implications as well as benefits of equity and advocacy for students in our school district. In January of this year, the European Union awarded Smith Middle School 51,000 euros (roughly $67,000) for its “Getting to Know Europe” , a proposal I submitted after attending last summer’s EU workshop hosted by UNC’s EU Center of Excellence and World View. These dynamic international organizations invited teachers from around the state to explore and create lesson plans on the EU while sharing this grant opportunity and encouraging teachers to apply. Why has the European Union funded a public school? There are lots of reasons, but the clearest one to me lies in its name: Union. Union means bringing together, sharing knowledge, power, ideas and resources. Union means making choices for the common good. The EU has invited our American students to learn more about their institutions, their system of values that are also shared by our nation, and their being “united in diversity”- a richness of cultures brought together in one body. Nations around the world are drawing lines in the sand – demarcation lines that promote a we versus they mentality- opportunities such as this grant provides, breaks those barriers as students learn how to respect each other’s opinions, value multiple perspectives and honor international relationships while bridging the gap to understanding through language. The cover story for the December 10th issue of Time Magazine emphasizes the need for schools to enter the 21st century by teaching more about our world. Students need to learn how to be “global trade literate, sensitive to foreign cultures and conversant in different languages”. I can teach this from the front of the room, or I can take my students to host families in Belgium where they will experience European life up close and personal. Thanks to the EU grant, many students who used to “watch from the window” as their more affluent classmates boarded the plane to Europe are able to join us on this voyage of self-discovery and new cultures. Six teachers will be traveling from grant funds and are excited about bringing back new lessons for the classroom. How has our “journey of learning” progressed since we received this award? Traveling students have been meeting once a week after school or during lunches to learn not only about the European Union and its institutions but also about how life for a teen in a Europe is similar or different from life in America. With guidance from high school students who speak French well, my students can discuss many topics of EU life in French including: capital punishment, free market system and travel -friendly legislation with the introduction of the Euro. A university professor and local French speakers have visited my classroom to add depth to the studies. We have studied Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” in French so that they can discuss his dream for human rights in America with their Belgian pen pals and compare it to the EU’s mission as well as their own personal dreams. In a few weeks Belgian and American teens will be discussing “shared values” and hopes for the future, not only for their respective countries but also for the world. My students asked, “How do we publicize what we have learned?” After discussions with my Belgian colleague and his students, “Union” came out the front runner for our T-shirts explaining that Union is the same word in English and French and shows that there is strength in unity. My students agreed, two student artists created the logos and all of us will be wearing T-shirts honoring this international friendship. The physical journey begins March 17 as twenty-nine students (26 middle school students and 4 high school students) as well as 6 teachers board the plane for Europe. At least fifteen of the travelers were fully or partially funded by the grant. One student cannot stop smiling as he whispers daily “I am going to see the Eiffel Tower” –one of several economically disadvantaged student travelers who thought that this trip was only for those who could afford it- never dreaming that the EU would pay for this experience of a lifetime. The plane lands in Paris first where we will spend three nights. We will meet our Belgian pen pals at the “Grand Place” in Brussels on the 4th day. This first meeting when the students exchange “la bise” and begin to communicate face to face is one of the most memorable days of my life. They have been corresponding by email or MSN for a few months, but actually witnessing their excitement at seeing each other makes the time and effort for this trip pale in comparison to the joy of watching these young people connect. I can feel myself saying, “ Yes, I can do this again.” With our Belgian hosts we will visit the European Parliament and return to Liege to spend four days with our international families. My students will attend classes at Saint-Benoit Saint-Servais school in Liege, participate in a “rally” of the town, visit Maastricht and the American WWII cemetery and be entertained by the Belgian students for a host-family/American “souper-spectacle” on Saturday night. The American students will return to Brussels on Friday to visit the European Commission, and we will leave Liege to spend one night in a hotel in Brussels on Sunday, March 25th, an important date in EU history because it is the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome. Thanks to the European Union, a journey of learning about international affairs, friendship and self-discovery has begun. My deepest gratitude goes to UNC’s EU Center of Excellence, to World View for all their encouragement and support and to M. Labeye, my Belgian colleague who has worked with me for ten years on this creating successful Exchange Experiences. Robin McMahon French Teacher Smith Middle School Chapel Hill, North Carolina


Willing to go the Distance...by Sarah

A boring bus ride and maybe a stay over night, this is what comes to mind when you think of a 8th grade field trip. Ms. McMahon put a whole new definition in my head of the meaning of what an educational trip can be. Eight hours over seas and a ten night stay in Paris, Belgium, Brussels and many other places. This is a child hood dream that has been granted. This amazing opportunity has become open to the students taking French in Smith Middle School. There is no doubt that this trip will be full of new experiences and life long memories but it scares me out of my mind every time I think about having to talk and stay in a home with a Belgium family. No books, no teacher only what I had learned in class. I am scared that the culture shock will cause me to forget all I have learned or how to say that I DO NOT eat sea food. This only means that I have to work very hard to get the work done. I also have to dedicate lots of time to all my other classes to keep good grades so I am eligible to go. I am willing to go the distance and I am positive that it will all be worth it.