There's no place like home ...

We're at the end of the program with just two more days in Paris before everyone heads back to the U.S. on Friday. Today we had a special cultural visit with Apollonia Poilâne, owner of Poilâne Bakery where Andrew worked last week. She gave us a tour of the "fournil" or "bake house" as she has translated it into English. While Andrew has first-hand knowledge of the baking process and the history of the boulangerie, Linnie, Sophie and Mack were all thoroughly impressed with what they learned. She shared some fun factoids with us about having bread flown to Harvard when she was a student, and how her one loaf per week that was delivered grew to her personal loaf every week plus five loaves every other week for her friends to enjoy! After our visit with Apollonia, none of us had eaten so we went to a café next door (Matteo et Paolo, an old favorite of Andrew's!) and had a great lunch. While we were eating, our conversation veered toward talking about what magnificent cooks everyone's mother is. Then they each tried to "one up" the other with savory delights and specialties that each mother makes. In fact, there was even mention of a "panini" competition between two moms!! (After hearing the menus, I'm happy to be a judge anytime!) At this moment I realized that no matter how amazing a cultural experience is, there's no place like home! This is the time when they begin to reflect about who they are as individuals, where they are from and what that means - all an important part of the cultural immersion and learning experience. We have a lot to do between now and Friday - piano bar at the Hôtel de Banville tonight, breakfast and visit at Notre Dame in the morning, Versailles in the afternoon and a family dinner at my friend Nathalie Lambert's. They are putting their project together, each haven chosen an aspect of the trip that they have found interesting and doing a compare/contrast of France and the U.S. I know they are going to be happy to get back home to see their families, pets and to be in their own rooms. Don't be surprised if they are a bit exhausted after a productive, enriching and truly awesome trip!