Smith Middle School Euro-Talk! Thank you to the European Union ~"Getting to Know Europe"

Bonjour! We are a group of middle school students in Chapel Hill, NC studying French- please join our discussion and read our articles...Leave Comments! Thanks to a grant awarded by the European Union, 31 students and 7 teachers traveled to Paris, Normandy, Brussels and Liege in March 2011. Check out: https://sites.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/belgian-trip-2011/. Watch us on UNCTV: http://www.unctv.org/ncnow/features/april_09_02.

Wednesday, June 13

Traveling in Europe - are you ready?

Read this publication and tell me three important points you have learned about traveling in Europe...notice the editor-in-chief? You met her at our school last February!! Want to see your friends traveling in 2011 thanks to the EU's "Getting to Know Europe" grant? Watch this video made by Mr.Bennett and Ms. Stuchiner- what is your favorite part of the video? Please leave a comment.

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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.

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.

The European Union awards gift of International Education to Smith Middle School

Why is the European Union “giving” my program, Smith Middle School and our district so much money? This year’s grant is worth 67,000 euros ~ about $86,000 given the current conversion rate. We were also given this award in 2007, thus becoming the first US public secondary educational institution to receive such a grant from the European Union. Why this program?

The fundamental responses can be found in the pages of Gladwell’s Outliers and William Hitchcock’s The Struggle for Europe. As I see it, the European Union funds programs that fit Gladwell’s “blueprint for making the most of human potential” by creating enrichment experiences that plant the seed of innovation and motivation for all participants regardless of financial circumstances. Moreover, what is really known about Europe, the EU and its goals and how they fit into our global community? Middle school textbooks offer little more than short paragraphs on an institution, created in response to the ravages of two world wars, that has cultivated peace and prosperity for its family of twenty-seven democratic nations. Hitchcock asserts that in the past sixty-five years, one of the major successes for Europe has been its leaders “speaking the language of power sharing rather than power seizing.” As an educator I’ve learned that a culture of openness leads to a willingness for knowledge-sharing, which in turn, leads to power sharing...and that is why I work to bring these learning experiences to not only my students but also to my school, district and community.

In the summer of 2006, the Delegation of the European Commission of Washington released their first “call for proposals” for the “Getting to Know Europe” grant. While attending an EU workshop hosted by UNC’s WorldView and the International Center for Global Initiatives, I investigated this opportunity - a dream of sorts, to write a plan of how I would spend $70,000 while meeting the EU’s objectives of helping our school and local communities learn more about the EU. We would cover the EU’s policies, institutions and how they affect everyday life in Europe, as well as raise awareness about the EU’s role on the international economic and political stages. We would also seek to understand the EU/US multi-faceted relationships and what perspectives we could learn from studying these relationships. The task seemed daunting at first, but from a teacher’s perspective it was an opportunity for education at its best ~ how was I going to make this learning authentic and applicable for our students, while also being acceptable to the European Union? With the help of my principal and colleagues, I wrote a plan and it was accepted (OK, I admit it, I was shocked!). On a list of grant recipients, Smith Middle School ranked beside Cornell, Duquesne and Boston University. That award funded a large part of our 2007 program.

The summer and fall of 2008 found me once again working furiously on the computer to write a new EU grant for 2009. What motivated me were the eyes of the students in my classroom - those children who saw their cousins, friends, or older classmates travel to Europe in 2007 fully or partially funded through the grant. This incredible enrichment opportunity would only happen for them if this grant were awarded. Since 2007, resignation (“that trip is only for those rich kids”) has changed to hope and a vision of the future. Thirty-six students, six teachers and one UNC TV filmmaker will be traveling to France and Belgium March 18-29th. All will benefit from the grant funds in some way; however, twenty-three of those travelers will be partially or fully funded for an experience they otherwise could not afford. The middle school group will be spending three days in Paris, visiting famous museums and monuments, traveling to Normandy to visit the American cemetery and then on to Belgium, to learn about the EU in Brussels, while staying with their pen pal families in Liege. All of us will change our dollars to euros, cross from France to Belgium without having to show our passports and feel the everyday advantages of “open borders” initiated by the European Union. We will also visit the EU Parliament and EU Commission in Brussels and celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Euro as well as the 52nd anniversary of the EU. We will share this learning via a video conference back to Smith Middle School on March 25th.

