Last minute suggestions

As the date of our departure nears and Madame makes her own preparations for the trip, here are a few tips and ideas to keep in mind:

• Only bring one suitcase and one carry-on bag. We will be navigating through airports, train stations, subways, and crowded streets with our bags in tow, so keep it simple and light! Also, the airlines will charge $50 each way if you bring a second suitcase.
• In your carry-on, the only liquids you should bring are the "travel size" version of whatever you may need: eye makeup remover, mouthwash, contact solution, etc. All liquid items should be placed in a plastic Ziploc baggy --- a requirement of airport security, but also a good idea so your liquids won't spill all over the inside of your carry-on bag.
• Don't pack anything suspicious in your suitcase --- no knives, no guns (even fake!), no illegal substances. (Duh!)
• Bring enough clothes for 8 days. At some point , we will stop and do some laundry.
• Bring your student ID with you --- it will get you into museums for free and you may get other discounts along the way.
• Bring a gift for your host family. Ideally, you should bring something that represents Oklahoma well. Some suggestions: Items made in Oklahoma, a cookbook from Oklahoma, an Oklahoma picture book, Oklahoma music, Oklahoma foods, etc.
• Be sure to pack one nice outfit to wear for any special occasion our hosts may have planned.
• Bring pictures of your families and friends so you can share them with your hosts. They would probably love to see pictures of your house, your living room, your car, your school, etc.
• Make sure you bring comfortable clothes and shoes. We will be visiting a nature-preserve site, so bring close-toes shoes!

On va en France!

In less than two weeks, we will be traveling to France. Although I have taken students to France on many trips, there are many unique "firsts" about this trip that promise to make it memorable and even unforgettable. Here is an impressive list of firsts:

1. This is the first trip of our Amiens partnership, connecting Westmoore High School and Lycée Jean Racine.


2. I will finally meet my partner teachers Virginie and Laure-Hélène face-to-face. My students will also meet their student partners with whom they have been communicating all year.


3. My students will get to experience a week-long homestay experience and attend classes at our partner school.


4. While we have honored Oklahoma soldiers buried in France who died there during World War II for several years, this will be the first year for my students to honor Oklahoma soldiers from World War I.


5. I have always organized trips with student travel companies, but this year we will travel on our own with all reservations and itineraries suited to our schedule.


6. We will be in Normandy for the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Hopefully, we will be able to attend the huge commemorative ceremony at which President Barack Obama will speak.


7. If all goes well, this will be the beginning of an ongoing exchange that can last for many years to come.