Write up
We’ll Always Have France
Written by: Julianna Soberano and Jia Manlutac
Photos by: Raul Bautista, Miguel Tarrossa, and Joshua Tan
“Le temps passe trop vite” time passes by too quickly. This was a common phrase uttered repeatedly, with melancholic sighs and sorrowful eyes, during the two goodbyes we had to make during the Intersession Study tour. Our country, France, is a great country that celebrates the arts, music, food, people, and so much more. The first was the beautiful city that is Strasbourg. It seemed as if the first three weeks of the entire trip passed by in the blink of an eye, and everybody was suddenly clamouring for more seconds, minutes, and hours to delight in walking the dreamy streets of Strasbourg one last time. There came an ever present buzz of sentimental adrenaline in the air, and it surrounded all the students in every conversation about all the amazing things they’ve done, places they’ve visited, food they’ve eaten, and people they’ve met within a span of three weeks. Not many people often think of Strasbourg when planning a trip to France, and in all honesty, most of us on the trip had never heard of the city before it was mentioned during the orientations. It was completely foreign to us on that first day, but once the unavoidably awkward introductions were over and done with, Strasbourg gradually became our home away from home. The ever-reliable trams that could take you as far as Kehl, Germany took the place of our Ubers and MRTs. The stunningly intricate facade of the Notre Dame de Strasbourg stood in for the views of Ateneo from the Rizal Libraries. The mouthwatering and very refreshing gelato sold along the cobblestone streets of Langstross Grand Rue substituted everyone’s craving for Halo-Halo, and pretty soon the city of Strasbourg had become our own. Not before long, we had to bid goodbye to the city and the foster families we quickly learned to adore, and the first “Au Revoir,” was said with most bittersweet feelings.
Soon, however, our tears were dried and our eyes grew wide with wonder and excitement, because had finally arrived in the next place we would learn to call home: Paris.
Ooh la la Paris, the city of love. What every person in the study tour surely awaited. Once we arrived, we were shocked to see its stark contrast with Strasbourg. Of course, it was just as overwhelmingly beautiful. In Paris we saw the buildings a couple of stories higher, the roads filled with more cars, and definitely more tourists bustling and roaming around the busy streets. We were suddenly thrust into a city of more life and lights, especially coming from the more tranquil and quiet city of Strasbourg. So many people of different backgrounds from all over the world all came together in this one special city. All the designer brands and high end boutiques that one used to only dream of was suddenly right at our fingertips -- just within our too eager grasps. Fine dining restaurants with mouthwatering dishes and dramatically long queues adorned almost every street. One could certainly not miss the countless souvenir shops and vendors around every corner that were so enticing that some of us, if not all, gave in and made a purchase... or five. What once was only seen in movies and pictures -- having the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and much more right there in front of our eyes was truly breathtaking and perpetually surreal. Everybody felt as if they were in a frenzied dream whilst walking down those cobblestoned streets. Being in the midst of one of the most iconic cities in the world just made us want to grab a loved one and sneak in a little french kiss. Love was certainly in the air, it may not have been all romantic, but it was true. We definitely left our hearts in Paris after bidding our second bittersweet “Au Revoir” to this beautiful city.
Our little European sojourn was all we could have ever imagined and more. Upon leaving France, we had all our bucket lists checked and hearts swelling with happiness. We landed in Manila with a serendipitous French high that seemed to never fade away. Now our cameras are full, photo albums filled, suitcases packed, wallets empty, and our hearts fulfilled. This was a dream we wish we’d never wake up from, but like the timeless cliché goes: time flies when you’re having fun. Those blissful 26 days flew by in an instant, leaving us with the best souvenirs we could ever take home -- new culture, friends that have swiftly become family, and perspectives that we brought home to share, and countless stories to tell. These are memories and people we will carry with us for the rest of our lives, as we silently long for the day when our “Au revoir, France.” will become an “À bientôt!”
But for now, we know that we’ll always have France.
