Good morning blog readers! I’m so sad to report that this will be my final blog post, as today is the last day of our trip. I cannot believe how fast these two weeks have gone by, but it is only a testament to the wonderful company we have shared and the incredible adventures we have been on.

Parents, you have raised an extraordinary group of children. I have had the pleasure of being able to experience the hearts, minds, and spirits of your little ones and we leaders have been invigorated by their energy. What interesting, curious, fun-loving and sweet young people they are. We leaders have been so lucky to share this time with them, how precious it has been! The future looks pretty bright with these ones in charge.

So how will we spend our last day? At the moment, students and leaders are preparing for final project presentations. This is an opportunity for the whole group to see what individual classes have been learning for the past two weeks. We’ll gather together in our classrooms and spend an hour or two doing these presentations. Later on, we’ll give the group time to pack before going out for our final dinner, a special event because all 30 of us will be eating together! The evening will end at the Eiffel Tower, hanging out on the beautiful lawn and soaking up each other’s company.

It is so bittersweet to say goodbye – but there are new memories ahead, reunions to be had, and lots of hugs waiting for all of us at home.

This trip has been so special to me and I am reminded of my five life-changing summers with Putney. It is really something else to experience things from the other end, watch eyes grow wider, comfort-zones be explored, and lifelong friendships be made.

Here are the final pictures i’ll be posting of our trip!

The past couple of days we’ve been doing a Food Challenge. Whoever lasts the longest, eating foods like – escargot, blood sausage, brain, etc…wins the challenge! Here are a couple pics:

 

And there it is. Two beautiful weeks in Paris, with the best crew a girl could ask for. Thank you so much for reading, and thanks so much for having such fabulous children. I hope the rest of your summers are full of family and sunshine. Until next time!

Ps: here is a photo of me, eight summers ago, on my very first Putney trip in Paris. The students will recognize this street, as it has been our home for 14 days.

 

As always: your dutiful blogger,

Haley J