Another curriculum focus that will be documented by UNC TV is North Carolina connections in Europe as we learn about World War II. Students have already researched, created projects on and even enacted scenes about the D-Day Invasion, the Liberation of Paris, The Battle of the Bulge as well as the French and Belgian Resistance Movements. Of particular interest has been the role of the African-American soldier in General Patton’s 761st all-black Tank Battalion. Students are learning how to describe these events in French so that they can have discussions about WWII with their Belgian pen pals while visiting their school in Liege.

The grant funding will also cover school, district and community events such as a Europe Day celebration in May, Euro Zone for Smith’s Global Connections events and on-going professional development for teachers.

Knowledge sharing leads to power sharing. There is much we, as Americans, can share with our European friends, just as there is a lot we can learn from them. For example, we will witness how small European villages honor the American liberators and thereby gain a deeper appreciation for our own grandfathers who fought so valiantly for freedom and justice on European soil. My students will share their knowledge of the African-American soldier’s experience in WWII, civil rights in America and the historic election of America’s first black president. As the students walk the peaceful fields of Belgium, gaze at Monet’s masterpieces, laugh at their own faux pas or celebrate new international friendships, perhaps they all will become, in some sense, an “outlier” ~ a youngster motivated “beyond the norm” to create a world where knowledge and power are shared and peace will reign.

A special thanks to the administration of Smith Middle School and to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School District for the tremendous support they have shown for this program.

Sincerely,
Robin McMahon
French Teacher
Smith Middle School, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

To learn more about the EU: www.europa.eu

French students perform traditional dances from Brittany

Celebration of Europe Day at Smith Middle School- May 09, 2007

The Smith community celebrated Europe Day on May 9, 2007. This day is the 57th anniversary of the founding of the European Union by Robert Schuman. For more information, please visit www.europa.eu

What did we do?
6th grade social studies classes prepared country exhibits for display the evening of May 9th. They also enjoyed a catered European lunch on May 9th.

All classes had a Euro Bowl geography contest that was held in the auditorium. Winning student teams received Borders' gift cards- students studied their EU history and information on www.europa.eu

In the evening we had a Walk for Tolerance down the main hall of the school. Students wore cultural attire, brought a sign to promote cultural diversity and walked en masse .
After walking, everyone enjoyed taste treats from European countries while browsing cultural exhibits from our 6th graders.
At 6:45pm there was a keynote speaker in the auditorium, Ms. Brenda Schoonover, former charge d'affaires for Belgium.
Her talk was followed by videos of Smith's Belgian and Italy trips this past March.

Thank you for joining us and learning about Europe through our exhibits, pictures, stories and experiences. The European Union is an important "actor in the global arena" and is considered by many to be the most "significant economic and political development since the Second World War." From Brenda Schoonover's speech "An Evolving Alliance".

Morgan's Quiz-----Try it! Essaie-le

Pop quiz: What is the EU and what are its values? What do the stars on the flag of the EU symbolize? Name the countries in the EU (in French) and label them on a map. How many of those questions looked easy to you? This is what our tests in French class have been like recently. Over the past months, we’ve been learning about the European Union, or EU, in class and after school in preparation of our trip to Europe. While in Belgium, we will discuss the EU in French and witness the 50th anniversary of the signing of the treaty of Rome. The focus is on the EU, the reason being we’re the first public school to get a grant from the European Union to come to Europe and learn about their culture and the purpose of the EU. In a nutshell, the EU is a group of European countries that are in an alliance to help with issues such as global warming, human rights, and peace-keeping, and has free trade across borders and a common currency. They have already passed strict laws about carbon emissions and equal pay for equal work. Of course, the average American also doesn’t care about what the EU is. But in fact, that is very important for us to know. Currently, there are 27 countries in the EU. They are some of the most influential nations in the world, and are working together for the betterment of the world. They don’t have an army, but they make up a large number of the nations in the UN. If they’re in agreement, you have a powerful united front. As Americans in the EU, we will be your ambassadors. Some of the people we’ll be visiting have never met an American before and already have expectations. But don’t worry. We’ve been studying, preparing, and cramming in extra vocabulary for this experience and we’re going to make a good impression.

Speaking French ..... by Paul

For 30 Smith eighth graders, 4 high schoolers, a French teacher, and a bunch of other teachers who don’t speak french, our trip to Europe this late March is only a few days away. We students have been going to Euro-club on Tuesday afternoons and Thursdays during lunch. During these meetings, we discuss and learn about what is and what does the EU, or European Union. We are traveling to Europe during this particular week because it will be the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which was the treaty that established the EU in the first place. We will meet with Belgian families with kids our ages, and stay with them for the Belgian portion of our trip. At first, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to go, but now all of the sudden I am going. Many things made me change my mind. Even though staying by myself with a family that only speaks French may sound scary, and the idea of being on a plane with 30 middle-schoolers for 10 hours may not appeal to many people, I’ve decided that it will be worth it. I have been to Europe once before, but I really want to go again. Europe is so different from America, from the land and geography to the people and culture. The language is also a little different, but I’m just not thinking that part. After all, I’ll probably never get to have this opportuninty again. My personal goals for this trip are to make friends in Belgium, give the Europeans a good impression of Americans, speak French to actual French people, and to just plain have fun!

Ali's excitement and her fears

Excitement is the word. I am really excited to go to France and Belgium to really experience the French language. You can’t really learn French until you go to the country and experience it. I want to change some bad ideas about the U.S. Yes, the government does make some bad decisions but overall, the government is doing the best it can. I also want to change some bad ideas about Americans in general. We are not “stupid Americans”. I want to show them that we do care about other cultures and languages. I am lucky to be able to go on this trip. It is the chance of a lifetime for me. It is amazing that the European Union has given a bunch of Americans money to learn about this organization! I am also a little scared about a couple of things. I am supposed to translate for another teacher, and I am afraid that the people are going to speak too fast for me to understand. I guess I need to memorize the phrase, “Parlez plus lentement, s’il vous plait”. Hopefully my host family will understand. So I am really excited! I can’t believe that I actually get to go! I can’t wait!

Violette's Thank you

Je mange bien. I ate well. Je mange bien. Je mange bien. Je mange bien. After a few sociolinguistic blunders and other embarrassing accidents in letters addressed to my Belgian pen pal, Laëtitia, I have become increasingly careful and self-conscious about what I write and express in French. I have discovered (the hard way) that direct translations don’t always work out, and who knows? When you think that you’re saying that you’re full, that you’ve eaten enough, you might actually be telling others that you are in fact pregnant. Of course, that makes me nervous and anxious, because I don’t want people to get the wrong idea, for obvious reasons, and I feel afraid that my novice level of French will not be sufficient for our much anticipated France/Belgium trip. But what’s really interesting is that I don’t mind these mistakes that much. I find it interesting that I find these little cultural quirks interesting. Like everyone, I suppose it would be nice to avoid awkward conversations, but realizing that their language, their culture, their world is different from ours makes me motivated to learn more about theirs. I want to not only gain insight into their lives, but become part of them. I feel so fortunate, so undoubtedly lucky to have been offered an opportunity like this, a chance to peek into another part of our planet. It’s kind of unbelievable when you think about it, isn’t it? As I go to bed some days, I still hesitate to accept that I’m really going to tour the famed boulevards of Paris, and that for a week I’ll live the life of those foreign exchange students we read, hear, and dream about. Sometimes in class my friends and I will explode in spasms of excitement, counting down days, hours, minutes until we board the plane. Sure, it’s hard work, and by signing up for this voyage you are agreeing to not only represent yourself, but your school and your nation as well. It’s a daunting task and at times I am afraid that I will not perform adequately, and sometimes I feel like I am not worthy of such an honour, but I still feel ever so grateful to have had this window opened to me. Materialistically, this is only a plane ride, followed by a bus ride, and a car ride, and a tour guide, but symbolically, this is a joining of universes. We are representing the European Union motto, “United in Diversity”, for are we not connecting two uniquely different communities? We are representing the theme for the 50th anniversary of the EU, “Together”, for are we not bringing these nations together? We are representing the first motto of the United States of America, “E Pluribus Unum”, “Out of Many, One”, for are we not a great many peoples coming together to form one? However, as Dr. Martin Luther Kind Jr. once said, “Every time I take a flight I am always mindful of the people who make a successful journey possible -- the known pilots and the unknown ground crew… You honor the ground crew without whose labor and sacrifices the jet flies to freedom could never have left the earth.” Our efforts are all backed by that backstage crew. I would like to thank all those who have supported and made this trip possible. Un grand merci to all those people who awarded this grant to our very special school, and to all the parents and teachers who have worked so hard to work out the kinks in our plans. Thank you to all the pen pals who bothered replying to our letters, and who wrote back diligently. Thank you to Monsieur Labeye, who taught them the English that they wrote in those letters (and believe me, those English sentences were always a welcome sight.) And lastly, THANK YOU to Mrs. McMahon, who worked her butt off for us, both tweaking all those little details and tackling huge obstacles. We owe everything to all of you.

Aidan's thoughts

So much preparation and anticipation has gone into this trip. Not only have long lists of French vocabulary been drilled over and over into my head to ready me for the intense wave of a foreign language coming my way., but also I have learned about the European culture, people, do’s and don’ts, what topics to talk about and which ones to avoid, manners, government and everyday life. It has been a lot to take in. I thank my French teacher and fellow students for helping me contribute to what will be an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. For about three months, I have been exchanging letters and emails with a Belgian boy named Alexandre whom I have never met. Although I have never spoken a word to his face or seen him in person, I already feel like we have a friendship connection. Two weeks from now I will be living in his home with his family. I expect some awkward times but also greatly look forward to meeting a boy that I am sure will become a lifelong friend.

L'Experience de Ma Vie...from Austin

Boy, I just can’t stop thinking about the trip to Belgium and Paris. Only 17 more days’ till the trip of a lifetime!! Often times I think about the trip and ponder about how nervous I am. What if my brain is going to just erase all of the French I have learned in the years? I hope not. But I will try my best to remember all of the information my wonderful my teacher, Ms. McMahon has taught me. This trip is going to be full of fun but some things just keep crossing my mind. When I think about the trip, the first thing that pops into my head is getting there safe. Since September 11, 2001 my fear of going on an airplane has increased but I don’t mind the airplane as long as we get there safe. The plane ride for this trip is going to be a long and tiring ride without iPods, or hand-held gaming systems; but what our teacher can’t stress enough is that she’s there to entertain us whenever we get antsy. I’m thoroughly worried I won’t remember all of my français (French) tools that my teacher has taught us. When the Belgians came to America last year we sat down and talked to a very nice woman that was obviously fluent in French and she spoke so fast I couldn’t understand her. Since she was hard to understand I didn’t know how to reply. When we get to Belgium I’m sure there will be a culture shock. The fact that you are actually in Europe will be amazing. You talk all about it in class but you can’t really picture it until you see it or live around it and those are some of the things that I am nervous about. But there are also some exciting things I am looking forward to as well… PARIS!!!!!!!!!!! Paris has been a place that I have wanted to go ever since I started taking French. Finally my dream will come true. I have always wanted to eat their delicious breads and chocolates. I am going to pig out and am going to enjoy every bit of it. I am also excited to see the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, I’m afraid of heights but I will try to convince myself that it’s something to remember. We are about to have a blast and an unforgettable time!!! I am so excited for this trip and wouldn’t dare miss this opportunity. I am thankful for my grandparents who paid for me to go and my mom and John I can’t thank you enough. Last but not least I’d like to thank Ms. McMahon very much for planning and putting in a lot of time and effort for my fellow students and I to go on this trip. I am so glad for everybody else going on this trip especially my roommate, I’m happy he’s able to go on this trip because he put in a lot of hard work to get to this point. Keep it up and the "a’s and b’s" will come. I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!