Watch the video:
*****
Germany Intersession Study Tour
By: Kayla De Leon | 4 BS Legal Management
When I think of the study tour in Berlin, I think of yellow trains whizzing by. My stay there was exactly like a speeding train; one minute, I was in the München Hauptbahnhof breathless with anticipation, and the next, tears were falling down my face as the plane took off. But that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t happy in Germany. It’s the opposite, in fact. It was the happiest I had been in months.
When I think of the study tour in Berlin, I think of strong black coffee in the morning and a tall yellow house with a red door, prunes growing in the backyard and three bikes parked out front. It was the warmth with which my host family welcomed me and my two other roommates that made our stay in Germany so wonderful. They went out of their way to ensure that we were comfortable and they exposed us to so many great things about their culture from simple dishes like Spargel mit Wurst to floating on our backs on the Krumme Lanke and being one with nature.
When I think of the study tour in Berlin, I think of days spent languishing in a classroom, learning the difference between etwa and etwas, conjugating verbs, and the particulars of German grammar. Despite being the only Ateneo student in my class, I never felt out of place because that tiny room in the Carl Duisberg Centrum was the refuge of people of different ages, colors, and backgrounds. It was where we came together to learn German and complain about the endless paperwork that moving to Germany entailed. I’m grateful for my friends who came from all corners of the globe and for the many hours we had together, studying German and watching football. They gifted me with a new way of perceiving the world and it was an experience like no other.
because that tiny room in the Carl Duisberg Centrum was the refuge of people of different ages, colors, and backgrounds. It was where we came together to learn German and complain about the endless paperwork that moving to Germany entailed. I’m grateful for my friends who came from all corners of the globe and for the many hours we had together, studying German and watching football. They gifted me with a new way of perceiving the world and it was an experience like no other.
So what do I think of when I think of the study tour in Berlin? I think of home.
Watch the video:
What Matters the Most
By Gio P. Guinto
As I had dinner with my family again in Manila after being 11,649 kilometers away from home, I couldn’t help but sense that something was out of place - when in fact, nothing was. The buildings were exactly as how I left it. The people seemed to be up to their usual Filipino-Sunday routine. I soon began to realize that for the first time in my life, it was actually me who didn’t belong. It was a bizarre experience to feel like I was walking around a foreign land, in the very streets I grew up in. It was almost as if I had just finally descended back to reality. For a while, I could vividly remember the urge to tuck myself into sleep when I saw the evening sky. At the time, it was only 7 pm then. But when you get used to seeing the sun set at 11 pm for one whole month, you’d begin to see why.
Our days there were simple: desayuno (breakfast) at around 8, la colegio (school) from 9-2, and almuerzo (lunch) at 2 onwards. If we were lucky, we’d have the entire afternoon to ourselves. But most of the time, we would have the afternoons off and our nights would be filled with activities that best reflect the rich culture of Spain.
The “tour” aspect of the study tour was seen during the weekends. We visited a lot of cities: Segovia, Avila, Santiago de Compostella, Granada, Seville and of course, Madrid. We managed to cross the border to reach Lisbon and Fatima as well. To me, all of these marvelous places had one thing in common. Each city personified a different aura which enabled us to capture the true beauty living in the Iberican peninsula has to offer.
Nearly three months after my arrival in Manila, I never would have thought that I would ever develop a certain endearment towards a place as I did for Spain. In fact, whenever I’d look at past photos I would ask myself sometimes “Did I actually go there?” It’s funny but from where I am right now, my study tour experience has been reduced to memories. Everyday felt like I was living in a dream. But what most people fail to see is that you don’t need to go somewhere spectacular in order for a trip to be memorable. Whether it be going around the Alhambra, seeing the Plaza Mayor for the very first time, or even just those silent nights wandering around the cobblestoned streets, you’ll always be in the right place when you’re with the right people. I guess we were just lucky that way. With all that’s been said, I wouldn’t mind reliving my study tour experience if I had the chance to. But I wouldn’t change anything though. I just want to feel a few things twice.
Watch the video:
